19 August 2019 (Monday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) hosted the Family Day programme of KASIH Malaysia, an association of the wives of Pakatan Harapan cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, on Saturday, 17 August.

From left: Abd Latif, Siti Hasmah and Anne James speaking at the event while Noor Azlin (far right) giving a briefing on FRIM.	Abd Latif, Siti Hasmah (third and fourth from right) and others posing with the tree planted by Mahathir in 2015.

The programme was launched by the Prime Minister’s wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, who is also KASIH Malaysia Chairperson. FRIM Director General (DG) Dato’ Dr Abd Latif Mohmod was invited to deliver a welcome remarks while FRIM Ecotourism and Urban Forestry Programme Head Dr Noor Azlin Yahya gave a briefing on ‘FRIM Biodiversity and Environment Education’.

KASIH Malaysia Family Wellbeing Bureau Deputy Head Anne James Sivarasa also provided a briefing on the programme. She said FRIM was selected specifically to raise awareness on the importance of forest conservation and protection, as well as to foster closer family ties among KASIH Malaysia members. Following the briefing, the attendees participated in activities such as guided nature walks and ‘Treasure Hunt’ conducted by FRIM Visitor Information Centre (VIC) as well as a terrarium, kokedama and trampoline.

Tun Dr Siti Hasmah also participated in a guided tour led by Abd Latif, Dr Noor Azlin and Media Officer Lim Chung Lu to areas around the historic FRIM Administrative Building. Among others, she was brought to two spots where Prime Minister (PM) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad had planted a tree in 1984 and 2015 respectively.

Tun Dr Mahathir arrived at the FRIM campus to join the programme at 1.00pm. According to FRIM DG, the PM’s presence was of great importance to FRIM as he was the only PM who visited FRIM three times. During his first visit to FRIM on 11 June 1984, Tun Dr Mahathir supported the establishment of FRIM as a statutory body and suggested FRIM be developed as an ecotourism destination. As a result, FRIM became a full-fledged statutory body in 1985 and has since been conducting research activities, contributing to forest conservation and management as well as to the country’s forestry industry till today.

Abd Latif greeting Mahathir upon his arrival.	All the programme participants and organisers posing for a group picture with Mahathir and Siti Hasmah.

The programme ended with the prize and souvenirs presentation ceremony as well as a group photography session for all organisers, participants and staff with Tun Dr Siti Hasmah and Tun Dr Mahathir.