2nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 2012, UNIMAS, Kota Samarahan ...

2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 2012, UNIMAS, Kota Samarahan 

Advances in Sago Research and Development 

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Contents 



Welcoming Address from the Chief Minister of Sarawak 2 

Welcoming Note from the Vice Chancellor 3 

Greetings from the Chairman 4 

List of Invited Speakers 5 

Opening Ceremony for 2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 12 

Scientific Program for 2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 13 

Abstracts of Oral Papers 19 

Abstracts of Poster Papers 37 

List of Organizing Committee Members 48 

List of Working Committee Members 49 

List of Participants 50 

Acknowledgements 51 

1



Welcoming Address from the Chief Minister of 

Sarawak. 

PEHIN SRI HAJI ABDUL TAIB MAHMUD 

S.B.S., D.K. (JOHOR), D.K. (PAHANG), D.P., P.S.M., S.P.D.K., S.U.M.W., S.S.D.K., 

S.S.A.P., D.G.S.M., D.P.P.N., S.S.S.A., S.P.M.T., KT. W.E. (THAILAND), KEPN 

(INDONESIA), S.P.M.B. (BRUNEI), K.O.U. (KOREA), AO (AUSTRALIA), P.C.D. 

and Salam sejahtera to all participants of the 

2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 2012. 

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all distinguished guests and participants 

of the 2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium. I would also like to congratulate Universiti 

Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Centre of Excellence for Sago Research (CoESAR), CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd, 

Malaysia, Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), Indonesia, and FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 

(FAO-RAP), Thailand, for organizing this symposium for the second time in Kuching, Sarawak. 

Sago starch is one of the important commodities for Sarawak with an annual export about of 70,000t. 

However, the low price of the starch and lengthy period of maturity impedes meaningful development in 

the sago industries. In order for sago starch to be competitive, it has to be modified into a product that is 

able to command a higher price and the agronomy and plantation best practices on sago palm need to be 

looked into more seriously. This is to ensure the constant supply of sago starch raw material for the 

development sago industries. Realizing the potentials, here in Sarawak, the state government set up CRAUN 

Research Sdn Bhd to undertake the R & D on sago plantation and downstream processing of sago starch 

and its byproduct. Not to forget, the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, UNIMAS, is also actively 

involved and committed with the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Sago Research (CoESAR) to 

spurs the research and development on sago and its byproduct. I believed that there is a great future for 

sago to be developed further and advanced with the current trend on sago research and its derivatives. 

This symposium will be an appropriate forum and platform for such discussions. It is aimed at highlighting 

the research and developments on sago palm and other related fields. 

Thus, I trust that this two days gathering will see much dissemination and free exchange of ideas and 

knowledge, as well as fruitful discussions among participants, contributing to a better understanding and 

realization on the advances in sago research and development. 

I wish you all every success in your deliberations, and I hope your stay in Kuching, and Sarawak, Bumi 

Kenyalang will be a pleasant and memorable one. 

YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud 

2



Welcoming Note from the Vice Chancellor 

and Salam sejahtera to all participants of the 2 nd 

ASEAN Sago Symposium (ASAS) 2012. 

It gives me great pleasure and a privilege on behalf of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 

(UNIMAS) to welcome all the distinguished guests and participants of the 2 nd ASEAN 

Sago Symposium (ASAS) 2012. 

Firstly, I would like to thank the Organizing Committee for their efforts in bringing 

together experts from industries and researchers from various fields in sago research 

and its derivatives to share their findings and expertise and hope the exchange of 

ideas will lead to establishment of research and partnerships. 

Sago palm is a starch producer which contributes to the economics of the Asean countries, particularly so for 

Malaysia and Indonesia. It has been used by the locals for hundreds of years as food, and now is the subject of 

intense studies as the main option for starch source of the future. There is a huge potential for the advancement 

of scientific knowledge through various fields of sago research and development such as agronomy and 

agriculture sciences, microbiology and molecular biology, waste management and starch utilization, 

biotechnology, economy and social studies, sago starch chemistry and others. UNIMAS and other relevant 

agencies and institutions either government or private sectors could play a major role to utilize the R & D on 

sago resources in a sustainable manner that would benefit the whole nation in general and in particular the local 

communities. 

I believe that this symposium is an excellent platform for researchers to interact and share ideas and research 

findings while fostering long linkage. Nowadays, universities, research institutions and the private sectors are 

working together mutually to ensure all the effort and infrastructures provided for research by the government 

are materialized. Many scientific breakthroughs can be achieved through innovative research which ultimately 

will be beneficial to the country. 

Finally, I trust that the three days gathering will see much dissemination and free exchange of ideas and 

knowledge, as well as fruitful discussions amongst participants, contributing to a better understanding and 

appreciation on the advances in sago research and development. 

Professor Datuk Dr Khairuddin Ab. Hamid 

3

Greetings from the Chairman 



On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to extend a warm welcome to 

all participants to the 2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium (ASAS) 2012. 

I am encouraged by the positive response received from the participants coming 

from diverse areas representing tertiary education, industries, plantation and 

research institutions in Malaysia, and also from foreign organisations and 

research centres throughout the Asia Pacific region. The theme “Advances in Sago 

Research and Development” is indeed most appropriate especially in looking at the 

advancement that have been made in sago research and the by-products resulting 

from such projects with consequential impact towards our community. 

The symposium will address significant issues in relation to sago research and 

development in particular the areas of agronomy, agriculture, economy, social, 

biotechnology, chemistry, genetic and molecular biology, product development 

and other related field. A total of 120 participants among which 32 oral and 40 poster presenters and 52 

general attendee with a mix of theoretical and practical approaches providing a huge forum for the sharing 

and dissemination of knowledge on the advancement of sago research and its derivatives. 

The success of the 2 nd ASAS 2012 is made possible by untiring and dedicated efforts from the secretariat 

and members of the various subcommittees comprising staff from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 

and Centre of Excellence for Sago Research (CoESAR), as the main organizers, and the strong support from 

CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd, Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), Indonesia, and FAO Regional Office for Asia 

and the Pacific (FAO-RAP), Thailand, as the co-organizers. My sincere gratitude and appreciation is 

extended to all committee members. 

Finally, I wish all the participants a good and fruitful deliberation throughout the symposium. Please take in 

the hospitality that Sarawak has to offer and THANK YOU for making this symposium a great success 

through your participation and commitments. 

Associate Professor Dr Hairul Azman Roslan 

4

List of Invited Speakers 

Keynote Speakers 



Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, 

FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand 

Recognizing the Economic and Social Value of the Sago Palm – A Neglected 

Food Security Crop 

Hiroyuki Konuma, a Japanese national, holds a Master of Science Degree (M.Sc.) in 

Agricultural Science from Tsukuba University in Japan. He has been with FAO for 

over 30 years. He started his carrier in Syria with JICA(JOCV) in 1977. He joined 

FAO in 1980 as an Associate Expert in animal husbandry in Yemen, and moved to Somalia as the Head of 

UNHCR Field office in Jalalaqsi in 1983, engaged in a refugee agricultural settlement programme. 

He returned to FAO in 1985, based at the FAO Regional Office for Africa in Ghana for 4 years, and was 

transferred to FAO headquarters in Rome in 1989 working as a Project Operations Officer. Seven years 

later, he was appointed the FAO Representative in Bangladesh (1996) and served there till his transfer to 

the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok in 1999. 

Based in Bangkok, he has been assigned progressively senior positions as the Chief of the Operations 

Branch, Chief of the Policy Assistance Branch and Deputy Regional Representative. He was appointed 

Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific in March 2010. 

5

Prof Dr Dulce Maria Flores 

University of Philippines, Mindanao, Philippine 

GREENING ASIA: The Sago Invasion. 



Basically, greening is defined as “restoring vitality and freshness” and therefore, for 

environmentalists it means a process of restoring environmental wellness. If it means 

greening the environment through the use of a plant or planting in large scale, then this 

life form must be able to do all the following to be able to “green and restore” the 

environment. These are the attributes of the sago palm which make it a very “hard-tosurpass” 

candidate for the so called greening programs. 

It has higher rate of starch synthesis than any other starch source. Its photosynthetic prowess is so, such 

that it can convert CO2 into starch, store it in its trunk, to as high as 200 kg (optimal) in about 8 years. At a 

minimum of 1000 growing plants per hectare and at this rate per tree (25 kg starch per year), the sago palm 

stand can sequester at least 36.67 tons of CO2 per hectare per year. 

It can survive in hostile environments where many other plants will not: like water logged soil or areas of 

prolonged and regular flooding; marginal soils such as peat swamps and river banks; it can withstand strong 

typhoon winds and even a little salinity. It used to be discredited and abhorred for its ability to block 

waterways and resistance like the weeds, but now much appreciated for its bank-stabilizing capacity 

through its sturdy roots trapping silt load and industrial pollutants 

It survives forest fires. The bark is a very good insulator to the apical and basal buds such that regeneration 

can still occur. In spite of all these extreme environments, sago has a longer life span than oil palm and 

rubber. It does not require weeding and drainage compared to rice and corn. No other plant can wait for one 

or two years in place, for the starch to be harvested, as harvesting for sago is not obligatory, as compared to 

rice and corn. 

In the recent devastation of crops and staple due to flooding caused by atmospheric hydrological changes, a 

failure of harvest is eminent. Only sago will satisfy the requisite criterion of surmounting unpredictable 

events related to environmental change. 

All the above attributes (from WR Stanton, 1991) have often been repeated and appreciated in each and all 

sago symposia we have attended. And yet there are still millions of fellow Asians, especially true in the 

Philippines, who have not known the unique edge of sago over other crops. We are only a few who are 

lucky enough to have been led to open our eyes to this unsung resource. Many thanks to the forerunners of 

sago research in the likes of W.R. Stanton, M. Flach, D.L. Schuilling, F.S. Jong, N. Haska and our Japanese 

friends led by Mr. Nagato. And to the countless researchers, equally accomplished scientists, and the 

toilers and believers who have continuously added to the collective information about this magnificent 

plant year after year. Each of you here have contributed something to bring sago to the fore up to this 

very minute. Let us all join forces in doing what ought to be done. Let us bring sago to the consciousness of 

every Asian who has not known of its grandeur, where on the contrary and instead, have regarded sago as 

a “poor man’s staple”. Let us plant sago where there are idle lands waiting to be tapped. One strategy 

would be to boost investments in such green technologies as ethanol and lactic acid fermentation and 

thereby increase the demand for sago starch. This will surely convince everyone to conserve existing wild 

stands and expand some more. Let the cycle begin! 

6

Plenary Speakers 

Prof Dr Yoshinori Yamamoto 

Kochi University Japan 



Changes in Leaf and Trunk Characters of Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) 

with Age, with Special Reference to Varietal Difference 

The research was carried out to clarify the changes of leaf and trunk characters with 

age (from sucker emergence to harvesting stage), using two different types of folk varieties grown around 

Lake Sentani, Papua Province, Indonesia, i.e., Para (high yielding and late maturing variety) and Rondo (low 

yielding and early maturing variety). The number of leaves per palm changed from 10-20 leaves in both 

varieties. The leaf length, number of leaflets and longest leaflet length increased with age from the rosette 

to the trunk formation stage and then remained unchanged until flower bud formation stage with little 

varietal difference. On the other hand, the changing patterns with age of the longest leaflet width, thickness 

and SPAD (chlorophyll indicator) values are considerably different between the varieties. The values of 

these characters were remarkably higher in Para than Rondo from the early growth stage. The trunk 

weight of Para at harvesting stage was 5-6 times higher than that of Rondo due to the larger diameter, 

higher trunk elongation rate and the longer trunk growth duration. The starch yield of Para at harvesting 

stage, 860-980kg per palm, was 5-6 times higher than that of Rondo, at 160-180kg. The varietal difference 

in starch yield might be brought by the varietal differences of leaf characters such as leaflet width and 

thickness and chlorophyll content, and higher sink capacity, i.e., trunk volume as well as the growth 

duration. 

Prof. Dr. H. Mochamad Hasjim Bintoro Djoefrie 

Bogor Agricultural University, Bogor, Indonesia 

Development Prospect of Sago Plantation at Backward Area 

Indonesia has so many small islands that spread throughout the archipelago. Most 

of the small islands are remote area. Beside the small area, Indonesia has 

backward area. Society in those islands is poor. Some causes of backward areas 

are maybe geography, natural resources, human resources, infrastructure, social 

conflict and development policy. In order to, that Region can be developed, so that 

should be economic development based on local resources. Many sago grow in remote areas and sago can 

be used as a staple food, liquid sugar or bio-ethanol. Smallest islands, in certain seasons do not get the 

supply of food and energy because the wave height, so the islands are vulnerable to pirates and piracy. 

Presence industry on remote islands would make the region independent of food and energy. With the 

factory will improve the welfare of local residents, so that it will attract people to build telecommunications 

towers. Bioethanol can be used to patrol navy, so in addition to increasing prosperity, security area will be 

ensured. 

7

Assoc Prof Dr Hairul Azman Roslan 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), MALAYSIA 



Sago research in UNIMAS Sarawak: Gene prospecting from sago genome. 

Sarawak has been blessed with soil that is ideal for planting of sago palm. UNIMAS, 

being in the state of Sarawak, has been involved in the sago palm research ever 

since its inception 20 years ago. Sago research in UNIMAS has always been a 

priority at the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology and to further 

consolidate this importance, a Centre of Excellence for Sago Research (CoESAR) was established in 2009. 

CoESAR aims to be the main reference point for researches in sago palm in the ASEAN region. Researches 

in UNIMAS are diverse, we have research groups that are involved in agronomy and soil science, looking at 

sago starch, fermentation process, practical uses of sago waste to produce products and molecular biology 

group looking at the sago genome. The molecular biology group in UNIMAS are investigating several 

questions pertaining to the palm such as in the trunk formation of palms, deciphering the starch 

biosynthesis pathway and genetic controls of the flowering process. Through the analysis of ribonucleic 

acid (RNA) we were able to isolate genes that are expressed from different tissues and developmental 

stages of sago palm growth. Although the work is preliminary in nature, we have recently discovered many 

genes of interest. One of the interests of our research group is the ability of sago palm to adapt to biotic and 

abiotic stresses. Initial work indicated a concoction of defense genes are expressed responding to biotic and 

abiotic stimulus. The expression of these genes is probably the key to the ability of sago palm to withstand 

stresses and thrived in conditions where other plant could not. Most recently we have embarked on 

transcriptomics work through the use of Next Generation Sequencing and hopeful that the project can 

divulge more information for the community. 

Professor Emeritus Dr. Ayaaki Ishizaki 

Kyushu University JAPAN. 

What new technology is needed to complete the sago industry? 

The population of the world now exceeds 7 billion, and a consequence of this large 

population is a high demand for food and other resources that support human life. 

