🌴 Hana and DIPOM: From Participant to Educator

Hana sat quietly in front of the lecture hall, holding the teaching schedule for the Diploma in Palm Oil Milling Technology & Management (DIPOM). Once again, she had been invited by MPOB to teach two topics this year.

“Why me?” she asked herself. The answer, however, was not just about teaching—it was about giving back to a platform that once shaped her career.

📖 Memories of 2007 – A Turning Point

Hana recalled the year 2007, when she was still a participant in DIPOM.

Before that, her world was small, confined to the daily routines of palm oil mill operations. For over three years, she had been battling the challenges of mill management—pressure, fatigue, and steep learning curves. Her career path felt narrow, almost like a frog trapped in a well.

But through DIPOM, everything changed. She met fellow millers from other companies, attended lectures by seasoned industry practitioners, and visited mills run by her classmates on weekends.

That was the moment she realized the world of palm oil milling was far larger than she imagined. Networking, industrial exposure, and mentorship became the turning points in her professional journey .

🌟 From Participant to Educator

Fast forward nearly two decades later, Hana returned to the same platform—but now in a different role.

From a participant hungry for knowledge, she now stood at the front as an educator. For Hana, teaching at DIPOM was not just an assignment; it was a mission—to share her experience, inspire others, and pave the way for the next generation of millers and managers .

🤝 Supporting MPOB & the Industry

Hana firmly believed that the strength of the palm oil industry does not only lie in machines, technology, or policies, but in people—the millers and managers nurtured through programs like DIPOM.

That is why, whenever invited, she made every effort to be present. She also encouraged her peers in the industry to support MPOB in producing future leaders.

For Hana, knowledge shared today is an investment for tomorrow’s industry .

✨ Hana smiled. Once, she sat on the benches as a participant. Today, she stood at the podium as a lecturer. The journey felt complete—not because she had reached the end, but because she was finally giving back what she had once received.

📚 Footnotes

[1] MPOB (2007). History and Objectives of the Diploma in Palm Oil Milling Technology & Management (DIPOM). Malaysian Palm Oil Board.

[2] Razak, A. & Ismail, S. (2018). The Role of Training in Developing Palm Oil Mill Managers. Journal of Oil Palm Research.

[3] MPOB (2023). Capacity Building for the Palm Oil Milling Sector: Challenges and Opportunities. MPOB Technical Bulletin.

#blog #blogger #mpob #dipom

🌴 Hana dan DIPOM: Dari Peserta ke Tenaga Pengajar

Hana duduk termenung seketika di hadapan dewan kuliah. Di tangannya, ada jadual pengajaran Diploma in Palm Oil Milling Technology & Management (DIPOM). Tahun ini, sekali lagi dia dijemput oleh MPOB untuk mengajar dua topik.

“Kenapa aku?” bisik Hana dalam hati. Soalan itu membuatkan dia tersenyum kecil kerana dia tahu jawapannya bukan sekadar tentang mengajar, tetapi tentang membayar semula budi kepada sebuah platform yang pernah membentuk dirinya.

📖 Kenangan 2007 – Titik Perubahan

Hana teringat kembali tahun 2007, ketika dia sendiri masih seorang peserta DIPOM.

Sebelum itu, hidupnya ibarat katak di bawah tempurung. Tiga tahun bergelumang dengan rutin harian di kilang sawit — mengurus operasi, menanggung tekanan, belajar dari kegagalan — semuanya dirasakan seperti dunia yang sempit.

Namun, melalui DIPOM, Hana mula mengenali wajah-wajah baharu. Rakan-rakan miller dari pelbagai syarikat, tenaga pengajar berpengalaman, malah peluang melawat kilang sawit lain sewaktu hujung minggu bersama rakan sekelas.

Itulah saat Hana sedar bahawa dunia ini jauh lebih luas daripada apa yang dia bayangkan di sebuah kilang kecil. Networking, pengalaman lapangan, mentor industri — semuanya menjadi bekalan berharga dalam perjalanan kariernya.

🌟 Dari Peserta ke Penceramah

Kini, selepas hampir dua dekad, Hana kembali ke platform yang sama — tetapi dengan peranan berbeza.

Daripada seorang peserta yang dahagakan ilmu, kini dia berdiri sebagai tenaga pengajar. Baginya, mengajar di DIPOM bukan sekadar tugasan, tetapi sebuah misi untuk berkongsi semula pengalaman, memberi inspirasi, dan membuka ruang bagi generasi baharu miller untuk melangkah lebih jauh.

🤝 Menyokong MPOB & Industri

Hana percaya, kejayaan industri sawit tidak hanya bergantung kepada mesin, teknologi atau polisi, tetapi juga kepada manusia — miller dan pengurus kilang yang lahir daripada program seperti DIPOM.

Sebab itu, setiap kali dipanggil, Hana seboleh mungkin hadir. Malah, dia turut mengajak rakan-rakan industri untuk sama-sama menyumbang.

Kerana bagi Hana, ilmu yang dikongsi hari ini adalah pelaburan untuk industri esok.

✨ Hana tersenyum. Dahulu dia duduk di bangku peserta, kini dia berdiri di podium tenaga pengajar. Perjalanan ini seakan lengkap — bukan kerana dia sudah sampai, tetapi kerana dia telah memulangkan semula apa yang pernah dapat.

#blog #blogger #dipom #mpob #miller

🌿 Hana and the Journey to Authentic Happiness

The Early Years – Chasing Comfort

When Hana first began her career as a young engineer, she thought happiness meant earning a good salary, buying nice clothes, and going on vacations once in a while. She worked hard at the palm oil mill, but every evening she felt a strange emptiness.

> “Why do I feel tired even when I have everything I thought I wanted?” she often asked herself.

She was living only in the Pleasant Life — chasing comfort, laughter, and leisure.

The Turning Point – Finding Flow

One evening, while reviewing machine breakdown logs, Hana realized something unusual. She was so absorbed in analyzing the data that hours passed without her noticing. The noise of the mill, the fatigue, even hunger disappeared.

That was her first taste of Engagement — being in flow, completely immersed in something meaningful. She discovered she loved problem-solving and improving systems.

From then on, she pushed herself to apply her skills more deeply. Preventive maintenance systems, safety SOPs, and energy-efficiency programs became her passion projects.

The Deeper Purpose – Beyond Herself

Years later, Hana noticed how her efforts in the mill created ripple effects. Accidents reduced. Workers’ lives became safer. Energy savings were redirected to support workers’ families, even helping children get school aid.

Watching a worker’s child proudly show her a scholarship letter, Hana felt tears in her eyes.

> “This is why I work. Not just for myself, but for something bigger.”

This was The Meaningful Life — using her strengths for a cause beyond her own comfort.

Optimism in Hardship

Not everything went smoothly. Projects failed. Floods damaged equipment. Colleagues doubted her leadership as a woman.

But Hana practiced optimism: she treated failures as temporary and challenges as lessons. Instead of saying, “I’m not good enough,” she told herself, “This is a chance to grow.”

The Gratitude Habit

Every night before bed, Hana wrote down three things she was grateful for:

1. A successful test run of the biogas plant.

2. A smile from her junior engineer who solved a problem.

3. Her mother’s voice on the phone reminding her to rest.

Over time, this small ritual filled her life with lightness and joy, even on stressful days.

Conclusion – The Authentic Happiness

Hana finally realized that true happiness isn’t just about pleasure. It is about:

Enjoying life’s simple joys (Pleasure),

Losing herself in meaningful work (Engagement), and

Serving a greater cause (Meaning).

Standing on the mill’s balcony one evening, watching Mount Kinabalu in the distance, Hana whispered to herself:

> “Happiness is not found. It is built — with gratitude, strength, and purpose.”

And in that moment, she knew she had discovered her own authentic happiness.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #happy #happiness #engineer #reflection

🌿 Hana and the Power of Grit

Since childhood, Hana had dreamed of becoming an oil & gas engineer. But after graduation, that opportunity never came. What awaited her instead was a position as a palm oil mill engineer in Sabah.

“This isn’t what I wanted,” she thought. But for the sake of her family, she accepted.

