Green light hoped for gene-edited rice
Since 2021, several scientists have been developing new genetically edited rice varieties with targeted traits, such as resistance to disease and tolerance to climate challenges like extreme heat and drought.
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) principal research officer Dr Zulkifli Ahmad Seman said they now had a potential gene-edited (GE) padi line currently undergoing the screening phase.
He said their research so far had shown that blight would only affect 11% of the leaves of GE padi.
Laid side by side in a research glasshouse at Mardi in Serdang, Selangor, the two padi leaves look alike at first glance.
But one leaf is almost all yellow, a sign of bacterial blight – a disease that has afflicted Malaysian rice fields for decades and caused losses amounting to hundreds of thousands of ringgit.
The other is almost entirely green, save for a faint yellowing at the tip.
It comes from a rice line Zulkifli and his team edited using CRISPR-CS9 technology.
Zulkifli showing a photo of the padi leaves that are disease-resistant.
'So with the host, the protein (blight) can't attach because of where we have mutated it.
'When it cannot attach, that is where it will stop,' he told Bernama at Mardi headquarters.
The line is not just a scientific breakthrough; it is the first GE plant for Mardi and Malaysia.
But as Zulkifli's team approaches the fifth generation of the disease-resistant seed, they are coming closer to another challenge: Malaysia's regulatory grey zone.
Grey zone
Malaysia is one of Asia's highest per capita consumers of rice, but it does not grow enough padi.
In 2023, per capita consumption was 76.7kg per year, according to Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
The rice production numbers have decreased from 2022, showing a 4.7% decrease from 2.28 million tonnes in 2022 to 2.18 million tonnes in 2023.
According to the same statistics, local rice production can only meet 56.2% of local demand, leaving the country vulnerable to price shocks and supply disruptions.
For padi farmers like 57-year-old Puteh Hassan in Kedah, the worsening weather patterns and recurring disease outbreaks have made harvests increasingly uncertain.
'There was one season we were badly hit (by bacterial blight). We lost 60% of our padi,' she said over the phone.
Zulkifli's research could save Puteh's field from another disastrous attack.
But the issue putting the research in limbo is whether current regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) should apply to GE crops.
Unlike GMOs, GE crops do not contain foreign DNA.
Instead, they involve precise deletions or tweaks to existing genes – a process some researchers argue is closer to accelerated natural selection.
As such, scientists and biotechnologists argue they cannot be judged according to the same standards.
So far, the regulatory framework has not caught up.
Malaysia's Biosafety Act 2007 governs GMOs but when the law was passed, there was no effective way to edit the genome.
The scientists are in a quandary – they are doing ground- breaking work with the potential to help the nation feed its people, but will their GE rice see the light of day?
Yellow fields
Puteh remembers the season her padi fields turned yellow.
Managing her own padi field for the past 15 years, she has seen plenty of bad years.
She still remembers when the blight wiped out almost all of her income in 2019.
'I lost one tonne of padi that season,' said Puteh.
She had hoped the ensuing seasons would be better but her yields either improved only marginally or got worse.
In recent years, extreme temperatures and sudden floods have become more common.
On top of that, blight is still there.
Bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae, spreads quickly in flooded padi fields and thrives in warm, humid environments like Malaysia's.
It browns padi leaves and cuts grain production, leaving farmers with rotten fields.
At the same time, farmers are growing less rice.
According to National Association of Smallholders Malaysia president Adzmi Hassan, many smallholders have shifted to more lucrative crops like oil palm.
He said Malaysia should not just look at technology, it should also look at encouraging padi farmers to grow the staple crop.
One way would be to ensure there is a consistent and predictable yield year by year.
For two years in a row, beginning in the 2023/24 season, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) had predicted Malaysia's rice production would be below average.
The GE padi stands as a potential solution.
Until they get more information, these researchers are operating under the assumption that their GE rice will not be subject to the same approval process that stymied past biotech efforts involving GMO products.
But still, the fear is there.
The scientists remember efforts to conduct open field trials of a pesticide-resistant strain of GMO padi in Perlis in 2019.
Nearby communities and environmentalists protested against holding the trials.
In the end, the project was shelved.