The majority of food is supplied in the form of carbohydrates, and approximately 

250 kg of carbohydrates is required per year per capita. Therefore, 2.8 billion tons of carbohydrates is 

required to support the total world population, and an increase in the production of carbohydrates will be 

essential to support human life. The use of sago as a carbohydrate source may be able to prevent a human 

food crisis. However to establish the sago industry, many obstacles must be overcome, including problems 

with processing, economy, waste management and pollution. It will be necessary to develop a total 

processing procedure for the sago industry. This presentation will focus on several important new 

technologies that can be used to establish the sago industry. From an economics viewpoint, the 

diversification of the starches used is important. Sago starch has been used as a carbohydrate source in 

food since ancient times in rural tropical areas, including the Malaysian peninsula. Currently, sago starch is 

consumed in the form of processed foods such as sago pearls and sago flour. Sago flour has also been used 

in the fermentation industry. In Malaysia, sago starch has been used in glutamic acid fermentation, and 

8



Sarawak sago has been used as the primary raw material for the production of glutamic acid. Another 

bottleneck in sago processing is the environmental problems and pollution caused by wastewater and 

waste materials such as pith and bark. New technology for the treatment of high-BOD wastewater has been 

developed by Toyo Koatsu Co. Ltd., and Supercritical Technology Research Corporation, Hiroshima Japan, 

which may overcome the obstacles regarding wastewater. For pith, the production of ethanol for use as a 

fuel using the amylo method is feasible. Bark can be transformed into high-quality carbon material by the 

technology developed by EEN (Earth Environment Network) Co. Ltd., Tokyo Japan. These processes involve 

hot pyrolysis method and the products allow the waste bark to be used for soil conditioner and fertilizer 

and may be used as solid fuel to produce electricity. 

Assoc Prof Dr Abdul Manan Dos Mohamed 

Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL MICET), Melaka MALAYSIA 

Importance of Sago Starch Quality: Development of Sago Starch Standard and 

Diversification of Value-added Sago Starch 

Sago starch exhibits excellent physicochemical properties, thus offers numerous 

possible commercial applications and is suitable for industrial modifications. This 

includes the production of speciality maltodextrin, highly value-added modified starch and pharmaceutical 

grade starches. However, the properties of sago starch vary according to palm varieties, the growth stages 

of palm, soil variation and the location of starch within the palm itself. In addition to palm stages and soil 

differences, processing methods and post-harvest handling also contribute to differences in starch 

properties. Studies on physicochemical properties of sago starch extracted from palm at various 

commercial growth stages showed that there are some variations in the proportion of granule size, granule 

distribution and pasting profile at base and mid heights of the palms. Varietal differences lead to white and 

pink flour product. Poor log quality and inefficient processing methods produce inferior starch quality as 

expressed as a function of colour lightness and viscosity drop. The expression of pinkish colour of starch 

when gelatinized limits downstream processing activities involving highly value added product. Thus, sago 

starch remains to be used in low value product that requires less stringent colour and viscosity 

requirement, such as noodles and snack food. Colour and viscosity are the primary parameters of starch, 

differentiating industrial grade and food grade as stated in Malaysian Standards, MS 468 and MS 470, 

respectively. Hunter value of ‘L’ higher than 90 for starch powder and viscosity of gelatinised starch (6% of 

dry weight) exceeding 600 B.U. enable the starch to be categorized as Food Grade sago starch. Revised 

version (2012) of MS 468 and MS 470 has included microbial limit and starch content of sago starch. 

Although whiteness (lightness) of starch is achieved in dry powder form as specified in MS 470, when 

gelatinized, a pinkish liquid is produced, leading to an inferior final product specification. As such, there is a 

need to remove such impurities comprising of polyphenolic substances, thereby creating a new sago starch 

quality, named as refined sago starch as specified in MS2410 (2012). The new standard specifies not only 

colour and viscosity of sago starch but limits the amount of total phenolic content to be below 10 ppm, 

ensuring the desired colour of starch when gelatinized and differentiate two categories of starch granule 

size range, fine and large granules. The former ensures the colour of starch when gelatinised and the later 

ensures the homogeneity of starch granule size range, thus ensuring acceptable physicochemical property 

ranges, as required in the production of final product. This talk will address the processing technologies for 

the production of refined sago starch required for downstream activities and value addition of the starch 

produced. 

9

Prof Dr Kopli Bujang 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), MALAYSIA 



A Holistic Approach to Maximise Productivities of the Sago Industry. 

The use of sago starch, either as food or as research materials for the production of 

chemicals and recently as the source of bioenergy has been intensely discussed or 

deliberated over the past ten years, fed by research grants from national and 

international sources. Maximising the development of the frequently overlooked sago industry demands a 

proper framework between the ASEAN countries for such needs to be satisfactory fulfilled. High quality 

planting materials cultivated on soils with proper water management and superior planting regime need to 

be practiced to jump-start the development of new sago plantations. Without these, intensive use of any 

sago products, either the palm biomass or the starch end product will not be commercially viable since only 

well managed sago plantations can ensure continuous and abundant supply of the raw materials. Malaysia 

and Indonesia, two of the largest sago starch producers in the world, should consolidate their research and 

effort on modernisation of the sago plantation in order to sustain the supply of raw materials for the rising 

sago industries. Discernible efforts have been exhibited by LCDA of Sarawak through CRAUN Research Sdn. 

Bhd. of Sarawak in systematic cultivation of about 12,000ha of sago palms on peat soils in Mukah and Dalat 

with considerable success. However, results from studies on the deep peat section still need to be fully 

ratified. This is because previous and current observation reveals that growth of the sago palms become 

unsatisfactory as it aged beyond 4 years, in spite of proper water and crop management which include 

regular pruning and fertilization (ACR, 2012). Similar efforts have been reported in Riau, Indonesia with 

the commercial cultivation of 12,000ha of sago palms in late 1996. Sago palms can be cultivated on peat but 

adequate maintenance must be executed to optimize growth and productivity (Jong, 2009). Rehabilitation 

attempt to enhance growth of sago palms has also been reported by modifying the planting distances and 

construction of canals in the plantation (Bintoro et al., 2009). The canals served as an effective water 

management scheme and improved plant growth while providing an effective but simple method to 

transport harvested logs to the sago mill. Modernisation of the mostly dilapidated sago mills is imperative 

to ensure maximum extraction of starch from sago pith to reduce wastage and concomitantly minimising 

its polluting effects to our waterways. In Sarawak, most sago mills require only 30 to 40mins to produce 

dried and packed food grade sago starch. Efficient rasping of the pith and starch extraction procedure 

ensures that only 2-3% residual starch, with almost similar percentage of fibre are disposed as sago 

effluent, which rigorously minimised the BOD loading into the environment. In all these cases, financial 

constraint plays a critical role to ensure systematic development of the sago plantation (Jong, 2009; 

Bintoro, 2009). As such, products from this industry need to be developed and marketed in order to 

provide a regular and constant cash flow to the sago farmers. Modification of starch into sugars is an 

established, simple and swift process, which can serve to beef-up the normally cash tight development of 

the sago plantations. Sago starch has been enzymatically hydrolysed into sugar 100% recovery and the 

syrup purified using powdered activated charcoal to remove all impurities and colour (Bujang et al., 2000). 

Sago sugar is as sweet as 50% glucose standard, contains mostly glucose (94%), with maltose and other 

impurities, both at 3% each (Bujang, 2011). Scaling up the process up to 50kg did not reduce the sugar 

recovery significantly. Drying of the purified sago syrup is best performed using an oven (minimum 60 oC), 

producing high (100%) recovery albeit after several days. Sago starch therefore has a potential to be the 

10



alternative raw material to complement the frequent shortages of sugar supplied by processing imported 

sugar cane in this country. Apart from starch, by-products from the starch extraction process such as 

effluent, fibres and bark can be utilised with some treatments and modifications to provide side incomes. 

At approximately 18L/sec (Bujang et al., 1996), utilisation of the sago effluent is critical to minimise water 

degradation. Hydrolysis of the fibres to produce sugars has been reported with about 40% success (Janggu 

and Bujang, 2009). This is in tandem with achieving the zero waste concepts to this industry. Previous 

works have reported on culturing of alga for production of single-cell protein (SCP) in treated sago effluent 

with some success. Utilising such waste not only will reduce the cost of large-scale production of SCP but 

will inadvertently minimise the effects on water quality of the neighbouring rivers. The current price of 

sago starch is now at an all times high, at RM1,800/ton (USD590/ton), and Sarawak exported more than 

50,776 tons in 2011 (DoS, 2012), procuring an income of RM91.04 million (USD30.04 millions). 

Assemblage of both upstream and downstream processing works by the various institutions of the ASEAN 

nation is imperative to enhance development of research which will eventually propagate new interests on 

the sago industry as a whole. 

11



Opening Ceremony of 2nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 

29 October 2012 (Monday) 

0930 

- 

Arrival of Distinguished Guest 

0935 - Arrival of YBhg. Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Ab Hamid 

Vice Chancellor, UNIMAS. 

0940 - Arrival of YBhg. Datu Dr Hatta Solhi 

Chairman, UNIMAS Board of Directors. 

0945 - Arrival of YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud 

Chief Minister of Sarawak. 

0950 

0955 

- 

- 

Doa recitation. 

Montage 

1000 - Welcoming Note by the Chairman of 2nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 2012. 

1005 - Welcoming Address by YBhg Prof. Datuk Dr Khairuddin Ab Hamid, 

Vice Chancellor, UNIMAS 

1015 - Opening Address by YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, 


1030 - 

Official Launching of 2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium by YAB Pehin Sri Haji 

Abdul Taib Mahmud, Chief Minister of Sarawak. 

1035 - Souvenir presentation to YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, 


1045 - Refreshment 

12



Scientific Program for 2nd ASAS 2012 

29 – 31 October 2012 

Day 1 (29 October, Monday) 

0830 - 0930 Registration of participants 

0930 - 1045 Official Opening Ceremony of 2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 2012 by the Honorable Chief 

Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud 

1045 - 1115 Coffee break and Poster Session 

1115 - 1230 KEYNOTE Speaker 1: Mr. Hiroyuki Konuma, (FAO Regional Office for Asia and the 

Pacific (FAOAP), Bangkok, Thailand). 

1230 - 1400 Lunch 

Recognizing the Economic and Social Value of the Sago Palm – A Neglected Food 

Security Crop. 

(Venue: Zamrud) 

Chairperson: Mr Yusup Hj Sobeng (CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd) 

1400 – 1600 Scientific Session A, B, C & D 

Time PLENARY SESSION 

1400 PLENARY Speaker 1: Prof Dr Yoshinori Yamamoto, Kochi University, Japan. 

Changes in Leaf and Trunk Characters of Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) with Age, 

with Special Reference to Varietal Difference. 


Chairperson: Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Hasnain Md Hussain (UNIMAS) 

Scientific Session A (Venue: Zamrud) 

Chairperson: Assoc Prof Dr Awang Ahmad Sallehin 

Awang Husaini (UNIMAS) 

1430 Paper 1 

Development of Sago-based Value Added 

Products. 

Dr Rosa Rolle, 

[FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific 

(FAORAP), Bangkok, Thailand]. 

CONCURRENT SESSION 

13 

Scientific Session B (Venue: Serindit) 

Chairperson: Mrs Dayang Salwani Awang Adeni 

(UNIMAS) 

Paper 2 

Bioconversion of Sago Pith Residues into 

Fermentable Sugars using Crude Cellulases 

from Local Fungal Isolate. 

Prof. Dr. Suraini Abd. Aziz, 

[Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Selangor, 

Malaysia].

1445 Paper 3 

Morphological and Anatomical Characters 

of Sago Palm Starch- Observation by 

Scanning Electron Microscope . 

Prof. Dr. Nitta Youji, 

[Ibaraki University, Japan]. 




14 

Paper 4 

Sago Palm Conservation Network and 

Village Sufficiency Economy. 

Mr.Pisit Charnsnoh, 

[Yadfon Foundation, Thailand] 

1500 PLENARY Speaker 2: Prof Dr H.M.H. Bintoro, Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) Indonesia. 

Development Prospect of Sago Plantation at Under Developed Area. 


Chairperson: Prof Dr Kopli Bujang (UNIMAS) 

Scientific Session C (Venue: Zamrud) 

Chairperson: Assoc Prof Dr Awang Ahmad Sallehin 

Awang Husaini (UNIMAS) 

1530 Paper 5 

Biomass Allocation and Root Distribution 

of Sago Palms in Small Holding Farms and 

Plantation at Mukah, Sarawak. 

Prof. Dr Isa Ipor, 

[Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), 

Malaysia]. 

1545 Paper 7 

Monitoring of Nutrient Uptake and 

Fertilizer Placement in Sago Palm 

(Metroxylon sagu) using Isotopic Tracer 

Technique 

Mr. Roland Yong, 

[CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia]. 


1600: End of Scientific Sessions Day 1 

Scientific Session D (Venue: Serindit) 

Chairperson: Mrs Dayang Salwani Awang Adeni 


Paper 6 

Potential of Sago Mill Effluent for 

Biomethane Production. 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maizirwan Mel, [International 

Islamic University Malaysia, (IIUM), Malaysia]. 

Paper 8 

Repeated Batch Fermentation for 

Ethanol Production in Glucose from 

Sago Starch. 

Assoc Prof Cirilo Nolasco Hipolito, 


Malaysia]. 

1600 -1700 : High tea for the 2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 2012

Day 2 (30 October, Tuesday) 



0845 – 0930 : KEYNOTE Speaker 2: Prof Dr Dulce Maria Flores (University of the 

Philippines, Mindanao, Philippine). 

GREENING ASIA: The Sago Invasion 


Chairperson: Assoc Prof Dr Hairul Azman Roslan (UNIMAS) 

0930 – 1230: Scientific Session E, F, G & H 


0930 PLENARY Speaker 3: Professor Emeritus Dr Ayaaki Ishizaki, Kyushu University, Japan. 

What New Technology is Needed to Complete the Sago Industry? 


Chairperson: Dr Rosa Rolle (FAORAP) 

Scientific Session E (Venue: Zamrud) 

Chairperson: Dr Mohd Effendi Wasli 


1000 Paper 9 

Analysis of Effects of the Sucker-control in 

the Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) 

Cultivation. 

Mr Keita Nabeya, 

[Tohoku University, Japan] 

1015 Paper 11 

Dna Methylation Profiling of Sago Palm 

(Metroxylon sagu Roettb) 

Assoc Prof Annabelle Novero, 

[University of the Philippines Mindanao, 

Philippines]. 

1030 Paper 13 

Use of Mycorrhiza in Lateral Root Initiation 

of Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) 

Plantlets in vitro. 

Ms Siti Sahmsiah Bt Sahmat, 

[Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Kota 

Samarahan, Malaysia]. 


15 

Scientific Session F (Venue: Serindit) 

Chairperson: Assoc Prof Pang Suh Cem 


Paper 10 

Application of Sago Starch in Cosmetic 

Formulations. 

Assoc Prof Dr Prapaporn Boonme, 

[Prince of Songkla University, Thailand]. 

Paper 12 

Various Local Foods from Sago in 

Indonesia. 

Mrs Gayatri K Rana, 

[Ministry of Agriculture Republic of 

Indonesia]. 

Paper 14 

Socio-economic Potency of Sago in Paser 

Regency, East Kalimantan Province, 

Indonesia. 

Dr Krishna Purnawan Candra, 

[Mulawarman University, Indonesia]. 

1045 – 1115: Coffee break & Poster Session




1115 PLENARY Speaker 4: Assoc Prof Dr Hairul Azman Roslan, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 

(UNIMAS) Malaysia. 

Sago Research in UNIMAS Sarawak: Gene Prospecting from Sago Genome. 


