KUANTAN: A Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) lecturer’s 12-year research into oil palm bunches for pest control bore fruit when he won the 2017 National Innovation Award (NIA) in the product category.
When met today, Abdul Shukor Abd Razak said the environmentally-friendly termite bait, whose commercial product name is Pisoptera, succeeded in penetrating the international market following its introduction in the Malaysian market seven years ago.
“The product has commercial value as every year, we manage to sell up to 1.5 million Pisoptera, which is marketed by UMP Ecopest Sdn Bhd (a subsidiary of UMP), which operates at the commercial centre of Gambang town here.
“It definitely has given confidence to us at UMP. Strong support from vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Daing Nasir Ibrahim has given us further confidence to produce more products derived from quality research and development which benefits society,” he said.
Syukor, 45, received the award during the NIA awards ceremony, which was opened by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau at Technology Park Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, two days ago.
The 45-year-old, who is attached to UMP’s Faculty of Civil Engineering and Earth Resources, received a prize of RM50,000, a trophy and certificate of appreciation.
He had also previously received various awards in Malaysia and other countries.
Besides producing Pisoptera, he also produces plant-based insecticides known as Pest Kill, which is the result of previous research.