TAN Sri Dr Omar Abdul Rahman was the science adviser to the former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for 16 years. The public knows little else about this remarkable gentleman. Omar is an unassuming scientist, always working behind the scenes yet never a scene stealer when missions are accomplished. He is truly a giant among men.
His intellect coupled with tenacity and dedication helped change the national ecosystem for science. He has contributed immensely in the field not to mention his unseen hand in the setting up of various initiatives from the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (Might), the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronics System (Mimos), the creation of the first National Science and Technology Policy in 1986 to the setting up of satellite television and the realisation of the Sepang F1 Circuit (yes, those too!).
For many years, he was instrumental in helping the government to formulate policies and create the mechanism to enhance the country’s scientific capabilities. He believes Malaysia has no choice. For the country to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other nations, it must forge ahead with its science and technology initiatives (STI). We have to create a sustainable competitive advantage in an ever-challenging economy. Our economic success hinges on the ability to grab the opportunities offered in an ever-changing economy, not just economy but a knowledge-based one.
Omar realised later that science is not about learning a discipline in schools or universities. It is also about humanising it. And “marketing” it to the public. There is also the need to “memasyarakatkan sains” — people matter in science as much as science has impacted upon people. He maintains that for Malaysia to move forward, STI is among the key ingredients. Economic and social progress for the future depend on STI.
Thanks to Omar, science and technology are being taken seriously now. Plans are in place to ensure more scientists are created and nurtured. Universities are playing a more proactive role to bring out the best minds in the field of science. More importantly research and development (R&D) has been enhanced and given more funds. While it is more readily available now, it is still lagging behind compared with more advanced countries in terms of percentage of GDP. Understandably Omar is one of the ferocious proponents of the need for an STI policy for the country and a proper and comprehensive science policy as a whole. He believes that doing good science is not good enough, “good science must translate into innovative technologies in the market- place”.
He had always been reluctant to write his memoir or to get people to write his biography. He relented, however, because of the insistence of many of his friends at the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM). From Science To Science Policy: One Man’s Passionate Journey is more than a labour of love. It is an opportunity to put on record, from Omar’s perspective, the story behind the institutions and processes that were put in place during the time he was the adviser.
This book combines his biography (written by NST columnist and ASM fellow Dr Ahmad Ibrahim) and his own memoirs (without mincing his words). What a journey it was for a village boy from Kelantan to become one of the best minds in science. It tells a story of an “abandoned” boy, educated abroad, who made his mark in academia and later became the prime mover in the national STI initiatives.
Omar was born on Nov 9, 1932 in Kota Baru, Kelantan. He was inspired by his mother’s tenacity to make kicap (soy sauce) by secretly learning from her Chinese neighbour. Through sheer trial and error, she perfected the art of making kicap.
Omar learned the value of hard work, dedication and honesty from his father, an illiterate and a simple man of few words. His success story is not one without sacrifices and insurmountable challenges. He learned the value of education and lifelong learning. And the need for the education system to encourage the opening of the mind. Creating a skill is a bonus he learned from one of his lecturers.
I recommend this incredible book to everyone — even non-scientists or those who have little understanding of science. It is written with humility as its theme. Omar is no ordinary scientist and this is no ordinary book.
The non-scientist that I am, I find it hard to put down this book.
Twitter @Johan_Jaaffar