Author: Michael Ng, Assistant Manager, Science and Environment Division

A seminar was recently organised by the Multimedia University’s Faculty of Creative Multimedia on 17 July 2019 for MPOC to engage its students on the various aspects of Malaysian palm oil. This was facilitated through MMU’s Knowledge Sharing Session platform, where industry speakers and experts are periodically invited to present the industry’s latest updates and developments to their students.

With the theme ‘All About Palm’, the seminar was attended by around 100 students, comprising the Faculty’s foundation, first year and second year students. MPOC were invited to share its knowledge and expertise to facilitate their understanding on the Malaysian palm oil industry, as this was required in the preparation of their palm-themed assignments. (These assignments, in the form of art exhibits and video presentations will be showcased in MMU’s ‘Karnival PBL dan Explore Race’ which will take place on 20 August 2019 at MMU Cyberjaya).

Officers from MPOC’s Science and Environment Division (SED) presented three presentations during the seminar. Mr. Michael Ng, Assistant Manager presented the ‘Overview of the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry’, followed by Mr. Ahmad Shahdan’s ‘Conservation and Sustainability Efforts in the Palm Oil Industry’ and Ms. Sarafhana Dollah’s ‘Palm Oil Health and Nutritional Aspects’.

These presentations managed to create a better awareness on the positive health and nutritional benefits of palm oil, as well as the economic, social and sustainability contributions of the Malaysian palm oil industry. Some of the students were also able to have a better understanding on these topics as they have also took part in an oil palm plantation visit organised by MMU a week earlier.

MPOC’s engagement with MMU is one of its many educational outreaches to educational institutions in conjunction with its current ‘Love MY Palm Oil’ campaign. These initiatives are vital in order to instill a greater pride and appreciation of palm oil’s benefits, especially in the area of sustainability, biodiversity conservation and health amongst Malaysian students and youths.