CM: Tap oil palm biomass sector

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said Sabah must not miss the opportunity of taking part in solutions that deal with oil palm biomass.

He said as a major palm oil producing state, Sabah should continue to focus on what to do with waste that came from the sector.

"There are technologies in place to make use of biomass, including for renewable energy.

"Industry players should work with companies and research institutions that have solutions to venture into this important segment of the oil palm sector," he said after officiating the Palmex Malaysia 2012 here, yesterday.

6 comments | FULL STORY

UMS and Taiwan varsity to do joint ventures

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has sealed an agreement with a Taiwan-based university for collaborative efforts in research, academic mobility and student exchange. Disclosing this yesterday, UMS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah UMS inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) to pave the way for future joint ventures including in the field of sustainable agriculture.

Collaborative efforts in research, academic mobility and student exchange

6 comments | FULL STORY

Musa: Sabah as the country's major producer of crude palm oil (CPO)

The TSH Biotech laboratory produced high quality of oil palm ramets and will provide huge boost for Sabah as the country's major producer of crude palm oil (CPO). The high quality oil palm ramets could triple palm oil yields. The laboratory had also provided some 250 local people job opportunities. 

Many oil palm players have spoken of biotechnology in the Sabah oil palm sector but only a few have invested their resources into the untapped field. CM said TSH should be commended for their foresight over 10 year ago in addressing land scarcity while improving planting materials for better productivity and yields Local oil palm players such as TSH had shown their commitment to the local economy and community. TSH executive chairman Datuk Kelvin Tan hoped to enjoy the 50% power rebate from SESB. 

• RM40m invested
• 2011, 70,000 sq  ft tissue culture laboratory was now on track to produce 500,000 Wakuba ramets  
• Gradually increasing to 1.5m by the year of 2015.
• 30% of the country's oil palm are planted in Sabah

Hope TSH research will produce high quality ramets that can increase palm oil yields. Hope TSH also can provide more job opportunities to local.

Source: New Sabah Times

35 comments | FULL STORY