Vincent (third left) and Zurina exchange agreement documents, witnessed by Dr Annuar (centre). Stephen and Choo are at first and second left respectively.
KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Association (STA) will fund a new research on ‘Development and Deployment of Improved Genetic Materials of Falcataria Moluccana’, amounting to RM2.4 million for the first two years of implementation.
The project, which is expected to kick off towards the end of the year, is jointly undertaken by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and GP Pusaka Sdn Bhd.
STA chairman Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik announced this during the presentation of cash awards, financial contributions to educational and non-profit organisations, as well as STA and Daiken scholarships at Wisma STA here yesterday.
His text of speech was read out by STA honorary treasurer Philip Choo.
Wong said STA has been committed to providing funds to universities, research-based companies and government agencies since 2005.
“Among the latest (allocations for) projects funded by the association includes the RM400,000 to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) for a three-year research on the production of high quality ‘kelampayan’ species for our forest plantation.
“Through this project, one PhD, two Masters and eight Bachelors students together with one research assistant are being trained – most of them have completed their studies,” he said.
Wong added that STA is currently providing RM582,420 over a period of 42 months to Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus for a project, aimed at identifying and isolating the rhizosphere microorganism from the soil, which could be used to formulate bio-fertiliser towards enhancing the growth performance of trees at the plantations.
This year, STA has awarded a total of RM550,600 to 962 students who excelled in last year’s Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations – 747 SPM students were each given RM550, while 215 STPM students were each awarded RM650.
These students received the cash awards from Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee.
At the function, STA Mutual Sdn Bhd (STAM) signed an agreement with Industrial Training Institute Kota Samarahan (ILPKS) on the provision of financial assistance for students to attend professional certificate courses.
“I am pleased to announce that the association will increase the number of students to 20 next year,” Wong said.
According to him, the professional certificate courses will equip students with skills in emergency preparedness, response plan, reporting of incidents and analysis techniques.
This year, STA had distributed 1,000 schoolbags – each with a set of stationery items – worth RM86,016.51 to selected primary school children.
Yesterday, STA contributed RM100,000 to SK Kampung Buda in Spaoh to facilitate rebuilding works on the school.
“We hope the financial assistance would be able to provide an environment conducive to the learning and teaching process, while (the school is) waiting for permanent assistance from the government,” said Wong.
STA also presented financial contributions of RM200,000 to Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) meant for scholarships to be awarded to selected primary and secondary school children, as well as RM15,000 to Yayasan LaSallian Kuching.
On top of that, the association donated RM10,000 to the Dyslexia Association of Sarawak, RM3,000 to Sarawak Society for Parents of Children with Special Needs (Pibakat), RM2,000 each to Kuching Autistic Association and Sarawak Association for the Welfare of Intellectually Disabled Children (Perkata).
This year’s STA scholarships were presented to Jasman Chai and Steven Lee – both pursuing Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering) at Swinburne Sarawak, as well to Melvin Simon and Wenna Willie, both Bachelor in Science and Management of Plant Resources students at Unimas.
The Daiken scholarships were awarded to Nur Afifah Ismail and Nur Hanisah Basuan, who are also studying Bachelor in Science and Management of Plant Resources at Unimas.
Among those present were STA permanent council member Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau, council member Stephen Lau and ILPKS director Zurina Amin.