MPOA is pleased to announce the appointment of DATO’ DR. MAKHDZIR MARDAN as Chief Executive with effect from 15th January 2013. He replaces Dato’ Mamat Bin Salleh.
Dato’ Dr Makhdzir, 58, who has a degree in Plant Protection (BSc) and Masters in Entomology from the Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States, completed his PhD in Apiculture at the University of Guelph, Canada in 1988. His previous appointments include the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Development and Professor, Faculty of Agriculture of University Putra Malaysia (UPM) during the period 2001 – 2004, Director for AgroBio (Chancellory) and Director of Institute of Plantation Studies, UPM during the period 2004-2006. His areas of expertise were agricultural sciences and applied sciences and technologies (ICT in agriculture).
Professionally affiliated with several esteemed organizations such as National Geographic Society, Agriculture Institute of Malaysia (AIM), Malaysian Plant Protection Society, Member and BEENET ASIA (Network on Bees for Tropical Asia), he has also provided expert consultation/consultancy in many aspect of Agriculture. He is a fellow to the Humboldt-Stiftung Foundation and fellow to the Academy of Science Malaysia. He has vast experience in consultation with government, academic and industry, considerable administrative and management experience and of good communication and articulate skill.
He has good knowledge of oil palm and its eco system and in areas of sustainability and social commitment. He has the interest to provide better proficiency of the association in terms of knowledge, supporting its members and positioning at larger stakeholder platforms.
We welcome DATO’ DR. MAKHDZIR MARDAN to the Association.
KUALA LUMPUR: Oil palm planters want the government to re-activate the fast-track system for foreign worker intake approval or allow agents to bring in the extra hands to harvest some five million tonnes of oil palm fruits rotting in the fields.