Mardi senior research officer Dr Mohd Waznu Adlyl said Malaysia should follow Japan's and a few other countries' lead, which exempts certain gene- edited crops from GMO regulation if no foreign DNA is present.
These countries treat GE crops as normal crops as the gene- editing process works just like natural mutations, only faster.
Mohd Waznul says the benefits of growing the new GE variety outweighs any potential risks.
He also said the benefits outweighed any potential risks.
'We hope this rice that we produce can somehow help our (scientists) to produce new varieties because there are many issues, like climate change and new emerging pests,' he said.
But many see GE foods and GMOs as the same.
Third World Network biosafety programme coordinator Lim Li Ching was prepared to start a protest should GE crops be allowed to stage open field trials without any oversight.
'Just because we can do it doesn't mean we should,' she said in an online interview from her home in the UK.
While CRISPR technology might work within a plant's own genome, she warned that it could bypass the slow, regulated nature of evolutionary change – introducing traits or gene interactions that might not have natural precedents.
She added that even seemingly minor edits could cause unintended effects at molecular level.
CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing tool that allows scientists to make precise changes to an organism's DNA.
In plants, the process involves several steps, including causing a break or deletion of a DNA strand, and allowing the plant's natural repair mechanisms to fix the break.
This method enables the development of crops with improved traits, such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and increased yield.
Global GE or GMO
While Malaysia grapples with regulatory uncertainties, other countries are moving forward with GE crops.
India has released two genome-edited rice varieties aimed at enhancing yield and resilience against environmental stresses.
These varieties were developed using genome-editing techniques that allow for precise modifications in the plant's DNA.
In contrast, Mexico has taken a more cautious approach.
In March, the Mexican government amended its constitution to prohibit the use of genetically modified corn seeds, citing concerns over biosafety and the protection of native corn varieties.
The ban just applies to GMOs, however, not GE foods.
For Malaysia, the adoption of GE crops like Mardi's blight- resistant rice could play a crucial role in enhancing food security.
However, without clear regulatory guidelines, these innovations may remain confined to research facilities.
Malaysia has set the target of a rice self-sufficiency rate of 80% by 2030, but without intervention, be it via technology or other methods, the nation will likely not meet its goal anytime soon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
7 hours ago
- Daily Express
Making nurses work 45 hours not the solution
Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 Text Size: Rather than imposing longer hours, Malaysia should invest in sustainable workforce solutions that respect nurses' welfare and dignity. NURSES are the backbone of healthcare worldwide and Malaysia is no exception. They serve on the frontlines in hospitals, clinics and community care settings, often working long hours to ensure patients receive timely and compassionate care. Their importance was highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic when Malaysian nurses risked their health to care for thousands of patients. Despite their indispensable role, the government is considering increasing nurses' weekly work hours to 45. This policy aims to address workforce shortages and meet rising healthcare demands but has met with widespread concern. While the intent is commendable, increasing work hours without increasing support risks harming nurses' welfare, patient safety and healthcare quality. Globally, healthcare systems that prioritise strong protections for nurses typically maintain workweeks between 36 and 40 hours – striking a crucial balance between service demands and staff well-being. The United Kingdom: Nurses work around 37.5 hours weekly, with regulations limiting overtime and mandating rest breaks to prevent fatigue. The Royal College of Nursing advocates for safe working hours to uphold care quality. Australia: Nurses typically work 38 hours per week, with industrial awards ensuring fair shifts and rest. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation warns that long shifts can compromise patients' safety as well as nurses. Singapore: Nurses generally have a 40-hour work week, with carefully managed shifts designed to minimise fatigue. The United States: Despite the prevalence of 12-hour shifts, total weekly hours generally remain between 36 and 40. The American Nurses Association highlights that exceeding these hours increases errors and dissatisfaction. In comparison, Malaysia's proposed 45-hour work week exceeds these standards, raising valid concerns. Advertisement Real cost and implications Burnout among nurses has been recognised by the World Health Organisation as an occupational phenomenon linked to chronic workplace stress. It manifests as emotional exhaustion, cynicism and reduced personal accomplishment. For nurses, this translates to diminished empathy, increased absenteeism and lower quality of care. Research confirms that extended shifts and work weeks correlate with higher burnout. A study across 12 countries found that nurses working over 12-hour shifts reported significantly higher burnout levels and poorer care quality. Another study showed nurses working more than 40 hours per week faced increased risks of depression and anxiety. Prolonged work hours can also endanger nurses physically. Fatigue impairs cognitive function, increasing the chance of errors and accidents. Nurses working longer shifts experience higher rates of musculoskeletal injuries and needle-stick incidents. Additionally, it causes chronic sleep deprivation, a frequent outcome associated with cardiovascular disease, obesity and a weakened immune system. Multifaceted problem Malaysia is grappling with a severe nursing shortage, with over 12,000 vacancies in public healthcare reported by the