KUCHING: Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datuk Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel has been appointed as the chairman of Sarawak Biodiversity Council.
According to a press statement, his appointment is for a two-year term from March 2024 to February 2026.
He replaces State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, who had helmed the Council since 2022.
During the council’s inaugural meeting for its new term held here yesterday, Muhammad Abdullah thanked Abu Bakar and Professor Datu Dr Andrew Kiyu Dawie of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), who served as a member of the council from 2020 to 2024.
He also extended a warm welcome to two new council members, Sarawak State Health director Dr Veronica Lugah and Sarawak Economic Planning Unit director Datuk Lester Matthew.
The current council members are the deputy chairman, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Innovation, and Talent Development; Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development; State Attorney General; State Financial Secretary; Economic Planning Unit Sarawak director; Forest director; Agriculture director; Environmental Quality controller, Natural Resources and Environment Board.
Also on board are prominent business leaders and experts, namely Anne Kung and Dr Mary Jane Cardosa, while CEO of Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) Datuk Dr Yeo Tiong Chia serves as secretary to the council.
The Sarawak Biodiversity Council is a body that oversees a state research agency under the Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD).
It provides policy decisions and strategic guidance to SBC in the implementation of key projects under PCDS2030 such as Sarawak’s first Bio-industrial Park, as well as setting directions for SBC’s green technologies development.