Chairperson: Prof. Dr. Nadirman Haska (IPB) 

Scientific Session G (Venue: Zamrud) 

Chairperson: Assoc Prof Dr Zainab Ngaini 


1145 Paper 15 

PCR Cloning by Genome Walking of a 

Complete Gibberellins Biosynthetic Gene, 

ga20-oxidase from Metroxylon sagu 

Mr Bala Jamel, 

[CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia] 

1200 Paper 17 

Growth Performance of the transplanted 

sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) 

Suckers With Different Earliness of Trunk 

Formation. 

Dr Albertus Fajar Irawan, 

[PT National Sago Prima, Indonesia]. 

1215 Paper 19 

Identification of Differentially Expressed 

Genes of Trunking and Non-trunking Sago 

Palm by Representational Difference 

Analysis of cDNA. 

Ms Siti Izyan Liyana Bt Kamarol, 


Malaysia]. 


1230 – 1400: Lunch 

16 

Scientific Session H (Venue: Serindit) 

Chairperson: Assoc Prof Dr Cirilo Nolasco 

Hipolito (UNIMAS) 

Paper 16 

Optimization of Fermentation Medium for 

Amylase Production by Aspergillus flavus 

under Solid State Fermentation (SSF). 

Ms Siti Ratna Mustafa, 


Malaysia]. 

Paper 18 

The Stakeholder Analysis to Scaling-up 

Sago Business: Case Study in Indonesia. 

Dr Eddy Chiljon Papilaya, 

[Sekolah Tinggi Pertanian Kewirausahaan 

Banau Halmahera Barat Maluku Utara 

Indonesia]. 

Paper 20 

Sago Fibre Clay, a New Ceramic Medium for 

Ceramic Artwork. 

Ms Wan Samiati Andriana Wan Mohammad 

Daud, 


Samarahan, Malaysia].

1400 -1500: Scientific Session I, J, K & L 




1400 PLENARY Speaker 5: Assoc Prof Dr Abdul Manan Dos Mohamed, Universiti Kuala Lumpur 

(UniKL-MICET), Melaka Malaysia. 

Importance of Sago Starch Quality: Development of Sago Starch Standard and 

Diversification of Value-added Sago Starch. 


Chairperson: Prof Dr Bintoro (IPB) 

Scientific Session I (Venue: Zamrud) 

Chairperson: Assoc Prof Dr Edmund Sim 

Ui Hang (UNIMAS) 

1430 Paper 21 

The Economics of Sago Plantation: 

Comparison on Peat and Alluvial Soil. 

Mr Zahri Perhi, 

[CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia]. 

1445 Paper 23 

The Utilization of the Large Sucker as Sago 

Planting Materials. 

1500 

Prof Dr Nadirman Haska, 

[Biotech Center of the Agency for the 

Assessment and Application of Technology, 

Indonesia]. 

Paper 25 

Proteomics of Trunking and Non-trunking 

Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.). 

Assoc Prof Dr Hasnain Md Hussain, [Universiti 

Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Malaysia]. 


17 

Scientific Session J (Venue: Serindit) 

Chairperson: Dr Lee Kui Soon 


Paper 22 

Sago Starch Based Biocomposite 

Reinforced with Kenaf Fibres. 

Ms Nur Humairah Bt Abdul Razak, 

[International Islamic University Malaysia 

(IIUM), Malaysia]. 

Paper 24 

Used Motor Oil Biosorption by 

Immobilized Bionectria sp. on Sago 

‘Hampas’. 

Mr Mohd Farith Kota, 


Malaysia]. 

Paper 26 

Nutritional Content of Sago Worm 

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Powder. 

Ms Norazlin Abdullah, 


Samarahan, Malaysia]. 

1515 – 1545: Coffee break & Poster Session




1545 PLENARY Speaker 6: Prof Dr Kopli Bujang, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Malaysia. 

A Holistic Approach to Maximise Productivities of the Sago Industry. 


Chairperson: Mrs. Gayatri K Rana (FAORAP) 

Scientific Session K (Venue: Zamrud) 

Chairperson: Dr Sim Soon Liang 


1615 Paper 27 

Repeated-batch Fermentation by Candida 

tropicalis ATTCa 

Ms Nurul Faseeha Binti Zulkiffli, 


Malaysia]. 

1630 Paper 29 

Incorporation of Fatty Acid Derivatives 

onto Sago Network for Oil Absorption. 

Mr Muhamad Farid bin Mohammed Noh, 


Malaysia]. 

1645 Paper 31 

Heterologous Expression of Alcohol 

Dehydrogenase Gene 

Ms Mastura Bt Sani, 


Malaysia]. 


1700: End of Scientific Sessions Day 2 

18 

Scientific Session L (Venue: Serindit) 

Chairperson: Dr Micky Vincent 


Paper 28 

Biogas Generation Potential via Anaerobic 

Treatment of Sago Mill Effluent. 

Ms Nurleyna Yunus, 

[CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd, Malaysia]. 

Paper 30 

Removal of Starch from Starch Solutions by 

Tangential Flow Filtration. 

Ms Samantha Siong Ling Chee, 


Malaysia]. 

Paper 32 

Comparative Study of Kojic acid 

Production from Sago Hampas using 

Different Strains of Aspergillus flavus via 

Solid State Fermentation. 

Mr Alvin Miai Spencer, 


Malaysia]. 

1700: Closing Ceremony of the 2nd ASAS 2012 

Day 3 (31 October, Wednesday) 

Optional: 

0930-1230: Visit to Sarawak Cultural Village, Santubong , Kuching

Abstract of Oral Papers 



Paper 1 

Development of Sago-based Value Added Products. 

Rosa S. Rolle 1* , Hiroyuki Konuma 2 & Somsak Boromthanarat 3 

1 Senior Agro-Industry and Post-harvest Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, 2 

Assistant Director General and Regional Representative, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 

Bangkok, 3 Director, Asian Coastal Resources Institute Foundation, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, 

THAILAND. 

*Email address of corresponding author: Rosa.Rolle@fao.org 

The development of sago-based food products offers considerable potential for food security 

and livelihoods development in sago producing areas. Developing new products based on sago 

starch, improving traditionally the development of sago-based food products offers 

considerable potential for food security and livelihoods development in sago producing areas. 

Developing new products based on sago starch, improving traditionally produced value added 

sago based products and marketing those products to a wider consumer base, could contribute 

greatly to generating income and employment opportunities for individuals living in sago starch 

producing areas. Substitution of wheat flour with sago starch in a standard cookie formulation 

was studied in Southern Thailand. Findings revealed that wheat flour can be substituted by sago 

starch up to a level of 40 percent in producing cookies that find good consumer acceptance. 

These findings highlight the potential of sago starch to replace wheat flour in other types of 

local confectionery and food products. This paper discusses the findings of a study on the 

formulation of cookies that incorporate sago starch as an ingredient, and will highlight some of 

the key challenges to be addressed in advancing the development of sago based value added 

products. 

Paper 2 

Bioconversion of Sago Pith Residues into Fermentable Sugars using Crude Cellulases 

from Local Fungal Isolate. 

Suraini Abd-Aziz*, Siren Linggang, Lai-Yee Phang & Mohd Helmi Wasoh 

Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra 

Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: suraini@biotech.upm.edu.my 

Utilization of sago pith residues for fermentable sugars production using crude cellulases from 

local fungal isolates namely Trichoderma asperellum UPM1 and Aspergillus fumigatus UPM2 

either individual or in combination were studied. In this present study, the effect of enzyme 

concentration, substrate concentration, pH and temperature on hydrolysis process was 

evaluated to determine the appropriate conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis of sago pith 

residues. In view of the results obtained, high conversion of sago pith residues could be 

achieved by treating 5% (w/v) of sago pith residues with 23.4 I.U of crude cellulases from 

19



Aspergillus fumigatus UPM2 at 50ºC and pH 5.0. Approximately, 20.81 g/L of fermentable 

sugars was produced from the hydrolysis of sago pith residues and the bioconversion achieved 

73% at 72 hours of saccharification process. The changes in surface structure of sago pith 

residues before and after enzymatic hydrolysis was observed under scanning electron 

microscope. The result shows that the surface and structure of sago pith residues after 

hydrolysis using crude cellulases from Aspergillus fumigatus UPM2 was disrupted explaining 

the high cellulose conversion achieved during the hydrolysis. 

Paper 3 

Morphological and Anatomical Characters of Sago Palm Starch - Observation by Scanning 

Electron Microscope 

Youji Nitta 1*, Naomi Asagi 1, Fumitaka Shiotsu 1, Takashi Homma 1, Toshiaki Matsuda 1 & Shin-ya 

Warashina 1, Yusuke Goto 2, Satoshi Nakamura 3, Teiji Nakamura 2, Manabu Watanabe 4, Yoshinori 

Yamamoto 5,Tetsushi Yoshida 6 

1 College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Ami, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan; 2 Graduate School of Agricultural 

Science, Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai 981-8555, Japan; 3 School of Food, Agricultural and Environmental 

Sciences, Miyagi University, Taihaku, Sendai 982-0215, Japan; 4 Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 

Ueda, Morioka, Iwate 020-8550, Japan; 5 Faculty of Agriculture, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi 783-8502, 

Japan; 6 United Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, 

JAPAN 

*Email address of corresponding author: nittay@mx.ibaraki.ac.jp 

In order to achieve higher and/or sustainable production and supply for customers, to identify 

and quantify starch accumulation feature is necessary. There are lots of sago cultivars culturing 

and/or growing in different environmental conditions. The objective of this research is to 

characterize the morphological feature of sago palm starch. Amyloplast is formed near the 

apical portion. Its separation/division occurred abundantly and specifically in the apical portion 

as well as in the basal stem, middle or late growth stage. Significant difference is observed in the 

size of amyloplast among varieties. Number of amyloplast in cross sectional area of parenchyma 

tissue is also different among varieties. In terms of grain size, starch grain of sago palm is 

ranked in the middle of the 54 species reported by previous researchers? These results suggest 

that the separation/division and shape of amyloplast is so specific, while the size of starch grain 

is located in a middle. 

Paper 4 

Sago Palm Conservation Network and Village Sufficiency Economy 

Pisit Charnsnoh* 

Yadfon Foundation - Trang THAILAND. 

*Email address of corresponding author: yadfon@loxinfo.co.th 

As widely known, the poverty of people in the rural areas has resulted from the degradation 

and devastation of natural resources. This incidence is caused by several main reasons, for 

20



instance, the developmental projects of the government, the deprivation of investors, and the 

over-exploitation of natural resources by local communities to meet the market demand. 

Simultaneously, the people’s movements to protect the natural resources which are the major 

factors for their survival are more intense. One of the case studies is the movement of Sago 

palms conservation network, Nayong district, Trang province. In this case, the local 

communities have worked cooperatively to protect sago palms from the project of canal 

dredging in order to solve the flooding problem, and the irrigation management done by the 

government since 1993. The local people agreed that the governmental project undoubtedly 

could not solve their problems. For this reason, they oppose dredging Klong Lum Chan, the 

main waterway in their community by clearing the sago palms. Instead, the network has 

replanted more sago palms along the canal, pruned the trees, and clearing the weeds that block 

the waterway. Moreover, they founded the native fish conservation zone, improve the 

appropriate technology for processing sago starch, and exploit the sago palms in a sustainable 

way to increase their income, for example, making thatch from sago leaves, keeping beetles 

from sago stems, and make handicrafts from some sago parts. This allows sago palms to be 

recovered. The local villagers can earn their livings by catching fish and gathering vegetables 

from the canal. The Sago palm learning center was founded in the community to serve as the 

information center and training center for the youths and juveniles, as well as all interested 

people. The management of the network is run by Sago Palms’ Conservation Club, Nayong 

district. It consists of Women’s Group for Sago Palm Conservation, Fish Conservation Group, 

Klong Lum Chan Conservation Group, and Youths’ Group for Sago Palm Conservation whose 

members are students from many schools in the local communities. The success of the network 

operation is widely recognized by the government and many parties that more supports are 

provided to the network. The movement of the Sago Palms Conservation Network in Tambon 

Kok Saba obviously demonstrates the promoting forces under the principles of sufficient 

economy in terms of the promotion of natural resources capital, social capital, and political 

capital. 

Paper 5 

Biomass Allocation and Root Distribution of Sago Palms in Smallholding Farms and 

Plantation at Mukah, Sarawak 

I.B.Ipor 1*, P. Bulan 1 & B. Noraini 2 

1 Department of Plant Science and Environmental Ecology,Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, 

University Malaysia Sarawak,94300, Kota Samarahan Sarawak; 2 Senior Research Officer, CRAUN Research 

Sdn. Bhd., Lot 3147, Block 14, Jalan Sultan Tengah, 93055, Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: ibipor@frst.unimas.my 

This study on sago palms serves as an exploratory study to gather essential baseline data from 

both smallholding and plantation conditions in order to understand the ecophysiological 

requirements for successful field establishment as well as optimal growth and development of 

sago palm in order to obtain the maximum starch yield under plantation condition. The 

parameters taken into account for this study are the above ground biomass, leaf area index, rate 

of photosynthesis, root distribution, soil studies and the inventory of sago. From the biomass 

study, biomass allocation pattern for a 2 yr old palm emphasized on the formation of leaves, 

21



roots and fronds. The finding also indicates that the 6 and 9 yr old non-trunking palms also 

showing a similar strategy whereas their trunking siblings show a different biomass pattern 

where the formation of fronds and leaves were reduced and replaced with trunk formation 

which is about one third of the total biomass. High LAI of non-pruned 9 yrs plantation can affect 

suckers performance at they obtain low radiation (photosynthetic activity reduced). The study 

also indicates better root growth for areas in smallholdings for both depths (0-30cm, 30-60cm) 

surveyed. The trunking palms have better root distribution and more growth for water and 

nutrient uptake. For younger palms, between 1-4 years old (rossette stage), fertilizer should be 

suitably applied between 1-2 meters away from the base of the palm. Whereas for older palms, 

fertilizer can be applied for a greater distance, up to 5 meters from the base and to be applied in 

a circular mode. Sago from smallholdings with their peat soil more matured and compact, 

perpetually subject to natural drainage are in better condition compared to their similar or 

older plants in plantation that was drained only in 1999, ten years after the initial planting. 

Paper 6 

Potential of Sago Mill Effluent for Biomethane Production 

Maizirwan Mel 1*, Mohd Hider Kamarudin 1 & Agusnimar 2 

1 Bioprocess and Molecular Engineering Research Group, Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty 

of Engineerin, International Islamic University Malaysia, P. O. Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur. MALAYSIA; 

2 Yayasan Sago Riau, Pekan Baru INDONESIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: maizirwan@gmail.com 

Sago processing effluent contain a lot of organic matter that suitable for growing different types 

of microbe by anaerobic fermentation. Anaerobic digestion of sago liquid waste can produce 

biogas which can be purified into biomethane and be potential used as a source of renewable 

energy. Utilization of sago residue not only reduce the polluting effects from the sago 

processing industries, but will also provide an economic solution for waste management system 

at sago processing mills. This study focuses on the developments of pilot processes plant and 

simple study of financial analysis to assess the feasibility of the plant to produce the bioenergy. 

