FRIM News

22 January 2019 (Tuesday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Director General (DG) Dato’ Abd Latif Mohmod and Deputy DG (Research) Dr Samsudin Musa visited Penang on 12 January to discuss the possibility of assisting the state in the conservation and rehabilitation of mangroves related to the proposed Penang South Reclamation Project. Representatives of SRS, State Government and JPNPP posing for a group picture. Samsudin (third from left), Rusli (fourth from left) and Abd Latif (fifth from left).  SRS representative Poh Chia Ching briefing the attendees. Following the FRIM Technology Talk held on 27 November last year [...]

16 January 2019 (Wednesday) – The Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources (KATS), Dr Xavier Jayakumar, has conducted his first working visit to Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Kepong, this morning. He who was accompanied by the KATS Deputy Secretary General (Land and Natural Resources), Dato' Suhaimi Mamat and the Biodiversity Management and Forestry Under Secretary, Dato' Wan Mazlan Wan Mahmood. Abd Latif (left) discussing with Xavier at the briefing session. From left: Marzalina, Amiruddin, Abd Latif, Xavier, Faizal, Suhaimi and Mohd Adnan during the MOU document exchange.  The Minister was greeted by FRIM Director General [...]

10 January 2019 (Thursday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has adjusted its operation hours since 2 January 2019 to ensure public safety in the campus.  “We appreciate the cooperation and supporting given to conserve the campus,” said Liza Ismail.  New operation hours displayed on FRIM Facebook page. The new operation hours will be fully enforced from 1 July. However, FRIM has started advising and educating visitors who come early to enter the campus at 6.00 am. FRIM Campus is open from 6.00 am to 7.00 pm, with the last entry at 6.30 pm.  Recreational activities can [...]

3 January 2019 (Thursday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) manages to keep its vintage timber engineering device, the Buckton universal testing machine, working with some modification. The 97-year-old machine, believed to be the only remaining unit in the world, is still in good working condition today thanks to the brilliance of Dr Mohamad Omar Mohamad Khaidzir, who heads the FRIM Timber Engineering Laboratory (TEL). ​ Mohamad Omar and the computerised Buckton universal testing machine.  Mohamad Omar explaining about the research conducted at TEL to visitors.  With his passion in software writing and electronics, Mohamad Omar created a computerised [...]

28 December 2018 (Friday) – With its rich collection of insects, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has become a centre of reference for insect taxonomic studies by scientists locally and internationally. The FRIM Entomology Branch, which manages the Entomological Reference Collection, also provides insect identification services for the industry and government agencies. The reference collection consists of approximately 600,000 specimens, of which 10,000 have been identified to species. It also holds 187 holotypes and nearly 1,000 paratypes donated by taxonomists working on the specimens. Entomologists, Veronica Khoo (left) and Ong Su Ping, examining some of the insect specimens.  [...]

26 December 2018 (Wednesday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has taken proactive measures to become a recognised testing body for formaldehyde emission based on international certification/regulatory schemes to help local industry players in overcoming market barriers imposed by importing countries. Most wood panel products use synthetic resin such as urea formaldehyde (UF), phenol formaldehyde (PF) and melamine urea formaldehyde as adhesive material. However, the toxic and colourless formaldehyde has been categorised as a carcinogenic substance by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union (EU). Hence, importing countries has imposed strict regulations and standards on wood products to ensure [...]

24 December 2018 (Monday) – A team of researchers from the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Entomology Branch participated in a sago (Metroxylon sagu) tree planting programme at Tanjung Beluntas located just across the river from Kampung Kuantan Firefly Jetty on 8 December 2018. The programme, organised by the Land/District Office in collaboration with the Standing Committee of Environment and Green Technology, was officiated by Kuala Selangor District Officer, Tuan Shamsul Shahril Badzila Mohd Noor. Kuala Selangor District Officer Shamsul Shahril Badzila (third from right) officiated the tree planting programme with Mukim Pasangan Village Head  Mohd Rizan Haron [...]