KUCHING, 19 Sept 2008: With forensics science playing a more important and critical role in solving crimes in the country, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry is planning to set up two more Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) units under the Chemistry Department.
Its Deputy Minister, Fadillah Yusoff, said so far the units had been set up in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching while another, in Penang, was expected to be operational end of the year.
"We are studying the possibility of setting up the unit at Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and another in the east coast of the peninsula," he told reporters after presenting the excellent service award to 10 staff of the Sarawak Chemistry Department here today.
Fadillah said the move was in line with efforts to prepare the Chemistry Department in meeting the logistics and administrative requirements for the implementation of the DNA Bill 2008, which had been tabled for the first time in Parliament on 18 Aug.
In terms of expertise, the department has 17 DNA specialists and more than 30 support staff, he added.
Earlier, Chemistry Department Director-General N Hithaya Jeevan, when speaking at the function, said another Chemistry department office would be opened in Sarawak this year.
The new office will be in Sibu, he added.
There are currently two Chemistry Department offices in Sarawak, in Kuching and Bintulu. – Bernama