On her first day, the thick smell of crude palm oil clung to the air, the machines roared, and male colleagues cast doubtful eyes.

“A woman won’t last long here,” one supervisor muttered .

Many might have quit. But Hana chose another path: to endure.

Grit Is Not Just Passion, But Habit

Every day, Hana arrived earlier than most. She read through old engine manuals, took notes, and learned directly from operators. At night, she revisited technical journals, filling notebooks with her observations.

Her peers laughed. “Why bother? Tomorrow the machines will break down again.”

But Hana knew: success doesn’t belong only to the talented, but to those who persist repeatedly .

From this, she built habits:

Consistently writing reports.

Consistently checking machines in the rain.

Consistently coming to meetings with ideas .

From Failure to Recovery

Once, a project under her lead failed, and fingers quickly pointed at her. Hana nearly lost her resolve.

But she remembered her ROTU (Reserve Officer Training Unit) days: “Fail forward — failure is data, not defeat.”

She reorganized the plan, learned from the mistakes, and eventually created a Preventive Maintenance System that saved the company massive costs .

A Deeper Purpose

Hana realized life was never just about a paycheck. Every time she saw mill workers’ children smiling as they received school aid, her heart filled with meaning.

“Happiness isn’t pleasure, it’s purpose,” she whispered .

That purpose ignited her passion — turning palm oil into not just a career, but a calling.

The Peak of Leadership

After eight years, Hana was appointed as the First Female Palm Oil Mill Manager. From a once-dismissed engineer, she now stood before hundreds of workers.

At the podium, her voice trembled but was firm:

> “I am not the smartest person. I am just the one who never stopped trying.”

The Essence of Grit in Hana’s Life

1. Problems never disappear – learn to enjoy life while solving them .

2. Small daily habits build the future .

3. Effort + attitude are the only two things under your control .

4. Just start, answers will follow .

5. Purpose matters more than short-term pleasure .

6. Hope fuels perseverance, even after failure .

🌟 Conclusion

Hana’s journey proves that grit — the blend of passion and perseverance — matters more than raw talent.

She began in a career she never asked for, faced failure, and endured doubt because of her gender. Yet through grit, Hana not only succeeded but became a symbol: that true achievement doesn’t belong to the gifted, but to those who never stop moving forward .

📚 References / Footnotes

1. Lakshmanan, S. (2022). Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia: Efficiency & Transformation. Sandakan Refinery Journal.

2. Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner.

3. Ericsson, K. A. (2006). The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. Cambridge University Press.

4. Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Free Press.

5. Frankl, V. (1946). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

6. Seneca. Letters from a Stoic. Penguin Classics.

7. Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living. Delta.

8. Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting Blessings Versus Burdens. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

9. Seligman, M. (2002). Authentic Happiness. Free Press.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #manager #manager #engineer #management #grit

🌿 Motivational Story: Hana and the 12 Life Lessons

🌿 Motivational Story: Hana and the 12 Life Lessons

That night, Hana sat quietly on the veranda, staring at the stars. Her mind was full of work challenges, family responsibilities, and hopes for the future. She remembered the words of her old ROTU instructor:

> “Life is not about removing problems. Life is about learning to enjoy the journey while solving them.”

1. Problems Will Always Exist

When her mill faced frequent breakdowns, Hana almost gave up. But she learned to smile even through exhaustion, because problems are simply part of the path to growth .

2. Futures Are Built by Habits

Hana never planned to become a General Manager overnight. She simply built daily habits: waking up early, reading reports, writing machine logs. Those small habits eventually shaped her future .

3. Effort and Attitude Are All You Control

She realized she could not control global palm oil prices, government policies, or even her workers’ behavior. But she could control her effort and her attitude, and that made all the difference .

4. Don’t Ask How to Start — Just Start

People asked her, “How do I begin leading?” She smiled, remembering her own start. She didn’t wait for perfect answers; she just started — speaking up in meetings, offering small ideas, and improving step by step .

5. Purpose, Not Pleasure

There were days she questioned the meaning of her work. The answer came when she saw the children of mill workers she supported receiving scholarships. True happiness was not in pleasure, but in purpose .

6 & 7. Expect Much of Yourself, Little of the World

At first, Hana was often disappointed, expecting the world to be fair. Later she learned: life is easier when you expect high standards from yourself and low expectations from others .

8. The Mind Magnifies Problems

When floods hit the estate, panic almost consumed her. But she remembered: half of the problem is in the mind, making small things appear larger. With calmness, solutions slowly appeared .

9. Repetition Is the Secret

Many sought “the secret of success.” Hana already knew it: repetition. She repeated ROTU drills, repeated mill checks, repeated her daily prayers. From repetition came mastery .

10. Don’t Let People, Money, or the Past Control You

Once, a colleague betrayed her trust. Another time, finances grew tight. But she refused to let people, money, or the past control her. She chose to move forward, free from chains .

11. Opportunity in Challenges

When COVID-19 halted operations, Hana refused despair. She turned crisis into innovation — implementing digital monitoring systems and strengthening local supply chains. Challenges became opportunities .

12. Gratitude Every Day

Each night, Hana wrote down three things she was thankful for. Sometimes it was just a hot cup of coffee, or her child greeting her at the door. She realized her “ordinary” day was another person’s dream .

🌟 Conclusion

Hana finally understood: life isn’t about waiting for problems to disappear, but about building the strength to keep moving forward.

These twelve lessons were not abstract theories, but footprints of her own journey — guiding her from a young ROTU cadet on the parade ground to a resilient leader in the industry.

> “Problems will come and go. But as long as I have effort, attitude, purpose, and gratitude — I will keep walking forward.”

📚 References / Footnotes

1. Lakshmanan, S. (2022). Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia: Efficiency & Transformation. Sandakan Refinery Journal.

2. Duhigg, C. (2012). The Power of Habit. Random House.

3. Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Free Press.

4. Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner.

5. Frankl, V. (1946). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

6. Seneca, Letters from a Stoic. Penguin Classics.

7. Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress. Delta.

8. Ericsson, K. A. (2006). The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. Cambridge University Press.

9. Seligman, M. (2002). Authentic Happiness. Free Press.

10. Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC). Palm Oil Industry and Digital Transformation During COVID-19. (2021).

11. Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #engineer #manager #usm #utm #ukm #um #tenteradarat #palapes #rotu

🪖 Hana in the Intermediate PALAPES Training

The morning sun rose over USM’s training field, casting long shadows across rows of cadets in green fatigues. Among the 38 officer cadets who stood in formation, Hana held her rifle firmly, her heart beating with both nervousness and determination.

This was no ordinary exercise. It was the Intermediate Level Continuous Training of PALAPES (Reserve Officers Training Unit), focusing on Conventional Warfare (CW)—a rigorous program designed to simulate real battlefield conditions [1].

🔥 Discipline and Endurance

For Hana, the hardest challenge wasn’t just running in the rain with an M16 on her shoulder, but mastering her mind and emotions. A single lapse in focus could compromise the entire team.

Her instructor’s voice still rang in her ears:

“You are no longer an individual. You are part of a unit. Survive together, fight together!” [2]

At that moment, Hana realized the essence of loyalty, courage, and sacrifice.

⚒️ Tactical Conventional Warfare

During the tactical drills, Hana and her squad were pushed into scenarios that mimicked real combat—establishing defensive positions, carrying out ambushes, and maneuvering under simulated enemy fire. Her breath grew heavy, her legs burned with exhaustion, but her spirit refused to give in.

She learned that in Conventional Warfare, survival and victory didn’t depend on physical strength alone, but on teamwork, discipline, and strategy [3].

🎯 The Soul of a Leader

One night, after hours of grueling drills, most cadets collapsed in their tents. But Hana stayed awake, scribbling in her notebook under the dim light of a torch:

“Strength is not only in the muscles but in the mind and heart. Leadership begins when you are willing to sacrifice more than others.”

Those words became her mantra throughout training.

🌟 Conclusion

By the end of the intermediate training, Hana had gained more than physical resilience—she had forged the soul of a leader and a soldier. She now understood that the true battle is not only on the field but also within: disciplining oneself, enduring hardships, and staying loyal to the team and the nation.

