Kuala Lampur, June 27 -- As the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) marks its 30th anniversary this year, it's worth pausing to ask: has it truly become the change maker it aspired to be?

From an inaugural cohort of 50 distinguished Fellows to a current membership exceeding 500, ASM's growth is undeniable.

Its ambition to position itself as the nation's foremost science thought leader, however, remains a work in progress - both promising and fraught with challenges.

A champion of thought leadership?

In its early years, ASM was envisioned as a high-level, non-partisan body providing independent, science-based advice to the government and society.

Its founding principles mirrored those of national academies in advanced economies: a sanc...