Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang recognises AAR’s contribution to greehouse gas studies with Department of Agriculture Sarawak
The Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang refuted allegations made by some Western non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that peat soil in Sarawak was unsuitable for planting oil palm in The Borneo Post dated 19 April 2007.
Datuk Patinggi thanked three scientists – one professor from the Hokkaido University of Japan, a private science researcher from an institute in Kuala Lumpur and a local soil scientist Dr. Lulie Melling, from the Agriculture Department in Kuching – who had conducted studies on the planting of oil palm on peat soil and found that on the contrary, peat soil did not emit as much as greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as claimed by the western NGOs.
(The institute named above is Advanced Agriecological Research Sdn. Bhd.)
For further information, please read NGOs’ allegations refuted in The Borneo Post.
Queen’s Royal Visit to Goodenough College
Queen’s Royal Visit to Goodenough College
Mr. Patrick Ng (second from left) was presented to the Queen of United Kingdom on 10 November 2006.
“Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen of United Kingdom would be making a royal visit to Goodenough College on Friday the 10th November 2006 to mark the College’s 75th Birthday”, read a sign in the reception area of Goodenough College, a postgraduate hall that I am staying. I took a glance and sighed as I had classes on Friday. I consoled myself that, with more than 600 people staying at Goodenough, having a glimpse of the Queen may be impossible; let alone meeting her in person.
10 days before the scheduled royal visit, I got a note in my pigeon hole informing me that I was selected to be “presented” to the Queen (no, not on a silver platter but merely means meeting the Queen). At first, I was not too excited about it as I had classes and had no plans of skipping them. Later I found out from my hall-mates that I was indeed very lucky to be selected to represent Malaysia as only a handful of the 600-odd were selected. A tough choice: royalty or duty? I spoke to my professor and he told me that I should go and meet the Queen as she is a very “special” person. Thus convinced, I took his advice and decided to turn-up for the occasion.
The build-up to the royal visit was intense in Goodenough. Floor tiles were replaced, windows were cleaned, banners and flags depicting all the different nationalities were made and hung in the Dining Hall (including Malaysia’s Jalur Gemilang), red carpets were rolled-out, security was tightened and apparently a bomb squad was even sent to ensure that the place was secure.
Everyone got excited on The-Day and I had to admit that I also felt some excitement in the air. The Queen arrived on time and her royal entourage made their way through Goodenough College as all members of the college formed rows on her left and right. The lucky people who were selected to be presented (including yours truly) were then allowed into the Dining Hall where we shall be “presented” to Her Majesty. I was huddled up in the Australiasia Commonwealth Group and as Australiasia began with “A” we were the nearest to the entrance and would be presented to the Queen first!
Words cannot describe the magical feeling of meeting the Queen face to face and shaking her hand. At that precise moment I understood why she was such a “special ” person. When Her Majesty shook my hand and spoke to me, she actually looked me in the eyes and spoke with genuine interest; not like some politicians (I have met quite a few) or VIPs who would shake a thousand hands a day without even looking at the people they were shaking hands with. This event has been the highlight of my time in London. Being a Chevening scholar in Imperial College London pursuing my MSc. in Environmental Engineering has turned out to be a holistic experience and has enriched my views of life abroad.
Contributor : Patrick H. C. Ng
AA Resources optimistic of 20pc sales growth
AA Resources optimistic of 20pc sales growth (published in New Straits Times dated 19/07/2006)
Errata
1) Dr. Soh Aik Chin is Head of Agricultural Resources and not chief executive officer.
Cloned oil palms push up AAR revenue
Cloned oil palms push up AAR revenue (published in The Star dated 19/07/2006)
Editor’s notes
Errata
1) Dr. Soh Aik Chin is Head of Agricultural Resources and not chief executive officer.
Dr Soh Aik Chin – Academy Science Fellow 2006
We are proud to announce that Dr Soh Aik Chin, the Head of Advanced Agriecological Research Sdn. Bhd., has been awarded the Fellow of Academy Science for year 2006 under the biological sciences section. This award is given by Academy of Sciences Malaysia to those who have outstanding achievement, leadership or contributions to science, engineering and technology.
Mr. Patrick Ng – a recipient of British Chevening Scholarships Award 2006
AAR is proud to announce that Mr. Patrick Ng (Research Officer), who joined us in 1998 has been awarded the prestigious ‘British Chevening Scholarships’ for year 2006 from the British Council of Malaysia (www.britishcouncil.org.my) to do his Master in Environmental Engineering in a top university in United Kingdom.
More details about the scholarship can be found at: http://www.educationuk.org.my/Scholarships/Chevening.html
Congratulations to Madam Siti Norasikin
Dr. Soh Aik Chin – a recent recipient of the Malaysian Toray Science Foundation 2005 Science & Technology Award
We are proud to announce that Dr Soh Aik Chin, the Head of Advanced Agriecological Research Sdn. Bhd., was presented the prestigious Malaysian Toray Science Foundation 2005 Science & Technology Award. This award is given to two outstanding scientists/researchers annually since its inception in 1994. Dr. Soh is the first from the private sector to receive it.
Dr. Soh has contributed to scientific knowledge in the form of publications in international journals with high impact factor and to the advancement of new technologies/products in the field of plant breeding and genetics in particular the oil palm. He is the lead researcher in the development of the commercially successful Dumpy DxP oil palm seeds. Further details are available at here.
A panel of 7 eminent national scientists from various disciplines evaluated his submission, presentation and interview.