Though weary, Hana smiled as she stood at attention during the closing parade. In her heart echoed a timeless vow:

👉 “I will remain steadfast, for I am a warrior of grit and honor.”

📚 References (Footnotes)

1. Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia). (2022). PALAPES Training Modules. Ministry of Defence Malaysia. — Overview of PALAPES stages: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced.

2. Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner. — Discipline and perseverance as central pillars of success.

3. Ministry of Defence Malaysia (2021). Conventional Warfare Tactical Guide. — Core tactical elements for officer cadet training.

👉 Hashtags

#palapes #rotuarmy #gagahsetia #palapestenteradarat #tenteradaratmalaysia #angkatantenteramalaysia #palapesusm #usm #pulaupinang #malaysia

🌟 Hana and the Power of Grit

In a remote palm oil mill, Hana faced one of the toughest challenges of her career. Appointed as a mill manager for barely a year, she had to deal with aging machinery, undisciplined workers, and constant pressure from headquarters to raise productivity fast.

Many doubted she would last long. “She’s young, maybe smart on paper, but this mill is no place for dreamers,” an old supervisor whispered.

But Hana didn’t quit.

🔥 Passion – A Consistent Love

Since her university days, Hana was deeply fascinated by energy engineering. For her, a mill was not just steel and smoke—it was the heartbeat that kept rural communities alive. Her passion made her wake up each morning with fresh determination. Passion was the fire that kept her moving forward.

⚒️ Perseverance – The Road of Hardship

Every day was filled with problems: leaking boilers, failed pumps, workers’ disputes. Many of her solutions failed the first time. But she learned to see failure as training, not defeat.

As Angela Duckworth put it, “Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint” [1]. Hana embraced the long journey, not the shortcut.

🎯 Purpose – A Bigger Mission

What truly strengthened Hana was her belief that her work mattered beyond herself. Palm oil wasn’t just a commodity—it sustained hundreds of workers, supported smallholders, and contributed to national growth. This purpose turned her mill into a mission, not just a job [2].

🌱 Hope – A Light That Never Dies

One night, the mill suffered a complete blackout. The entire system went dead. Hana and her emergency team worked through the night, drenched in sweat and dust. When the mill finally restarted at dawn, a young operator said:

“If it wasn’t for Madam Hana pushing us, we would have given up.”

In that moment, Hana realized hope wasn’t just a prayer—it was the belief that tomorrow could be better if today you refuse to stop [3].

🌟 Conclusion

Year after year, Hana proved that success doesn’t belong to the most talented, but to the most persistent. The mill, once chaotic, became a model of stable operations.

And many finally admitted: “Hana is not just an engineer, she is the embodiment of grit.”

📚 References (Footnotes)

1. Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner. — Quote: “Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

2. Ibid. — Purpose as a vital element of grit, giving meaning beyond oneself.

3. Ibid. — Hope as the force that separates those who give up from those who endure.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #usm #engineer #malaysia #merdeka2025

🌱 Hana and the Lessons Beyond the Classroom

During her university days, Hana was not just a mechanical engineering student.

Beyond textbooks and lecture halls, she found her second home in PALAPES (ROTU) and the Recreation Club.

Almost every evening after lectures, while others rushed back to their hostels, Hana tied her shoelaces, put on her club shirt, and ran to the field.
Friends would often ask:
“Why spend so much time in clubs? It’s not academic.”

Hana would simply smile and reply:
"Because this is who I am. I enjoy doing what I love. Academic knowledge teaches you in class, but clubs and organizations teach you how to live with people."

---

🌟 Learning Beyond Grades

Through club activities, Hana learned to lead during parades, organize recreation programs, negotiate funding, and most importantly, listen to her teammates.

From these, she developed:

• Interpersonal skills – the courage to speak and engage with people of all levels.

• Social skills – the ability to adapt to diverse situations.

• Leadership qualities – not only to command, but also to guide and support [1].

Hana realized that university was not merely about chasing high grades (CGPA).
It was about shaping oneself to be a valuable contributor to the workplace and society.

---

🌴 Wisdom Is More Than Academics

For Hana, academic excellence alone was not enough to define wisdom.

"What use is being a top student," she often reminded her juniors, "if later at work you cannot socialize, cannot understand others, and cannot lead?"

She noticed that many of the most successful people were not necessarily the best academically.
They were those who failed repeatedly, but kept rising again, learning resilience through effort until they proved themselves stronger [2].

---

🌙 The Spiritual Dimension

Hana also drew wisdom from her faith.
"The wisest person is not the one with the highest GPA, but the one who remembers death and prepares for the Hereafter," she reflected [3].

For her, every activity at university — studying, leading, serving — was meaningful only when done with the intention for Allah’s pleasure (Redha Allah).

---

🌺 Hana’s Reflection

Later in life, when colleagues asked where her confidence and people skills came from, Hana would smile and say:

“I didn’t only learn in the classroom. I learned on the parade ground, in the club meetings, in the recreational forests with my friends.
That was the real university — not just a degree, but experiences that shaped me into someone useful, in this world and in preparation for the Hereafter.”

---

📚 References

[1] Astin, A. W. (1999). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Development, 40(5), 518–529.
[2] Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner.
[3] Al-Nawawi, Yahya ibn Sharaf. Riyadh al-Salihin – Chapter on Remembrance of Death and Preparing for the Hereafter.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #usm #rotu #palapes 

🌱 Hana and the Lesson from the Effluent

The air at the mill was heavy with steam and the earthy scent of the effluent ponds.

Visitors often turned away when they saw the dark water of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), dismissing it as dirty waste.

But Hana, standing by the edge of the pond with her engineers, saw something more.
"Leadership," she said softly, "is about how we handle what others call waste."

---

🌊 The Challenge of POME

Every tonne of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) produced not just oil, but also nearly 0.65 m³ of POME — a by-product rich in organic matter and oil residues [1].
If left untreated, it polluted rivers and released methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times stronger than CO₂.

Malaysia’s DOE set a strict standard: 20 ppm Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) for final discharge [2].
"That means our effluent must be as clean as fresh water before it touches the river," Hana explained to her team.

---

🔬 The MPOB Solution

Hana gathered her young managers in the control room to share what she had learned from MPOB’s latest research.

1️⃣ Biological Treatment Ponds

• Long rows of anaerobic and aerobic ponds.

• Microbes consumed organic matter, reducing BOD step by step.

2️⃣ Activated Carbon Innovation

• MPOB scientists developed activated carbon from palm kernel shells (PKS).

• Instead of using chemicals, this “green filter” polished the water in a tertiary system — extended aeration + bio-filtration + adsorption [3].

• Final water could be reused safely.

• Even the spent carbon became organic fertilizer, returning nutrients (N, P, K) to plantations [4].

---

🌟 Hana’s Reflection

Hana looked at the bubbling ponds and turned to her team:

"Do you see? This is more than waste treatment. This is transformation."

• Effluent that once polluted rivers → now recycled water.

• Shells once discarded → now activated carbon for purification.

• Spent carbon once thrown away → now fertilizer for new palms.

She paused, then added:
"As leaders, we too must do this. We must take what looks like failure, pain, or rejection — and transform it into wisdom, energy, and growth. That’s how we stay sustainable, just like this industry."

---

📚 References

[1] MPOB (2019). Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Management. Malaysian Palm Oil Board.
[2] DOE Malaysia (2019). Environmental Quality Regulations: Standards for POME Discharge.
[3] Sulaiman, F., Abdullah, N., Gerhauser, H., & Shariff, A. (2011). An outlook of Malaysian palm oil industry and its waste utilization. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35(9), 3775–3786.
[4] MPOC (2020). MPOB invents green technology to treat palm oil mill effluent.

---

✨ Hana taught her engineers that the ponds of POME were not just waste, but a mirror of leadership:

“Anyone can celebrate success. But true leaders are measured by how they handle waste — the failures, the setbacks, the dirty work. If we can turn waste into wisdom, then we will never run out of value.”

#pome #effluent #palmoilmill #sawit #blog #blogger #kembarainsan #manager 

🌱 Hana and the Hidden Oil in the Effluent

The evening sun painted the ponds of the palm oil mill in shades of gold.

