MIRI: The Sarawak government signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) today (Nov 4) with 13 Licence Planted Forests (LPF) holders including Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM).
The Forest Department signed the MOU on behalf of the state government.
Speaking at the opening of the Industrial Forest Plantation Seminar here, Forest Department director Datuk Hamden Mohammad said the MOU would help the state government and the Forest Department to strengthen collaborative research work.
He explained the MOU with FRIM was to collaborate on the control and management of pests and diseases to ensure the vitality and optimum yield production of Sarawak forest plantation.
“We hope that this collaboration with FRIM will expand to other disciplines and areas such as tree breeding, sustainable forest management (SFM) and many more. Definitely, this collaboration will bring about a very positive outcome to Sarawak Industrial Forest Plantation,” said Hamden.
He hoped that the MOU would also help to address the gaps in R&D and knowledge sharing among the industries.
“The state government understands that R&D needs continuous funding and is always willing to support research and innovation that can contribute to improve the performance of our industrial forests.
“Under the 11th Malaysia Plan, a project entitled “Establishment of Centre of Excellence for Planted Forest R&D in Sarawak” has been approved with the aims of fast-tracking R&D and establishing a Centre of Excellence for planted forest R&D in the state,” added Hamden.
Besides FRIM, the other LPF holders that signed MOU were Ta Ann Holdings Sdn Bhd, RH Forest corporation Sdn Bhd, Polima Forest Bintulu Sdn Bhd, Billion Venture Sdn Bhd, Shin Yang Forest Sdn Bhd, Limba Jaya Timber Sdn Bhd, Bigwood Sdn Bhd, Immense Fleet Sdn Bhd, Subur Tiara Foresty Sdn Bhd, Tanjong Manis Resources Sdn Bhd, Samling Reforestation (Bintulu) Sdn Bhd.
Present at the launch of the seminar were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister of Urban Development and Resources Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau and Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat.
