BUKU ABSTRAK - Universiti Putra Malaysia

Forestry & Environment
Public Perceptions on the Development of Kenaf Industry in Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Mohd. Shahwahid Hj. Othman
Norfaryanti Kamaruddin, Siti Nurhidayah Roslen and Nurul Ain Mohd. Reduan
Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8946 8424; faryanti@gmail.com
Naturally renewable materials are attracting more and more attentions gradually from both developed and
developing countries. In Malaysia, Kenaf seems to stand out prominently in the eyes of the Government where
some 35 Million Malaysian ringgit (RM) has been allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for Kenaf industry
development (Bernama). Government has been heavily promoting Kenaf as an alternative crop for the tobacco
farmers to consider in the advent of the AFTA which effecting in 2010, which is believed to result in lower
prices and a reduction in import duties for tobacco. However, even as Kenaf development gains momentum,
there are still uncertainties on the perceptions towards the development of Kenaf industry in Malaysia. The
stakeholders’ perceptions are vital to leap the industry further and drive this new industry to success. This report
also aims to identify the current potential and challenges which have to be faced by the industry players. In
short, this paper seeks to address the void in the current literature by discussing the perception of stakeholders
towards the industry of kenaf-based products in Malaysia. The process of this study consisted of the preparatory
stage, personal interviews with relevant stakeholders at two levels both upstream and downstream, and survey
on the perception towards Kenaf industry from the participants of International Conference of Kenaf and Allied
Fibres in December, 2009 at Kuala Lumpur. Finally, we managed to assess realistically the market potentials and
challenges of Kenaf industry, along with the current level of government incentives given for the development of
this industry in Malaysia.
Keywords: Kenaf industry, development, perceptions, upstream, downstream, market potentials
Application of Hopanes as a Biomarker in Identifying the Source of Oil Pollution:
A Case Study in Surface Sediments from South China Sea
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohamad Pauzi Zakaria
Norliza Ismail, Abdul Halim Abdullah and Norazida Manan
Faculty of Environmental Studies, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8946 8024; mpauzi@env.upm.edu.my
Oil pollution has been introduced into the South China Sea aquatic environment through anthropogenic
activities such as discharging of oil during extraction, transportation and consumption. In order to determine the
source of oil pollution in South China Sea, 30 surface sediment samples were collected in 2008 and were analyzed
for pentacyclic triterpanes (hopane) by gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GCMS) with m/z 191. The total
concentrations of hopane compounds ranged from 2.25 to 1328.39 µg/g which indicate South China Sea is facing
various sources of oil pollution. This study investigates the use of hopanes compound source identifier of oil
pollution for surface sediment samples collected from South China Sea and the applicability of the biomarker
approach to determine the origin of oil-contaminated sediment. Previous report had shown that 17?(H),21?(H)-
norhopane and C31-C 35 homohopane were found to be abundant in Middle East crude oil (MECO). The
MECO signature was found in a number of the surface sediment samples in this study. The diagnostic ratio of
17?(H),21?(H)- norhopane to 17?(H),21?(H)- hopane (C29/C30) and sum of 17?(H),21?(H)-C31 homohopane
to 17?(H),21?(H)-C35 homohopane relative to 17?(H),21?(H)-hopane (?C31-C35/C30) was used as biomarker
signatures in this study. Using the ratios, samples number 3, 4 and 2 out of 30 surface sediment samples were
found to be originated from the Middle East, USA and Sumatera, respectively.The ratio of 17?(H)-22,29,30trisnorhopane/
18?(H)-22,29,30-trisnorhopane (Tm/Ts) however proved the source of oil pollution originated
from lubricating oil, street dust and spilled oil suggesting both sea-based and land-based sources significantly
contribute to the oil pollution in the area. This study has shown that the South China Sea is very pristine and
almost free of hydrocarbons contamination. However, more studies should be carried out in order to understand
the sociobiogeochemistry of the sea and future protection and conversation of this important marine ecosystem.
Keywords: Pollution sources, biomarker, hopane, South China Sea, surface sediment
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