Bamboo Forum Circle

Members of Bamboo Forum Circle
We had a very fruitful meeting on the Bamboo Forum Circle chaired by our Founder/ President Dato Ghazi Sheikh Ramli on Monday 8 June 2009. Most of the speakers who spoke at the Bamboo Forum on 18 April were present and shared their valuable experiences in moving this bamboo project agenda forward. They agreed with Dato Ghazi that Bamboo is the material of the future and it has vast potential in the field of green technology. Through this initiative MACRI will be recognized as a pioneer in creating value in an area that has not been fully explored by others.

Dato Ghazi once again acknowledged Dato’ Dr. Abdul Latif, Director General of FRIM for supporting MACRI’s initiative and in particular the proposed Integrated Planet Bamboo (IPB) Project in FRIM. The IPB Project will be the first signature bamboo project and serve as a test bed to explore new and innovative uses of bamboo in all disciplines.

Prof. Dr. Jimmy Lim expressed his concern that our creative potential is sometimes hindered by the ‘Invisible Intellectual Ceiling’ syndrome. Therefore one of the challenges is to re-brand bamboo as an exclusive, trendy and innovative material. Dato Ghazi in agreement with Dr. Jimmy Lim conveyed his optimism in promoting bamboo as a National Project and in bringing great benefits to the rural communities as well as the economy of the country. To begin with, he proposed that there shall be special focus on three main areas namely:
* Integrated Planet Bamboo (IPB)
* Bamboo in the construction industry
* Green Technology leveraging on bamboo

Following this, eight Study Groups were identified, with Mr. HP Lem our Vice President as the Coordinator. The Study Group and members are as follows:

1. Bamboo Plantation : HP Lem, Benjamin Brown & Razak Othamn
2. Bamboo Treatment : Shariman & FRIM Research Officers
3. Bamboo Production : Shariman & FRIM Research Officers
4. Bamboo Commercialization: Lee Yee Dian
5. Bamboo Construction : Dr. Wan Tarmeze, Dr. Marzalina, Ar. Dr. Jimmy
Lim & Ati Rosemary
6. Bamboo Rebranding : Mohan & Hussein Ariff
7. Bamboo Life Cycle Analysis, Green Technology & Carbon: Ashran & Farabi
8. Dream Bamboo Gas Car : Dato Ghazi & Hashim Salleh

By 8 July 09 the Study Groups will present their respective priority projects and action plans they wish to undertake. For your information the Study Group is still open to anyone who wish to contribute and collaborate towards achieving the above-stated objectives. So if you would like to share your ideas or expertise in any of the above mentioned areas, please send a short note to the Coordinator, Mr. HP Lem at hplem@macri.com.my indicating which Study Group you wish to serve. We will then communicate with you as we move forward. Your response should be sent latest by this 18 June 09.

Members of Bamboo Forum Circle

Standing (L to R) : Ms. Ong Yee Li, Jimmy Lai, Zulkiflee Mohd Salleh, Lim Nam Aik, Ashran Dato Ghazi, Farabi Abdul Fatah, Hussein Ariff, & Lee Yee Dian

Seated (L to R ) : Mior Shariman, HP Lem, Dr. Wan Tarmeze, Prof Dr. Jimmy Lim, Dato Ghazi Sheikh Ramli, Dr. Marzalina Mansor, T. Lukmanul Hakim & Benjamin Brown