KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- The success in pushing the idea forthe planting of oil palm on a large-scale despite strong objections frompoliticians was the most satisfying achievement for Tan Sri Mohamad Jamil,the former director-general of agriculture.

Appointed to the post in 1962 and the first Malay to hold the post,Mohamad, 85, said the perseverance to get Felda to accept the idea was a"gateway to the introduction of oil palm" as a new product for theplantation sector in the country.

"We had to fight for approval from the government to recognise thepotential of oil palm to rubber," he told reporters after receiving the"Anugerah Tokoh Jabatan Pertanian" at the official launch of thedepartment's centennial celebration exhibition at the National Museum,here Monday.

Agriculture Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin officiated the function andpresented Mohamad with the award.

"It was a stroke of luck when Felda accept the idea," Mohamad said, addingthat it was the biggest contribution he had made to the development of theagricultural sector in the country, after holding the post ofdirector-general for more than a decade.

Currently, Malaysia is the main producer of palm oil in the world.

Mohamad, born in Kg Binjai, Jitra, Kedah, begin his career in thedepartment in 1940 as a junior agriculture assistant during the colonialera and went to pursue his studies at the Imperial College on TropicalAgriculture in Trinidad in 1950.

He obtained his degree in agriculture from a university in Canada in 1953.

After completing his studies, he came back and worked as a stateagriculture officer in Terengganu before being appointed as thedepartment's director-general.

Mohamad, who retired from public service on June 30, 1975, was touched bythe award given to him by the department.

-- BERNAMA