KTS partners UMS after academic funding

24 September 2024

KOTA KINABALU: A signing ceremony for the second Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between KTS Plantation (KTSP) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) took place on September 24th at the UMS Gallery.

This MoA follows the establishment of an academic chair funded by KTS Plantation, named Kursi Pengurusan Hutan Asli Lestari, within the Faculty of Tropical Forestry (FPT).

Director of KTS Plantation (KTSP) Diana Lau in her speech delivered by Ting Jack Hui, said the objectives of this chair are in line with the state forest policy and KTSP vision to manage FMU 19B Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve in a sustainable manner.

Among the focus studies in this chair would be the introduction of remote sensing and GIS technologies at landscape level to enhance the existing forest planning.

Forest rehabilitation will also be the highlights component of the researches.

Diana also believes that these research areas are critical in order to achieve the long term objective of sustainable forest management in natural forest at Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve.

From the synergy between research institute and forest industry, which are represented by UMS and KTSP respectively, KTSP is certain that this is an innovative strategy to tap into the potential of competitive impact from Industry-University research collaboration as they continue to challenge themselves to be the role model among others in the forestry industries.

The MoA's signatories were Prof. Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Diana Lau as Director of KTS Plantation Sdn. Bhd.

The MoA was witnessed by the Registrar of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Luqman Ridha Anwar and KTSP Director, Ting Jack Hui respectively.

Indra Purwandita H.Sunjoto, the Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests from Sabah Forestry Department and Dr. Wilson Wong Vui Chiong, Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) from the Faculty of Tropical Forestry was also present during the signing.