From the balcony, Hana watched bubbles rise from the Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME). To many, it was just wastewater, dark and unpleasant.

But Hana saw more.
"Even in waste, there is hidden value," she reminded her engineers.

---

🌊 The Challenge of POME

Every tonne of Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) processed created nearly 0.65 m³ of POME. Within it, traces of oil — low-grade, dark, and mixed with sludge — escaped the presses [1].

"Most people see this as loss. But leaders must learn to recover value, even from what others ignore."

---

🔬 Experiment 1: Polypropylene Micro/Nano Fibers

Hana introduced her team to new research. Scientists had developed polypropylene micro/nano fibers (PP-MNF) that could capture oil molecules from POME.

• Recovery rate: ~10.93 g oil per g fiber.

• Yield: 89.6% oil extraction.

• Oil quality: Comparable to crude palm oil, free from fiber contamination [2].

Hana explained: “This shows that even from the dirtiest pond, we can find purity. Leadership is also about extracting good decisions from messy situations.”

---

🔊 Experiment 2: Ultrasonication Pretreatment

Another innovation caught Hana’s eye: ultrasonication.

• Using sound waves at 30% amplitude for 30 seconds, oil droplets trapped in solids were released.

• Recovery increased by 39.2% compared to untreated POME [3].

"Sometimes, to release hidden potential, you must shake things up — just like ultrasonication does with POME."

---

♻️ From Waste to Resource

Hana gathered her engineers around the effluent ponds.

"POME is not just waste," she told them. "It is a resource waiting for transformation. Just like in life — our failures, our rejected ideas, our overlooked moments — can be recovered into something valuable if we treat them wisely."

She saw POME as a metaphor for leadership:

• Sludge oil → imperfect people who still carry value.

• Biogas from POME → energy from hardship.

• Recovered oil → success hidden in rejection.

---

🌟 Leadership Reflection

That night, as the mill lights reflected on the ponds, Hana wrote in her journal:

“A leader must see beyond the surface. Where others see waste, we must see opportunity. Where others see rejection, we must see hidden oil. True leadership is about recovery — of people, of ideas, of value.”

Her team began to look differently at every drop of POME, no longer as a liability, but as a lesson in resilience and renewal.

---

📚 References

[1] MPOB (2019). Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Management.
[2] PubMed (2020). Recovery of residual oil from POME using polypropylene micro/nano fibers (PP-MNF).
[3] ResearchGate (2021). Enhanced oil recovery from POME using ultrasonication technique.

#pome #effluent #mpob #blog #blogger #kembarainsan #sludgeoil #palmacidoil 

🌴 Outlook of the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry and Biomass Utilization

Malaysia is the second-largest producer of palm oil after Indonesia.

Annual production averages 18–20 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO), depending on yield and market conditions.

Contributes around 25–30% of global vegetable oil trade.

A key driver of Malaysia’s economy: export revenue, rural employment, and industrial development [1].

📈 Trends and Challenges

1. Global demand growth – especially in India, China, EU, and the Middle East.

2. Sustainability pressure – RSPO standards, NGO campaigns, and EU deforestation-free regulations (EUDR).

3. Aging plantations – many estates need replanting to sustain yields.

4. Downstream diversification – not only cooking oil but also biodiesel, oleochemicals, animal feed, and cosmetics [2].

🌿 Palm Oil Biomass and Waste Utilization

For every tonne of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) processed, only about 22–23% becomes oil. The rest turns into biomass and by-products.

♻️ Major By-Products

1️⃣ Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB)

~22% of FFB weight.

Uses:

Organic mulching in plantations.

Biomass fuel.

Raw material for pellets, pulp & paper, MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) [3].

2️⃣ Mesocarp Fiber

~12–14% of FFB.

Burned in mill boilers → generates steam and electricity for internal use.

3️⃣ Palm Kernel Shell (PKS)

~5–7% of FFB.

Uses:

Boiler fuel.

Exported to Japan/Korea for biomass power plants.

Converted to biochar or activated carbon [4].

4️⃣ Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

~0.65 m³ per tonne of FFB processed.

Rich in organic matter.

Anaerobic treatment generates biogas (methane) → renewable electricity [5].

5️⃣ Sludge Oil

Low-grade oil recovered from POME.

Can be refined into soap, biodiesel, or animal feed [6].

⚡ Potential of Biomass Utilization

✅ Renewable Energy Contribution

Biomass (fiber, PKS, EFB) + biogas from POME = major contributors to Malaysia’s renewable energy portfolio.

Supports Malaysia’s Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan [7].

✅ Carbon Reduction

Replacing coal/diesel with biomass reduces GHG emissions.

Capturing methane from POME prevents direct release of potent greenhouse gases.

✅ Value-Added Products

EFB → pulp & paper, biodegradable packaging.

PKS → activated carbon, energy pellets.

Fiber → composites, lightweight construction material [8].

📊 Conclusion

Malaysia’s palm oil industry remains resilient and globally significant, but its future lies in sustainability and innovation.

Since nearly 70% of FFB weight is biomass, efficient utilization can:

Generate renewable energy,

Produce high-value downstream products,

Mitigate environmental impacts.

> 🌱 Leadership Reflection (Hana’s Voice):

“Just like the palm oil industry, true leadership is not only measured by the main product you deliver, but how you transform the by-products — the waste, the failures — into new sources of growth and strength.”

📚 References

[1] MPOB (2019). Overview of the Malaysian Palm Oil Industry. Malaysian Palm Oil Board.

[2] Basiron, Y. (2007). Palm oil production through sustainable plantations. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 109(4), 289–295.

[3] Yusoff, S. (2006). Renewable energy from palm oil – innovation on effective utilization of waste. Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(1), 87–93.

[4] Sulaiman, F., Abdullah, N., Gerhauser, H., & Shariff, A. (2011). An outlook of Malaysian palm oil industry and its waste utilization. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35(9), 3775–3786.

[5] Wu, T. Y., Mohammad, A. W., Jahim, J. M., & Anuar, N. (2009). A holistic approach to managing palm oil mill effluent (POME): Biotechnological advances and opportunities. Biotechnology Advances, 27(1), 40–52.

[6] Hassan, M. A., et al. (2005). Recovery of low grade palm oil from palm oil mill effluent (POME). Journal of Environmental Biology, 26(1), 123–126.

[7] Chiew, Y. L., & Shimada, S. (2013). Current state and environmental impact assessment for utilizing oil palm empty fruit bunches for fuel, fiber, and fertilizer. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 22, 756–769.

[8] Lam, M. K., & Lee, K. T. (2011). Renewable and sustainable bioenergies production from palm oil mill effluent (POME): Win–win strategies toward environmental sustainability. Bioresource Technology, 100, 1–9.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #malaysia

Hana & The Journey of Palm Oil Mill

Hana, as a mill manager, often told her young engineers:

"A palm oil mill is more than machines and numbers. Every step is a lesson, every product a story. If you understand the journey, you’ll understand leadership.”

1️⃣ Reception & Weighing – The Beginning of Trust

As the lorries rolled into the mill, loaded with Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB), Hana stood by the weighbridge.

"Every kilogram matters," she said.

To her, weighing wasn’t just about numbers. It was about integrity and trust — the foundation of every relationship between the estate and the mill [1].

2️⃣ Sterilization – Controlling the Heat of Pressure

When FFB entered the sterilizer, steam roared, filling the chambers with heat.

Sterilization stopped lipase enzyme activity and preserved oil quality [2].

Hana smiled: “Just like us, under pressure we either break or grow softer — true leadership is managing heat without losing integrity.”

3️⃣ Threshing – Separating the Essential from the Empty

In the thresher drum, fruits separated from the Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB).

"In life, we must learn to let go of what is empty so the essential can move forward.”

EFB, though by-product, was reused as mulching and compost [3].

4️⃣ Digesting – Breaking to Release Strength

Sharp blades churned fruit in the digester, breaking mesocarp cells.

Without digestion, oil would remain trapped.

Hana told her operators: “Great potential only emerges when we are reshaped through struggle.” [4]

5️⃣ Pressing – Extracting Value from Effort

The screw press squeezed fiber and nut, releasing oil-rich liquor.

From pressure came golden crude oil.

