ANNUAL REPORT

2008

Agriculture Laboratory Association of Malaysia (AgLAM)

Persatuan Makmal-Makmal Pertanian Malaysia

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 2

MINUTES OF THE 2st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 4-7

NOTICE OF 2st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) 8

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2008

1.0 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 9

2.0 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING 9-10

3.0 MEMBERSHIP 10-11

4.0 PROFICIENCY TESTING PROGRAMME 2008 12-13

4.1 General

4.2 Sample Distribution

4.3 Summary of Programme

4.4 Material Analyzed

4.5.1 Soil

4.5.2 Plant

4.5.3 Fertilizer

5.0 QUARTERLY MEETING 13

5.1 Purpose

5.2 Venue of Meeting

6.0 SEMINAR 14

7.0 TRAINING 14

8.0 FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 2008 15

APPENDIX

1.0 FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 2008

3

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Dear Members,

Once again, I am honoured to continue to lead our association in 2008 period. In 2008,

AgLAM continued to enjoy success: our four-monthly proficiency testing programme was a

good habitual event to determine our laboratory performance, our biannual seminar was a good

platform that saw many young and experienced chemists from various companies gather to

discussed and exchanged ideas, and our training that served as an avenue to enhance our

members’ expertise and experienced hands-on training on analysis.

I am happy to say that the above events had been very successful. The ASPFA 2008 seminar

held in Langkawi in January 2008 gave insight towards advanced analytical techniques. The

keynote address by En. Mustafa Kamal Baharuddin, Director of Soil Management and

Conservation Division, Department of Agriculture, Malaysia was overwhelming and we agreed

on the need for a gear shift in analytical technique to serve the modernization of agriculture in

Malaysia.

In August and December 2008, AgLAM joined hands with Sime Darby Research, Carey

Island, to organize fertilizer analysis training and plant and soil analysis training respectively.

Not only did this provide great opportunity and prominence for AgLAM, but we also received

congratulations from members for initiating the training programme. I would like to conclude

by thanking members of the Management Committee and PT Coordinators for their valuable

time and contributions and to other members for your fullest support on all our activities.

THONG POW WAH

CHAIRMAN

4

MINUTES OF THE 2nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE

AGRICULTURE LABORATORY ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA (AgLAM)

(PERSATUAN MAKMAL-MAKMAL PERTANIAN MALAYSIA)

Date : 06/10/2009 Time : 2.30 p.m. Venue :

BAYVIEW HOTEL, MELAKA

Present Company/Organization

En. Thong Pow Wah Sime Darby Research Centre, Carey Island (Chairman)

En. Ahmad Sarwani Haji Adni Sime Darby Research Centre, Carey Island (Secretary)

Pn. Tan Lei Hong Applied Agricultural Resources Sdn. Bhd. (Treasurer)

En. Sapudin Shukor FELDA Agricultural Services Sdn. Bhd

En. Mohd. Zaki Shafee FELDA Agricultural Services Sdn. Bhd

Pn. Chan Chooi Yan Sime Darby Research Centre, Carey Island

Dr. Zulkifli Hashim MPOB

En. Jamaludin Mokhtar MPOB

En. Hj. Ismail Hj. Hashim Department of Agriculture, KL

En. Shukor Mohd. Noor Department of Agriculture, KL

Pn. Chin Siew Phin Department of Agriculture, Sarawak

En. Jamil Omar Universiti Putra Malaysia

Pn. Faridah Aman Universiti Putra Malaysia

Dr. Rosmahani Che Isa Malaysia Rubber Board

Pn. Noor Hazrina Othman Malaysia Rubber Board

Pn. Khoo Guan Kim Malaysia Rubber Board

Pn. Rozita Ahmad Forest Research Institute Malaysia (Assistant Secretary)

