EDUCATION Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday said the lack of local scientific research on herbal plant has allowed foreign researchers to exploit "our ignorance" and capitalise on the benefits of herbs commonly found in the country.

Malaysia, he said, bought imported packaged herbs with medicinal properties at exorbitant prices.

"Actually, these herbs are found in abundance here. This is happening because we are still in the infancy stage of research on the beneficial properties of local herbal plants.

"However, we hope to establish and enforce standards on such properties in order to compete with countries like China, India and the US." He said at the launch of the National Herb Garden Education Project in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The patrons of the project are Datuk Seri Najib and Agriculture Minister Datuk Amar Dr Sulaiman Daud.

Also present were New Strait Times Press (NSTP) group editor-in-chief Datuk A. Kadir Jasin, who is also project chairman and project coordinator John Pillai.

The project, is organised by NSTP together with the Education and Agriculture Ministries.

Its aim is to enable students to acquire a basic knowledge of ubiquitous herbal plants by participating in hands-on activities.

Najib said there was now a revival in interest on the medicinal properties of herbs. "Malaysian alone spend RM2 million a year on herbal medicine."

He added that out of some 27,000 species of herbal plants, 1,230 had medicinal value. He urged schools nationwide to cultivate herb gardens as student would then be able to learn about their benefits, and enhance their scientific knowledge of herbal plants.

"It is tangible way for them to differentiated between general assumptions and proven scientific research regarding the potential of herbal plants."

Under the project, student will start a herb garden in the compound of their schools by planting seeds, seedlings and cutting of common herbal plants.

Each herb planted will be labeled by its scientific term, Bahasa Malaysia name, local common name as well as names in other local languages.

Student are expected to keep a proper record of all the plants in their herb garden. Prizes will be awarded annually to outstanding projects based on points collected by judges inspecting the herb gardens.

The project will also be launched in every State, starting from Perak.

Earlier, Kadir said herbs have medicinal, tonic and aromatic values and the project would expose students to the properties of such plants.

"All that is needed is a small corner somewhere in their schools where the sun shines.

"Besides being educational, the herb garden will also have ornamental and aesthetic value.

"The cultivation of herbs can also potentially develop into big business venture."

Kadir said the project would enable students to be able "not just identify decorative plants, but also the plants growing around their neighbourhood."

"Herbs gardens are gradually becoming extinct because they are slowly being replaced by sterile modern gardens.