"Life presses us. But if we endure, we release our best.” [5]

6️⃣ Clarification – Finding Purity Amidst the Mud

In settling tanks and centrifuges, oil rose above water and sludge.

The Crude Palm Oil (CPO) shone golden, stored in tanks.

Sludge oil, though low-grade, was still recovered [6].

"Leadership is like clarification: rise above the noise, let purity define you.”

7️⃣ Kernel Recovery – The Hidden Treasure

From fiber and nuts, kernels were cracked and separated.

The Palm Kernel (PK), though small, produced Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) — as valuable as CPO.

The Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) fueled the boilers, turning waste into energy [7].

"Never underestimate the hidden — true strength often lies inside.”

🛢️ Main Products

🌟 Crude Palm Oil (CPO) – The Golden Goal

Outcome of teamwork, discipline, and precision.

🥥 Palm Kernel (PK) – The Silent Strength

Processed at Kernel Crushing Plant into PKO & Palm Kernel Cake (PKC).

♻️ By-Products and Their Lessons

🌴 Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) – What Seems Empty Can Still Give Life

Used as organic mulch in plantations [8].

🌊 Sludge Oil – Lessons in Imperfection

Recovered oil for soap, biodiesel, or feed [9].

🥥 Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) – From Hardship Comes Energy

Exported as biofuel to Japan, Korea, and used as boiler fuel [10].

🌾 Mesocarp Fiber – Fuel from Within

Fiber burned in boilers → steam for sterilizers, turbines, and mill energy [11].

🌺 Hana’s Leadership Reflection

Standing at the mill balcony one evening, watching the golden CPO flow into tanks, Hana whispered:

> “This mill is more than machines. It is life itself.

The fruit teaches us about integrity.

The press teaches us about endurance.

The kernel teaches us about hidden strength.

Even the waste teaches us that nothing is truly wasted.

If you want to be a leader, learn from the journey of the palm oil mill.”

📚 References

[1] MPOB (2019). Overview of Palm Oil Milling Processes. Malaysian Palm Oil Board.

[2] Ma, A. N. (2000). Processing of Palm Oil. Malaysian Palm Oil Council.

[3] Yusoff, S. (2006). “Renewable energy from palm oil — innovation on effective utilization of waste.” Journal of Cleaner Production, 14(1), 87–93.

[4] Basiron, Y. (2007). Palm Oil Production through Sustainable Plantations. European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology, 109(4), 289–295.

[5] MPOC (2017). Palm Oil Milling and Processing.

[6] Wu, T. Y., Mohammad, A. W., Jahim, J. M., & Anuar, N. (2009). “A holistic approach to managing palm oil mill effluent (POME): Biotechnological advances and opportunities.” Biotechnology Advances, 27(1), 40–52.

[7] Sulaiman, F., Abdullah, N., Gerhauser, H., & Shariff, A. (2011). “An outlook of Malaysian palm oil industry and its waste utilization.” Biomass and Bioenergy, 35(9), 3775–3786.

[8] Vijaya, S., Ma, A. N., Choo, Y. M., & Hashim, Z. (2008). “Life cycle inventory of the production of crude palm oil.” Journal of Oil Palm Research, 20, 484–494.

[9] Hassan, M. A., et al. (2005). “Recovery of low grade palm oil from palm oil mill effluent (POME).” Journal of Environmental Biology, 26(1), 123–126.

[10] Chiew, Y. L., & Shimada, S. (2013). “Current state and environmental impact assessment for utilizing oil palm empty fruit bunches for fuel, fiber, and fertilizer.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 22, 756–769.

[11] Lam, M. K., & Lee, K. T. (2011). “Renewable and sustainable bioenergies production from palm oil mill effluent (POME): Win–win strategies toward environmental sustainability.” Bioresource Technology, 100, 1–9.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #malaysia #sawit #milling #ffb #cpo #pk

🌺 Dari Tanah Terjajah ke Tanah Merdeka

🌺 Cerpen: Dari Tanah Terjajah ke Tanah Merdeka

Di sebuah kampung di pinggir Kota Bharu, seorang datuk tua duduk di serambi rumah kayu, mengusap kepala cucunya yang berusia sepuluh tahun. Malam itu, bulan mengambang penuh, dan suara cengkerik menemani perbualan mereka.

“Cucu, kau tahu tak… tanah ini pernah dijajah beratus tahun lamanya?” suara datuknya bergetar, penuh emosi.

Cucu itu memandang hairan. “Datuk, kenapa tanah kita dijajah? Bukankah ini tanah kita sendiri?”

Datuk menarik nafas panjang, lalu memulakan kisah yang diwarisi dari nenek moyang.

Zaman Portugis (1511 – 1641)

“Dulu, tahun 1511, Melaka jatuh ke tangan Portugis. Mereka datang dengan kapal besar, meriam, dan pedang. Sultan Mahmud Shah cuba melawan, tetapi akhirnya terpaksa berundur ke Johor. Sejak itu, bangsa kita mula mengenal pahitnya kehilangan kuasa sendiri.”[^1]

Zaman Belanda (1641 – 1824)

“Selepas itu, Belanda pula mengambil alih. Dengan bantuan Johor, mereka mengusir Portugis pada tahun 1641. Tapi Belanda hanya menjadikan Melaka tempat singgahan. Kuasa politik Melayu tetap lemah, dan orang kita terus diperintah bangsa asing.”[^2]

Zaman British (1824 – 1941)

“Datuk masih ingat cerita ayah datuk. British datang bukan dengan meriam sahaja, tapi dengan tipu daya perjanjian. 1824, Perjanjian Inggeris-Belanda membahagikan Nusantara – Sumatera jadi milik Belanda, Tanah Melayu jadi milik British. Mereka kuasai Pulau Pinang, Singapura, Melaka, kemudian masuk ke negeri-negeri lain dengan alasan mahu ‘membantu’ sultan, padahal mahu menguasai bijih timah dan getah.”[^3]

“Bila orang kita melawan, ramai yang gugur. Tok Janggut di Kelantan, Datuk Bahaman dan Mat Kilau di Pahang, Dato’ Maharaja Lela di Perak. Mereka lawan dengan darah, tapi British terlalu kuat.”[^4]

Zaman Jepun (1941 – 1945)

“Tapi cucu, paling ngeri ialah masa Jepun datang pada 1941. Mereka masuk melalui Pantai Sabak, Kota Bharu. Orang kampung ketakutan. Jepun perintah dengan kekerasan, ada yang dipaksa jadi buruh, ramai yang mati kelaparan. Tapi dari penderitaan itu lahir keberanian. Orang kita mula sedar, kita mesti merdeka. Kita tak boleh selamanya jadi hamba.”[^5]

Jalan Menuju Merdeka (1946 – 1957)

“Selepas Jepun kalah, British kembali dengan rancangan Malayan Union pada 1946. Mereka mahu kurangkan kuasa raja-raja Melayu. Tapi orang Melayu bangkit. Dato’ Onn Jaafar tubuhkan UMNO, rakyat turun ke jalan menentang. Akhirnya Malayan Union digantikan dengan Persekutuan Tanah Melayu pada 1948.”[^6]

“Perjuangan diteruskan oleh Tunku Abdul Rahman. Beliau bersama Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Dr. Ismail, Tan Cheng Lock, dan V.T. Sambanthan, pergi berunding dengan British. 31 Ogos 1957, akhirnya bendera Union Jack diturunkan, bendera Persekutuan Tanah Melayu berkibar di Stadium Merdeka. Tunku melaungkan, ‘Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!’”[^7]

Dari Tanah Melayu ke Malaysia (1963)

“Cucu, jangan lupa. 16 September 1963, Tanah Melayu bergabung dengan Sabah, Sarawak dan Singapura menjadi Malaysia. Walaupun Singapura keluar pada 1965, semangat itu kekal. Kita berdiri sebagai sebuah negara merdeka, berdaulat, hasil darah, keringat dan air mata pejuang bangsa.”[^8]

Cucu itu terdiam, matanya berkaca.

“Datuk, kalau dulu mereka sanggup korbankan nyawa untuk merdeka, saya pun mesti belajar rajin-rajin, supaya dapat menjaga kemerdekaan ini.”