Paper 7 

Monitoring of Nutrient Uptake and Fertilizer Placement in Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu) 

using Isotopic Tracer Technique 

Roland Yong 1 *, Noraini Busri 1, Khairuddin Abdul Rahim 2 & Ahmad Sahali Mohammad 2 

1 CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd., Jalan Sultan Tengah, 93055 Kuching, Sarawak; 2 Malaysian Nuclear Agency, 

Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: rldyong@yahoo.com 

In sago palms, plant vigour needs to be maintained, especially at the early stage of its life cycle, 

to permit trunk development and eventually accumulation of starch at the later stage of growth. 

For plants grown in marginal soil, addition of fertilizer is imperative. Data on nutrient uptake by 

sago palm is rarely seen in the literature. A study of NPK fertilizers on the growth of the sago 

palm in un-drained deep peat was carried out in the 1980’s but no significant response was 

observed. This could probably due to the fact that sago is a suckering palm and therefore, the 

22



nutrients might be distributed through the sago cluster (mother palm and suckers) and some 

proportion of the fertilizer might be leached into groundwater, thus rendering it unavailable to 

the palm roots. The only direct means of measuring nutrient uptake from fertilizer is through 

the use of tracer isotopes. In isotopic–aided fertilizer experiments, a labelled fertilizer is added 

to the soil and the amount of fertilizer nutrient that a crop has taken up is determined. Urea 

fertilizer enriched with stable N-15 was applied to the soil to monitor the uptake of N by sago 

palm through the root system. Upon confirmation of N-15 being detected in the sago palms, a 

fertilizer placement study was later conducted using P-32, which is immobile in the soil, thus 

suitable as a tracer for nutrient seeking by the root system. N-15 was detected in the leaves of 

sago palm as early as one week after application. It was also detectable in neighbouring palms 

indicating lateral movement or leaching in the study area. The P-32 study was able to locate the 

zone of living, active roots and this may promote the efficient use of fertilizers in future. This 

study observed that the active root zone for a four year old palm is within 2 m distance from the 

palm base and is still detectable at 5cm depth from the soil surface. For two year old sago palm, 

the best fertilizer placement is within 1-1.5m distance from the palm base and 5 cm depth from 

soil surface. 

Paper 8 

Repeated Batch Fermentation for Ethanol Production in Glucose from Sago Starch 

Cirilo Nolasco-Hipolito 1*, Octavio Carvajal-Zarrabal 2, Rubena Malfia Kamaldin 1, Kopli Bujang 

& Mizuno Kohei 3 

1 Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, 

Sarawak, MALAYSIA; 2 Biochemical and Nutrition Chemistry Area, University of Veracruz, SS Juan Pablo II 

s/n, Boca del Río, CP 94294 Veracruz, Mexico; 3 Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 

Kitakyushu National College of Technology, 5-20-1 Shii, Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu 802-0985, JAPAN 

*Email address of corresponding author: hcnolasco@frst.unimas.my 

Saccharomyces cereviciae CSI-1 (JCM 15097) was used for ethanol production using glucose 

from sago starch by repeated bath fermentation. The objectives were to recycle the yeast, to 

minimize contamination, to enhance the concentration of ethanol in the fermented broth and to 

use hydrolysed sago starch. The results showed that CSI-1 could be recycled for more than 40 

fermentation producing 12.7% (v/v) of ethanol. The cell biomass was around 13-20 g/l which 

provided a volumetric productivity of 7.7 g/l/h. The glucose syrups obtained from starch of 

Pusa, Sawawak and Papua New Guinea were effective as substrate without affecting the 

productivity and viability of the cells. Moreover, no contamination was found during the 

process. In conclusion CSI-1 was able to produce ethanol at high concentration and high rate; 

therefore the repeated batch fermentation has the potential for industrial production of 

ethanol. 

23



Paper 9 

Analysis of Effects of the Sucker-control in the Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) 

Cultivation 

Keita Nabeya 1*, Satoshi Nakamura 2, Mutsumi Akama 1, Teiji Nakamura 1, Youji Nitta 3, 

Manabu Watanabe 4 & Yusuke Goto 1 

1 Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan; 2 School of Food, 

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Miyagi University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan; 3 School of Agriculture, 

Ibaraki University, Ami, Ibaraki, Japan; 4 Field Science Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, 

Morioka, Iwate, JAPAN. 

*Email address of corresponding author: b1am1126@s.tohoku.ac.jp 

In sago palm cultivation, it is important to control the number of daughter-suckers (vegetative 

branches) that appear at the base of the mother stem (transplanted sucker), and to regulate the 

density of sucker in the clump. This work is called the sucker-control. We have investigated 

management of the suckers transplanted in 2005 by a practical farmer, and analysed how to 

sucker-control and his notion for sucker-control of sago palm. The farmer has sucker-controlled 

considering the growth of the sago palm at the farm. The farmer not only has regulated the 

sucker density in the clump by pruning leaves of daughter-suckers to suppress their growth, but 

also has considered the direction of the creeping growth and the position of trunk at harvest 

time. Namely, the intent of sucker-control by the farmer was to have grown daughter-suckers 

with different age and to have dispersed the position of these suckers. 

Paper 10 

Application of Sago Starch in Cosmetic Formulations 

Prapaporn Boonme 1*, Wiwat Pichayakorn 1, Pilaiwan Prapruit 2 & Somsak Boromthanarat 3 

1 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla 

University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; 2 Marine and Coastal Resources Institute (MACORIN), Prince 

of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; 3 Asian Coastal Resources Institute Foundation 

(CORIN-Asia), Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, THAILAND. 

* Email address of corresponding author: prapaporn.b@psu.ac.th 

Wetlands are continually being destroyed for agriculture and residential use, which is driven by 

the increasing population. This has affected to the decreasing number of endemic plants such as 

the sago palms (Metroxylon sagu). An understanding of the importance of endemic plants to 

augment income can make the local people to realize their value. Application of sago starch, a 

fine and white powder, as a major ingredient in cosmetic formulations (e.g., perfumed body 

powders, cool body powders and mosquito repellent powders) is one of the best ways to utilize 

endemic plants, contributing to a better conservation of sago forests. This article illustrates the 

practical application of sago starch in cosmetic formulations. Sago starch was extracted from 

various parts of sago trunks of different ages using traditional method in Southern Thailand. 

The prepared starch was characterized for physicochemical characteristics, specific properties 

according to TIS 443-2525 and skin irritation. The perfumed and cool body powders containing 

60% w/w of sago starch were formulated and produced. Afterwards, they were investigated for 

24



the previous properties and consumer satisfaction by comparing with other commercial 

powders. Moreover, with regards to the mosquito repellent powders containing 60% w/w of 

sago starch, cajuput oil was incorporated. The mosquito repellent effectivity was evaluated. It 

was found that the studied sago starch from various sources could be used as the main 

component in body powders. The perfumed and cool body powders provided the required 

physicochemical properties and acceptable levels of specific properties according to TIS 443- 

2525, without causing skin irritation, and showed good levels of users’ satisfaction. Although 

the mosquito repellent powders provided negative results due to cajuput oil property, it is 

possible to use other volatile oils instead in future studies. From the results, it can be concluded 

that sago starch is a highly feasible ingredient in cosmetic formulations. 

Paper 11 

DNA Methylation Profiling of Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Roettb.) 

Annabelle U. Novero*, Ma. Brigida Mabras & Hannah Jean Esteban 

College of Science and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Mindanao, Mintal, 

Davao City 8000 PHILIPPINES. 

*Email address of corresponding author: anovero@upmin.edu.ph 

Sago palm is an emerging important crop in the Philippines. Earlier investigations on spiny and 

spiny sago palm ecotypes in Southeast Asia employed isozyme, RAPD and AFLP analyses and 

found no significant genetic variations. This observation led to the hypothesis that spine 

formation may be an epigenetic event. Spine formation is of high interest to plant breeders 

because spineless plants are preferred due to their more cost effective handling. DNA 

methylation patterns of sago palm leaves were analyzed using HPLC (high performance liquid 

chromatography) analysis. Our data show that a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min using C18 columns 

was the most suitable in distinguishing between dC (non-methylated) and 5mdC (methylated) 

peaks in HPLC analysis. There was significant difference in methylation percentage between 

spiny (21.5%) and non-spiny (11.5%) palms at P ≤ 0.05 indicating that the formation of spine 

was an epigenetic event. The wet environment was the most likely cause of the epigenetic 

event. The results of this study may be further confirmed using a more sensitive tool such as 

methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism technique (MSAP). 

Paper 12 

Various Local Foods from Sago in Indonesia 

Gayatri K. Rana* 

Director of Dietary Diversification and Food Safety Center – Agency for Food Security – Ministry of 

Agriculture Republic Indonesia; Jl. Harsono RM. No. 3; Building E – 6 th floor. Ragunan - Jakarta 12550, 

INDONESIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: gayatri_rana07@yahoo.com 

Indonesia with more than 17 thousands island has many types of indigenous crop which are 

consumed as staple food, such as rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, sago, and others. Sago is 

25



consumed by many people living in Papua and Maluku islands, and some areas in Sumatera, 

Kalimantan, and Sulawesi Islands of Indonesia. Due to nationwide intensive rice production 

program, and introduction to imported wheat four, nowadays people very much dependent on 

rice and wheat flour in their diet of carbohydrate sources. Therefore, the role of corn, cassava, 

sweet potatoes, and sago as staple food was gradually vanishes. Meanwhile Indonesia is being 

intensively developing efforts to diversify food consumption, and promote local foods for 

healthy active and productive life, in order to strengthen Indonesia food security. Sustainable 

utilization of wild stand and semi wild stand sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb), are being 

promoted as carbohydrate source other than rice. Papeda, sinonggi, kapurung, bagea, sagu 

lempeng, mutiara, are only some of local food made of sago pith. 

Paper 13 

Use of mycorrhiza in lateral root initiation of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) 

plantlets in vitro. 

Siti Sahmsiah Binti Sahmat 1, Margaret Chan Kit Yok 1* &Dr. Zaliha Christine Abdullah 2 

1 Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Campus Samarahan, Sarawak; 

2 CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd, Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: drmchan@sarawak.uitm.edu.my 

The successful micropropagation to increase planting materials of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu 

Rottb) has been hindered by the slow nursery growth of the plantlets. Indigenous mycorrhiza 

belonging to the Glomus genus isolated from wild sago palm has been successful produced in 

culture media using aeroponic technique. This paper reports the outcome of a study conducted 

to investigate the introduction of cultured spores on growth of tissue cultured plantlets at three 

root growth stages in vitro. It was observed that the mycorrhiza spores accelerated the 

initiation of lateral roots at all growth stages. 

Paper 14 

Socio-economic Potency of Sago in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia 

Krishna Purnawan Candra 1* & Abdul Sahid 2 

1 Dept.Agricultural Product Technology, Fac.Agriculture of Mulawarman University, Jl.Pasir 

Balengkong, Kampus Gunung Kelua, Samarinda 75119 Indonesia; 2 Dept.Agroecotechnology, 

Fac.Agriculture of Mulawarman University, Jl.Pasir Balengkong, Kampus Gunung Kelua, Samarinda 

75119 INDONESIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: kcandra_99@yahoo.com 

Five regencies in East Kalimantan (Paser, Penajam Paser Utara, Kutai Kartanegara, Kutai Timur, 

and Kutai Barat) of those surveyed showed great potential of sago plantation, in terms of 

growing native plant species and land suitability. Harvesting time of sago plants in this area is 

around 10-12 years, with productivity of 250-300 kg of sun dried sago per tree. About 50 ha of 

sago plants, consists of 30 ha and 20 ha of forest sago and semi-cultivated sago plants were 

found in surveyed locations in the five districts. Sago plants owners and sago craftsmen provide 

26



a very good response to the offer of sago cultivation program, because sago starch processing 

have been entrenched and they believe that their income will increase when starch sago 

processing is upscaled while sago starch markets are wide open. Obstacles in sago business 

development are there is simple equipment and methods used for the starch sago production, 

and there is no policy program to develop sago business from local government. Development 

strategy of Sago business, in East of Kalimantan can be conducted with the government 

participation in (i) develop of sago starch processing scale of the sago craftsmen, including 

programme of advice and assistance related to the activity, (ii) attract investors to build 

partnership with local sago owners and craftsmen, (iii) construct infrastructure and design 

programs that support the development of the sago plants as crop cultivation. 

Paper 15 

PCR Cloning by Genome Walking of a Complete Gibberellins Biosynthetic Gene, ga20oxidase 

from Metroxylon sagu 

Bala Jamel 1*, Mohammad Hasnain Hussien 2 & Mohammad Azib Salleh 2 

1 CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. Kuching, Sarawak; 2 Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, University 

Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: jbalacraun@yahoo.com 

This study demonstrates the utilization of Genome Walking technique for the isolation of the 

gene that regulates gibberellins production in sago palm. Gibberellins are plant hormones that 

are involved in controlling stem elongation, maturity and flowering in plant species. One of the 

genes in the gibberellins biosynthetic pathway that encode for GA20-oxidase has been 

successfully isolated and sequenced. Prior to this, based on published conserved amino acid 

sequences of the plant GA20-oxidase cDNA clones, oligonucleotide primers were constructed 

and then used to amplify a genomic template obtained from sago palm. Two PCR products sized 

at 200 and 500 bp were obtained. Sequence alignment showed, both fragments are homologous 

with GA20-oxidase gene obtained from other plant species. Our effort to amplify the entire gene 

region using standard PCR procedure was unsuccessful. Due to this, a Genome Walking 

technique was tested and three PCR products sized at 1000, 750 and 500 bp were produced. 

The nucleotide sequence for these fragments was determined. Sequence alignment indicated 

that, these entire fragments carry nucleotide sequences that are homologous with GA20oxidase 

gene. The total genomic size obtained was 1822 bp. However, Blast analysis indicated 

that, the region that encodes for this gene is confined to 1322 bp region. 

27



Paper 16 

Optimization of Fermentation Medium for Amylase Production by Aspergillus flavus 

NSH9 under Solid State Fermentation (SSF) 

Siti Ratna M.*, Awang Ahmad Sallehin A. H., Cirilo N. H. & Nurashikin S. 

Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 

94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: ratna_ms89@yahoo.com 

This study was aimed to optimize the growth medium used in solid state fermentation (SSF) for 

amylase production by Aspergillus flavus NSH9. Sago hampas was used as substrate for the 

amylase production. Optimization of the medium was carried out in two steps using De Meo’s 

fractional factorial design. The first step was to determine the effect of each constituent on 

amylase production while the second step was to further adjust the level of each constituent in 

order to maximize the enzyme production. A 3.9-fold increase in amylase production (1.069 

U/mL) was achieved under the optimized culture medium consisting of (g/L): K2HPO4, 5; 

MgSO4, 1; CaCl2.2H2O, 0.05; NaCl, 0.5; (NH4) 2SO4, 1.5; Peptone, 5; yeast extract, 4. A high level of 

amylase produced by Aspergillus flavus NSH9 may have potential in industrial application. 

