Tropical Karst Symposium To Explore Sustainable Limestone Development

SHAH ALAM, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- The Tropical Karst Landscape: The Challenge of Conservation and Sustainable Use Symposium provides a platform for local universities and industry leaders to explore innovative ideas, which will shape the sustainable development of tropical limestone in Malaysia.

Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman said that the one-day symposium aimed to gather ideas and research findings on tropical limestone, which is very important as it is the country's main natural treasure.

“The importance of tropical limestone sustainability is undeniable. It is not only to the environment but also to the country's industry and economy.

“Hence, with the efforts of all parties, I hope that this (symposium and industry-university collaboration) can spark new ideas, which can have a positive impact on the country," she said, via video call, at the opening of the symposium organised by the University-Industry Research Consortium (UIRC), here, today.

Also present were UIRC director Prof Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo and Associated Pan Malaysia Cement Sdn Bhd (APMC) executive director Datuk Hamidah Maktar.

On Oct 26, 2023, the media reported that YTL Cement Bhd (YTL Cement) and MOHE have entered into a strategic partnership, with the establishment of UIRC for the purpose of research on the sustainability of Tropical Limestone Karst Landscapes in Malaysia.

This groundbreaking consortium, the first of its kind in the country, involves five leading local universities: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.

Through the consortium, YTL Cement will provide scholarships to 40 Master's and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students to conduct research, with a matching grant of RM1.6 million for a period of five years, starting last year.

Meanwhile, YTL Cement, in a statement, explained that the symposium is a key component of UIRC’s mandate, serving several purposes, including the announcement of the first six consortium scholarship recipients, the introduction of the UIRC Young Researcher Industrial Grant, and the facilitation of knowledge exchange between emerging scholars and established experts.

It said that by creating a platform for dialogue among early-career researchers, seasoned academics, and industry leaders, the UIRC reaffirms Malaysia’s commitment to maintaining its leadership in tropical karst research, conservation, and sustainable development.

“The symposium underscored the urgency of protecting these biodiverse formations, which account for less than three per cent of the nation’s landmass. 

It added that amid mounting pressures from resource extraction and infrastructural development, the UIRC serves as a strategic bridge between academia and industry, ensuring that Malaysia’s economic growth aligns with environmental responsibility.  

-- BERNAMA