Sharizan still remembers the day he first stood before the towering chimney of a palm oil mill in southern Peninsular Malaysia. The air was thick with the scent of fresh fruit bunches, steam hissed from valves, and the deep rumble of engines echoed across the factory yard. For many, this was just another industrial site. But for Sharizan, a young chemical engineer fresh out of university, it was the beginning of a lifelong journey into one of Malaysia’s most vital and misunderstood industries.
First Steps into the Mill
The early days were overwhelming. The water tube boiler, with its labyrinth of pipes and gauges, seemed almost alive, breathing fire and steam. Turbines spun with relentless energy, feeding power to the mill, while operators, their shirts soaked with sweat, worked with an instinct honed over decades.
As a newcomer, Sharizan felt small—his theoretical knowledge from classrooms suddenly seemed fragile when faced with the raw reality of industrial operations.
One evening, after a long shift, an experienced supervisor placed a hand on his shoulder and said,
> “Books will teach you equations. But here, you must learn people, patience, and perseverance. That’s what makes an engineer.”
That moment stayed with him. It was the first lesson: in the mill, engineering was never just about machines—it was about people.
Finding Strength in Challenges
Sharizan’s journey was not smooth. There were nights when boilers tripped, turbines stalled, and the entire mill plunged into silence. There were days when rain flooded the estate roads, delaying fruit delivery and throwing production schedules into chaos. And there were tense moments when process safety alarms blared, reminding everyone how fragile operations could be.
Instead of breaking under pressure, Sharizan learned to thrive in it. Each problem became a puzzle, each breakdown a lesson. He soon discovered that his role went beyond solving technical issues—it was about building systems that prevented them, and nurturing teams that could withstand them.
When he was tasked to lead an energy efficiency project, Sharizan spearheaded the installation of a new steam turbine. It was not just about equipment—it was about convincing management to invest, training operators to adapt, and ensuring safety was never compromised. When the project succeeded, reducing fuel consumption and cutting emissions, he realized another truth: engineers could shape not only profits, but sustainability and the environment.
Mentorship and Leadership
As years passed, Sharizan’s role expanded. He became a mentor, guiding new graduates who stepped into the mill with the same nervous excitement he once felt. He would take them on tours, explaining not just the “how” of the machinery, but the “why” of the industry.
> “This mill is more than steel and steam,” he would say.
“It feeds families, drives economies, and sustains communities. Our duty as engineers is to honor that responsibility.”
He also shared his passion at universities, serving on advisory panels and delivering guest lectures. He believed young engineers needed to see beyond stereotypes—that palm oil engineering was not “dirty factory work,” but a platform for innovation, sustainability, and leadership.
Reflections on a Decade
Looking back on more than a decade of service, Sharizan reflects often. He remembers the long nights troubleshooting boilers, the tense audits with Process Safety teams, and the pride of watching a project succeed. But what he cherishes most are the people—the operators who became teachers, the technicians who became partners, and the young graduates who became leaders themselves.
The industry is far from perfect. Sustainability pressures, environmental debates, and global competition continue to challenge palm oil. Yet Sharizan sees hope. He believes that with integrity, science, and collaboration, Malaysia’s palm oil industry can not only endure but thrive as a model for the world.
A Vision Forward
Today, Sharizan no longer sees the mill as just a workplace. To him, it is a living ecosystem—machines that breathe, people who dream, and an environment that demands respect.
His vision is clear:
To transform palm oil milling into a benchmark of sustainable engineering.
To empower the next generation of engineers with courage, creativity, and compassion.
To remind the world that behind every drop of palm oil lies a network of knowledge, labor, and sacrifice.
As Sharizan often tells his students,
> “Engineering is not about standing still. It is about moving forward, step by step, with responsibility in your hands and vision in your heart.”
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