Datuk tersenyum, menepuk bahu cucunya.

“Betul cucu. Merdeka bukan hadiah, ia adalah amanah. Kalau kita leka, kita boleh hilang lagi. Jaga kemerdekaan ini, kerana ia dibeli dengan darah para pejuang.”

Malam itu, suara cengkerik seakan menjadi saksi janji seorang anak kecil untuk terus mempertahankan tanah airnya.

📚 Rujukan / Footnote

[^1]: Andaya, B.W. & Andaya, L.Y. A History of Malaysia. Palgrave Macmillan, 1982.

[^2]: Tarling, N. Southeast Asia: A Modern History. Oxford University Press, 2001.

[^3]: Gullick, J.M. Malay Society in the Late Nineteenth Century: The Beginnings of Change. Oxford University Press, 1987.

[^4]: Buyong Adil. Sejarah Melayu: Pahang, Perak, Kelantan. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 1980.

[^5]: Kratoska, Paul. The Japanese Occupation of Malaya: 1941–1945. University of Hawaii Press, 1998.

[^6]: Ramlah Adam. Dato’ Onn Jaafar: Pengasas Kemerdekaan. Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2005.

[^7]: Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra. Lest We Forget: Memoir Tunku Abdul Rahman. Pustaka Antara, 1983.

[^8]: Mohamed Noordin Sopiee. From Malayan Union to Singapore Separation: Political Unification in the Malaysia Region, 1945–1965. University of Malaya Press, 2005.

#blog #blogger #merdeka #malaysia #tanahmelayu #komunis

📊 Perspektif Ekonomi: FGV di Bursa Malaysia

✅ Kebaikan FGV Tersenarai

1. Suntikan Modal Besar melalui IPO

IPO pada 2012 mengumpul lebih US$3.1 bilion, menjadikannya antara tawaran awam terbesar di dunia pada ketika itu. Modal ini digunakan untuk pelaburan, perluasan perniagaan, dan menstruktur semula kewangan Felda .

2. Ketelusan & Tadbir Urus

Sebagai syarikat awam, FGV tertakluk kepada peraturan Bursa dan Suruhanjaya Sekuriti. Ini memaksa tahap ketelusan, laporan kewangan berkala, dan pengawasan pelabur institusi yang memberi tekanan untuk meningkatkan tadbir urus .

3. Peluang Pelaburan kepada Rakyat

Penyenaraian membolehkan orang awam, terutamanya peneroka Felda, memiliki saham FGV. Ia memberi peluang pengagihan kekayaan melalui pasaran modal .

❌ Keburukan FGV Tersenarai

1. Tekanan Harga Saham

Harga IPO RM4.55, tetapi dalam tempoh beberapa tahun jatuh sehingga bawah RM1.50. Ini menyebabkan kerugian besar kepada peneroka Felda dan pelabur kecil yang membeli pada harga awal .

2. Kelemahan Operasi & Produktiviti

Prestasi kewangan FGV kerap tidak konsisten. Kos operasi tinggi, produktiviti ladang rendah, serta isu tadbir urus menjejaskan keuntungan. Pasaran saham bertindak balas negatif terhadap kelemahan ini .

3. Ketidakstabilan Politik & Isu Tadbir Urus

Campur tangan politik dalam pelantikan pengurusan, skandal, dan konflik dengan Felda menjejaskan keyakinan pelabur institusi antarabangsa .

⚖️ Kesimpulan Ekonomi

Baik dari sudut modal & ketelusan → FGV berjaya mengumpul dana besar, membuka peluang pelaburan rakyat, dan memberi pendedahan antarabangsa kepada sektor sawit Malaysia.

Buruk dari sudut prestasi jangka panjang → Harga saham merosot, pelabur runcit (termasuk peneroka Felda) banyak menanggung kerugian, serta FGV gagal mengekalkan kedudukan sebagai syarikat global kompetitif.

📌 Maka, dari perspektif ekonomi, penyenaraian FGV di Bursa boleh dianggap lebih banyak memberi "symbolic success" pada awalnya tetapi "value destruction" dalam jangka panjang. Delisting pada 2025 menunjukkan model tersenarai tidak sesuai dengan struktur Felda, dan lebih baik ia dikawal penuh oleh Felda untuk fokus kepada produktiviti dan kebajikan peneroka.

📑 Footnote

1. IPO FGV 2012 antara terbesar di dunia – Reuters, 2012

2. Bursa Malaysia Listing Rules – Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia

3. FGV Prospectus 2012 – Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad

4. Kejatuhan harga saham FGV selepas IPO – The Edge Markets, 2016

5. Analisis prestasi kewangan & operasi – BFM Radio, 2023

6. Isu tadbir urus & campur tangan politik – The Malaysian Reserve, 2018

#blog #blogger #fgv #felda #sawit #murni 

🌿 Motivational Story: Hana – From Small Mill to Great Legacy

The morning mist still lingered over the palm oil estate. Trucks carrying fresh fruit bunches rumbled across the red laterite road, their horns echoing. Amid the noise and bustle, a young woman stood at the mill’s porch, safety helmet in hand. Her name was Hana.

Few knew that Hana’s entry into the palm oil mill industry was not driven by childhood ambition. She never dreamed of managing noisy engines, inhaling the strong scent of crude palm oil, or handling tough workers. In truth, Hana once envisioned herself in the oil & gas sector, working in a gleaming corporate office with high pay. But destiny redirected her path — to a palm oil mill, a place many of her peers dismissed as “second-class work.”

“I didn’t enter because of passion. I entered because of opportunity. But from that necessity, I built my legacy.”

---

Early Trials

From her very first day, challenges came relentlessly. Male colleagues doubted her ability.
“Women can’t survive mill work,” one senior technician sneered.

But Hana did not retaliate with words. She chose a different weapon — knowledge and discipline. Every time a machine broke down, she was there with the operators, wrench in hand, flipping through manuals, staying late to learn. Slowly, perceptions shifted: this woman wasn’t just an engineer on paper, she was a fighter who dared to get her hands dirty .

---

Building Systems, Not Just Fixing Machines

Where many saw breakdowns as normal, Hana saw waste.
“If we keep fixing after it breaks, the mill will always lose money,” she told in a meeting.

She introduced Preventive Maintenance, a structured system to reduce downtime . She documented the mill’s first Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), developed a digital monitoring system for oil tank levels, and trained operators to understand principles, not just follow orders.

At first, many were skeptical. But when costs dropped and efficiency improved, even the harshest critics had to admit: the change worked.

---

The First Woman Mill Manager

Eight years later, Hana reached a historic milestone: she became the company’s First Female Palm Oil Mill Manager . On the day of her appointment, she stood before her workers — mostly men. Some doubted, some were proud, and some remained silent.

“I will not be a manager who only gives orders. I will be a manager who guides, learns together, and fights together.”

And true to her words, she was not just managing machines but building people.

---

A Bigger Vision – From Mill to Industry

Her rise did not stop. As General Manager of the Processing & Engineering Division, Hana was entrusted with an even broader mission:

• Transforming mill waste into energy — the “Waste to Wealth” strategy .
• Building the company’s first successful biogas power plant .
• Establishing a dedicated sustainability unit .

For Hana, palm oil was more than cooking oil. It was a platform for innovation, renewable energy, and sustainable transformation.

---

Mentoring the Next Generation

Despite her heavy responsibilities, Hana always found time for the young. She mentored chemical engineering students, guiding them until they won prestigious design competitions .

“Knowledge is not meant to be kept. It is meant to be passed down,” she told them.

---

Pandemic and New Challenges

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Hana once again proved her leadership. Instead of merely surviving, she accelerated digital transformation, strengthened local supply chains, and pioneered flexible labor practices .

“Technology is not just for survival. It is the key to moving further,” she emphasized in a management briefing.

---

Her Philosophy – Harmony, Not Balance

Many asked how Hana balanced work and family. Her answer was simple:

“I don’t seek balance. I seek harmony. Work and life are not enemies; they are two sides that strengthen each other.”

This philosophy made her authentic and respected — not only by her colleagues and subordinates, but even by competitors.

