I read with some interest today on the Government's move to develop the MyIdeas portal. The portal aims at receiving ideas and suggestions from the public on how to tackle the economic, social and technological challenges faced by the nation. These ideas will be showcased at the 2010 Year of Creativity and Innovation. "Excellent ideas will be developed further by scientists, and the final idea patented or copyrighted to the original proposer," said Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.
A very commendable idea, I must say because this is actually what MPOB had done way back in late 1990's. Our Director-General then, Tan Sri Yusof Basiron, developed the IdeasBank to invite the researchers and staff to come out with ideas on how to maximize usage of the oil palm and palm oil. The Secretariat collected numerous ideas and the good ones are implemented by the Organization. Of course, the proposer of these innovative and implementable ideas are being rewarded for their good efforts.
The Nation can't wait to see this portal to be launched by the Prime Minister of Malaysia come July 8.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
More Palm Oil R and D
MPOB once again organised its Annual Transfer of Technology Seminar mid-month of June 2009. More technologies are being offered to the palm oil industry for commercialization. R&D is the life-blood of any industry for that matter, determining the rise and fall of that industry. For an insight into the available technologies, kindly surf http://www.mpob.gov.my/html/04_tfc/04.htm
The information database service, PALMOILIS, was the amongst the earliest technologies made available via subscription to members of the Industry since 1993. PALMOILIS is MPOB TT No 10. It is available at http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/
Some of the information in the database are free of charge, but some have to be subscribed. As Bill Gates once said, "The Internet is like a bookshop - some information you get free, some you have to buy'.
The information database service, PALMOILIS, was the amongst the earliest technologies made available via subscription to members of the Industry since 1993. PALMOILIS is MPOB TT No 10. It is available at http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/
Some of the information in the database are free of charge, but some have to be subscribed. As Bill Gates once said, "The Internet is like a bookshop - some information you get free, some you have to buy'.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Palm, Science and Islam
On June 19, I attended a dinner, Ladies Nite of the Ministry of Finance 2009 at MOF, Putrajaya. I was very impressed with the way the dinner was organised in accordance with the theme, ie Arabian Night. Most of the attendees really took the trouble to dress up ala Arabian, some even to the extent of wearing harem pants and Ali Baba caps to suit the occasion! What impressed me most was the props and decor on stage, the paste-on cuttings of camels, Palm Trees, brightly-coloured scatter cushions piled all along the stage front. I must say the ambiance created was truly Arabian! The nite was graced with the prescence of the First lady of Malaysia and other top-ranking PUSPANITA members.
But what impressed me most was the nostalgia it brought me when I saw the Palm Trees lining the stage. Of course, the palms in this case, refers to the Date Palms which bear the dates or 'buah kurma' in Bahasa Melayu. In the Holy Quran, the Palm Trees and its Fruits are mentioned in many of the Surahs and Ayats, all denoting the importance of these palms in the livelihood of the early inhabitants of the Earth, especially the Arabic world.
There are 2 types of tropical palms and 1 main type of desert-climate palm. Phoenix dactylfera (dactylfera meaning bearing dates) is the date palm, considered sacred in Saudi Arabia, North Africa and the surrounding regions. The 2 main types of tropical palms are the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera - nucifera meaning bearing nuts)
Hence, the Palm species (date, oil and coconut collectively) is truly a gift from God. From time immemorial, the Palm greens the Earth and feeds the World.
But what impressed me most was the nostalgia it brought me when I saw the Palm Trees lining the stage. Of course, the palms in this case, refers to the Date Palms which bear the dates or 'buah kurma' in Bahasa Melayu. In the Holy Quran, the Palm Trees and its Fruits are mentioned in many of the Surahs and Ayats, all denoting the importance of these palms in the livelihood of the early inhabitants of the Earth, especially the Arabic world.
