PUTRAJAYA, Jan 19th – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and Malaysia Rubber Board (MRB) allied on a collaboration to discover the effects of natural rubber gloves towards world’s healthcare workers.
UPM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah said that the research was held to determine the sensitivity level of the workers towards the gloves.
“The research would focus on the traces of protein and chemical contents in the gloves in order to identify the level of sensitivity especially those with high possibilities to react actively with the contents,” he said.
Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said that the research outcomes would encourage the glove industry to use natural rubber to produce safer and high quality rubber products in the world’s medical industry.
“The safety features as well as world class quality identification would convince consumers to select our national made gloves as their number one choice,” he added.
He also informed the media that Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MOPIC) also focused on six agencies categorized under commodities such as woods and bio-composites, palm oil plant and sago, rubber and ‘jatropha’, tobacco and ‘kenaf’ as well as cocoa.
In relation to the event, the preceding memorandum of understanding which ended in 2007 was brought to a renewal.
The memorandum was signed by Dr. Nik Mustapha, the UPM representative and the Head Director of LGM, Dato’ Dr. Kamarul Bahrain representing LGM, witnessed by UPM Tropical Forest and Forestry Products Institute (INTROP), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jalaluddin Harun and LGM Deputy of Head Director, Dr. Mohd Akbar Md Said.
At an earlier event of the same day, the MOPIC-UPM (UPM was represented by INTROP) 4th Dialogue was held to discuss about human capital development among UPM students and staffs through industrial training and practice in MOPIC agencies and at the same time, the members of MOPIC would be given opportunity to further their studies in UPM.
The dialogue also discussed on the capital contributed by MOPIC for research and development (R&D) activities in the sectors of plantation and commodities.
The UPM-MOPIC collaboration worth RM1.49 million is expected to cover on training and exposure of technology equipment related to the invention and production of wooden component called Industrial Building System for the bumiputeras who are involved in the woodwork industry.
Prepared by Media Section, Corporate Communication Division, UPM.
