13 March 2019 (Wednesday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Malaysian Panel-Products Manufacturers’ Association (MPMA) and Plus Intervest in the collaboration of producing tissue culture Eucalyptus seedlings yesterday.

Abd Latif delivering his speech at the ceremony.	Abd Latif (left) and Sheikh Othman signing the MOU documents.

This FRIM-MPMA collaboration involves producing tissue culture seedlings of Eucalyptus sp. and other commercial value species for plantation. FRIM plays the role in promoting and supporting the MPMA community plantation programme by providing expertise and technical assistance in the production of seedlings through culture tissue.

FRIM also signed an MOU with Plus Intervest as a continuation project from the MOU signed in April 2016, which expires in April 2019. This continuation project focuses on the production of large-scale Eucalyptus hybrid and E. pellita tissue culture seedlings for planting by Plus Intervest as well as small farmers around Batu Kikir, Negeri Sembilan to ensure the sustainability of plant materials and raw materials.

FRIM Director General (DG) Dato’ Dr Abd Latif Mohmod signed both MOUs on behalf of FRIM; while MPMA was represented by its Chairman, Datuk Wira Sheikh Othman Abdul Rahman and Plus Intervest by Managing Director Datuk Chua Hock Gee.

From left: Marzalina, Abd Latif, Chua, Sheikh Othman and Yu during the documents exchange.	All attendees at the ceremony posing for a group photograph.

Also present were Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) Chief Executive Officer Richard Yu, FRIM Deputy DG (Operations) Dr Khali Aziz Hamzah, FRIM Forestry Biotechnology Director Dato’ Dr Marzalina Mansor, Natural Products Director Dr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali, Innovation and Commercialisation Director Norhayati Nordin, Biotechnology Programme Head Dr Norwati Muhammad, Tissue Culture Branch Head Dr Nor Hasnida Hassan, as well as the officers of the Forestry Biotechnology Division and the Corporate Communication Unit.