Building & Investment (Sep - Oct 2015) | Page 47

News & Events MTIB media tour of Melaka and Johor timber industry MTIB arrange three-day road trip to promote and publicise use of domestic wood species in building construction. A PICTURE MAY be worth a thousand words but nothing beats being where the action is. The recent three-day Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) media tour to Melaka and Johor is another of MTIB’s initiatives to promote and publicise the use of domestic wood species in building construction. The recent road trip, with an agenda of insight-seeing and fact-finding, served to acquaint media reps with the development and scope of downstream timber industries, i.e., the technology applied, production processes and marketing/markets. Thirdly, aside from a first-hand look at goingson in the industry (at least, in the selected states), it aims to foster and forge a close rapport between host and visitors, Day 1: Monday 7th September (a) Biobenua Teknologi Sdn Bhd Based in Kuala Linggi, Melaka, the company plants, harvests and processes resin-embedded heartwood agarwood (Aquilaria), commonly known as eaglewood, aloeswood, gaharu (Malaysia and Indonesia), jinko (Japan), oudh (Middle East) and chenxiang (China), that results from the tree being ‘infected’ when injected with inoculants. In response to the fungi/microbe ‘attack’ and as infection progresses, the tree is ‘stressed’ to produce a highly-prized dark aromatic resin which is subsequently extracted and processed into gaharu oil. By virtue of its inherent natural fragrance, gaharu oil finds wide-ranging applications in cosmetics and perfumery, aromatherapy (for anxiety, depression and stress treatment) and in the medicinal and pharmaceutical industries. Viability and earnings-potential of the industry is tremendous, given the global trade valued at up to USD 12 billion (Source: IFEAT Conference, 2012) and the growing demand for wood, wood chips, powder and oil. As indicators, 1 kg of wood fetches RM1,500 to RM2,000 whereas the current going price for high quality Vietnam oudh oil is USD 13.15 per gm FOB. Also, in encouraging and aiding new/added entrants into the industry, the company markets its inoculants, branded as Black Gold Bio Booster, to planters and facilities to be commissioned for thirdparty processing. (b) Rumah Melaka MTIB Completed in 2010 and financed under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the RM5.0 million Rumah Melaka is built on a 5-acre site provided by the Melaka State Government in a joint venture project with MTIB. Its aims are multi-fold, i.e., to promote the use of wood in the local market, to showcase timber products produced by Bumiputra entrepreneurs, to serve as the referral centre for the construction sector and as a tourist attraction, one of many in historical Melaka. Combining ancient heritage designs, modern construction methods (IBS) and various wood species feature in the construction of Rumah Melaka, namely, keranji for roof trusses, melunak and meranti for structural walls, merbau for parking floors and again, keranji for pergola and kapur for latticed steps. Aside from aesthetic value, these indigenous Malaysian species of wood are environmentally-friendly, non-hazardous, facilitate and inspire artistic craftwork by virtue of its workability and is proven to be sturdy, with a long shelf life if preserved as specified and applied as recommended. Also, in testimony to the commercial viability of timber as a building material, Rumah Melaka functions as a venue-for-rent, to host conferences, corporate/private meetings, seminars, product launches, wedding packages and more, complete with F&B facilities, i.e., cafeteria and catering. Day 2: Tuesday 8th September c) Galeri Glulam, Johor Bahru Three years in the making, the unique Galeri Glulam opened in 2012, to earn a listing in the Malaysian Book of Records as the first to be conceptualised and built with glue-laminated timber (glulam) and use of timber exceeding 80% in overall construction. Sited on 4.9 acres of MTIB land and fashioned after the Guggenheim Museum in New York, Galeri Glulam pioneered the application of glulam as the main structure with other building components of local wood species, i.e., main glulam portal frames of Malaysian hardwoods Resak and Keruing whilst an estimated 350,000 pieces of Belian shingles formed the roof; wall claddings were constructed of Kekatong and timber fins of Balau. As a showpiece and referral centre for building professionals, Galeri Glulam showcases and affirms, yet again, the commercial viability of timber in construction, in this case, timber building Datuk Hj Abdul Razak Hj Ali (left) and Mr Roslan Hj Ali, Directors of Biobenua Teknologi Sdn Bhd. Building & Investment | www.b-i.biz 43