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As an active organization, FRIM had done many activities.
The latest activities that FRIM had done are:-
FRIM offer CRAB formaldehyde-compliance testing service(Jun 2013)
3 June 2013 (Monday)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) offers formaldehyde emission testing services for manufacturers
of wood composite products meant for export particularly to the United States (US) to ensure compliance with
the stringent requirements of the Airborne Toxic Control Measures (ATCM) set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Having set up its Formaldehyde Emission Testing Laboratory since 2011 and sent its staff for training by
PT Mutuagung Lestari, Indonesia, FRIM is the only CARB-approved third party testing body offering such services
in Malaysia.
The laboratory has been fully-equipped with conditioning chambers, a main chamber and a chemistry laboratory manned
by the trained staff for testing of medium density fibre (MDF) board, particle board and plywood.
Two to three sample panel boards would be required for the testing and process takes up to 14 working days complete
with the preparation of a report.
"The services offered will benefit both manufacturers as well as buyers of such products, because we can help to
provide confirmation of the product quality as required by ASTM regulations.
"We can also help to provide verification of emission level for importers and exporters of such products,
in case of any dispute," said the FRIM Director General, Dato' Dr Abd Latif Mohmod.
CARB is a board which enforces ATCM to reduce formaldehyde emissions for composite wood products and finished goods
for the protection of American consumers. The regulation limits emission of formaldehyde from composite wood products
including hardwood plywood, in two phases starting 1 January 2009, and it is considered the most stringent wood-based
panel production standard in the world.
FRIM started working with PT Mutuagung Lestari, an Indonesian agency authorised by CARB as an official third-party
certification body, since 2008 to set up the testing laboratory. This is in line with FRIM's aim to help the local
industries overcome technical and market barriers imposed by importing countries.
In 2011, FRIM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with PT Mutuagung Lestari to extend their collaboration in working
towards obtaining international certification and recognition, ensuring harmony in the procedures, cross-checking
between their laboratories to increase service quality, and undertaking staff training.
FRIM conducts a Meet- the-Clients Day(May 2013)
29 May 2013 (Wednesday)
The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Research Planning and Corporate Division organised a Meet-the-Clients Day
(Hari Bertemu Pelanggan) at the FRIM Auditorium in Kepong on 27 May 2013.
The purpose of the programme was to encourage researchers from five FRIM divisions, namely Forestry and Environment,
Forest Products, Forest Biotechnology, Forest Biodiversity and Natural Products, to conduct their research in an
integrated and more innovative manner.
Officiating the opening ceremony, the FRIM Director General, Dato' Dr Abd Latif Mohmod,
said FRIM has a Strategic Alliance Agreement with the Malaysian Innovation Agency (AIM) since 2012 and
the agreement is beneficial to FRIM as AIM will help to advise researchers to ensure the commercialisation of
their research outputs.
The AIM Strategic Initiatives and Funding Executive Vice President, Naser Jaafar, gave a talk entitled:
"Research, Development and Commercialisation (R,D&C) in Forestry, the Way Forward".
Later, Naser joined Roydean Osman, who represented the AIM Secretariat Public Funds Investment Committee,
to serve as panel speakers at a forum on "Strategic Partnering in FRIM R,D&C", moderated by the FRIM Research
Planning and Corporate Division Director, Dato' Dr Marzalina Mansor. Also present was the Deputy Director General
(Research), Dr Mohamed Nor Mohd Yusoff.
Apart from the talk and forum, researchers were able to seek advice at a counter manned by Dr Nur Supardi Md Noor,
who heads the Policy and Research Collaboration Unit, on procedures in the application and implementation of
research collaboration involving a memorandum of understanding.
There were also counters set up for researchers to inquire about Research Information Management System (RIMS)
and Research Grants, as well as to participate in games such as Think and Guess.
FRIM conduct school tree planting workshop in Sarawak(May 2013)
23 May 2013 (Thursday)
The Nationwide School Forest Tree Planting Project, undertaken by Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), has successfully conducted the awareness
raising workshop and tree activities for SMK Matang in Kuching, Sarawak, on 15-16 May.
Under this project which started in 2010, a series of eight awareness raising workshops and forest tree planting activities were carried
out for 16 schools selected by the Ministry of Education (MOE) throughout the country.
The project was conducted by the FRIM Eco-tourism and Urban Forestry Programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), MOE, Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB),
Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM), Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) and Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).
The project aims to create awareness among students of their responsibility in protecting and conserving the environment.
It is envisioned that the tree planting activities at schools will help to inculcate interest in the students
to become better stewards and be more responsible in caring for the environment.
Through the workshops, the students were equipped with information of forest tree species, tree care and environmental
issues for better understanding on the relationship between tree stands and living organisms on earth.
