SYNOPSIS

The rapid growth of the palm oil industry has brought many new challenges to the future competitiveness and sustainability. Issues on sustainability are threatening to erode the palm oil and its products. Looking to the importance of this, all of the products produced by a country need to pay attention to the sustainability of the global acceptance are always guaranteed. While many of these issues are related to the upstream activities concerned with the cultivation of oil palm, practices in midstream and downstream processing must be given equal attention to ensure that the industry is remain sustainable and competitive. There are a variety of sustainability issues that arise and are facing the palm oil producers in Malaysia. Among the major problems facing the environment is an issue that is currently being debated in the state. In addition, in Sarawak, the local community issues become a major obstacle for the industry to maximize the productivity of their production. However, all the issues raised have been magnified by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that got the attention of users of palm oil importing countries. Such things have affected the reputation of Malaysian palm oil in the world market. Consequently, Malaysian oil palm industry is clearly well regulated and current practices remain committed towards the three components of social equity, environmental protection and economic progress.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Ir. Wan Wai Thong was graduated with a Bachelor in Engineering Hons. Agriculture in 1993 from Universiti Putra Malaysia.  He worked his way up with the required knowledge and skills in palm oil milling industries. He obtained his 2nd grade steam engineer certificate by DOSH in 1995 and 1st grade steam engineer certificate by DOSH in 1997. In 1996, he obtained his Diploma in Palm Oil Milling and management offered by PORIM. He had worked in power plant for more than 6 years with experience in operation and maintenance of high pressure and temperature power plant, study and monitor boiler efficiency and related machineries.  He furthers his engineering quest by obtaining Professional Engineer certification by Board of Engineer Malaysia (BEM) in year 2011 and is a member of Institute of Engineer Malaysia (IEM).

Mohd Shahrin Rahimi has more than 6 years experiences in Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB). He was graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on 2010 with Bachelor of Chemical Engineering with Honor and continues on Master of Engineering Management from Universiti Putra Malaysia in year 2015. He has served in MPOB from 2011 until now as a Research Officer and has implemented Development of Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Standard and Certification Scheme, Development of MSPO Supply Chain Requirement for Palm Oil Refineries and Palm Kernel Crushers, MSPO certification for smallholders, plantation & mills, Technical working group committee member for MSPO standard, Technical working group committee member for MSPO mill, refinery and kernel crushers and working group committee member for MPOB’s ISO9001. He also is a lead auditor for MSPO and MPOB Code of Practices (CoP) certification scheme and auditing the practices in various oil palm premises including nurseries, plantations, palm oil mills, refineries and palm kernel cruchers.