There are 2 types of tropical palms and 1 main type of desert-climate palm. Phoenix dactylfera (dactylfera meaning bearing dates) is the date palm, considered sacred in Saudi Arabia, North Africa and the surrounding regions. The 2 main types of tropical palms are the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera - nucifera meaning bearing nuts)
Hence, the Palm species (date, oil and coconut collectively) is truly a gift from God. From time immemorial, the Palm greens the Earth and feeds the World.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Elvis Presley - User of Vitamin E
My idol Elvis Presley too was a firm believer in the health properties of Vitamin E. Two years ago, our local TV station played a documentary video on the King of Rock to commemorate his sudden death in July 1977. I was watching intently his superb concert performance, amongst his last before his death. When he was interviwed by the press, he said he took Vitamin E to give him the energy! I thought at that time, way back in the swinging seventies, he must be taking vitamin E from soybean oil, probably not Vitamin E made from Palm Oil. (In the 70s, palm oil was just making its mark in the edible oils and fats market. It is only in 2009 that Palm Oil hit the world as the No I Oil.
The late Elvis Presley died due to an overdose of drugs. Coincidentally, I was on a honeymoon trip enroute to Montreal, Canada, with a couple of friends, Dr Suhaila Mohamed and Raja. We were cruising down the highway when there was a newsflash on the radio, announcing the death of this superstar. The news shocked the nation and I, a loyal silent fan of Elvis, was stunned for a minute. But I supposed The Almighty wanted him more than his own fans. To my idol Elvis, wherever you are, may you rest in peace...
The late Elvis Presley died due to an overdose of drugs. Coincidentally, I was on a honeymoon trip enroute to Montreal, Canada, with a couple of friends, Dr Suhaila Mohamed and Raja. We were cruising down the highway when there was a newsflash on the radio, announcing the death of this superstar. The news shocked the nation and I, a loyal silent fan of Elvis, was stunned for a minute. But I supposed The Almighty wanted him more than his own fans. To my idol Elvis, wherever you are, may you rest in peace...
Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali- User of Palm Oil Vitamin E
On 11 June 2009, the Editorial Board* of the Coffeetable Book Citra Gemilang 25 PUSPANITA 1983-2008 paid a courtesy visit to YAB Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Former First Lady of Malaysia and PUSPANITA Adviser 1983-2003. She was looking good in her Baju Kebaya and had a big smile for everyone of us, as always. And she remembered my giving her a hamper 0f palm-based goodies, including Palm Vitee, MPOB's homegrown Vitamin E supplement. Being a woman she is, she asked us "Cantik tak?" and I spontaneously complimented as I looked at her complexion, "Beautiful!", I said. She definitely did not look her biological age, thanks to Vitamin E!
Vitamin E is used in many cosmetics products in the market today because R&D has proven that it can delay the ageing process.
* Datin Mardhiah Md Zin is the Pengerusi Sidang Redaksi Citra Gemilang 25 Tahun PUSPANITA 1983-2008
Vitamin E is used in many cosmetics products in the market today because R&D has proven that it can delay the ageing process.
* Datin Mardhiah Md Zin is the Pengerusi Sidang Redaksi Citra Gemilang 25 Tahun PUSPANITA 1983-2008
Friday, June 5, 2009
http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/Vtour/index.htm
The Palm Information Centre is an idea crystallized out of the need to promote the wonderful properties of the oil palm, the Golden Crop of Malaysia. The idea was conceived at the height of the Anti-Palm Oil Smear Campaign, waged by the American Soybean Association(ASA) way back in 1987. While my R&D colleagues worked extremely hard at their work benches in their laboratories trying to unveil the inherent prooperties of palm oil, I was equally thinking hard in our Library, trying to formulate a plan to promote this wonder oil. After much planning with a dedicated team of building consultants and with the support of the Management and staff, the Palm Information Centre was officialised 16 Jun 2000, on occassion of the launching of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board(MPOB) as a result of the merger of PORIM and PORLA.
That day was the proudest moment of my career to see the Centre opened to the public, to show to the world that our palm oil is the No 1 oil in the world!