Health Ministry. This shortage forces existing nurses to work longer hours and manage heavier patient loads. Simply increasing work hours without hiring more staff only shifts the burden onto nurses, accelerating burnout and turnover. Research shows poor working conditions and excessive workloads are key reasons nurses quit. Turnover is costly, including recruitment and training expenses. It also disrupts patient care continuity and weakens institutional knowledge. Patients' safety at risk Patient safety is closely tied to nurses' working hours and staffing levels. Nurses working beyond 12-hour shifts are twice as likely to make errors. Each additional hour over 40 per week increases the risk of adverse events. Fatigue impairs decision-making, vigilance and reaction times critical to safe care. Low nurse-to-patient ratios increase mortality, complications and hospital stay lengths. Increasing work hours without improving staffing ratios dilutes nurses' ability to provide quality care. Over 90% of nurses in Malaysia are women, many of whom juggle demanding professional roles with unpaid caregiving at home. This 'double burden' is only intensified by extended work hours. This imbalance increases stress and work-family conflict, especially among younger nurses and mothers, contributing to higher attrition rates. Longer work hours also reduce time for continuing professional development (CPD), which is highly required for all nurses. CPD is essential for maintaining clinical skills and improving patient outcomes. Without adequate time for learning, nurses face professional stagnation, which risks the quality of healthcare delivery. Ethical and legal considerations Malaysia upholds international labour standards that emphasise fair working conditions, reasonable work hours and the protection of workers' rights. Implementing a 45-hour work week for nurses could contradict these principles, potentially breaching ethical obligations and legal commitments. Such a policy not only risks compromising nurses' well-being but also undermines their professional dignity, equity and the broader values of social justice in the healthcare workforce. Alternatives solutions To improve healthcare sustainably, Malaysia should: Maintain a 40-hour work week in line with international norms. Enhance recruitment and retention by improving pay, benefits and working conditions. Adopt flexible shift scheduling to reduce fatigue and burnout. Provide comprehensive mental health support and burnout prevention programmes. Ensure nurses have protected time for CPD and career development. Nurses are the lifeblood of Malaysia's healthcare system. Extending their work week to 45 hours will threaten their health, patient safety and the overall quality of care. Rather than imposing longer hours, Malaysia should invest in sustainable workforce solutions that respect nurses' welfare and dignity. Only by doing so can we build a resilient healthcare system capable of delivering safe, compassionate care to all Malaysians. Zainudin Rozali is dean at the Faculty of Nursing, IJN University College The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Major boost for M'sian research
Way to go: Prof Azlinda and Bocquet (third and fourth from right, respectively) at the launch of the agreement in Putrajaya. HIGHER education has gone beyond merely imparting knowledge in lecture halls. For years, academics have been expected not only to teach but also to conduct research – driving innovation and scientific discovery while delivering real-world benefits in their respective fields. In a bid to boost the global visibility and accessibility of research from Malaysian researchers, the Higher Education Electronic Resources Consortium (KONSEPt) – the Malaysian consortium for higher education and research institutions – recently signed a landmark national open access agreement with Springer Nature. This marked the first national transformative agreement (TA) in Malaysia and among South-East Asian countries. Following the agreement, researchers from all 20 of Malaysia's public universities will be able to publish their work as open access in more than 2,000 hybrid journals across the Springer Nature portfolio. Simultaneously, students and faculty will gain full reading access to more than 2,300 journal titles. The move demonstrates the growing momentum across economies of all sizes for open access publishing, and the increasing global shift towards open science and research – where researchers are better supported in publishing openly, expanding the visibility and impact of their work, and fostering greater international collaboration. Higher Education director general Prof Datuk Dr Azlinda Azman said the initiative supports the ministry's digitalisation and internationalisation agenda, as well as the National Knowledge Infrastructure framework. 'This is a pivotal step in Malaysia's commitment to open science and research transparency, further enhancing international visibility, impact and collaboration,' she said in a press release dated June 4. KONSEPt chairperson Mazmin Mat Akhir said the TA marks a new chapter for academic libraries, not only in providing access to research but also in facilitating open access publishing. 'It empowers universities to enhance the impact of their research and strengthens global knowledge-sharing initiatives,' she said. Springer Nature Japan, South-East Asia and Oceania vice president (sales) and managing director Antoine Bocquet said the agreement demonstrates the vital role that TAs play as a sustainable and scalable model for all regions moving towards an open access future. 'In recent years, we have seen a growing demand in Malaysia –both in terms of downloads where content has been accessible, and in denials where it has not. 'Malaysia has already made significant progress towards achieving open access for its researchers, with 57% of all Malaysian research published as open access by 2022. This agreement builds on that momentum,' he said. The latest agreement is the seventh that Springer Nature has signed within Asia, following Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan. The publisher signed its first TA in 2014 and now has over 80 TAs in place, supporting researchers from over 3,700 institutions.
