A study in enhancing the strength properties of Rhizophora apiculata by turning the solid wood into an engineered laminated board was executed. The matured Rhizophora species was selected from peat swamp forest in Sibu, Sarawak. The trunk was segregated into three parts, namely the bottom, middle and top portion and subsequently sawn into wooden planks. The laminated boards were cut into specific thicknesses and immediately bonded with an adhesive by pressed drying. Preparation for solid and laminated boards testing samples followed the ISO and ASTM standards. Properties such as the moisture content, density, basic density, static bending (MOR and MOE) and compression were determined. The results show an improvement in properties from the solid to laminated board. The values in density, MOR, and MOE increased in the range of 2-6%, 29-42%, and 13-36%, respectively. However, the values of the moisture content, basic density, and compression, indicated a vice versa trend ranging from 1-2%, 2-6%, and 8-24%, respectively. The bottom portion was more durable and robust compared to the other portions.

A survey was conducted to determine the diversity of fish in Pergau Lake, Jeli, Kelantan, Malaysia from 2 September to 18 October of 2016. Fish samples were collected at seven random sampling stations around the lake by using setting trap method. The collected samples were preserved in 10% formalin solution and delivered to the laboratory for further identification process. Fourteen species, namely as Hemibagrus nemurus , Hampala macrolepidota , Clarias batrachus , Channa striata , Cyprinus carpio , Poropuntius smedleyi , Pangasius sp., Oreochromis niloticus , Oreochromis mossambicus , Leptobarbus hoevenii , Neolissochilus hexagonolepis , Tor tambroides , Osteochilus hasselti and Neolissochilus soroides , comprising of six families were collected during this study. From this study, family of Cyprinidae was the dominant species in Pergau Lake with exactly 50% of catch percentage, followed by family of Bagridae (29%), Cichlidae (10%), Clariidae (5%), Channidae (3%) and Pangasiidae (3%). This study shows that there is still a diversity of fish species in Pergau Lake, showing that the water and its environmental condition is very good.

This study was conducted to determine the presence of microplastics in surface water and sediment ofKelantan Bay. The samples were collected between May and July 2019. Microplastics were isolated from the surface water and sediment samples by using wet peroxide oxidation (WPO) followed by density separation. Microplastics were sorted visually according to their shapes and colours after being examined under photographed microscope. The most abundant particle found in this study was threadlike and fragment shapes. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify functional groups in the composition of microplastics to determine the types of microplastic found in the samples. Polypropylene (PP) was the most abundance type of microplastic found in the surface water and sediments of Kelantan Bay. This study provides an insight of the types of microplastics found in Kelantan Bay and therefore, further actions need to be taken to curb the distribution of microplastics in marine ecosystem from threatening the marine food chain of Kelantan Bay.

Oil palm fronds are one of the biomass residues originating from oil palm plantations. It has great potential to be used as an alternative material for the composite boards industry to reduce dependency on wood-based raw materials. The fronds are obtainable all the year round and in big quantity. The oil palm fronds had been processed as compressed oil palm fronds to form such a potential composite board in this topic. A composite board from compressed oil palm fronds was produced by removing the fronds’ leaflets and epidermis. The sample was sliced longitudinally into thin layers and compressed into an identical thickness at about 2 to 3 mm. Pieces of the sample were dry using the air-dried method. They were then mixed with phenol and urea-formaldehyde of resins in the range of 12-15% and compressed again with another layer forming a composite board. Standard outlined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) tested for their physical and strength properties of composite board. Found that the physical and strength aspects’ properties show that the composite board possessed characteristics at par or equivalent. The composite board from compressed oil palm fronds has good prospects to be used as an alternative to wood. Thus, this characteristics can overcome the shortage in materials supply in the wood-based industry.

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  During a study near an ecotourism site, we recorded a melanistic Leopard Panthera pardus delacouri on top of Bukit Kudung in Jeli District.  This finding is considered important because the Indochinese Leopard P.p. delacouri is classified as Critically Endangered in the Red List of Threatened Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  We hope that this record will foster conservation efforts in the area.