En. Wan Hasan Wan Adnan Forest Research Institute Malaysia

En. Saidin Kamaluddin Forest Research Institute Malaysia

Cik Teoh El Von Asiatic Development Berhad

Pn. Wendy Tan Chee Wei Pn. Wendy Tan Chee Wei

Pn. Wendy Tan Chee Wei Tm-Kay Fertilizer

Pn. Norsiah Nordin FELCRA Plantation Services Sdn. Bhd

Cik Tan Sen Lui Petronas

Cik Jamilah Thamby EPA

Cik Eza Ida Abdullah FELCRA Plantation Services Sdn. Bhd

En. Chandran Manikam CCM Fertilizers Sdn. Bhd

En. Polycarp Norbert Nyulin CCM Fertilizers Sdn. Bhd

Pn. Hlammah a/p Muniandi EPA

Pn. Chung Mei Yung IOI Research Centre

5

Item Matters Discussed Action by

1.0 CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS

1.1 Welcoming Remarks

Noted That the Chairman welcomed all members to the 2st AGM and thanked

for their attendance and involvements in the past proficiency testing

programmes. The Chairman also thanked the members of Management

Committee and PT Coordinators for their commitments.

Info

2.0 REVIEW OF PREVIOUS MINUTES AND MATTERS ARISING

Noted The previous minutes were reviewed without amendment. The minutes

were proposed to be confirmed by Miss Tan Lei Hong and seconded by

Miss Chin Siew Phin.

Info

3.0 REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2008

Noted The report was presented by the Honorary Secretary: Info

1. The PT reports were reported using new format. The reports were

issued separately by the respective coordinators but eventually, only

one combined report shall be issued.

2. Two training courses were performed at Sime Darby Research, Carey

Island. The Fertilizer Analysis course was successfully carried out on

5-8 August 2008 while the Plant and Soil Analysis course was done

on 2-5 December 2008. Most of the participants were from DOA,

KL. Due to the limitation of venue size, only 15 participants were

accepted. The Chairman thanked En. Amir, En. Sapudin, Dr. Che

Fauziah and En. Ahmad Sarwani as the course trainers and Sime

Darby, Carey Island for the training venue. The contents of the

training are as per Appendix 2.

3. A sum of RM 500 was paid to FELDA for winning the AgLAM logo

competition.

4. Two seminar proceedings have been converted into CDs i.e. Kota

Kinabalu and Kuantan seminars.

5. Seven Management Committee meetings were held as follows:

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11//0088 2255 JJaann CChheemmaarraa

LLaabb,,SSeerreemmbbaann 44//99

22//0088 3300 MMaarrcchh EESSPPEEKK,, KKaajjaanngg 77//99

33//0088 1100 JJuullyy EESSPPEEKK,, KKaajjaanngg 99//99

44//0088 2255 JJuullyy EESSPPEEKK,, KKaajjaanngg 88//99

55//0088 3311 OOcctt MMRRBB,, JJllnn AAmmppaanngg 99//99

6

Item Matters Discussed Action by

6. Three Proficiency Testing meetings were held as follows:

MMeeeettiinngg

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22//0088 1111 AAuugguusstt SSyyuueenn HHootteell

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33//0088 1188 DDeecc PPaarrkk AAvveennuuee,, SSgg

PPeettaannii 29

7. AgLAM was invited to participate at DSM forum which was held

on 5 Nov. 2008 at Putrajaya. The Secretary had given a

comprehensive presentation during the forum on behalf of AgLAM.

After no further comments, the report was proposed to be adopted by

Mr. Chandran Manikam and was seconded by Miss Chin Siew Phin..

3.0 FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2008

Noted The report was presented by the Honorary Treasure (Appendix ) Info

After no further comments, the report was proposed to be adopted by

Miss Tan Tan Sen Lui and was seconded by Miss Chan Chooi Yen.

4.0 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Noted There is no amendment to the constitution. Info

5.0 ELECTION OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Noted There is no election of Management Committee (MC) members.

Members were elected for 2008-2009 period. Existing MC members are

as follows:

Info

Chairman : En. Thong Pow Wah (Sime Darby)

Vice Chairman : En. Amir Hamzah Yasak (ERAS)

Hon. Secretary : En. Ahmad Sarwani Adni (Sime Darby)

Hon. Ass. Sec. : Pn. Rozita Ahmad (FRIM)

Hon. Treasurer : Ms. Tan Lei Hong (AAR)

Members : Cik Kartini Abd Rahim (MRB)

Dr. Che Fauziah Ishak (UPM)

Cik Haryati Mansor (DOA, KL)

En. Sapudin Shukor (Felda, Jerantut)

Auditors : En. Suhaidi Hamzah (Felda, K.L.)