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Bullied and ignored
WuTHE bystander effect – where individuals are less likely to help when others are present – is silently fuelling a bullying crisis in Malaysian schools. If left unchallenged, this culture of silence can deepen trauma and leave lasting scars on victims' mental health and self-worth. Part of the problem, experts say, lies in school culture. According to Sunway University School of Psychology senior lecturer Dr Wu Shin Ling, up to 70% of students remain silent when witnessing bullying. 'One of the main reasons is the fear of retaliation, where many students fear becoming the next target. This happens often, especially in closed environments like hostels, where escape is difficult,' she told StarEdu. 'Orientation programmes where senior students are permitted to 'educate' or 'toughen up' juniors through humiliation or intimidation are often framed as rites of passage but they can, in reality, perpetuate cycles of fear, silence and harm,' she added. Wu also highlighted early warning signs such as rigid social cliques, sudden behavioural shifts in once-engaged students, and casual jokes targeting specific identities such as race, gender or appearance. In some cases, she said, bullying becomes so normalised that students dismiss it as 'just how things are here'. Lone struggle For those who endured bullying in silence, the damage can be devastating. Adieka, now 30, still grapples with the long-term effects of bullying. 'It has affected my mental and emotional well-being,' he said. Bullied for his naivety and mocked for having an eidetic memory, he felt isolated and overlooked. 'I hoped others could have at least asked what happened and showed some concern,' he shared. Adieka is not alone in feeling this way. Stephanie, now 24, recalled being bullied physically and verbally. Her teachers missed the warning signs – withdrawal, silence, and tears in class. When she finally found the courage to speak up, nothing changed. 'The bullying continued as if my voice didn't matter. 'My peers were too afraid to speak up, and I dreaded going to school. It got so bad I had suicidal thoughts,' she said. For her, being a bystander is a choice. 'What if it were your own sibling, friend, or someone you cared about being targeted? Would you stay silent?' she asked. School support FouziNational Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Fouzi Singon said school leadership is crucial in setting the tone for a zero-tolerance approach to bullying. 'When principals and administrators are proactive, transparent and consistent in addressing bullying, they create an environment where staff and students feel supported in speaking up,' he said. Fouzi pointed to the 'Garis Panduan Pengurusan Salah Laku Buli di Institusi Pendidikan (SPI KPM Bil. 12/2023)' as a key guideline that classifies various forms of bullying as serious misconduct. He added that beyond policies, programmes like Sekolahku Sejahtera and Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya (PRS) empower students to act as allies and peer supporters. 'The Sekolahku Sejahtera framework provides a conducive platform for schools to integrate anti-bullying messages and encourage students to intervene safely or report incidents,' he noted. Meanwhile, PRS trains selected student leaders to serve as peer counsellors and mediators, providing a safe outlet for other students to report bullying or seek support. Collective responsibility While peer-led initiatives offer critical support, Wu stressed the importance of starting even earlier, as early as primary school – with a focus on empathy and consequences of inaction. 'Cultivating a culture of collective responsibility is important, where every student and educator believes, 'If it's not okay, it's my job to say something,'' she said. To translate these values into action, both Wu and Fouzi called for clear systems of support – visible teacher intervention, safe reporting channels, and open communication. They asserted that teachers play a frontline role to encourage positive bystander behaviour among students. 