The Palm Information Centre is an idea crystallized out of the need to promote the wonderful properties of the oil palm, the Golden Crop of Malaysia. The idea was conceived at the height of the Anti-Palm Oil Smear Campaign, waged by the American Soybean Association(ASA) way back in 1987. While my R&D colleagues worked extremely hard at their work benches in their laboratories trying to unveil the inherent prooperties of palm oil, I was equally thinking hard in our Library, trying to formulate a plan to promote this wonder oil. After much planning with a dedicated team of building consultants and with the support of the Management and staff, the Palm Information Centre was officialised 16 Jun 2000, on occassion of the launching of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board(MPOB) as a result of the merger of PORIM and PORLA.
That day was the proudest moment of my career to see the Centre opened to the public, to show to the world that our palm oil is the No 1 oil in the world!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Palm Oil - The Natural Choice
http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/Vtour/level2a5.htm
Eighty per cent of Malaysia's palm oil production is used in the food sector. Palm 0il is a very versatile oil with a range of distinctive properties, enabling it to meet most of the technological requirements for formulating fat-based products. By fractionating palm oil, its uses are further increased. Hydrogenation and interesterification increase its usage even further especially in the making specialised and sophisticated edible products.
Malaysian palm oil is most suitable for the manufacture of margarine. It is also a great frying oil for convenience or snack foods such as french fries or potato chips, instant noodles and doughnuts. Malaysian palm oil in combination with some palm stearin can also be used as shortening of excellent quality. Palm oil shortening has been found very suitable for making bread, cakes, pastries, cream and sweets and confectionery. Vanaspati is another product for which palm oil can be used to a very great extent. Another specialty use of palm oil is in ice cream. It is satisfactorily used as a cocoa butter substitute(CBS).
Click on to our recipes below to find out how nutritious palm oil can be.
http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/recipes/recp.html
Eighty per cent of Malaysia's palm oil production is used in the food sector. Palm 0il is a very versatile oil with a range of distinctive properties, enabling it to meet most of the technological requirements for formulating fat-based products. By fractionating palm oil, its uses are further increased. Hydrogenation and interesterification increase its usage even further especially in the making specialised and sophisticated edible products.
Malaysian palm oil is most suitable for the manufacture of margarine. It is also a great frying oil for convenience or snack foods such as french fries or potato chips, instant noodles and doughnuts. Malaysian palm oil in combination with some palm stearin can also be used as shortening of excellent quality. Palm oil shortening has been found very suitable for making bread, cakes, pastries, cream and sweets and confectionery. Vanaspati is another product for which palm oil can be used to a very great extent. Another specialty use of palm oil is in ice cream. It is satisfactorily used as a cocoa butter substitute(CBS).
Click on to our recipes below to find out how nutritious palm oil can be.
http://palmoilis.mpob.gov.my/recipes/recp.html
Monday, June 1, 2009
Malaysian Palm Oil - No 1 in the World
Palm Oil is the No I oil in the world. World production of edible oils and fats stood at 160 million tonnes for the year 2009. Palm oil and palm kernel oil are jointly the largest contributor, accounting for 48 million tonnes or 30% of the total output. Soyabean oil came in second with 37 million tonnes (23%). Malaysia contributed nearly 11% to the global oils and fats output through 17.7 million tonnes of palm oil. It also maintained dominance of the palm oil trade, holding 45% of the market share.
Ref: Global Oils and Fats 2009 Vol 6 Issue 1
For the latest production statistics and prices of Malaysian palm oil, kindly go to:
http://econ.mpob.gov.my/economy/EID_web.htm
You can also get daily prices via your mobile phone at SAWIT INFO-SMS.
http://161.142.157.2/databank/sms/smscorp.htm
Ref: Global Oils and Fats 2009 Vol 6 Issue 1
For the latest production statistics and prices of Malaysian palm oil, kindly go to:
http://econ.mpob.gov.my/economy/EID_web.htm
You can also get daily prices via your mobile phone at SAWIT INFO-SMS.
http://161.142.157.2/databank/sms/smscorp.htm
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