PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
BERNAS and KIMIA Malaysia Announce Strategic Collaboration to Elevate Rice Quality Standards
First of its kind initiative seeks to advance rice testing methods and national food security.
SHAH ALAM, 14 October 2024 – Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS), a key player in Malaysia’s rice industry, has signed a cooperation note with the Department of Chemistry Malaysia (KIMIA Malaysia), an agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), to jointly conduct interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) and proficiency testing for rice grading activities.
BERNAS’ laboratory, which is the first in Malaysia and the Southeast Asia region to be accredited under the ISO 17025 standard, will further drive this ongoing effort to enhance the overall quality of rice in Malaysia, in addition to ensuring consistency, reliability, and compliance with specifications based on established standards.
This initiative is the first of its kind in Malaysia, as there is currently no other interlaboratory comparison testing programme specifically designed for rice grading.
Under the cooperation note, BERNAS will support KIMIA Malaysia in developing methodologies, conducting analytical exercises on rice samples, and addressing issues related to rice analysis for interlaboratory comparison testing and improving proficiency testing for rice analysis.
The cooperation note was signed by BERNAS Group CEO, Zulkiflee Abdul Rahman and KIMIA Malaysia Director-General, Marhayani Md Saad. The signing was witnessed by MOSTI Secretary General, Dato' Ts. Dr. Hj. Aminuddin Hassim, and Dato’ Sri Rohani Abdul Karim, BERNAS Chairman.
“We welcome this collaboration between BERNAS and KIMIA Malaysia for the inaugural ILCs and proficiency testing for rice grading. We believe this initiative will be a game-changer for the paddy and rice industry, positively impacting the quality, food security, and reliability of the paddy and rice supply chain in the long run,” Dato' Ts. Dr. Hj. Aminuddin Hassim, MOSTI Secretary-General said in his speech.
“This partnership not only aligns with the government’s aspirations to elevate Malaysia as a high-technology nation driven by science, technology and innovation (STI) but also supports its food security agenda and enhances the competitiveness of Malaysia’s rice industry. We anticipate the positive outcomes of this collaboration and look forward to greater participation from other laboratories in the country in the near future,” he added.
BERNAS stands ready to leverage its extensive experience and, as one of the custodians for Malaysia’s rice industry, is committed to collaborating with all government agencies and industry players to uphold the nation’s food security agenda.
About BERNAS
Established in 1994, BERNAS assumed the pivotal role of custodian for Malaysian paddy and rice, succeeding the corporatised Lembaga Padi dan Beras Negara (LPN). With over three decades of dedicated service, BERNAS has emerged as a cornerstone in Malaysia's paddy and rice industry, earning recognition as a steadfast partner in promoting food security and sustainability.
At the heart of our mission is the enduring slogan, "Nourishing the Nation," epitomizing our unwavering commitment to delivering premier products and services to our homeland. Grounded in the principles of Integrity, Customer Focus, and Teamwork, we uphold our responsibilities with utmost dedication, harmonizing the needs of all stakeholders and maintaining the highest standards of quality throughout our comprehensive supply chain.