'Classroom discussions, role-playing scenarios, and normalised conversations about social dynamics and power help to empower students to act,' Wu said. Fouzi suggested integrating social-emotional learning into lessons to help students develop empathy and confidence to stand up for others. To evaluate impact, he recommended that schools monitor trends through the Sistem Sahsiah Diri Murid portal, assess student feedback on safety and willingness to intervene, and track bystander-led reports. Ultimately, Wu said students are more likely to speak up when they see that action is taken and confidentiality is respected. Surviving the scars I was 13 when I witnessed someone being bullied. A girl was being cornered and mocked by a group of my batchmates. I stepped in and told them to stop. I didn't realise I had just become their new target. They spread lies, isolated me, and abused me physically. One night, they dragged the girl into the dorm's ironing room right in front of me. The worst happened when they attacked me with a hot iron. They said to the girl, 'Now, watch the person you thought could save you from getting punished.' I remember the pain and seeing that girl cry, even kneeling, kissing their feet, and begging them to stop. They laughed at how pathetic both of us looked. It was two of us against eight of them. I wished someone would come, but no one did. There were over 90 girls in the dorm, but no one stood up for me. Even the teachers and wardens didn't believe me. That moment broke me. I lost all my confidence and started skipping classes. I became suicidal and no longer believed in myself, or anyone else. I stopped talking and avoided people. I'd collapse from nightmares, exhaustion and fear. Eventually, I had to leave the school but the mental scars stayed. Years later, I attended therapy to process what had happened. It's a long journey, but I'm trying. If I could turn back time, I would still choose to stand up for her. I'm sharing this not to gain sympathy, but to remind people that bullying destroys lives. That silence can be deadly. And that kindness, just one voice speaking up, can save someone's life. – Lily*, 31 *Note: Name has been changed to protect the bullying survivor's identity. In the news 2024 June: Slapped in silence - A viral video showed a 13-year-old girl being slapped in a school toilet by her two 15-year-old schoolmates in Kerian, Perak, while other students watched silently - some even encouraged the act. - School authorities formed a committee to investigate the incident; two perpetrators were expelled and four were suspended. July: No more sweeping it under carpet - Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek responded to the Kerian incident, stating that investigations and disciplinary action were underway. - She emphasised that no bullying case should be swept under the carpet and pledged improved handling guidelines in collaboration with schools and police. November: Cadets expelled, accountability demanded - Five Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia cadet officers involved in three separate bullying incidents were expelled and ordered to pay compensation. - Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated this was to ensure accountability and deter future incidents. December: Legal reform and ministry push - The Dewan Rakyat passed the Penal Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024, introducing harsher penalties for bullying and harassment, including: - Publishing victims' identities causing distress, fear or alarm. - Provoking self-harm or suicide (up to 10 years of jail, fine or both). - Education Ministry initiatives: - Enhanced tracking of misconduct through the Student Discipline System (SSDM). - Launched the 'Gerakan Kepimpinan Madani: Hentikan Buli' programme to end bullying culture in schools. 2025 January: Former students speak out - Two former residential school students said they were physically assaulted by their seniors - dunked in water or kicked in the ribs. - Fadhlina clarified the school was not under her ministry's purview but warned all school leaders to stop covering up bullying cases. March: 'Push-Up Punishment' in Teluk Intan - Sixty-two Form Two and Form Four students were reportedly forced to do 200 push-ups by two Form Five seniors, leading to muscle pain and swelling. April: Mara tightens the reins - A viral video showed MRSM Form Three boys pinning down and whipping another peer with a belt on a bed. - Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi rolled out anti-bullying initiatives across MRSM schools: - Special counsellor training - Regular monitoring - Direct involvement from the Mara leadership Example: At an MRSM, the disciplinary committee acted within 24 hours of a bullying report, showing improved responsiveness. June: Burnt in their sleep - A Form Two male student who pressed a hot iron on eight sleeping dormitory mates has been placed at the Henry Gurney School until he turns 17. Source: Media reports