Paper 17 

Growth Performance of the Transplanted Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) Suckers 

with Different Earliness of Trunk Formation 

Albertus Fajar Irawan 1*, Yoshinori Yamamoto 2, Akira Miyazaki 2 & Tetsushi Yoshida 2 

1 Senior Researcher at PT National Sago Prima, a subsidiary of PT Sampoerna Agro Tbk., Jl. Tebing Tinggi 

No. 66, Selat Panjang, Kec. Tebing Tinggi, Kab. Kepulauan Meranti, 28753, INDONESIA; 2 Faculty of 

Agriculture, Kochi University, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8502, JAPAN 

*Email address of corresponding author: albertus.irawan@sampoernaagro.com 

This study evaluated the differences in growth performance of the transplanted sago palm 

suckers with different earliness of trunk formation. Six- and nine-month-old suckers after 

transplanting (hereby abbreviated as the 6-MSAT and the 9-MSAT, respectively) were selected 

and measured for growth parameters. At about 57-60 months after transplanting (MAT), some 

of the 9-MSAT have attained to initiation of trunk formation and trunk formation stages. The 

others were still at the rosette stage including the 6-MSAT. During the first year establishment, 

the elongation rate of the 6-MSAT was slower than that of the 9-MSAT, but they were gradually 

similar thereafter. Suckers that attained trunk formation stage earlier showed the fastest 

elongation rate followed by those at the initiation of trunk formation and the rosette stage. 

However, their leaf emergence rates were similar. Suckers at the trunk formation stage were the 

tallest and produced the highest numbers of leaves followed by those at the initiation of trunk 

formation and rosette stages. In most cases, suckers at the rosette stage were characterized 

with lower plant height at about less than 6 m. As the plant height reaching more than 6 m, the 

growth stage progressed. The initiation or trunk formation stages could be indicated by the 

appearance of the leaflet length of the youngest expanded leaf, which should be about 130-140 

cm long. 

28



Paper 18 

The Stakeholder Analysis to Scaling-up Sago Business: Case Study in Maluku and North 

Maluku, Indonesia 

Eddy Chiljon Papilaya 1,2*, Jemmy Christian Rakinaung 1 & Wardis Girsang 2 

1 School of Agri-Entrepreneurial Banau, West Halmahera, North Maluku; 2 Faculty of Agriculture, University 

of Pattimura Ambon, Maluku, INDONESIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: eddy_papilaya@yahoo.com 

Sago can be developed into several products to support food security, to conserve land, water, 

reduce global warming, to promote functional food, to create job opportunity, to increase 

income generating, and to reduce poverty. The objective of this research is to identify the key 

stakeholders of sago in agribusiness, and it’s entrepreneurial characteristics to strengthen sago 

business. Qualitative research methods was used to collect primary and secondary data, by 

participatory observation, indepth-interviews, and archival methods. Research showed that the 

key stakeholders in sago business, such as: the dry flour farmer producer, wet flour farmer 

producer, sago biscuit producer, and local non-government organization. The strength 

characteristics of sago entrepreneurs are independence, self-confident; self-financial destiny, 

and business ability. On the other hand, the number of decisive decision makers, dedicated 

workers, who can take charge is still low. As such, it is important to scale-up sago business. 

Paper 19 

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes of Trunking and Non-Trunking Sago 

Palm by Representational Difference Analysis of cDNA 

Siti Izyan Liyana Kamarol*, Mohd Hasnain Hussain & Edmund Sim Ui Hang 

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 


*Email address of corresponding author: kizyanliyana@gmail.com 

Representational difference analysis (RDA) was used to detect the genetic difference between 

two populations of cDNA, trunking and non trunking sago palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.). This 

subtractive hybridization technique allowing us to isolate the difference fragments for 

identification of factors that affecting non trunking in sago palm by comparing cDNA. Non 

trunking cDNA (contains the sequence of interest) and trunking cDNA (contains the unwanted 

sequence) were mixed and hybridized followed by amplification of subtracted fragments. Three 

rounds of hybridization were carried out to enrich the difference fragments. The sequence 

interests that unique to non trunking were sequenced and it shows similarity to genes that are 

implicated in salt and related osmotic stress response. We also identify the difference product 

that is involved in plant cell metabolism and energy producing reaction. 

29



Paper 20 

Sago Fiber Clay, a New Ceramic Medium For Ceramic Artwork 

Wan Samiati Andriana Wan Mohammad Daud 1* , Margaret Chan Kit Yok 2, Norazlin Abdullah 3 

& Safrina Muhammad Azmi 1 

1 Faculty of Art and Design; 2 Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology; 3 Faculty of Sport Sciences & 

Recreation 3 

Universiti Teknologi MARA, Campus Samarahan, Sarawak, 

94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak MALAYSIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: samiati@sarawak.uitm.edu.my 

Sago fiber clay is a recommended new medium developed for ceramic artwork produced from 

sago byproduct and ceramic clay. The sago fiber clay is a blended mixture of the sago 

byproduct which is the fibrous waste obtained after extraction of flour from the sago palm 

(Metroxylon sagu Rottboll) and ceramic clay. This paper reports a study investigating two 

methods of preparing the sago fiber clay: the solid or sludge methods. The solid method 

produced a medium that had advantages over normal clay as it was not only cheaper, but 

stronger, easier to use, more malleable and a little lighter weight. The ceramic was more 

durable than those made of pure clay. The sludge method was an easier and faster method of 

producing the medium but it required mould for use in artwork. 

Paper 21 

The Economics of Sago Plantation: Comparison on Peat and Alluvial Soil 

Zahri Perhi*, Fariza Zaini, Roland Yong & Yusup Sobeng 

CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd., Jalan Sultan Tengah, 93055 Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: zahri.craunresearch@gmail.com 

Malaysia is facing scarcity of land for agriculture development. In order to introduce new 

commodity, land availability of prime area become major issue. Even in Sarawak who has the 

largest peat land and about 100,000 hectares are shallow peat, many plantations such as oil 

palm plantations are competing to develop on shallow peat. Comparison studies were carried 

out to study the development of sago farm on alluvial and peat soil. The results based on 

growth performance have shown a significant variation between these two types of soils. 

Economically these variations have an impact on development costs, revenue and thus the 

internal rate of return (IRR). As sago become one of the major commodity in Sarawak, 

eventually being equally important to oil palm, development of sago plantations on alluvial soil 

or at least shallow peat must be considered. 

30



Paper 22 

Sago Starch Based Biocomposite Reinforced with Kenaf Fibres 

A.R. Nur Humairah*, A. Zuraida & A. W. Nur Izwah 

Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering, Kulliyyah of Engineering, International Islamic 

University Malaysia, P.O. Box 10, 50728 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: nurhumairah87@gmail.com 

A biocomposite was developed from sago starch reinforced with kenaf bast fibres (Hibiscus 

canabinus) through compression moulding technique. The aims of the kenaf fibres 

reinforcement were to enhance the properties of the starch based composite as well as to 

reduce the dependency of synthetic polymers within composite materials. The investigated 

biocomposite was prepared at varying fibres content of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 wt.% and the effect 

of the fibres incorporation was evaluated by tensile test, morphological analysis and physical 

studies, namely density and moisture content. Tensile test resulted in an increment of tensile 

properties with the increase of fibres content until it reaches an optimum at 20 wt.% of fibre 

loading. Morphological analysis revealed the occurrence of good wetting between the matrix 

and fibres while the density and moisture content of the biocomposite reduced with higher 

fibres content. 

Paper 23 

The Utilization of Large Suckers as Sago Planting Materials. 

Nadirman Haska*, M. Minaldi & Y. S. Ahmad Fauzan 

Centre of the Assessment of Biotechnology (Biotech Centre), The Agency for the Assessment and Application 

of Technology (BPPT). Building 630 PUSPIPTEK Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Banten 15314, INDONESIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: nadirmanh@yahoo.com 

There are a lot of investors interested in sago based commodity business. Exploitation of 

natural sago forest must be followed by cultivation, which means conversion of natural sago 

forest into cultivation or sago cultivation forest. Thus, supplies of readily planting materials 

become a problem. The utilization of seedlings directly from pruning activity or purposely 

taken from the clumps did not show a satisfying result. Procurement of planting materials 

grown by nursing on a rafts, canals, or river had shown poor vitality and slow growth. 

Propagation using ex-situ method was effective only in early cultivation, as inner filler plants in 

the conversion of natural sago forest into cultivation cannot keep up with the growth of original 

mature plants. The utilization of planting materials from small suckers from ex-situ propagation 

result took a longer time, which was 10 years. More realistic and practical approach was needed 

to develop sago cultivation from sago forest. Natural sago stands have tight clumps with highly 

variable suckers in terms of size and ages from small seedlings to mature plants.The utilization 

of large suckers as planting materials, can be used for planting within or nearby the sago plant 

or clump origin. This relocation was only less than 50 m in the natural sago forest of Papua and 

West Papua Indonesia. Only a small number was more than 50 m, but less than 100 m. There 

were 3-5 standard suckers from natural sago forest clumps. The collection of 1 – 2 suckers can 

improve the plant growth rate of the clumps. A special treatment was needed in the preparation 

31



of seedlings collection for 2-3 months before it was taken and separated from its clumps. 

Chosen suckers was specially treated through cleaning, reduction of leaves until there were 

only 5 - 6 fronds eft, careful cutting from the parent plants and supported by a wood so it will 

not collapse. The explants will then be given sufficient nutrition and special care for 8 – 9 

weeks. Digging was done around the chosen suckers a week before the collection; it was 

carefully done to prevent root damage. The extracted suckers were placed into holes that were 

prepared at least 2 weeks earlier. The planting materials that were planted in this way have 

shown good growth when they were given organic fertilizer. Support made from wood was 

needed for 16 - 24 weeks until the plant was sturdy, indicated by new shoot emerging from the 

stem base. It was predicted that after 5 – 6 years of planting, these sago plants can be harvested. 

Thus it can be harvested with other mature plants at the same time. 

Paper 24 

Used Motor Oil Biosorption by Immobilized Bionectria sp. in Sago Hampas 

Mohd Farith K.*, Azham Z., Hairul Azman R. and Awang Ahmad Sallehin, A. H. 


94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: farith@live.com.my 

A new biosorbent was developed by immobilizing Bionectria sp., an indigenous hydrocarbon 

degrading fungi, together with a low cost and readily available agro-residue from sago starch 

processing industries, sago ‘hampas’. Fungal biomass immobilized on sago ‘hampas’ adsorbed 

used motor efficiently with an uptake level of 98%. Maximum degradation rate of 32% was 

obtained after two weeks by using one gram of sago ‘hampas’ on one ml of used motor oil. 

However, at the end of the four weeks trial, maximum degradation rate of 62% was recorded by 

using 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9 gram of sago ‘hampas’ to 1 ml of used motor oil, respectively. This study 

demonstrated the biosorption capacity of sago hampas on used motor oil and can be further 

utilized to be more effective biosorbent. 

Paper 25 

Proteomics of Trunking and Non-trunking Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) 

Hasnain Hussain 1*, Maswida M. Kamal 1, Anastasia S. Edward Atit 1, Siti Izyan L. Kamarol 1, 

Yan Wei Jie 1, Zainab Ngaini 2, Jameel Al-Obaidi 3, Yusmin Mohd-Yusuf 3 

1 Department of Molecular Biology, 2 Department of Chemistry,Faculty of Resource Science and 

Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia 

3 Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), 

University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: hhasnain@frst.unimas.my 

Sago plant stores its starch in the trunk. It is considered mature and ready to be harvested 

when reaches 6-8 years of growth. However, there are instances where sago palms in 

plantations remain stunted even after 10-14 years, thus devoid of starch in its trunk. This is 

32



known as non-trunking sago palm. The non-trunking phenotype of Metroxylon sagu eliminates 

the economical value of the plant and this is one of the major concerns of sago plantation till 

this day. Our research group has embarked on efforts to identify molecular factors that 

contribute to the differences between two groups of sago palm including their proteomics. Part 

of the work involves comparative proteomics analysis of trunking and non-trunking sago palm 

leaf. Prior to that, protein extraction and preparation, protein separation by one- or twodimensional 

electrophoresis (1-DE or 2-DE, respectively), followed by matrix-assisted laser 

desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were described. Using 

2D gel electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF and RP-HPLC, we have identified several proteins that 

showed differences in level of protein expression between the two groups of sago palm. 

Paper 26 

Nutritional Content of Sago Worm Rhynchophor Ferrugineus Powder 

Norazlin Abdullah 1*, Margaret Chan Kit Yok 2, Wan Samiati Andriana Wan Mohammad Daud 3 

1 Faculty of Sport Sciences & Recreation; 2 Faculty of Plantation and Agrotechnology; 3 Faculty of Art and 

Design, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Campus Samarahan, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: norazlin@sarawak.uitm.edu.my 

The plump, yellowy-cream body with soft-ridged texture of the larva of Rhynchophorus 

ferrugineus, locally known as sago worm, had been the mainstay of the diet of ethnic 

communities such as Melanau and Dayak in Malaysia as their source of protein, fat and 

carbohydrate. Today it has become a delicacy. The process that has been developed, converting 

the larvae to powder form using steaming, homogenizing and air-sprayed drying method is able 

to reduce the original fat content of 50% to below 30%, increasing carbohydrate content from 

15% to 30% while maintaining protein content of 24%. It is also rich in minerals such as 

potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus and iron, as well as various vitamins. 

Ferrugineus sago powder can be used to make into various form of energy food. 

Paper 27 

Repeated-batch Fermentation by Candida tropicalis ATTCa 

Nurul Faseeha Binti Zulkiffli 1*, Cirilo Nolasco-Hipolito 1, Octavio Carvajal-Zarrabal 2, Gim Lim 

Ming 1, Mizuno Kohei 3, Yui Morishita 3, Shafri Bin Semawi 1 & Kopli Bin Bujang 1 


Sarawak, Malaysia; 2 Biochemical and Nutrition Chemistry Area, University of Veracruz, SS Juan Pablo II s/n, 

Boca del Río, CP 94294 Veracruz, Mexico; 3 Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 

Kitakyushu National College of Technology, 5-20-1 Shii, Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyushu 802-0985, JAPAN 

*Email address of corresponding author: hcnolasco@frst.unimas.my 

Fuel ethanol production has become one of the major focuses in scientific research since the 

energy crisis of 1970. The production costs are a major issue for the production of fuel ethanol. 

In this study, hydrolysed sago starch has been used as a substrate which is more economical 

compare to commercialized glucose. Thermotolerant yeast strain which is Candida tropicalis 

33



ATCCa has been used for the fermentation. This strain has been proved in having the ability to 

grow at temperature higher than 42 oC. The objectives of this study were to find-out the growth 

of this strain at high temperature and to determine ethanol productivity of this strain. 

Repeated-batch fermentation was chosen as fermentation system due to some advantages 

which is not achieve by other fermentation systems such as batch fermentation. It was found 

that C. tropicalis ATCCa can produce 45.31 g/L ethanol using 100 g/L glucose from hydrolysed 

sago starch. Since this strain can survive until 51 oC and can grow well at temperature between 

36 oC and 42 oC, many advantages can be obtained for a better fermentation process and costeffective 

fuel ethanol production. In conclusion, C. tropicalis ATCCa has potential applications 

for industrial production of ethanol due to its ability to grow at high temperatures compared to 

conventional yeast. 

