Sarawak forest, timber officials in benchmarking visit to Japan research institute
The Sarawak delegation during the field visit to Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute. Hamden is at eighth right.
KUCHING (April 26): A Sarawak delegation made a benchmarking visit Thursday to the Sumitomo Forestry Tsukuba Research Institute in Tsukuba, Japan.
Led by Sarawak Forest Department (SFD) director Datu Hamden Mohammad, the delegation comprised representatives from the department, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC), and Sarawak Timber Association (STA).
SFD in a statement described Sumitomo Forestry as a leading institute in forestry technology, tissue culture techniques, bio-refinery, and research and development on carbon storage and nature.
'The delegation was briefed on research conducted by the institute on enhancing the strength and durability of wooden materials and improving the performance of wood-based boards,' read the statement.
On April 23, the delegates visited the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) where they participated in scheduled programmes including presentation on various wood research conducted by FFPRI, demonstrational experiment of wood structure, and a visit to an experimental wooden house.
'This visit is significant for the stakeholders in the timber industry in the pursuit of adopting Industrial Revolution 4.0 technology, with emphasis made to the use of automation and digital technology,' said SFD.
It said that with Japan as the main importer of wood pallets, Sarawak sees great potential in wood pallets and the engineered wood industry to generate green energy.
This, added the department, is in line with the Sarawak government's green energy policy and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg's green economy vision.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
24-05-2025
- The Star
AI council set up to ‘drive workforce growth'
PETALING JAYA: A cross-agency collaboration has been launched to enhance Malaysia's artificial intelligence (AI) workforce development through the launch of the MyMahir National AI Council for Industry (MyMahir-NAICI). Led by Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd (TalentCorp), a strategic think-tank under the Human Resources Ministry, and the National AI Office (NAIO) under the Digital Ministry's MyDigital Corporation, the initiative aims to coordinate AI talent development and drive multi-sector implementation. During MyMahir-NAICI's inaugural meeting, there was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between TalentCorp and MyDigital witnessed by Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. 'The question is not whether AI will replace jobs, but whether we will empower Malaysians to evolve with it,' said Sim in his opening speech yesterday. 'Through MyMahir-NAICI, we are forging a whole-of-nation mechanism, aligning skills with strategy, technology with talent and policy with purpose,' he said. Sim also said the ministry is offering about 300,000 high-skilled training opportunities, including AI and Industrial Revolution 4.0 technologies. 'These programmes range from short-term to long-term, offering various certifications such as the Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) and include micro-programmes.' He noted that while the ministry provides these opportunities, many AI initiatives are led by the Digital Ministry in collaboration with major companies. 'For the upcoming National Training Week 2025, the ministry expects a million participants to engage in the available training sessions,' said Sim. Gobind emphasised the importance of government leadership in building structures that connect innovation to real-world AI implementation. 'While NAIO focuses on creating the demand and representing deployment, TalentCorp focuses on building the talent supply and MyMahir-NAICI completes the virtuous cycle by continuously feeding back for policy improvement,' he said in his speech. The council commits to a three-year collaboration focusing on four pillars: AI talent development, industry integration, policy and funding alignment, as well as stakeholder governance. TalentCorp serves as the secretariat, with NAIO aligning efforts with the national AI roadmap. Supporting this initiative are four key instruments: the MyMahir Impact Study, which identifies affected roles and future skills; the platform for policy-to-action implementation; the G.I.A.T. Action Plan for coordination across government, industry, academia, and training providers; and the AI Talent Framework, covering skills from digital literacy to advanced AI expertise. The MyMahir Impact Study projects that AI could significantly affect 620,000 jobs or 18% of formal sector roles in Malaysia in the next three to five years, while also identifying 60 emerging roles in AI, digital, green and deep tech sectors. A notable aspect of this collaboration is the integration of the AI Readiness Index (AIRI) into the platform, enabling companies to assess AI preparedness, identify capability gaps, and take actionable steps toward transformation. Pilot programmes will be validated using real-world industry problem statements. The council's progress will be monitored by the AI Implementation Monitoring Unit and reported to the ministers.
Barnama
13-05-2025
- Barnama
UniMAP Clinches Top MNC Preferred Graduate Award
KANGAR, May 13 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) has clinched the Top Multinational Company (MNC) Preferred Graduate Rate Award through the Graduate Tracer Study System (SKPG) 2024, organised by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). In a statement today, the university said the award further solidified its reputation as a leading institution of higher learning that produced quality and competitive graduates. It added that the recognition reflected multinational companies' strong confidence in the competence and potential of UniMAP graduates, particularly in meeting the demands of high-tech industries on a global scale. Meanwhile, in the same statement, UniMAP vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Zaliman Sauli described the achievement as the result of the collective efforts and unwavering commitment of all university staff in developing an educational ecosystem aligned with industry needs. 'This award demonstrates that UniMAP's strategic approach in bridging the gap between universities and industry is yielding positive results. We believe in the holistic development of graduates, not only in terms of academics but also in soft skills, leadership, and professionalism values. 'The confidence multinational companies have in UniMAP graduates demonstrates that our curriculum remains relevant and dynamic in addressing the challenges of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and beyond. 'UniMAP reaffirms its commitment to continue strengthening the structure and content of the curriculum, ensuring it aligns with current technological developments and the demands of the global job market,' he said. Zaliman said that UniMAP would continue to streamline and strengthen the curriculum by incorporating the latest elements, including digital technology, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. He said that the strategic link with industry would also be expanded to provide more opportunities for industrial training and collaborative research.
Daily Express
12-05-2025
- Daily Express
Sabah's timber revenue RM171 million last year
Published on: Monday, May 12, 2025 Published on: Mon, May 12, 2025 Text Size: Safar (right) receiving the SFD 2024 Annual Report from Frederick. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah retained 63 per cent of its landmass as forested areas, with 27 per cent designated as Totally Protected Areas, according to Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Frederick Kugan. The department also reported a revenue increase of RM16 million from timber royalties, totalling RM171 million in 2024. This is stated in the Forestry Department's 2024 annual report presented at State's Forestry Appreciation Ceremony on Friday. The 288-page report was presented State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 'Through teamwork and stakeholder partnerships, we are committed to sustainable forest management for Sabah's future,' said Frederick, expressing confidence in SFD's continued success. Notable events during the year included hosting the 20th Malaysian Forestry Conference, where the Sabah Mangrove Action Plan was launched and participating in international forums like the Asean Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Forum and the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Forest Landscape Restoration. Under the Greening Malaysia Campaign, Sabah planted 23 million trees, reinforcing its commitment to reforestation. The department also introduced carbon as a forest produce under the Forest Enactment 1968, aligning with global climate goals. To enhance transparency and market access, the Sabah Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS) is being revised to meet European Union regulations. Additionally, the Sabah Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (JCSPO) Initiative was launched to support smallholders through cost-effective group certification. The department also implemented digital tools like the Aplikasi Kutipan Cukai for timber royalty assessment and the E-Ladang Hutan (Geoforest System) to improve forest management. Forest protection efforts included training Honorary Forest Rangers and conducting Ops Khazanah operations. The SFD was also appointed to the National Anti-Financial Crime Council (NFCC) to ensure integrity in its operations. With 20 active Memoranda of Understanding and over 112 research publications, the department emphasised collaboration and innovation in sustainable forestry. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
