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