28/12/2012 (The Star) - The Malaysian commodities industry has lost a champion and visionary with the passing of Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

Dr Lim as the Primary Industries Minister (1986-2004) was instrumental in the planning, growth and development of the commodities sector, providing the focus, impetus and direction for key cornerstone industries such as palm oil, timber, and rubber through their most challenging milestones.

It was during his stewardship of the ministry (now known as the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry) that these commodity sectors were transformed and developed.

Cultivation of oil palm underwent tremendous expansion while sustainable management was introduced into the forestry sector.

The downstream development of the industries were accelerated to generate and add much needed value while enhancing the strength and depth of the palm oil, timber and rubber industries.

From advocating price stability for rubber to orchestrating Malaysia’s defence of the palm oil and timber industries, Dr Lim led from the front to counter the attacks and negative campaigns from various international lobby groups questioning the integrity of Malaysian palm oil and timber.

It was also during his tenure that he brought greater focus to the commodity sector, consolidating the disparate commodity agencies into a single entity to handle each of the commodities.

These include the formation of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and the Malaysian Rubber Board. In addition, he also initiated the establishment of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Malaysian Timber Council, Malaysian Timber Certification Council, Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council and lastly, the Malaysian Furniture Promotion Council.

From the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to various international fora, Dr Lim’s voice and impact made their respective imprints in advocating Malaysia’s and her fellow producers’ views amidst intense lobbying from competitors and “green” activists from the West.

Policies introduced during Dr Lim’s stewardship facilitated the growth of the timber industry from RM4.7bil in exports in 1986 to RM20bil last year.

The wooden furniture industry was a major beneficiary, growing exponentially from RM27mil to RM6.2bil over the same period.

Malaysia has also lost another illustrious son, Tan Sri Wong Kum Choon, former secretary-general of the Primary Industries Ministry, who worked closely and tirelessly with Dr Lim and other ministers throughout his tenure in the ministry from 1972 to 1993. Wong passed away on Nov 14.

Wong had a long and distinguished career in the civil service beginning in 1959. He served in the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department from 1961 to 1972 and was involved in the preparation of the early five-year national development plans and 20-year perspective plans as the Head of Macro Planning.

Under the direction of Dr Lim, Wong spearheaded the consolidation of the commodities’ agencies as well as the establishment of various councils and also the Malaysian Cocoa Board.

In 1989, Wong oversaw the establishment of the Malaysian Timber Industry Development Council (MTIDC) to promote the cohesion of what was then a highly segmented industry to integrate and advance the national agenda.

Upon his retirement from the Government in 1993, Dr Lim re-enlisted Wong into national service to head the MTIDC, later renamed as the Malaysian Timber Council.

Together with Dr Lim and MTC’s founding chairman Tunku Tan Sri Osman Ahmad, Wong directed the resurgence of the timber industry and his notable accomplishments included championing the cause of the tropical timber industry globally and ensuring continued market access, as well as expanding the downstream timber industries which opened many opportunities for employment and value-added revenue generation

Wong was equally passionate and vocal on the issues and challenges faced by the timber industry and his oft-repeated battle cry was to “take the bull by its horns” in defending as well as launching initiatives in countering the anti-tropical timber campaigns.

The commodities industry and in particular the Malaysian Timber Council owe a debt of gratitude to Dr Lim and Wong for their immense contributions to the commodities sector.

The nation has truly lost two giants and their deeds will be permanently etched in the annals of the Malaysian commodities industry.

CHEAH KAM HUAN

Chief Executive Officer

Malaysian Timber Council