Ms. Chin Siew Phin (DOASK)

7

Item Matters Discussed Action by

2. The coordinators for soil, plant and fertilizer analysis are maintained

as follows:

Info

Soil : En. Sapudin Shukor (Felda, Jerantut)

Plant : En. Ahmad Sarwani Hj. Adni (Golden Hope)

Fertilizer : Ms. Tan Lei Hong (AAR)

3. The Chairman appreciated the support and confidence of members

and hoped all members would continue to render their fullest

support in all association’s activities.

Info

6.0 OTHER MATTERS

Noted None Info

7.0 ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING

Noted That there being no other matter, the meeting was adjourned at 5.30

p.m. The Chairman thanked all members for their participations.

Info

Prepared by : Approved by :

Ahmad Sarwani Adni Thong Pow Wah

Honorary Secretary Chairman

8

AGRICULTURE LABORATORY ASSOCIATION OF MALAYSIA (PERSATUAN MAKMAL – MAKMAL PERTANIAN MALAYSIA)

c/o Golden Hope Research Centre

KM 10, Jalan Kelanang-Banting, Peti Surat 207, 42700 Banting,

Selangor, Malaysia. Tel : 03-3326 6900 Fax : 03-3326 6884

10th

September 2009

To All Members

Dear Sir/Madam,

NOTICE OF 2nd ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)

Notice is hereby given that the 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Agriculture Laboratory

Association of Malaysia (AgLAM) will be held at The Bayview Hotel, Melaka on Tuesday, 6

October 2009.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows :

1. Chairman’s address

2. Report of activities for 2008

3. Financial statement of account

4. Amendments to the constitution (if any)

5. Election of Proficiency Testing Programme Coordinators for 2008-2009

6. Election of Management Committee for 2008-2009

7. Election of Internal Auditors for 2008-2009

8. Any other matters

Members who wish to include matters for discussion under item 8 of the agenda are requested to

notify the Secretary in writing at least 7 days before the Annual General Meeting. Members who

are unable to attend the AGM but would like to exercise their votes, are requested to

complete the attached form and return them to the Secretary before 30th

September 2009.

Yours faithfully,

(AHMAD SARWANI HJ. ADNI)

Secretary

9

ANNUAL REPORT 2008

1.0 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The management committee for 2008 period comprises of the following members:

Chairman : Thong Pow Wah

Sime Darby Research Sdn. Bhd.

Vice Chairman : En. Amir Hamzah Yasak

ESPEK Research & Advisory Services

Secretary : En. Ahmad Sarwani Adni

Sime Darby Research Sdn. Bhd.

Treasurer : Ms. Tan Lei Hong

Applied Agricultural Resources Sdn. Bhd.

Asst. Secretary : Puan Rozita Ahmad

Forest Research Institute of Malaysia

Members : Dr. Che Fauziah Ishak

Universiti Putra Malaysia

: En. Sapudin Shukor

Felda Agricultural Services Sdn. Bhd.

Cik Kartini Abd Rahim

Malaysian Rubber Board

Cik Haryati Mansor

Department of Agriculture, Kuala Lumpur

Auditors : Ms Chin Siew Phin

Department of Agriculture, Sarawak

En. Suhaidi Hamzak

Felda Agricultural Services Sdn. Bhd.

2.0 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

The Management Committee met seven times in 2008. The date, venue of the meeting

and the number of attendees is summarized in Table 1 :

10

Table 1 : Management Committee Meeting for 2008

3.0 MEMBERSHIP

The membership is opened to any interested organizations of company in Malaysia.

Interested organization shall write to :

i) The Treasurer

MSS Standardization Committee on Soil, Plant & Fertilizer Analysis

c/o Applied Agricultural Resources Sdn. Bhd.

