New Chairmen at helm of MPOB, MPB

Datuk Ahmad Hamzah has been appointed Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), while Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom will helm the Malaysian Pepper Board (MPB).

Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri Mah Siew Kiong said Ahmad's appointment is from Sept 1 to Aug 31, 2018, and William Mawan from Aug 16 to Aug 15, 2018.

Ahmad replaces Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, who died in a helicopter accident in Sarawak.

William Mawan takes the place of Datuk Henry Sum Agong, who has been appointed the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism.

Ahmad, who served as Chairman of the Malaysian Rubber Board for 15 years, was also chairman of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Caucus, signed by the government on Feb 4 this year. He is a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

William Mawan was formerly Sarawak's Minister of Social Development.

"I am confident that the new appointments will further enhance the development of the sectors of both commodities," Mah told a press conference here today.

He said the commodities sector contributed 15 per cent of the country's overall exports last year at RM117.1 billion and the oil palm industry was the biggest contributor with a value of RM63.2 billion.

Meanwhile, the land area under pepper cultivation last year was 16,426 hectares with production at 28,300 tonnes. Sarawak was the largest producer with a contribution of 98 per cent.

Mah said his ministry aimed to increase the area under pepper cultivation to 20,000 hectares in 2020 with an annual production of 43,000 tonnes. -- BERNAMA