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MPIC Minister YB Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong (far left)
and his deputy YB Datuk Datu Nasron Datu Mansur (3rd
from left) during the working visit; accompanied by MTIB
Chairman YB Tuan Anyi Ngau (4th from left) and MTIB DG
Dr Jalaluddin Harun (far right).

MTIB hosts working visit for MPIC ministers
Recently-appointed MPIC Minister, YB Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong and
deputy visits MTIB to catch up on latest developments.

IT WAS MORE than a courtesy visit when
recently-appointed Honourable Minister
of Plantation Industries and Commodities
(MPIC), YB Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong,
and his Deputy, YB Datuk Datu Nasron
Datu Mansur, graced the halls of the
Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB)
on 25 July 2016. The ‘working visit’, as
the Honourable Minister put it, was twofold, i.e., to be acquainted with the role of
MTIB and be up to speed on developments
in the timber industry, both domestic and
global. To oblige were none other than
MTIB Chairman, YB Tuan Anyi Ngau, and
Director-General, Dr Jalaluddin Harun.
Status Quo & Stats
Here at home, the timber industry is a
significant contributor to the national
economy with revenue from exports
valued at RM 22.4 billion for the year
2015. The lion’s share of this revenue is
claimed by the timber furniture sector
with earnings of RM 7.29 billion, or 32.9%,
primarily for exports to Japan, the United
States and India (Source: Department of
Statistics Malaysia). To date, for the period
January to May 2016, the sector accounted
for exports valued at RM 3.03 billion,
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against a grand total of RM 9.13 billion,
an encouraging performance, no doubt,
trending to growth and expansion.
Critical to the continued well-being
and long-term sustainability of this
sector is raw material supply, an issue, the
Honourable Minster reiterates, that will
have his Ministry’s undivided attention.
Emphasis, he added, will also be given
to research and development (R&D), to
technological and engineering innovation
(e.g., glulam) that add value to both
productivity and products.
MTIB Initiatives
To these end purposes, the Honourable
Minister lauded MTIB for its past and ongoing efforts and initiatives in addressing
challenges and issues that impinge and/or
impact on the industry, e.g.,
• Promoting
automation
and
mechanisation through the LEAN
Management programme to inculcate,
among others, best practices in product
processing and delivery, improve
productivity and competitiveness and
reduce dependence on foreign labour.
• Developing and nurturing skills of
home-grown designers to create, for

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both the domestic and global markets,
designs and products of international
standards through programmes such
as TANGGAM.
Timber Legality Assurance System
(MyTLAS) to fulfil legal requirements
so as to verify legitimacy of
suppliers/producers and curb the
commercialisation of timber from nonvalid sources.
Wood Industry Skills Development
Centre
(WISDEC),
established
specifically to build a pool of locallytrained skilled workers to meet the
needs of the wood-based industry and,
in turn, rely less on labour imports. ■