---

Hana’s Legacy

Today, Hana is remembered not for her titles, but for her impact:

• She opened the door for more women to enter engineering and mill management .
• She proved that leadership knows no gender.
• She showed that failure is never final, only a stepping stone toward growth.

Her message to the next generation is clear:

“Do not fear stepping into places people call impossible. Perhaps there lies your destiny to build a legacy.”

---

🌟 Conclusion
Hana’s story is not just about a woman in a palm oil mill. It is a story of resilience, vision, and courage — an inspiration that from small corners of industry, great legacies can be born.

---

📚 References / Footnotes

1. Shyam Lakshmanan, Palm Oil Industry in Malaysia: Efficiency & Transformation, Sandakan Refinery Book, 2022.
2. Tan, H. L. (2019). Gender Bias in Malaysian Plantation Sector, Universiti Malaya Press.
3. Ambrose, S. (2024). Breaking Barriers in Palm Oil Mills: A Personal Journey, Insights Success Magazine.
4. Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Preventive Maintenance Guidelines for Palm Oil Mills, 2020.
5. Sawit Kinabalu Group Annual Report, 2002.
6. Ambrose, S. (2024). Malaysia’s First Female Mill Manager, Industry Case Studies, MPOB.
7. Sawit Kinabalu Strategy Paper, Waste to Wealth Initiative, 2015.
8. MPOB Report, Biogas and Renewable Energy in Palm Oil Mills, 2016.
9. RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil). Sustainability in Practice: Malaysia, 2018.
10. Institute of Engineers Malaysia, Chemical Process Design Competition Reports, 2019–2022.
11. MPOCC, Palm Oil Industry and Digital Transformation During COVID-19, 2021.
12. Ambrose, S. (2023). Integrated Leadership Philosophy, UM-Wales MBA Dissertation.
13. UNESCO, Women in Science and Engineering: Progress in Asia, 2023.
14. Ambrose, S. (2024). Leadership is About Impact, Not Titles, Keynote Speech, Sabah Palm Oil Conference.

#blog #blogger #ambrose #stella #sawitkinabalu #sawit #palmoilmill 

🌱 Hana and the Power of One “Yes”

One evening, after a long day at the mill, Hana read an article about J.K. Rowling — a single mother who wrote Harry Potter in the midst of hardship.

Rejected by 12 publishers, she refused to give up. At last, one small publisher, Bloomsbury, said “Yes”. That single decision transformed Rowling’s life and the lives of millions of readers.

Hana closed the magazine and reflected:

"If Rowling could write in the middle of struggle, why should I stop when facing setbacks at the mill? If she endured rejection after rejection, why should I quit when my proposals are declined or when my ideas are overlooked?"

🌟 Turning Inspiration into Action

The next day, Hana carried that lesson into her workplace.

When her safety proposal was rejected, she returned with stronger data.

When her wastewater treatment plan was ignored, she presented an alternative.

When production targets fell short, she reminded her team:

👉 “We may fall 12 times, but one breakthrough can change everything.”

🌴 The Leadership Lesson

Over time, Hana discovered that Rowling’s resilience was not only about writing — it was about leadership.

She often told her young managers:

> “Success isn’t about how many times you’re rejected. It’s about how long you keep moving until you hear that one ‘Yes.’ Sometimes, one open door is all you need to change your destiny.”

💡 Leadership Takeaways

Rowling’s story gave Hana three lasting lessons:

1️⃣ Rejection is not the end – rejection is part of the journey, not the destination [1].

2️⃣ Consistency beats talent – discipline and persistence create breakthroughs more than raw talent [2].

3️⃣ One Yes can change destiny – perseverance ensures you’re still standing when opportunity arrives [3].

📚 References

[1] Gladwell, M. (2008). Outliers: The Story of Success. Little, Brown & Company.

[2] Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Scribner.

[3] Grant, A. (2016). Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World. Viking.

Amir’s Life Truths by Age 40

1. Leverage, Not Just Hard Work

Amir once worked 16-hour days in the mill, but his salary barely changed. Only when he learned to delegate, train others, and create systems did his value multiply. He realized wealth wasn’t about working harder, but about leveraging time and talent [1].

2. Distraction is an Assassin of Dreams

Living in a remote estate, Amir sometimes drowned in distractions — endless TV shows, idle chatter. He failed his steam engineer exam more than once. Each failure was a painful reminder that distractions silently kill ambition [2].

3. Choose Voices Carefully

Everyone had advice for him — some said, “Leave the palm oil industry, it’s too hard.” But Amir chose to listen only to mentors who had walked the same road. Their wisdom carried weight, while others’ opinions were just noise [3].

4. No Hero is Coming

During his early days in Lahad Datu, Amir injured his hand while repairing a mill gate. No one came to rescue him. He endured the hospital nights alone, learning that no savior would appear. His destiny rested in his own hands [4].

5. Less Reading, More Doing

Amir loved motivational books, but soon realized theory alone couldn’t save him. Progress came only when he acted — joining Toastmasters, sitting for exams, and writing his blog. Discipline, not theory, moved him forward [5].

6. The Power of Sales

Though an engineer, Amir once worked as a sales engineer. Learning how to persuade, connect, and sell ideas helped him rise faster in management. He saw that sales was not just about products — it was about influence [6].

7. People Think of Themselves More Than You

For years Amir feared sharing ideas, worrying about criticism. Later he learned: most people were too busy with their own lives to think about him. Once he realized this, he stepped forward boldly into leadership [7].

8. Walk Beside the Wise

At first Amir envied senior managers. Then he humbled himself, walked beside them, and asked questions. Slowly, their wisdom rubbed off, shaping him into a stronger leader [8].

9. Smoking Steals Clarity

Amir never smoked, but he saw its effects on colleagues — sluggish thinking, clouded judgment, tired faces. He decided early: nothing that stole clarity was worth the cost [9].

10. Comfort is a Poison

Life in plantations was comfortable enough — steady salary, simple living. But Amir knew staying too long in comfort would poison his growth. He chose discomfort — moving mills, taking exams, facing change. That discomfort built his resilience [10].

11. Guard Your Privacy

Since 2009, Amir wrote blogs. But he never shared everything. Family conflicts, office politics — he kept private. Peace, he realized, was worth far more than public curiosity [11].

12. Avoid Alcohol

As a Muslim, Amir never touched alcohol. Yet he saw brilliant men humiliated in one night because of it. That was enough lesson: dignity once lost is hard to regain [12].

13. Hold Your Standards High

When tempted with jobs that paid more but clashed with his principles, Amir refused. Standards mattered more than convenience. His worth, he believed, was not negotiable [13].

14. Build Your Family with Intention

Amir didn’t just admire other families. He built his own intentionally — loving his wife Arni, raising five children with values and faith. For him, true success was measured at the dinner table, not just in the boardroom [14].

15. Take Nothing Personally

Amir faced criticism, gossip, and betrayal. Early in his career, he took everything personally. But maturity taught him: not every battle was his to fight. By letting go of ego, his peace grew stronger [15].

16. Faith First

Through failures, betrayals, depression, and victories, Amir returned to faith. By placing God first, he found clarity in chaos. Everything else eventually aligned [16].

Reflection

By age 40, Amir’s truths were not just lessons — they were scars, experiences, and faith woven into his journey. His story reminds us: wisdom is not read, it is lived.

References

[1] Covey, S. (1989). The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Free Press.

[2] Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Grand Central Publishing.

[3] Maxwell, J. (2007). The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Thomas Nelson.

[4] Frankl, V. (1946). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

[5] Duhigg, C. (2012). The Power of Habit. Random House.

[6] Carnegie, D. (1936). How to Win Friends and Influence People. Simon & Schuster.

[7] Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly. Gotham Books.

[8] Collins, J. (2001). Good to Great. HarperBusiness.

[9] WHO (2019). Global Report on Tobacco Use. World Health Organization.

[10] Grant, A. (2021). Think Again. Viking.

[11] Nissenbaum, H. (2010). Privacy in Context. Stanford University Press.

[12] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2018). Alcohol’s Effects on the Body. NIH.

[13] Rumelt, R. (2011). Good Strategy Bad Strategy. Crown Business.

