40th Anniversary: FRIM Enhances Contribution Through Research, Green Innovation

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- After four decades since its establishment, the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) will further enhance its contributions to the nation through high-impact research, green innovation and biodiversity conservation.

FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan is confident that with the continued support from all parties, the institute will remain relevant and authoritative as the leading research institution for the well-being of the people and future generations.

"FRIM will continue to play a key role in the fields of tropical forestry research, biodiversity, climate change, biotechnology, forest products and development based on natural resources,” he said in a statement.

 He said that FRIM's success over the past 40 years is the result of the continued commitment of the ministry, its partners, stakeholders and FRIM personnel.

FRIM marked the 40th anniversary of its establishment as a statutory body by organising the FRIM Open Day at its main campus and Taman Botani Kepong yesterday, drawing over 5,000 visitors from all walks of life, including students, researchers, industries, non-governmental organisations and the local community.

The Open Day was launched by Ismail and also attended by former FRIM director-general Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor; FRIM deputy director-general (Research) Dr Norwati Muhammad; deputy director-general (Operations) Mahmudin Saleh; as well as FRIM Institute Members - including  Datuk Razali Mohamad (Ministry of Plantation and Commodities), Dr Ahmad Aldrie Amir (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia), as well as Farydatul Nazly Mohd Zin and Noorazimah Sarkom (Malaysian Timber Industry Board).

This year's celebration is more meaningful after FRIM was listed as the sixth UNESCO World Heritage Site in Malaysia and the first in Selangor in July, thus strengthening FRIM's position as the leader in tropical forestry research and a world-class ecotourism destination.

"From a former mining area, the FRIM campus has now become one of the world's earliest man-made tropical rainforests, thus recognised as a successful model of ecological restoration,” the statement added.

In a symbolic gesture, Ismail, together with the invited dignitaries, planted the jelutong tree (Dyera costulata) along Jalan Jelutong, marking the 100,000th tree planted under the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign.

Among the activities held during the FRIM Open Day were the FRIMazing Race competition, nature trail and Forest Skywalk tours, research exhibitions, latest technology demonstrations, Pocket Talk sessions and guided visits to research laboratories.

Visitors also had the opportunity to explore prestigious research reference centres, such as the Herbarium and Insectarium, which showcase valuable collections of tropical flora and fauna, as well as the Herbal Technology Centre (HTC), Bamboo and Rattan Gallery, and the Elephant Conservation Exhibition by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan).

-- BERNAMA