Agronomy Research Unit

Beg Berkunci 212, Sg. Buloh Post Office

47000 Sg. Buloh

Selangor Darul Ehsan Attn : Miss Tan Lei Hong

Tel : 03-6156 2976 Fax : 03-615 61757

or ii) The Secretary

MSSS Standardization Committee on Soil, Plant and Fertilizer Analysis

c/o Sime Darby Research Centre

P.O. Box 207

42700 Banting

Selangor Darul Ehsan Attn : En. Ahmad Sarwani Adni Tel : 03-3326 6903 Fax : 03-3326 6884

The registration will enable the organization or company to participate in all the

proficiency testing (PT) programme i.e. soil, plant and fertilizer or participate partly.

The list of members and the PTprogrammes for 2008 period is shown in Table 2 :

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NNoo.. DDaattee VVeennuuee

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11//0088 2255 JJaann CChheemmaarraa

LLaabb,,SSeerreemmbbaann 44//99

22//0088 3300 MMaarrcchh EESSPPEEKK,, KKaajjaanngg 77//99

33//0088 1100 JJuullyy EESSPPEEKK,, KKaajjaanngg 99//99

44//0088 2255 JJuullyy EESSPPEEKK,, KKaajjaanngg 88//99

55//0088 3311 OOcctt MMRRBB,, JJllnn AAmmppaanngg 99//99

11

Tabel 2:

No. Organization Programme

1. Agri Bintulu Fertilizer Sdn. Bhd. (Agri-Bintulu) F

2. Agricultural Research & Advisory Bureau (ARAB) S, P, F

3. Applied Agricultural Resources Sdn. Bhd. (AAR) S ,P, F

4. Asiatic Development Berhad (Asiatic) S, P, F

5. Agri Sabah Fertilizer Sdn. Bhd. (ASF) F

6. Borneo Samudera Sdn. Bhd. (Central Laboratory) S ,P, F

7. CCM Fertilizer Sdn. Bhd.. (CCM) F

8. Department of Agriculture, KL. (DOASM) S ,P, F

9. Department of Agriculture, Sabah (DOASH) S ,P, F

10. Department of Agriculture, Sarawak. (DOASK) S ,P, F

11. Eastern Plantation Agency Management Sdn. Bhd. (EPA) S ,P, F

12. ESPEK Research & Advisory Services Sdn. Bhd. (ESPEK) S ,P, F

13. FELCRA Plantation Services Sdn. Bhd.(FELCRA) P, F

14. FELDA Agricultural Services Sdn. Bhd., Jerantut S ,P, F

15. FELDA Agricultural Services Sdn. Bhd., Sabah S ,P, F

16. Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) S, P

17. FPM Sdn. Bhd.(FPM) F

18. Industrial Oxygen Incorporated Berhad, Batang Melaka (IOIB) S, P, F

19. Industrial Oxygen Incorporated Berhad, Sandakan (IOIS) S, P, F

20. Kulumpang Development Corporation Sdn.Bhd. (KDC) S ,P, F

21. Malaysian Agriculture Research & Dev. Inst. (MARDI) S ,P, F

22. Malaysian NPK Fertilizer Sdn. Bhd. (MNFSB) F

23. Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) S ,P, F

24. Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) S, P

25. Narsco-Kuok Fertilizer Sdn. Bhd. (Narsco-Kuok) F

26. Petronas Fertilizers Sdn. Bhd. (Petronas) F

27. RH Biotech Sdn. Bhd. (RH Biotech) S, P, F

28. Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOPB) P, F

29. Sarawak Plantation Services Sdn. Bhd. (Chemistry Laboratory) P, F

30. Sime Darby Research Centre, Carey Island S ,P, F

3 31. Sime Darby Research Centre, Sabah S ,P, F

32. TM-Kay Fertilizers Sdn. Bhd. (TM-Kay) F

33. Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) S, P

34. United Plantations Berhad (UP) S ,P, F

12

4.0 PROFECIENCY TESTING PROGRAMME

4.1 General

The preparation and distribution of the soil, plant and fertilizer samples were carried

out by the selected coordinators. In 2008, the coordinators were in Table 3: :

Table 3 :

Programme Coordinator

Soil FELDA Agricultural Services, Jerantut

Plant Sime Darby Research Centre, Banting

Fertilizer Applied Agricultural Resources, Sg. Buloh

The collated results were summarized by the respective coordinators, distributed to the

participating laboratories and discussed at regular meetings.