Paper 28 

Biogas Generation Potential via Anaerobic Treatment of Sago Mill Effluent 

Nurleyna Yunus 1 * & Azhar Abdul Raof 2 

1CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. Kuching, SARAWAK; 2SIRIM Renewable Energy Reseach Centre, Shah Alam, 

Selangor, MALAYSIA 

Email address of corresponding author: nurleyna@craunresearch.com.my 

The sago industry in Sarawak annually generates approximately 2.5 million tons of effluent 

from the processing of sago starch. Concerns over its impact on the environment coupled with 

the increasing awareness over energy from a sustainable source had initiated this study to 

capture the biogas naturally emitted from the effluent as a result of decomposition of the 

organic matter. This study demonstrates the potential of producing biomethane from sago mill 

effluent via anaerobic treatment. Initial trial using serum vials showed an average biomethane 

potential of 65% with 85% reduction in COD. A continuous test using an upflow anaerobic 

sludge blanket reactor (UASB) showed the effluent was susceptible to anaerobic treatment at an 

organic loading rate of 3.0 kg COD/m 3 day, producing an average biomethane of 65% while 

removing about 80-90% of COD. 

Paper 29 

Incorporation of Fatty Acid Derivatives onto Sago Network for Oil Absorption 

Muhamad Farid Mohammed Noh*, Zainab Ngaini & Rafeah Wahi 



Email address of corresponding author: mfaridnoh90@gmail.com 

Sago waste (SW) material, which abundantly found in Sarawak, has been chemically modified 

via incorporation with fatty acid derivatives. The behaviors of SW and modified sago waste 

(MSW) for oil absorption were studied. MSW is suitable for application where the oil is to be 

removed from an aqueous solution. In the absence of water, SW was an excellent absorbent. 

34



The capability of the chemically modified sago waste to absorb oil from aqueous solution is 

discussed. 

Paper 30 

Removal of Starch from Starch Solutions byTtangential Flow Filtration 

Samantha Siong Ling-Chee 1*, Cirilo Nolasco-Hipolito 1, Octavio Carvajal-Zarrabal 2, Esaki Shoji 3 

& Kopli Bujang 1 


Sarawak, MALAYSIA; 2 Biochemical and Nutrition Chemistry Area, University of Veracruz, SS Juan Pablo II 

s/n, Boca del Río, CP 94294 Veracruz, Mexico; 3 Kurume National College of Technology, 1-1-1 Komorino, 

Kurume-shi, Fukuoka 830-8555 JAPAN 

Email address of corresponding author: samsmy@yahoo,com 

In the sago industries, the effluent is discharged into nearby waterways resulting in water 

pollution. This has become problematic due to the absence of proper water treatment. 

Tangential flow filtration (TFF) is an attractive alternative for treatment of sago effluent. The 

aim of this study was to clean the sago effluent by TFF and to improve the performance of the 

membrane by reducing its fouling. Preliminary studies using 1.0 % sago starch solution (SSS) 

as model effluent was tested for starch removal using polysulfone membrane filter cassettes 

(0.45µm) with membrane area of 0.1 m2. Fifty litres of 1% SSS was filtered and concentrated to 

a factor of 5 and 8.33 (final volume 10 and 6 L respectively). Increasing the filtration area from 

0.1 m2, 0.2 m2 and 0.3 m2 improved the membrane performance by reducing the filtration time 

from 1 hour to 30 minutes and also increased the removal of water from 80% to 88% within 

shorter filtration time. The instantaneous specific flux decreased increasing the filtration area 

and thus reduced the rate of membrane fouling. Transmembrane pressure (TMP) increased 

during operation and consequently decreased the permeate flux. However, when the TMP was 

reduced, the flux was improved with membrane back-flushing technique. Permeate generated 

was free of sedimentable and total suspended solids and turbidity was not detected. The COD 

showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) before and after treatments. The next step in this 

research will be to test the sago effluent from sago mills in situ. 

Paper 31 

Heterologous Expression of Alcohol Dehydrogenase (msAdh1) Into Bacterial System 

Mastura Sani* & Hairul Azman Roslan 


Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: masturasani@ymail.com 

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is an enzyme involved in pathways that respond to various 

stresses including environmental such as osmotic, wound and anaerobic condition. ADH is 

capable of catalyze the interconversion of alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes or ketones. 

Recently, Adh1 activity has been identified in various sago palm tissues and a full construct of 

35



Adh cDNA (msAdh1) with approximately 1.3 Kb in length has been generated through rapid 

amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. To further investigate the function of msAdh1, 

msAdh1 cDNA of approximately 1.1 Kb in length was constructed and cloned in the expression 

vector pET-41a(+). The pET-a(+)/msAdh1 was then expressed in an expression host; E. coli 

strain BL21 (DE3). Subsequently, purification of msAdh1 protein under denaturing and native 

condition was carried out using Ni-NTA spin column. The crude extract of total protein was 

visualized on native PAGE and 3% agarose gel. Several potential bands were visualized on 

native PAGE when stained with Adh-specific staining solution. 

Paper 32 

Comparative Study of Kojic acid Production from Sago Hampas using Different Strains of 

Aspergillus flavus via Solid State Fermentation 

Alvin Miai Spencer*, Nurashikin Suhaili, Kopli B. Bujang and Awg Ahmad Sallehin Awg Husaini 

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, 

Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

Email address of corresponding author: alvinmiai@gmail.com 

Kojic acid is an organic acid that is widely used as an ingredient for dermatological products, 

precursor for flavor enhancer and also as anti-inflammatory drug. Presently, we reported a 

comparative assessment of two different strains of Aspergillus flavus and their combinations 

with regards to their kojic acid-producing ability. Sago fibre (‘hampas’) was utilised as the sole 

substrate and cultivation was performed under solid state condition. Kojic acid production 

reached a maximum of 3.99 g/L when A. flavus Link 44-1 was co-cultured with A. flavus NSH9. 

Meanwhile in individual cultures of A. flavus Link 44-1 and A. flavus NSH9, the highest yield of 

kojic acid was 3.33 g/L and 3.65 g/L, respectively. An increased in kojic acid production by 8.5- 

16.5% from the use of both strains in this study suggests the potential of multi-strains inocula 

compared to mono-culture as was conventionally applied in kojic acid fermentation. 

36

Abstract of Poster Papers 



Poster 1 

Synthesis and Characterization of Starch Nanoparticles and Carbon Nanodots from 

Native Sago Starch. 

Chin Suk Fun*, Siti Nur Akmar Mohd Yazid, Pang Suh Cem 

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak,94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. 

*Email address of corresponding author: sfchin@frst.unimas.my, 

Starch nanoparticles with controllable sizes were synthesized by a simple and aqueous-based 

nanoprecipitation method from native sago starch (Metroxylon sagu). Starch nanoparticles were 

produced by controlled precipitation by drop-wise addition of dissolved starch solution to 

excess absolute ethanol. The size and shape of starch nanoparticles were tunable by varying the 

synthesis conditions. Fluorescent carbon nanodots were subsequently synthesized by the 

carbonization of preformed native sago starch nanoparticles, followed by surface oxidation in 

an aqueous medium. The use of preformed starch nanoparticles as the precursor material 

afforded good control of the morphology of carbon nanodots formed. Carbon nanodots 

exhibited strong fluorescence with constant emission wavelength peak at 430 nm upon being 

excited with various higher energy photons. These carbon nanodots demonstrated promising 

potential as building blocks of fluorescent probe for the fabrication of optical biosensors. 

Poster 2 

Effect of Selective Sucker Pruning of Sago (Metroxylon sagu) - Four Years Field 

Performance 

Peter Stanley Howell*, Noraini Busri & Yusup Sobeng 

CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd, Lot 3147, Block 14, Jalan Sultan Tengah, 93055 Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

Email address of corresponding author: apaipete@yahoo.com 

Different regimes of sucker pruning within a sago cluster was studied to hasten initiation of 

trunk formation and overall growth performance of mother palms and succession suckers 

grown on peat. The treatments involved control of suckers’ development within a sago cluster 

through systematic sucker pruning strategy. Five treatments including control (no pruning) 

were carried out. From observation at 4 years old in the field, there is a trend showing better 

growth performance of mother palms when the clusters are pruned regularly compared to the 

control in terms of its number reaching trunk initiation stage, height and frond number. 

However, no significant difference was observed for other growth parameters of mother palm 

irrespective of treatments but there was better growth for successions suckers. More growth 

data including succession suckers will be incorporated after 5 years field planting. Succession 

suckers are important to ensure continuity of harvesting within the plot. 

37



Poster 3 

Study of Pest Infestation in Sago Plantation 

Noraini Busri*, Ahmad Zaki Husen, Peter Stanley Howell & Yusup Sobeng 

CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd, Lot 3147, Block 14, Jalan Sultan Tengah, 93055 

Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

Email address of corresponding author: drnorcraun_@yahoo.com 

Serious pest infestation may occur due to increased development or cultivation of vast new 

plantation areas. Pest infestation is so far not a major problem in sago plantation. However, 

highly significant infestation of bagworms and caterpillars was reported in 2006 in two sago 

plantations in Mukah, depicted by the widespread occurrence of browning and defoliation of 

sago leaves. Field census was carried to evaluate the seriousness of the infestation and to 

identify the insects. Seven bagworm species and five nettle caterpillar species were found 

during the census. Two types of insect species namely, Pteroma pendula (bagworms) and 

Sethotosea asigna (nettle caterpillars) were identified to be the major pests present in both 

plantations. Based on these findings, spraying of insecticides was strategized to ensure 

effectiveness of treatment in controlling the insect population. For bagworms, spraying is most 

effective when the bagworms are at the feeding stage (early and middle instar). For nettle 

caterpillars, regular inspection is necessary and any encounters of its existence exceeding 

threshold numbers (>10 on new fronds), insecticide treatment should be done promptly. 

Pesticides containing cypermethrin and trichlorfon are the most effective pesticides for use in 

the event of infestation. For long term pest control, biological control can be considered. 

Poster 4 

Preliminary Study of Methanogens and Methanotrophs from Sago Waste 

Azham Zulkharnain* and Dahalia Jerim 

Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Resource Science & Technology, 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia 

*Email address of corresponding author: zazham@frst.unimas.my 

The presence of indigenous methanogens and methanotrophs are important to study the 

viability of using sago waste as an alternative source of energy in the form of biogas. This study 

was conducted to screen for methanogens and methanotrophs which may indigenously exist in 

the same environment where sago waste are collected. Sago waste samples were collected from 

sago processing mill and were incubated anaerobically in a broth at 30°C. Bacterial growth was 

determined by increased gas volumes produced during the incubation period of 30 days. Broth 

samples were for DNA extraction and plate streaking. Primers targeting the alpha-subunit of 

Methyl Coenzyme M Reductase (MCRα) were used to detect the presence of methanogens while 

primers targetting alpha-subunit of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO) were used to 

detect the presence of methanotrophs. Specific primers designed for targeting bacterial 16S 

rRNA were used to distinguish among different methanotrophs namely Methylobacter, 

Methylococcus, Methylomonas and Methylosinus groups. Multiple bands of DNA amplification 

using MCRα primers were observed indicated that there were multiple species of methanogens 

in the sample while no bands were detected using sMMO primers. However all four groups of 

methanotrophs were detected using each specific primers. The findings from this study may 

38



suggest better approaches in utilizing sago waste into an alternative energy source of the 

future. 

Poster 5 

Spectroscopy Profiling of Metabolites in Trunking and Non-Trunking Sago Palm 

(Preliminary) 

Wei-Jie Yan 1, Hasnain Hussain 1 & Zainab Ngaini 2 

1 

Department of Molecular Biology; 2 


Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

Email address of corresponding author: diry_yan@hotmail.com 

Sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) is one of the important agricultural plants which contribute to the 

economy of Malaysia with an export value of RM 57.754 million at the year 2008. In sago palm 

cultivation, there are sago palms which showed phenotypic expression of non-trunking 

especially in the deep peat soil which eliminated the economic value of the plant. Extensive 

upstream researches have been done on sago palm but none of it focuses on the identification of 

the plants metabolites. The determination of metabolites benefited the overall research where 

the metabolites production in sago palm may fix the missing links between the genetic 

expressions with environmental factors that contributes to the non-trunking phenotypic 

expression. Several solvents with different polarity have been used to extract metabolites from 

the sago palm leaf tissue. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis result of the extracts 

shows that there are presence of different compound between the trunking and non-trunking 

sago leaf extract even in the preliminary analysis level and the different effectiveness of 

different solvent in the extraction process. 

Synthesis and Characterization of Fluorescent Starch Maleate Nanoparticles. 

Aressa Azman*, Chin Suk Fun and Pang Suh Cem 

Department of Chemistry, 


Kota Samarahan, 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia 

Email address of corresponding author: aressa88@yahoo.com 

Fluorescent starch maleate molecules were prepared by covalently attached fluorescein 

isothiocyanate (FITC) dyes onto starch maleate molecules. Fluorescent starch maleate 

molecules were precipitated and self-assembled into nanoparticles upon addition into ethanol 

solution. The fluorescent starch maleate nanoparticles were spherical in shape, with average 

particle sizes of around 87.3 nm. 

39



Poster 6 

Effect of the Feeding Volume in Fed-batch Fermentation for Nisin Production. 

Sarina Niyup 1*, Kopli Bujang 2, Cirilo Nolasco Hipolito 3 

Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 


*Email address of corresponding author: 10021604@siswa.unimas.my 

Nisin is a bacteriocin composed by 34 amino acids and it is an effective antibacterial agent again 

some related and not related bacteria. Nisin production by Lactococcus lactis IO-1 was 

investigated using fed-batch fermentation and hydrolysed sago starch. The objective was to 

study the effect of the feeding volume of fresh media on the pattern of nisin production. To 

enhance the nisin production, the cells were recovered by a hollow fibre membrane (HFM) and 

recycled into the fermenter. In this condition, 200 and 400 mL of broth free of cells were 

obtained. The results showed that feeding 400 mL of fresh media produced a final cell 

concentration of 6.6 g l -1. A titre of 42393 IU ml -1 of nisin was achieved being 30% higher than 

feeding only 200 mL of fresh media. Keeping the residual glucose in the range of 2-6 g l -1 

allowed in maintaining the cells in log phase were the production of nisin was higher. Lower 

residual glucose negatively affected nisin production. 

Poster 7 

Biobleaching of Sago Waste for Potential Use and Application in Handsheet Preparation. 

Mariam Dayana Mohd Taha, Fatimah Sani, Siti Nur Afiqah Sunif, Hairul Azman Roslan and 

Awang Ahmad Sallehin Awang Husaini*, 

Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. 

Email address of corresponding author: haahmad@frst.unimas.my 

Enzymatic bio-bleaching on sago ‘hampas’ was carried out in order to yield a good quality paper 

in terms of brightness from enzymatic pre-treated sago ‘hampas’. An indigenous fungus, 

Aspergillus flavus NSH9 that produces most xylanase and less cellulase or xylanase free cellulose 

was used in the production of the enzyme for use in the biobleaching of sago ‘hampas’ pulp. 

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) of sago waste by Aspergillus flavus NSH9 was performed. The 

maximum production of xylanase enzyme was recorded as 0.597 Uml -1 after 5 days of 

fermentation period. The xylanase enzyme produced was extracted and subsequently used in 

the bio-bleaching experiments on sago ‘hampas’ pulp. Analysis on the enzymatic pre-treated 

sago ‘hampas’ revealed the most reduced Kappa number and recorded as 15.09 points. 

40



Poster 8 

Sago and Papua Local Wisdom. 

Nicolaas Filo Maniagasi* 

Papua Biodiversity Foundation, Komp. BTN Skyland Indah,No. 76, Kota-Raya, 

Jayapura, Papua INDONESIA. 

