MRB to supply 1Malaysia Clone, Sime Darby Plantation will plant in two estates

Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd (SDP) and Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) signed a MoU on 29 September 2011 that will form the collaborative framework of co-operation aimed at bringing significant impact to the rubber industry. Under the MoU, MRB will provide research and development competencies and rubber clones for the purpose of commercial scale cultivation. The rubber clone identified is RRIM 3001, or better known as the 1Malaysia rubber clone.

Meanwhile, SDP will identify areas of land for research and development activities in rubber cultivation, and manage the trial areas. SDP has selected Ladang Bukit Pilah in Negeri Sembilan and Ladang Bukit Hijau in Kedah as the areas that will undertake the commercial scale rubber planting.

The simple ceremony was held at the 14th Floor Penthouse of Wisma Consplant 1. Signing the MoU for SDP was Mr Franki Anthony Dass, the Managing Director of SDP, witnessed by En Mohamad Nageeb Ahmad Abdul Wahab, Head of Rubber, Other Crops & Mechanization. Meanwhile, the Director General of MRB, Datuk Dr. Salmiah Ahmad, signed on behalf of the board, witnessed by Dr Mohd Akbar Md Said, the board’s Deputy Director General. Senior management and staff from both companies also witnessed the signing ceremony.

Datuk Dr Salmiah and Mr Anthony also held informal discussions on future collaborations between the two parties. Both are keen to see the industry adopt mechanisation as a means to improve efficiency and control costs.