timber VOL. 21 NOS.5&6 2015 ISSN 1394-6196 malaysiaPublished by Malaysian Timber Council Historic Paris Agreement MTC Conference A Great Success Timber Blazes Ethereal Ephelia 2 EDITORIAL Vol. 21 Nos. 5 & 6 Timber Malaysia Dear Readers, The last quarter of 2015 had been History was created in December when quite an eventful period for MTC. 195 countries adopted a legally binding The Council’s Wood Architecture deal on climate change. The Paris international conference in November, Agreement sets out to curb drastic which saw five world famous authorities climate changes by limiting global in the fields of timber engineering warming to below 2°C. Read a snippet and architecture on one stage, was on the accord which offers hope to astounding. No other organisation in the humanity on page 2. country can lay claim to such a feat. Malaysia has embarked on an ambitious Andrew Lawrence, Juergen Mayer- plan to link its forests from the Thai Hermann, Rune Abrahamsen, Jonas border to the southern-most state of Lencer and Frank Miebach shared their Johor to safeguard our biodiversity. insights into building with timber and The RM4 billion-project will involve their breathtaking designs left many in land acquisitions from the respective the audience full of hope as much of states. This step in the right direction is what has been accomplished by our covered on page 11. European counterparts have yet to take root here. Read all about these experts Timber may no longer be under fire as PAGE 20 and their views from pages 3-5. it has proved its worth by performing AMAZING TIMBER STRUCTURE better than concrete and steel during Vennesla Library and Culture House, The Council also saw a change of guard a fire test. An article entitled “Timber Norway. in November. Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim high-rise not an inferno” makes an Nik took over from MTC’s Interim CEO interesting read from pages 18-19. Datuk M. Nagarajan on 16 November 2015. We welcome Datuk Abdul Rahim Teeming with luxury, a resort in and extend our profoundest thanks to Seychelles maintains its warmth and Datuk Nagarajan, who is also the Deputy coziness, thanks to the clever use Secretary-General of the Plantation of Malaysian timbers. Pages 22-25 Industries and Commodities Ministry. under the FOR THE LOVE OF WOOD TIMBER MALAYSIA is published six times a year by the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC). section feature the Constance Ephelia It is distributed to over 8,000 individuals and Datuk Abdul Rahim, a notable forest Resort’s sublime beauty and the great timber-related companies, agencies and organisations in more than 110 countries. hydrologist by training, was the supporting role Malaysian timbers are MTC holds the copyright to all its contents, unless former deputy secretary-general playing there. otherwise stated. No part of this publication may (environment) of the Natural Resources be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission from MTC. and Environment Ministry. He has We wish all our readers Happy New For feedback, subscription, article contribution many achievements under his belt Year and Happy Reading! and/or advertising, please write to: and has vast experience in the fields [email protected]. of environmental management, The Editor Editorial Team biodiversity, climate change and Andrew Kong Vijaya Kasinathan forestry, among others. See Datuk Abdul Kuraibah Zakaria Rahim’s profile onpage 2. MTC HQ, Malaysia T +60 3 9281 1999 F +60 3 9282 8999 E [email protected] MTC London, United Kingdom T +44 207 222 8188 F +44 207 222 8884 E [email protected] MTC Dubai, UAE T +971 4 4279 823 F +971 4 4508 233 E [email protected] MTC Guangzhou, P.R. China T +86 20 3877 3019 PAGES 3-5 F +86 20 3877 3091 E [email protected] NEWS The panelists comprising the speakers, fielding questions from the Wood Architecture www.mtc.com.my conference participants. PAGES 22-25 FOR THE LOVE OF WOOD Ethereal Ephelia NEWS 2 Historic Paris Agreement 2 MTC welcomes new CEO 3 Wood Architecture Conference 5 MTC launches decking guidebook 6 Furniture China opens doors for Malaysian manufacturers 7 New trade deals with China 7 Furniture stocks on the rise 8 Addressing key issues in open dialogue 9 Improved submissions for FDC 3-5 10 Sabah benefits from conservative practices 11 RM4 billion to link forests 11 Halting forest loss INDUSTRY FOCUS 13 MTC debuts at Sylvawood 2015 13 Resource, Business Mission to Vancouver 14 German Timber Day 14 Technical, Resource Mission to Vietnam 15 Debriefing Session on Iranian market 15 15 TEAM’s Market Visit to The Netherlands, Britain 16 Debriefing on Market Visit to China 16 M&A good for business SPOTLIGHT 18 Timber high-rise not an inferno AMAZING TIMBER STRUCTURES 20 Vennesla Library and Culture House, Norway 21 Aspen Art Museum, USA FOR THE LOVE OF WOOD 22 Ethereal Ephelia 20 EnvironmEnt FLORA & FAUNA 26 CHiMP conserves the treasure of highland flora LET’S GO ECO! 27 Aeon continues tree-planting tradition 27 TNB’s power in 11,000 trees AT ONE WITH NATURE 28-29 28 Batu Lawi Hill, Sarawak 2 NEWS Vol. 21 Nos. 5 & 6 Timber Malaysia Historic Paris MTC welcomes Agreement new CEO Caption: (Use AP pic – Dec 12/13/2015) As CEO, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik will continue to spearhead the growth of the timber industry. MTC is proud to welcome Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik as the Council’s new Chief Executive Officer. Abdul Rahim succeeds Datuk M.Nagarajan, the former interim CEO, effective 16 Photo credit: cableon.net credit: Photo (From left) United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, French November 2015. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and French President Francois MAbdul Rahim will continue to spearhead MTC’s efforts in Hollande applauding after the Paris Agreement was adopted in Le Bourget, Paris. promoting the growth of the Malaysian timber trade and the furniture industry globally. After nearly two weeks of acrimonious debate, negotiators MTC Chairman Datuk Wee Jeck Seng in welcoming Abdul from about 190 countries including Malaysia reached a historic Rahim said: “We are delighted to have on board an individual agreement to address climate change on 12 December 2015. with such broad and relevant expertise. Abdul Rahim brings with him a wealth of experience and is committed to helping The Paris Agreement stipulates that countries commit to the industry face all current and future challenges. Acurbing greenhouse emissions to halt the global temperature rise at 2°C relative to pre-industrial levels. All signatories are “We look forward to his contributions in furthering the required to meet this goal by becoming either more energy interests of the Malaysian timber industry and securing efficient, reducing deforestation and forest degradation or Malaysia’s position as a top exporter of value-added timber burning less fossil fuels. products.” The Paris Agreement, which also includes sections from Abdul Rahim began his career as a research officer in the REDD+, ends decades-long rows between rich and poor Forest Research Institute Malaysia in 1981. He was in charge nations over how to carry out what will be a trillion-dollar of the hydrology and watershed research. campaign. He completed his PhD in Forest Hydrology from the “The Paris Agreement establishes the enduring framework the University of Wales, UK, in 1990 and has a Bachelor’s and world needs to solve the climate crisis,” said United States Master’s degree from the Louisiana State University (1979) President Barack Obama. and University of West Virginia (1981), USA, respectively. Malaysia has committed to reducing green house gas His notable achievements include serving several boards emissions of GDP by 45% by 2030. of government, semi-government and non-governmental organisations. Abdul Rahim is also an international council According to scientists, the world has already warmed member of the Vienna-based International Union of Forestry by almost 1°C which has caused major problems in dry Research Organisation since 2010. developing countries. He is also an Associate Fellow and Fellow of Academy Developing countries have agreed to muster at least US$100 Science Malaysia since 2012 and 2015, respectively. billion (about RM433 billion) a year from 2020 to help developing nations. However, this is not legally binding During his tenure at the Ministry of Natural Resources and following objections from the United States. Environment, Abdul Rahim coordinated and supervised policy issues relating to environmental management, climate The accord nonetheless offers hope that humanity can change, forestry, biodiversity, wildlife and marine parks. avert catastrophic climate change and usher in an energy revolution. He has published over 100 technical and semi-technical papers in scientific journals and edited over 15 books. NEWS Vol. 21 Nos. 5 & 6 Timber Malaysia 3 (From left) Datuk Low Kian Chuan, Juergen Mayer-Hermann, Thang Hooi Chiew, Rune Abrahamsen, Mohd Zulhemlee An, Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik, Frank Miebach, Jonas Lencer, Andrew Lawrence and Azman Md Hashim. Wood Architecture Conference MTC’s Wood Architecture – Art and timber products. Prefabricated timber Wharf Crossrail Roof and Serpentine Function international conference on is another plus point as it has reduced Pavilion. He is also a member of the 24 November 2015 was a huge success. construction time and cost. He added Timber Eurocode Committee and The Council was privileged to have had that Malaysia’s diverse choice of wood lectures around the world on the use of Mfive world renowned timber experts on species and their inherent properties timber in architecture. one stage - a fete that has not been in terms of colour and grain can lead Lencer in his presentation said there has accomplished by any other institution in to the creation of visually pleasing always been a “star building material” the country in recent years.