KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — The domestic rubber industry is expected to soar following the strengthening of cooperation with China in the commodities field, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to China on Sunday opened up opportunities for increased cooperation in the field of commodities and agriculture-based industries, including rubber, palm oil, biodiesel, and access for Malaysian agricultural products to the Chinese market.
Fadillah, who is also Plantation and Commodities Minister, said his ministry is planning a mission to China to discuss cooperation in areas that can be developed.
“In terms of rubber, we can focus on our products used in the construction industry … that can ensure buildings can withstand earthquakes, for example,” he said after officiating the Malaysian Rubber Board Technology Day (LGM) 2023 here.
Elaborating on the rubber innovation product, Fadillah said LGM collaborated with Tun Abdul Razak Research Center (TARRC) to produce a solid technology based on seismic rubber bearing products to manage structural movements due to temperature changes, or protection from tremors due to earthquakes.
He said among the structures in Malaysia built using seismic rubber bearings were the Second Penang Bridge, Hevea Malaysia Academy in Langkawi and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board building in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
LGM and TARRC also successfully embarked on research named NaturalFR. Rubber products produced using NaturalFR compounds have flame-retardant, low-smoke and low-toxicity properties, and have been used in the door entrances of several railway stations in the United Kingdom.
The same council also witnessed the exchange of two agreements, namely the memorandum of agreement between LGM and Jupiter Solution, Natrab MFBI Enterprise and the Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC), as well as the Commercialisation Cooperation Agreement between LGM and the MRC to promote LGM’s innovations at home and abroad.
— Bernama
