TELUK BAHANG, 22 July 2019 – Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Dr. Hj. Jaujan Sambakong recently took time to visit the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS) to explore future collaborations by both parties.

The visit among others intended to look at initiatives by CEMACS in their training and research activities which focused on biodiversity and conservation of the marine ecosystems, coastal ecosystems, fringe forest ecosystems, mariculture and studying the ecology of marine mammals.

Located approximately 30 kilometres from the USM campus in Gelugor, CEMACS is the oldest marine research centre in the country, now in its 41^st year of operations. CEMACS has played a major role in the development of marine and coastal science studies in the country.

Among the items discussed in the visit was to look at initiatives developed to further strengthen research and efforts which could have a major impact on the nation’s economy and assisting local communities in raising their socio-economic standards.

Accompanying the Deputy Chief Minister were the Director of CEMACS, Professor Dato’ Dr. Aileen Tan Shau Hwai; USM expert in Marine Biology, Professor Dr. Zulfigar Yasin and other researchers involved in various studies at CEMACS.

Text: Marziana Mohamed Alias/Photo: Mohd Fairus Md. Isa