Email address of corresponding author: nnmaniagasi@yahoo.com 

Papua Indonesia has sago nature 1.200.000 ha or 53% of totality 2.250.000 ha sago nature of 

the World. This sago nature potential should be utilized either. There is the experience of native 

Papua can we notice about sago. Sago nature should be protected for the world. 

Poster 9 

Physiological Performance of Nursery Stage Spine and Spineless Sago. 

Mohd Roslan Md Noor*, Maizan Ismail, Wahid Omar & Ahmad Kushairi Din 

Biological Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 

6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: mroslan@mpob.gov.my 

Physiological performance of two types of sago planting materials namely the spine and 

spineless sago were evaluated based on gas exchange measurements and water use efficiency 

(WUE). Both planting materials were raised on concrete beds filled with 6cm depth of water 

under rain shelter. Gas exchange measurements were done using the LICOR 6400 (Nebraska, 

USA) on leaflets from frond No 2. Results showed that the CO2 assimilation rate of spineless 

sago was 11% higher than the spine, 18% higher in WUE and 12.5% higher in stomatal 

conductance. 

Poster 10 

Construction of Metroxylon sagu Cysteine Protease cDNA into expression vector pET41a+ 

Nurul ‘Izzati binti Chik* & Hairul Azman Roslan 


Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan 

Sarawak MALAYSIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: izzati89_chik@yahoo.com 

Protease is a group of enzymes that degrades polypeptides. The enzyme cysteine protease in 

particular has many roles in plant cells physiology and development such as in embryogenesis, 

tracheary element differentiation, germination of seeds, leaf and flower senescence, and in 

response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Cysteine protease was found to be present in sago palm 

previously via transcriptome analysis of young sago palm leaf. In this project, the main aim is to 

construct Metroxylon sagu Cysteine Protease cDNA into expression vector pET41a+. For this 

work a complementary DNA (cDNA) library was used to identify and clone cysteine protease 

cDNA into pET41a+. This is done by employing the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, 

plasmid transformation method and restriction enzyme method. Construction of cysteine 

41



protease into pET41a+ is the important parts before the gene will transform to Rosetta (E. coli) 

and analysis of expressed protein by using Sodium dedecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel 

electrophoresis (SDS – PAGE). 

Poster 11 

Determination of Cellulose, Hemicelluloses and Lignin in Fermented Sago Waste for 

Potential Application as Aquaculture Feed 

Nurafidah L.*, Yuzine E., Khairul Adha A. R. Awang Ahmad Sallehin A. H. 

Department of Molecular Biolog,y, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan Sarawak Malaysia 

*Email address of corresponding author: nurafidahlani@hotmail.com 

This research aims were to determine the amount of residual cellulose, hemicelluloses and 

lignin content in fermented sago waste after undergoing the solid substrate fermentation 

process by fibrolytic microbial consortia of Bacilluis lichenformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, 

Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. The fermentation was carried out for a period of 7 days 

using different combination of microorganisms. The parameter measured includes the residual 

content of lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses. Sago waste biotreated with the combination of B. 

amyloliquefaciens and A. flavus recorded the lowest amount of cellulose and the lowest amount 

of lignin, respectively. Treatment of sago waste with the combination of B. amyloliquefaciens, B. 

licheniformis, A. niger and A. flavus recorded the lowest amount of hemicelluloses and are 

potentially useful as feed material for aquaculture. 

Poster 12 

Ethanol Production from Cellulosic Materials using a Hydro-thermal Pretreatment in 

Japan 

Hideo Noda 1*, Minoru Genta 2 , Shinji Hama 3 , Hiroyuki Ae 4 & Akihiko Kondo 5 

1 Kansai Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd.; 2 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Mechatronics systems 

Ltd.; Bio-energy Corporation 4 ; Hyogo Environmental Advancement Association; 5 Kobe 

University, JAPAN. 

*Email address of corresponding author: hnoda@kce.co.jp 

In Japan, several projects on bio-ethanol production from cellulosic materials have been carried 

out. In our project a hydro-thermal pretreatment without adding sulfuric acid had been 

introduced and ethanol fermentation had been performed successfully with rice straw, wheat 

straw, and bagasse and so on. The process could also be applicable for the cellulosic part of 

sago. 

42



Poster 13 

Spectroscopic and Morphological Characterisation of Treated Sago Wastes as 

Biosorbents 

Siong Fong Sim 1,*, Nurul Aida Lu Mohd Irwn Lu 1, Terri Zhuan Ean Lee 1, Murtedza Mohamed 1 

1 Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, 

94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia; 

*Email address of corresponding author: sfsim@frst.unimas.my 

Sago industry has undergone rapid development that has simultaneously generated massive 

amount of waste i.e., sago hampas. Lignocellulosic biomass has been known to be potential 

biosorbents nonetheless treatment is often necessary to improve the adsorption ability. In this 

paper, we treated sago hampas with citric acid, acetic acid, hydrothermal, NaOH, combination of 

HCl and NaOH and H2SO4 where the spectroscopic and morphological characteristics of the 

biomass were examined. Results showed that acetic acid, citric acid and hydrothermal 

treatment had not resulted in significant changes. Strong acid treatment however had caused 

severe hydrolysis with solubilisation of cellulose. NaOH treatment demonstrated exposure of 

cellulose suggesting effective removal of hemicelluloses and lignin. Among these treatment 

processes, NaOH treatment appeared to be potentially effective in improving the adsorption 

ability of sago hampas. 

Poster 14 

Production and Purification of Sago Sugar 

K.B. Bujang, N.J. Monib* & C. Nolasco-Hipolito 


Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak MALAYSIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: jannahmonib@gmail.com 

Sago starch is an attractive alternative as a substrate for the production of sugar due to its 

economic and geographical considerations. In this study, sago starch was used for the 

production of glucose which is potentially viable as the new source of commercial sugar 

through enzymatic hydrolysis of sago starch into sugars (96% glucose), achieved after about 6 

hours. The objectives of this study are to develop effective filtration techniques to purify the 

Hydrolysed Sago Starch (HSS) to produce Purified Sago Sugar (PSS) using Powdered Activated 

Charcoal (PAC) and to observe the effects from augmentation of the purification scale. 

Purification of LSS at 152g/L glucose was performed on 5g PAC packed on glasswool in a glass 

tube (2.5cm diameter, and 2cm filtration height). Filtration by gravity at a flow-rate of 

130ml/hr gave the highest recovery of glucose at 73% (110.5g/L) compared to on 10g and 15g 

PAC, at 69% (89.8g/L) and 50% (75.4g/L), respectively. Efforts to enhance filtration of HSS was 

studied using a pump (flow-rate of 460ml/hr) demonstrated that purification under forced 

filtration yield a higher recovery (almost 90%, or 135.6g/L) compared to purification under 

gravity. Further analyses revealed that the recovery of glucose increased by over 70% (from 

101.3g/L to 153.7g/L) after 7 cycles upon filtration on the same batch of PAC. However, such 

43



multiple filtrations considerably reduced the flow rate (by 70%) as more impurities crammed 

the filtering surfaces of the charcoal. 

Poster 15 

Purification, Expression and Sequence Analysis of Fructose bisphophate aldolase (FBA) 

cDNA from Sago Palm (Metroxylon sagu) 

Jerry Gerunsin 1* and Hairul Azman Roslan 1 

1 Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Resource Science & 

Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan Sarawak MALAYSIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: jerrygerunsin@gmail.com 

The promising future prospects in usage of sago palm (Metroxylon sagu) have made this starch 

producing plant as one of the spotlight in our agronomic industry. Commercially cultivated in 

floodplains of alluvial and normally planted in small scale, this plant is also seen to have been 

well adapted to its environment. Fructose bisphosphate aldolase, is an enzyme that catalyses 

the reaction that converts triophosphate into fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. Several reports have 

been made that its physiological and structural characteristics are involved in salt and drought 

tolerance. The underlying molecular characteristic of this gene in sago palm have not yet been 

identified. Here, a fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase gene from sago palm, designated as 

msFBAld, was purified and analyzed. 

Poster 16 

Relationship between Pore Morphology and Swelling Properties of Carboxymethyl 

Sago Starch Hydrogel 

Norzita Yacob, Kamaruddin Hashim, Maznah Mahmud* & Norhashidah Talip 

Radiation Processing Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) 

Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: maznah@nuclearmalaysia.gov.my 

Sago starch has been chemically modified into water-soluble carboxymethyl sago starch (CMS). 

Solubility of CMS in water depends on the degree of substitution of OH group of sago starch 

molecule with carboxymethyl group. Characterization study using FTIR on chemical properties 

of sago starch and CMS confirm the substitution. CMS in the paste-like form can be irradiation 

crosslink by electron beam or gamma radiations into hydrogel with 3 dimensional inter 

polymer network (IPN). This hydrogel has the capability to absorb large quantity of water and 

the swelling depends on the solubility of CMS in water as reveal in SEM micrograph. The 

absorption of this hydrogel also depends on the pH or ionic condition of medium or solvent and 

the micrograph of the swollen hydrogels in its media were discussed in this paper. 

44



Poster 17 

Recycling of Sago Industries Waste for Production of Super Water Absorbent (SWA) 

Using Radiation Technology 

Norhashidah Talip, Maznah Mahmud*, Norzita Yacob, Kamaruddin Hashim, Zahid Abdullah, 

Nor Akma Samsuddin, Norafifah Ahmad Fabillah and Mohamad Nalrazmi B. Mohamad Shukri 

Radiation Processing Technology Division, Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia) 

Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: maznah@nuclearmalaysia.gov.my 

Super water absorbent (SWA) from sago waste was synthesized by grafting copolymerization of 

acrylic acid onto sago waste by using two radiation techniques. Several formulations of SWA 

were irradiated using electron beam (EB) and γ-ray at 15, 20 and 25kGy in order to find the 

optimum radiation parameter and formulation to produce the best SWA. The properties of the 

prepared sago waste super water absorbent were evaluated in terms of gel content and 

swelling behavior. Swelling results have shown that at 20kGy for both EB and γ irradiation gave 

better properties compared to other doses. Pot test has also been carried out to study the 

capability of super water absorbent from sago waste to retain water in compost soil. 

Poster 18 

Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol Production Using Sago Pith Residues by 

Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC824 

Siren Linggang*, Suraini Abd-Aziz, Lai-Yee Phang and Mohd Helmi Wasoh 

Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, 

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: siren_linggang@yahoo.com 

Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) production from renewable resources has been widely 

reported. In this study, Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC824 was employed for ABE 

fermentation using sago pith residues hydrolysate derived from hydrolysis using crude 

cellulases from Aspergillus fumigatus UPM2. When 30 g/L of sago pith residues hydrolysate was 

used as a carbon source in the ABE fermentation, 4.22±0.17 g/L of total solvents (2.23±0.12 g/L 

of butanol) was produced. The ABE productivity and yield of 0.06 g/L/h and 0.20 g ABE/g 

glucose were obtained, which was comparable to the productivity and yield when using 

synthetic glucose as a carbon source. Increasing concentration of hydrolysate to 50 g/L with 

addition of 0.5 g/L yeast extract at initial culture pH 5.0, resulted in higher total solvents 

production of 8.84±0.20 g/L (5.41±0.10 g/L of butanol), which is almost 52% and 59% 

increment of total solvents and butanol concentration, respectively. The ABE yield and 

productivity obtained were 0.30 g ABE/g glucose and 0.12 g/L/h, respectively. This result was 

almost comparable to the result obtained using synthetic glucose (40 g/L) for ABE production 

by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824 which the yield and productivity were 0.32 g ABE/g 

glucose and 0.15 g/L/h, respectively. 

45



Poster 19 

Diversity and Carbon Stock of Weed Flora in Sago Plantation 

I.B. Ipor, N. H. Ismail, C.S. Tawan & Sharifah, M.Y*. 

Department of Plant Science and Environmental Ecology, Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

Email address of corresponding author: wysmazenah@gmail.com 

Assessment of biomass and carbon stocks is essential for knowledge on carbon dynamics. The 

survey was carried out in sago plantation, Pusa, Sarawak. In early stage, Nephrolepis biserrata 

was the most dominant species recorded with the value of SDR 0.1823 followed by Melastoma 

malabathricum SDR 0.1174, Uncaria callophylla SDR 0.0966, Paspalum conjugatum SDR 0.0788 

and Alocasia longiloba SDR 0.0754 whereas the least species found was Isachne globa, Vitex 

pubescens and Homalamena griffithii with SDR 0.0016 each. It is about 49 species were 

enumerated in the matured stage that is mostly dominated by Nephrolepis biserrata SDR 

0.3830, Piper betle SDR 0.1308, Cyperus distans SDR 0.0808, Macaranga gigantea SDR 0.0366 

and Litsea firma SDR 0.0345 while the least species found were Cinnanamomum iners SDR 

0.0010, Vernonia arborea and Cratoxylum arborescens with SDR 0.0019 each. The estimated 

carbon for 100 quadrates in two years plantation was 26.224 t/ha which is 32% contributed by 

Scirpus mucronatus about 8.299 t/ha and ranked with Crytococcum oxyphyllum 4.068 t/ha, 

Cyperus digitatus 1.900 t/ha, Nephrolepis biserrata 1.627 t/ha and Paspalum conjugatum 1.606 

t/ha. 

Poster 20 

Value-added Downstream Utilization of Native Sago (Metroxylon sagu) Starch 

Pang Suh Cem*, Chin Suk Fun, Amira Satirawaty bt Mohd Pauzan, Tay Soon Hiang, Tay Chen 

Lim, Siti Nur Akmar Mohd Yazid & Arressa Bt Azman 


Universiti Malaysia Sarawak,94300 Kota Samarahan, 

Sarawak, MALAYSIA. 

*Email address of corresponding author: scpang@frst.unimas.my 

Several research initiatives have been undertaken recently by the Advanced Materials Research 

Group (AMRG) at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in order to enhance value-added downstream 

utilization of native sago starch produced locally in Sarawak. Our research efforts have focused 

on developing various functional and nanostructured starch-based materials using native sago 

starch as the main precursor materials. Facile and green synthesis approaches are being used to 

synthesize starch-based materials such as ionically conductive gel electrolyte films, hydrogels of 

controllable swelling behaviors, spherical starch nanoparticles of controllable sizes, as well as 

the conversion of preformed starch nanoparticles into fluorescent carbon nanodots. Being 

environmentally benign, renewable and cheap, these functional and nanostructured starchbased 

materials therefore possess high potential for various electrochemical, biomedical and 

biosensor applications. 

46



Poster 21 

Utilising Stillage from Ethanol Fermentation of Hydrolysed Sago Starch for Yeast 

Cultivation 

K.B. Bujang*, K. Balasupramaniam & N. Ismail 


Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, MALAYSIA 

*Email address of corresponding author: bkopli@frst.unimas.my 

A study was conducted to utilise stillage or spent fermentation broth (SFB) from the production 

of ethanol on hydrolysed sago starch by maximising the growth of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces 

cerevisiae). Removal of ethanol from the stillage was performed by boiling the broth for about 

1hr or until ethanol concentration is reduced to between 1-5 g/L, which produce boiled spent 

fermentation broth (B-SFB). Production of B-SFB at different boiling duration and used for 

culture of yeast cells has shown that it was able to grow (5.7g/L) with minimum effects from 

residual ethanol (24g/L) at 80% B-SFB. When this was amended with 15% glucose, the highest 

biomass (12.45 ± 0.11 gL -1) was obtained at pH 4 with ethanol tolerance of up to 80%. Hence, it 

was proven that it is possible to culture yeast in spent fermentation broth to minimize the 

potentially polluting effects from the release of stillage from each fermentation batches, while 

reducing the use of fresh water for subsequent processes. 