The schools selected for the project representing each state in Malaysia were SK Kubang Gajah (Perlis),
SK Taman Awana (Kedah), SK Putrajaya Presint 18 (1) (FT Putrajaya), SMK Paya Keladi (Penang), SMJK Ave Maria Convent (Perak),
SMK Bukit Sentosa 2 (Selangor), SMK Seksyen 19 (Selangor), SMK Dato' Klana Putra (Negeri Sembilan), SMK Telok Mas (Malacca),
SMK Taman Pelangi Indah (Johor), SMK Tengku Bendahara (Kelantan), SMK Jenagor (Terengganu),
SMK Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom (Pahang), SMK Pantai (FT Labuan), SMK Sri Nangka (Sabah)
and SMK Matang Jaya (Sarawak).
During each workshop, the teachers and students were briefed on the project implementation objectives and methods,
as well as all the activities involved. They were taught the correct way of planting and caring for trees;
and they also learned more about the common economically and culturally valuable forest tree species.
Among others, nature games were conducted for students to encourage active participation and enhance understanding
of environmental issues. Participants were also exposed to issues of carbon sequestration besides performing some
exercises on how to calculate carbon sequestration by using the growth data of the trees.
The climax of the workshop was the tree planting event at the respective schools. The identification of planting
area was carried out prior to the activity, enabling the landscape to be designed accordingly with the planting of
suitable tree species. A total of 317 trees comprising 50 species were successfully planted in all schools under
this project.
The Project Head, who also heads the FRIM Eco-tourism and Urban Forestry Programme, Dr Noor Azlin Yahya,
expressed hope to obtain the support of all the collaborators to continue the project involving 16 more
schools up to 2015.
FRIM organizes National Conversation Symposium 2013 in Sarawak(May 2013)
23 May 2013 (Thursday)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has successfully organised the National Conservation Symposium 2013,
themed "Sustaining the National Heritage Treasures" at the Riverside Majestic Hotel in Kuching,
Sarawak on 13-16 May.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the FRIM Deputy Director General (Operations), Dr Norini Haron, on behalf
of the Director General, Dato' Dr Abdul Latif Mohmod. Also present were the Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Mayor,
Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai, and the Sarawak Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer, Dato' Rashid Khan.
The symposium is an annual programme held by FRIM involving selected parties with specific expertise in the areas
of research, education, tourism, architecture, design, maintenance, preservation and conservation of significant
buildings/homes, environmental/landscape management, archive management, resource centres, libraries,
museums (management of the product, artifact, specimen and other collections), information technology (IT),
management/administration as well as enforcement to promote and ensure the conservation of the country's heritage
for the future generations.
The main focus of this symposium was to bring together experts from FRIM and other institutions/organisations to
share their knowledge and experience, including on the methods or techniques in the early process of planning;
managing of records; documentation of information; procurement, research; conservation involving the process of treatment,
damage prevention and repair; up to the final stages of dissemination of information for knowledge sharing and continuous
learning.
This four-day symposium was attended by 95 participants representing various government departments/agencies as well as
the local universities and colleges. A total of 17 working papers were presented by speakers from FRIM,
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Sarawak Forestry Department, PERHILITAN, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation
(SEDC), National Landscape Department, Universiti Teknologi Mara Perak (UiTM Perak), National Heritage Department,
Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, National Archives of Malaysia (Sarawak) and Sarawak State Museum.
In addition, there were also exhibitions and fieldtrip to Wind Cave Sarawak, Sarawak Cultural Village, Semenggoh Wildlife
Rehabilitation Centre and Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) Sarawak.
The symposium, held for the first time in Kuching, Sarawak, was organised with the support of Sarawak Timber Industry
Development Corporation (STIDC), SEDC, Sarawak Cultural Village, DBKU, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC),
Sarawak Forestry Department, Tourism Malaysia Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board, UNIMAS, UiTM Perak, Archives of Malaysia
(Sarawak), MARDI Sarawak, Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, National Heritage Department, Department of
Wildlife and National Parks, Sarawak State Museum, Sarawak State Department, Borneo To The World and Dayang Salhah Kek Lapis.
FRIM conducts landscape& tree maintenance course(April 2013)
30 April 2013 (Tuesday)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has organised a course on landscape and tree maintenance at its campus in
Kepong from 23 to 26 April, with 27 participants including landscape contractors and personnel from local authorities.
The main objective of the course was to expose the participants to the process of planning, implementation of landscape work,
planting techniques and the maintenance of plants. It also provided a platform for the dissemination of the latest
information about the landscape industry whilst encouraging networking and collaboration among the participants.
The four-day course was also attended by six staff from the FRIM Forestry and Environment Division.
There were also participants from local universities and interested individuals.
The course covered various aspects of the planning and management of landscape works. Topics related to the current
landscape needs were highlighted throughout the program including introduction to the basics of landscaping,
tree growth and biology, technical preparation, planting and tree nursery.
There were lectures and discussions, as well as emphasis on practical work. Participants were given the opportunity to
gain hands-on experience with the demonstration and supervision of FRIM researchers and local experts.
By the end of the course, the participants were able to appreciate and understand urban landscaping better;
to know the process of landscape designing; to realise the importance of landscape in the national development
and to become confident and knowledgeable in this field.
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