[14] Chapman, G. (1992). The 5 Love Languages. Moody Publishers.

[15] Carnegie, D. (1948). How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. Simon & Schuster.

[16] Holy Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #life #above40

🎖️ Hana dan Loreng Wataniah: Sebuah Kisah Pembentukan Jiwa

Umur remaja dan awal dewasa adalah waktu emas.

Fizikal berada di puncak, mental paling mudah dibentuk, jiwa sedang mencari arah.

Hana masih ingat tahun 1999, saat melangkah ke Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) untuk melanjutkan ijazah kejuruteraan mekanikal. Zaman itu belum ada media sosial, tiada telefon pintar. Jika mahu berbicara dengan rakan atau kekasih hati, perlu beratur di pondok telefon awam dengan syiling 20 sen di tangan.

Namun, antara semua memori di kampus, yang paling indah dan paling berbekas dalam dirinya bukanlah sekadar kuliah atau dewan peperiksaan.

Ia adalah tiga tahun bersama PALAPES – ROTU Tentera Darat.

🪖 Latihan & Ujian Fizikal Mental

Selama tiga tahun, Hana dan rakan kadet diuji tanpa henti.

Kawad kaki di bawah terik mentari Pulau Pinang.

Denda push-up kerana kesilapan sekecil melangkah lewat.

Latihan tahunan di hutan – tidur beralaskan tanah, makan ransum keras, berjaga malam dengan senjata di sisi.

Air mata jatuh. Lutut berdarah. Bahu lebam memikul senjata.

Tetapi setiap kesakitan itulah yang membentuk keteguhan hati.

Kajian ketenteraan menunjukkan latihan fizikal dan mental yang konsisten meningkatkan daya tahan (resilience) dan kepimpinan melalui tekanan terkawal [1].

🔥 Pahit, Manis & Pentauliahan

Hana masih ingat malam-malam sunyi di hutan Balik Pulau. Nyamuk menghurung, hujan mencurah, namun mereka berlari menempuh gelap dengan jeritan semangat.

Dalam latihan Close Interval Weapon (CIW) dan latihan serangan, mereka belajar satu hakikat: dalam kepimpinan, bukan kekuatan diri semata-mata yang penting, tetapi kepercayaan kepada pasukan [2].

Akhirnya, pada tahun 2002, saat USM menjadi tuan rumah majlis pentauliahan, Hana berdiri di padang kawad dengan uniform putih penuh. Degup jantungnya seiring paluan drum. Saat pedang diserahkan, air matanya jatuh.

👉 Dari seorang pelajar, dia kini Leftenan Muda Hana, pegawai simpanan Tentera Darat Malaysia.

🌱 Kesan Sepanjang Hayat

Tiga tahun itu kelihatan singkat.

Tetapi kesannya?

Membentuk Hana seumur hidup.

Bila bekerja di industri kelapa sawit, bila mengurus pekerja kilang dan ladang, bila berdepan krisis dan tekanan — dia kembali mengingat loreng hijau ROTU.

"Jika aku mampu bertahan tidur di hutan, menahan lapar, digertak jurulatih, dan bangun selepas jatuh, maka cabaran kerja ini hanyalah satu lagi latihan hidup."

Kajian psikologi organisasi menyatakan pengalaman disiplin ketenteraan memperkukuh keyakinan diri, pengurusan tekanan, dan daya kepimpinan dalam dunia pekerjaan [3].

💡 Refleksi Hana

Hana sering berpesan kepada anak muda:

> “Kita adalah apa yang kita lakukan di zaman remaja dan dewasa awal. Gunakan masa emasmu untuk membina kekuatan diri, bukan untuk mensia-siakannya. Kerana jiwa yang dilatih dengan disiplin muda akan menjadi jiwa pemimpin sepanjang hayat.”

📚 Rujukan

[1] Bartone, P. T. (2006). “Resilience under military operational stress: Can leaders influence hardiness?” Military Psychology, 18(Suppl), S131–S148.

[2] Wong, L., Bliese, P. D., & McGurk, D. (2003). “Military leadership: A context-specific review.” The Leadership Quarterly, 14(6), 657–692.

[3] Britt, T. W., Adler, A. B., & Castro, C. A. (2006). Military Life: The Psychology of Serving in Peace and Combat. Praeger Security International.

#blog #blogger #kembarainsan #palapes #rotu #usm #leadership #army

🎖️ Hana dan Loreng Hijau: Sebuah Kisah ROTU

Tahun 1999, Hana melangkah ke Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang dengan harapan menjadi jurutera mekanikal. Namun takdir memberinya lebih daripada sekadar ilmu kejuruteraan — ia memberinya jiwa seorang perwira.

🌱 Hari-Hari Awal: Denda & Disiplin

Di padang kawad, derap but menghentak bumi.

"Bangun! Push up seratus kali!" suara jurulatih membelah pagi.

Hana, yang belum pernah diuji sebegitu, jatuh bangun dengan tubuh berpeluh, lutut melecet, telapak tangan perit. Ada hari dia menangis sendirian di asrama. Tetapi setiap kali tubuhnya mahu menyerah, hatinya berbisik:

👉 “Jika aku mahu jadi pemimpin, aku mesti tahan ujian ini.”

🪖 Latihan Tahunan: Hutan & Pertahanan

Musim cuti semester bukan untuk pulang bercuti. Ia dihabiskan di kem tahunan ROTU.

Hana belajar bertahan dalam hutan – tidur beralaskan daun, makan ransum keras yang dikongsi tiga orang. Malam, nyamuk hutan berdesing, dan mereka berjaga dalam senyap, memegang senjata, menjaga perimeter.

Dalam latihan pertahanan, mereka menggali parit perlindungan, tubuh berlumur lumpur, hujan mencurah tanpa belas. Tetapi setiap senyuman dari rakan seperjuangan menjadi api semangat yang menghangatkan jiwa.

🔥 CIW & Latihan Serangan

Hana masih ingat ketika latihan Close Interval Weapon (CIW) — menahan keletihan sambil mengawal senjata, berlari, merangkak, menjerit dalam koordinasi. Nafasnya sesak, tubuhnya hampir rebah, tetapi dia bangkit lagi.

Dalam latihan serangan, mereka mara ke hadapan, jeritan “GERAK!” menggetarkan hutan. Debaran jantung berpadu dengan hentakan but, seakan bumi pun bergetar menyaksikan tekad anak muda yang sedang ditempa jadi wira.

🌴 Kenangan Manis & Ikatan Persaudaraan

Di sebalik kepayahan, ada tawa yang tidak pernah padam.

Gelak ketawa ketika berkongsi air masak dari tin periuk.

Nyanyian senandung di khemah sambil menahan kesejukan.

Semangat “sehidup semati” yang terjalin antara mereka, tanpa mengira kaum dan latar belakang.

Itulah kenangan manis ROTU — persaudaraan dalam loreng hijau.

🌟 Hari Pentauliahan 2002

Tibalah tahun 2002. USM menjadi tuan rumah Majlis Pentauliahan Pegawai Kadet.

Padang kawad dipenuhi ribuan penonton, pancaragam tentera memainkan lagu penuh wibawa. Hana berdiri dalam uniform putih penuh, pedang di sisi, wajahnya bercahaya meski mata bergenang.

Saat namanya dipanggil, langkahnya tegap ke hadapan. Pedang diserahkan, pangkat disematkan. Dari seorang mahasiswi, kini dia bergelar Leftenan Muda Hana.

Air mata jatuh, bukan kerana penat, tetapi kerana syukur. Semua luka, denda, latihan hutan, dan malam tanpa tidur akhirnya menjadi permata pengalaman yang abadi.

💡 Refleksi Hana

Bertahun kemudian, bila berdepan cabaran di kilang sawit atau dunia korporat, Hana sering berkata kepada anak buahnya:

> “Aku pernah tidur di hutan, berlari dengan senjata, ditegur, didenda, menangis, dan bangkit semula. ROTU mengajar aku bahawa kepimpinan bukan lahir dari jawatan, tapi dari kesanggupan menahan ujian. Itulah darah loreng yang kekal di hati.”

#blog #palapes #usm #rotu #hana #usm #campus #wataniah