47



Organizing Committee of 2 nd ASAS 2012 

Advisor 

Chairman 

Secretary 

Finance 

Publicity, Promotion & 

Contribution 

Invitation, Opening Ceremony & 

Protocol 

Accomodation. Transport & 

Registration 

: Prof Dr Hj Shabdin Md Long 

Prof Dr Hj Kopli Bujang 

: Assoc Prof Dr Hairul Azman Roslan 

: Assoc Prof Dr Awang Ahmad Sallehin Awang Husaini 

Mrs Safarina Ahmad 

Ms Norafila Humrawali 

: Mrs Dayang Shahrizah Abdul (Head) 

Ms Nurashikin Suhaili 

: Dr Azham Zulkharnain (Head) 

Prof Dr Khairul Aidil Azlin Abd Rahman 

Ms Limjatai Kadin Patrick 

: Assoc Prof Dr Zainab Ngaini (Head) 

Mrs Emelia Tambi 

Mrs Rumaizah Bt Hj Pathii 

Ms Rosmawati Saat 

Mrs Sheela Ungau 

: Dr Lee Kui Soon (Head) 

Mrs Fazia Mohamad Sinang 

Mr Amin Mangi 

Mrs Kamaliawati bt Yusop 

Technical : Dr Micky Vincent (Head) 

Mr Denim anak Bill 

Mr Azis Ajim 

Mr Dahlan Ramli 

Scientific Panel : Assoc Prof Dr Edmund Sim Ui Hang (Head) 

Assoc Prof Dr Cirilo Nolasco Hipolito 

Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Hasnain Md Hussain 

Mrs Dayang Salwani Awang Adeni 

Dr Noraini Busri 

Datin Dr Zaliha Christie Abdullah 

Dr Rosa Rolle 

Assoc Prof Dr Pang Suh Cem 

Dr Chin Suk Fun 

Mr Bala Jamel 

48



Working Committee of 2 nd ASAS 2012 

Secretariats 

Finance 

Publicity, Promotion & 

Contribution 

Invitation, Opening Ceremony & 

Protocol 

Accommodation, Registration & 

Transport 

: Mrs Safarina Ahmad 

Ms Norafila Humrawali 

Mr Mohd Farith Kota 

Ms Fatimah Sani 

Ms Siti Nor Afiqah Sunif 

Ms Siti Ratna Mustafa 

: Mrs Dayang Shahrizah Abdul 

Ms Nurashikin Suhaili 

: Ms Limjatai Kadin Patrick 

: Mrs Emelia Tambi 

Ms Rosmawati Saat 

Mrs Sheela Ungau 

Ms Petranilla Chundi 

Mrs Norlia Ismail 

Ms Noorbaizura Medahi 

Mrs Affizzah Morshidi 

Mrs Nur Syamsiah Jeman 

Mr Maclean ak Petrick Sibat 

Mrs Dayangku Zyzy Cemylya Awg Rahmat 

: Mrs Fazia Mohamad Sinang 

Mr Amin Mangi 

Mrs Kamaliawati bt Yusop 

Technical : Mr Dabif anak Jack Straw 

Mr Azis Ajim 

Mr Dahlan Ramli 

Mr Ngieng Ngui Sing 

Mr Alvin Miai Spencer 

Mr Ennry Essut 

Ms Christy Chan 

Ms Venneltti Linang 

Mr. Bong Amir Bong Hatta 

49



List of 2 nd ASAS 2012 Participants 

Name Organization Email 

Prof Dulce M Flores 

University of the Philippines, Mindanao dmflores_2000@yahoo.com 

Mr Hiroyuki Konuma FAOAP Bangkok Thailand Hiroyuki.Konuma@fao.org 

Professor Emeritus Dr 

Ayaaki Ishizaki 

Kyushu University (retired) ayishizac@kyudai.jp 

Prof Dr H. M. H. Bintoro Institut Pertanian Bogor hmh_bintoro@yahoo.com 

Prof Dr Yoshinori 

Yamamoto 

AssocProf Dr Abdul Manan 

Dos Mohamed 

Assoc Prof Dr Hairul Azman 

Roslan 

Kochi Unioversity yamayosi@kochi-u.ac.jp 

UniKL amanandos@micet.unikl.edu.my 

UNIMAS rhairul@frst.unimas.my 

Prof Dr Kopli Bujang UNIMAS bkopli@pps.unimas.my 

Mr Exélis Moïse Pierre UM 

50 

exelis.moise.pierre@siswa.um.e 

du.my 

Mr Keita Nabeya Tohoku University b1am1126@s.tohoku.ac.jp 

Dr Chin Suk Fun UNIMAS sfchin@frst.unimas.my 

Mr Abor Yet 

Ms Siti Izyan Liyana Bt 

Kamarol 

PELITA Mukah Sebakong Sago 

Plantation Sdn Bhd 

ladangrumbia@gmail.com 

UNIMAS kizyanliyana@gmail.com 

Mr Peter Stanley Howell CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd info@craunresearch.com.my 

Mr Timothy Abet Anak Isik 

Assoc Prof Annabelle 

Novero 




University of the Philippines, Mindanao anovero@upmin.edu.ph 

Dr Azham Zulkharnain UNIMAS zazham@frst.unimas.my 

Mr Wenston Tan Choo 

Kheng 

Dr Albertus Fajar Irawan 

Ms Nurul Faseeha Binti 

Zulkiffli 



PT National Sago Prima, a subsidiary 

of PT Sampoerna Agro Tbk. 


albertus.irawan@sampoernaagr 

o.com 

UNIMAS sehazul@yahoo.com

Ms Rina Tommy 

Prof Dr Nadirman Haska 

Ms Samntha Siong Ling 

Chee 

Ms Saptarining Wulan 





Biotech Center of the Agency for the 

Assessment and Application of 

Technology, Indonesia 

51 


nadirmanh@yahoo.com 

UNIMAS SAMSMY@YAHOO.COM 

Environmental Science, University of 

Indonesia 

saptariningwulan@yahoo.com.a 

u 

Mr Zahri Perhi CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Mr Yan Wei Jie UNIMAS diry_yan@hotmail.com 

Mrs Jubel Abrawi Yayasan Sagu Suaka Alam jjubelab_2010@yahoo.com 

Mr Bala Jamel CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Ms Aressa bt Azman UNIMAS aressa88@yahoo.com 

Mr Lim Lye Hin Asia Chemical Trading Pte Ltd lyehin.lim@actpl.sg 

Mr Roland Yong CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Ms Sarina anak Niyup UNIMAS charlesarina@gmail.com 

Dr Zainon Othman Malaysian Nuclear Agency zainon@nuclearmalaysia.gov.my 

Mrs Nurleyna Yunus CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Mr Ho Chew An 

PT. Austinndo Nusantara Jaya Agri 

Papua 

smvalentina@anjagri.com 

Prof Dr Isa Ipor UNIMAS ibipor@frst.unimas.my 

Dr Jong Fo Shoon 

PT. Austindo Nusantara Jaya Agri 

Papua 


Mr Azri Razali CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Ms Siti Ratna Mustafa UNIMAS ratna_ms89@yahoo.com 

Mr Agung Pramudya 


Papua 

Ms Maznah Mahmud Malaysian Nuclear Agency 


maznah@nuclearmalaysia.gov. 

my 

Mr Haswardi Hazemi CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Mr Didi Wiryono 


Papua 


Mrs. Fariza Zaini CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my



Ms. Mastura Bt Sani UNIMAS masturasani@ymail.com, 

Assoc Prof Dr Awg Ahmad 

Sallehin Awg Husaini 

UNIMAS. haahmad@frst.unimas.my 

Ms Noramina Hampden CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Mr Alvin Miai Ak Spencer 

Empading 

Mr. Awg. Zulfikar Awg. 

Seruji 

UNIMAS alvinmiai@gmail.com 

CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Mr Mohd Farith Kota UNIMAS farith@live.com.my 

Mr Nicolaas Filo Maniagasi Papua Biodiversity Foundation nnmaniagasi@yahoo.com 

Mr Chan Hian Siang Asia Chemical Trading Pte Ltd lyehin.lim@actpl.sg 

Dr Eddy Chiljon Papilaya 

Mr Mohd Roslan Hj Md 

Noor 

Sekolah Tinggi Pertanian 

Kewirausahaan Banau Halmahera 

Barat Maluku Utara Indonesia 

Mr Peter Benjamin PT Sampoerna Agro Tbk. 

Assoc Prof Dr Pang Suh 

Chem 

52 

eddy_papilaya@yahoo.com 

MPOB mroslan@mpob.gov.my 

peter.benjamin@sampoernaagro 

.com 

UNIMAS scpang@frst.unimas.my 

Ms Nurul 'Izzati binti Chik UNIMAS izzati89_chik@yahoo.com 

Dr Satoshi Nakamura Miyagi University nakamurs@myu.ac.jp 

Assoc Prof Dr Prapaporn 

Boonme 

Prince of Songkla University prapaporn.b@psu.ac.th 

Ms Nurafidah Lani UNIMAS nurafidahlani@hotmail.com 

Dr Yusuke Goto 

Assoc Prof Cirilo Nolasco 

Hipolito 

Graduate School of Agricultural 

Science, Tohoku University 

y-goto@bios.tohoku.ac.jp 

UNIMAS hcnolasco@frst.unimas.my 

Dr H.Noda Kansai Chem. Eng. Co., Ltd. hnoda@kce.co.jp 

Mr Pranda Mulya Putra 

Garniwa 

Dr Rosa Rolle 

Universitas Indonesia prandamulya@gmail.com 

FAO Regional Office for Asia and the 

Pacific, Bangkok 

Rosa.Rolle@fao.org 

Ms Terri Lee Zhuan Ean UNIMAS terrilze@yahoo.com 

Mr M Minaldi Biotech Center of the Agency for the 


naldi_rjb@yahoo.com




Prof Dr NITTA Youji Ibaraki University, Japan nittay@mx.ibaraki.ac.jp 

Ms Nur Jannah Binti Monib UNIMAS jannahmonib@gmail.com 

Dr Hardaning Pranamuda 

Dr Krishna Purnawan 

Candra 

Ms Nurul Aida Lu Bt Mohd 

Irwan Lu 

Mr Ramses Wally SH 




53 

hrp0605@hotmail.com 

Mulawarman University kcandra_99@yahoo.com 

UNIMAS nurul_strikerz@yahoo.com 

Local Papua Indigenous People 

Leader 

sago_papua@yahoo.com 

Mr Pisit Charnsnoh Yadfon Foundation yadfon@loxinfo.co.th 

Mr Jerry Gerunsin UNIMAS jerrygerunsin@gmail.com 

Mr Oladeji Adewale 

Olagunju 

Mrs Gayatri K Rana 

Mr Mario G. Montejo 

Assoc Prof Dr Maizirwan 

Mel 

Dr Amelia Guevarra 

Swordsmith Trading & Project cc daryllahiff@ymail.com 

Ministry of Agriculture Republic of 

Indonesia 

Department of Science and 

Technology (DOST) 

gayatri_rana07@yahoo.com 

panlaquimapilipinas@gmail.com 

IIUM maizirwan@iium.edu.my 

Department of Science and 

Technology (DOST) 

panlaquimapilipinas@gmail.com 

Ms Siren Linggang UPM siren_linggang@yahoo.com 

Mr Dennis L. Cunanan Technology Resource Center (TRC) panlaquimapilipinas@gmail.com 

Ms Nur Humairah Bt Abdul 

Razak 

Ms Lauren Teena D. 

Velasquez 

Assoc Prof Dr Hasnain Md 

Hussain 

IIUM Nurhumairah87@gmail.com 

Technology Resource Center (TRC) panlaquimapilipinas@gmail.com 

UNIMAS hhasnain@frst.unimas.my 

Ma. Pilipinas B. Panlaqui Technology Resource Center (TRC) panlaquimapilipinas@gmail.com 

Mr Bastian Wamafma 

Yayasan Lingkungan Hidup Papua 

(Papua Environment Foundation) 

wamafmabastian@gmail.com 

Samsul Kamal Rosli MPOB samsul@mpob.gov.my

Mr Muhamad Farid bin 

Mohammed Noh 

Mr Herman Hadafi 

Mohammad 



UNIMAS mfaridnoh90@gmail.com 


Prof Dr Suraini Abd-Aziz UPM suraini@biotech.upm.edu.my 

Siti Aminah Ibrahim CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Siti Sahmsiah Bt Sahmat UiTM, Kota Samarahan sitis274@sarwak.uitm.edu.my 

Hanna Foozar Ong 

Sulaiman 

Ms Wan Samiati Andriana 

Wan Mohammad Daud 


UiTM, Kota Samarahan samiati@sarawak.uitm.edu.my 

Mr Daniel Chua Chun Haw CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Ms Norazlin Abdullah UiTM norazlin@sarawak.uitm.edu.my 

Mr Peter Mittis CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Ms Nurazalia Mohd Ali CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Ms Shamsiah Bt Hamid CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Mr Mohd Yusuf Maderi CRAUN Research Sdn. Bhd. info@craunresearch.com.my 

Dr Dwi Asmono 

Mr David Allan Nicoll 

Mr Erwin 

Mr Simon Petrus Hanebora 

Mr Hans Virgil Duwiri 

Assoc Prof Ir Dr Zuraida 

Ahmad 

Mr Johni Jonatan Numberi 

Mr Ronald Guido Suitela 

PT National Sago Prima Sampoerna 

Agro 


Agro 


Agro 

Papua Marine and Environment 

Community 

Papua Marine and Environment 

Community 

54 

hunli.ang@sampoernaagro.com 



pamenvicom@gmail.com 

pamenvicom@gmail.com 

IIUM zuraidaa@iium.edu.my 

Cenderawasih University In Papua 

Jayapura 




j_numberi@yahoo.com 

suitela@live.com



Acknowledgement 

The Chairman and the Organizing Committee of the 2 nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 2012 

would like to express our deepest gratitude for the support, cooperation and assistance 

and to thank 

Chief Minister of Sarawak 

Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud 

Vice Chancellor 

Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Ab. Hamid 

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Malaysia 

Dean, Faculty of Resource Science & Technology, UNIMAS 

Assoc Prof Dr Hasnain Md Hussain 

Director, Centre of Excellence in Sago Research (CoESAR), UNIMAS 

Assoc Prof Dr Hairul Azman Roslan 

Co-organizer: 

CRAUN Research Sdn Bhd, Malaysia 

Institut Pertertanian Bogor (IPB), Indonesia 

FAO Regional of Asia Pacific Representative (FAORAP), Thailand 

Innoniaga Sdn Bhd 

Individual and company that supports the 2 nd ASEAN sago Symposium and 

to all participants 

Terima Kasih / Thank You 

55



Notes 

56

2nd ASEAN Sago Symposium 2012, UNIMAS, Kota Samarahan ...

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