ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor is set to become Asia’s largest insulin hub as India’s leading biotechnology firm, Biocon Ltd, invests another RM1.1 billion (S$331.15 million) to expand its biopharmaceutical facility in Iskandar Malaysia. The second-phase facility investment follows the company’s initial RM1.6 billion investment, bringing Biocon’s total commitment to RM2.7 billion—a move that will solidify Johor’s position as a regional biotechnology hub, said State Trade, Investment and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Lee Ting Han.   According to the New Straits Times, the expansion will boost insulin production at Johor’s Bio-XCell facility, the largest integrated insulin production plant in Asia, which has been operating since 2016 and has supplied over 87 million insulin cartridges to Malaysia’s Health Ministry, benefiting nearly 300,000 patients. During an official visit to the Biocon plant on March 12, Mr Lee said, “The facility’s contribution to healthcare and the economy is significant, particularly in providing affordable insulin for diabetic patients.” Biocon’s presence has also reduced insulin prices in Malaysia by 40 per cent. Beyond lowering insulin prices and increasing supply, the ongoing expansion is expected to create over 300 high-skilled jobs, adding to the nearly 900 roles already filled, with 97 per cent held by Malaysians, particularly Johoreans.   These jobs mainly require skills in biotechnology, engineering, and life sciences. Biocon has also teamed up with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Newcastle University to train local talent through initiatives like Biocon Academy. These programmes aim to equip Malaysians with the skills needed for the country’s growing biopharmaceutical industry, Mr Lee said. The company is active in corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts through the Biocon Foundation, focusing on community healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, and rural development to improve local communities’ quality of life. Mr Lee noted that Biocon’s continued investment reflects the trust “foreign investors have in Johor’s economic potential and infrastructure”.   To meet rising demand for its insulin products, chief operating officer Dr Arun Chandavarkar said Biocon Ltd will invest more in its biopharmaceutical manufacturing and research facility at Bio-XCell, Johor, as quoted by SME Corp Malaysia. The specialised biotechnology park has already attracted substantial investment, with Biocon playing a key role in developing local talent. So far, 250 Malaysians have received training in Bangalore as part of the company’s upskilling initiative. /TISG    

Was she trying to fix the brake or something?

Saw this on Threads yesterday - in some Indian language. About farming domesticated dinosaurs ..   https://www.threads.net/@aitrendz.xyz/post/DHVo2HryBE1

Despite numerous warnings by the authorities concerning job scams, many Malaysians still fall for it and eventually find themselves being taken to scam centres at various countries such as Cambodia and Laos. A young man was lucky to find himself getting out of one after he was tricked and taken to Laos by a woman he met through an online game. Travelled to Ipoh to meet woman According to Kwong Wah, the man named Jake (not his real name) said he met a woman in her 20s through an online game and was invited to meet up with her in Ipoh.- For illustration purposes only. Photo via Canva Thinking that there was no harm in meeting her, Jake drove to Ipoh from Penang on Feb 7 and told his family that he would be away for a getaway. Upon arriving in Ipoh, he saw a man in the driver’s seat and the woman he met online. He then got into the car without a second thought as he believed it was safe. M’sian man finds himself in Laos However, things quickly took a turn for the worst as soon as Jake entered the car, where the woman put a hood over his head. Photo via Wikipedia “During my time there, I was forced to learn how to scam people but I couldn’t quite grasp it. Two weeks later, the company shut down for unknown reasons, leaving me stranded alone,” he recounted. However, Jake said his life in Laos was relatively normal and wasn’t physically abused by his captors.   Contacted family for help Thankfully, Jake was given back his handphone when the scam centre shut down, allowing him to contact his family. His sister then called the Malaysian Humanitarian Organisation (MHO) for help, who eventually managed to arrange for Jake’s safe return to Malaysia. Watch MHO secretary general Hishamuddin Hashim explain how Jake was tricked by the woman here: