The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation at MEXCO-STI No.1/2025.

IPOH, 28 April 2025 – For the first time, Perak was the host for the Meeting of Ministers and State Executive Council Members Responsible for Science, Technology and Innovation (MEXCO-STI) No. 1/2025, held at the State Operations Room, Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan here.

The meeting, chaired by Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Minister Chang Lih Kang, brought together the Chairmen of the state Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Committees, representatives of Ministries and States, as well as agencies under MOSTI as meeting members.

Among those present were State Science, Green Technology and Environment Committee Chairman Teh Kok Lim, MOSTI Secretary-General Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad, MOSTI Deputy Secretary-General (Planning and Science Culturation) Ruziah Shafei, and Deputy State Secretary (Development) cum Perak State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) Director Halizah Sipun.

MEXCO-STI is the official platform for discussing various matters related to STI development between the Federal and State Governments.

The establishment of this meeting was an initiative of MOSTI to mainstream and empower the STI agenda as outlined in the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) 2021–2030.

Among the main functions of this meeting are coordinating the implementation of STI-related policies at the national and state levels, discussing issues related to the coordination of STI-related programmes and projects, and creating smart partnerships between the Federal and State Governments.

At the meeting, the Perak State Government also presented an information paper on the establishment of the Terra Mineral Lab, a strategic initiative aimed at analysing, identifying and verifying the mineral element content, particularly Non-Radioactive Rare Earth Elements (NR-REE) and other minerals found in the state.

The presentation was delivered by Menteri Besar Incorporated (Perak) CEO Dato' Anuar Zainal Abidin together with Terra Mineral Lab Director Zul Helmi Ghazali.

Earlier, the meeting members visited the Terra Mineral Lab, where they had the opportunity to see firsthand the facilities, operations and functions of the state-of-the-art laboratory.

Hopefully, through the organisation of MEXCO-STI, not only will it strengthen the strategic relations between the Federal and State Governments in the fields of science, technology and innovation, but will also demonstrate Perak’s capability to be a leader in empowering the country's technology-based and mineral resource-driven economy.

Initiatives such as the Terra Mineral Lab serve as proof of Perak's continuous commitment to elevate the mineral technology development to a higher level, hence paving the way for the state’s progress and the overall well-being of the people.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.