4.2 Sample Distribution

The participating laboratories received 4 samples each for soil, fertilizer and plant

samples every four months. The laboratories analysed the samples according to their

own procedures and for those elements they are interested in. The laboratories were

given between 1½ - 2 months from the date of distribution to submit their results to the

coordinators.

4.3 Summarized Programme

Details of the inter-laboratory cross-check programmes are summarised in Table 4 :

Table 4

Programme Participant g/Sample Reported Parameters

Soil

26

150

pH, conductivity, total N, total P, available P, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable K,

exchangeable Na, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable

Mg, organic C and mechanical analysis.

Plant

29

20

N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, B, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cl and S.

Fertilizer

34

50

N, P (as % P2O5), K (as % K2O) and Mg (as MgO).

13

4.4 Material Analysed

The list of samples distributed for each programme is shown in Table 5 :

Table 5

Programme 1/2008 2/2008 3/2008

Soil S 01-035 Lekok S 05-036 Kuantan S 09-036 Segamat

S 02-038 Sahabat S 06-044 Tokyong S 10-039 Munchong

S 03-029 Serdang S 07-047 Beserah S 11-049 Lanchang

S 04-039 Lunas S 08-048 Musang S 12-052 Pelanduk

Plant P 01/08 Rachis P 05/08 Rachis P 09/08 Oil palm leaf

P 02/08 Coconut P 06/08 Oil palm leaf P 10/08 Rubber leaf

P 03/08 Jackfruit leaf P 07/08 Rubber leaf P 11/08 Rachis

P 04/08 Rachis P 08/08 Padi straw P 12/08 Oil palm leaf

Fertilizer F 01/08 AS Mixture F 05/08 Compound F 09/08 AS Mixture

F 02/08 AC Mixture F 06/08 Compound F 10/08 AC Mixture

F 03/08 AN Mixture F 07/08 Compound F 11/08 AC Mixture

F 04/08 Urea Mixture F 08/08 Compound F 12/08 AN Mixture

F 13/08 Organic

5.0 QUARTERLY MEETING

5.1 Purpose

The collated and summarized results of each cross-check programme were presented

by the coordinators in the regular meeting at quarterly basis. The purpose of having

these meetings was to highlight individual laboratory performance and problematic

parameters for investigation in order to improve competence and reduce the incidence

of erroneous analysis.

5.2 Venue of Meeting

The date and venue of the 2008 cross-check meeting is summarised in Table 12:

Table 12

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NNoo.. DDaattee VVeennuuee

AAtttteennddaannccee

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11//0088 2299 AApprriill ZZoonn RReeggeennccyy JJBB 3300

22//0088 1111 AAuugguusstt SSyyuueenn HHootteell

IIppoohh 2288

33//0088 1188 DDeecc PPaarrkk AAvveennuuee,, SSgg PPeettaannii 29

14

6.0 SEMINAR

The seminar on “Advances in Soil, Plant and Fertilizer Analysis (ASPFA 2008) was

organised from 16 to 17 January 2008 at Bayview Hotel, Langkawi Island, Kedah.

The seminar was officiated by En. Mustafa Kamal BIN Baharuddin, Pengarah

Bahagian Pengurusan dan Pemuliharaan Sumber Tanah, Jabatan Pertanian Malaysia

A total of 21 papers were presented and were divided into 5 sessions i.e. Good

Laboratory Practices and Safety (1 session), Instrumentation (1½ session),

Methodology (1½ session) and Proficiency Testing (PT) Report (1 session).

7.0 TRAINING

Two training courses were performed at Sime Darby Research, Carey Island. The

Fertilizer Analysis course was successfully carried out on 5-8 August 2008 while the

Plant and Soil Analysis course was done on 2-5 December 2008. Most of the

participants were from DOA, KL. Due to the limitation of venue size, only 15

participants were accepted. En. Amir Hamzah Yasak, En. Sapudin Shukor, Dr. Che

Fauziah Ishak and En. Ahmad Sarwani Adni were the course trainers.

8.0 FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR 2008

The financial statement for 2008 is shown in Appendix 1.