We believe in Malaysian biotech. But belief doesn’t give you job stability, give you time to actually do science, fast-track your reagents, or build a sustainable system worth staying in.

We’ve seen the passion. We’ve also seen it crushed. By endless bureaucracy, by disconnected systems, by job markets that push brilliant minds out of science, or out of the country.

Whether you’re a grad student juggling admin paperwork instead of experiments, a PI stuck in procurement hell, a startup founder ghosted by local investors, or a researcher whose best ideas die at the tech transfer office. We know this story isn’t rare. It’s systemic.

And when we speak up? The usual response is “that’s just how it is here.” But “just how it is” isn’t a solution. This board exists because “just how it is” isn’t working.

By collecting these stories, we hope to reveal patterns that too often stay buried. Patterns that policymakers, funders, and institutions need to hear if anything is going to change.

Of course, good and hopeful stories are welcome too! Not just big wins, but the quiet moments that kept you going. When a mentor checked in. When a colleague shared their reagents. When your grant actually got processed on time. These are proof that we can build better, together.

“Malaysia biotech won’t grow if the system keeps breaking the people trying to build it.”

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