Sabah sets up its own Forensic DNA Centre

Sabah now owns a Forensic DNA Centre, and just in time too, especially with the growing number of cases in need of its services.

Located at the Sabah Chemistry Department, the centre is expected to help reduce time and cost for related authorities, such as the police, in getting DNA analyses done.

In the past, samples for DNA analyses are sent to either Kuala Lumpur or Kuching and it took some time to get back the results.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin when launching the centre today said based on the department’s record, the number of cases and samples referred to Kuching for DNA analyses has increased by 15% on average since 2002 until last year.

Last year, the centre in Kuching has received 203 cases from Sabah, involving 1,612 DNA samples.

The facility makes Sabah the fifth state in the country to have such a centre after Johor, Penang, Sarawak and Selangor.

Ewon said they have set a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the centre to produce result within a month.

“The centre will allow government departments as well as the public to get DNA analyses without having to send them to Kuching or Kuala Lumpur. This will reduce both the cost and time,” he said.

Speaking to reporters later, Ewon said the facility, which started operation in June, is fitted with world-class equipment and staffed by experts recognised by international bodies.

“Staff and experts from the centre were among those involved in the identification process of the victims of MH17 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

“The centre also provide training courses for other countries, such as Singapore, Vietnam and a few others,” said Ewon.

The lab has 15 DNA experts and 61 supporting personnel and can comfortably handle 4,500 cases annually.

-therakyatpost