Photo by: Tan Kian Yong
I
am pleased to have been given the
Message
opportunity to say a few words in this
inaugural issue of the Plantation & Agri-
From The
business Division’s newsletter Seedlink.
Executive
After months of hard work, sleepless
nights and numerous weekend-less
Vice President
weeks, the merger of Sime Darby
Berhad, Golden Hope Plantations Berhad
and Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad was finally
formalised on November 28, 2007. No
doubt it has been a very busy year for
all of us. Each of us in the Plantation &
Agri-business Division, regardless the
company we were formerly from, has in
one way or another, contributed towards
realising this merger. Therefore each of
us deserves a pat on the back for making
this historic merger a reality.
I would also like to take this opportunity
to welcome all of you to your new offices
in Wisma Consplant I, Wisma Guthrie and
the respective R&D centres. The relocation
was inevitable as we need to place our
people in strategic locations to ensure
smooth and cost effective operations.
Thank you for your co-operation.
We now officially belong to the big family
of the new Sime Darby Berhad, a global
conglomerate and the world’s biggest palm
oil originator. Being in the Plantation &
Agri-business Division, we have a very big
responsibility to shoulder to live up to our
brand values of “Developing Sustainable
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2
Futures”. All eyes will be on us, keeping
track on our performance. Our detractors
will be waiting for us to make a mistake.
But let’s not be intimidated by all of that
because if we stand united and continue
to move Ahead As One, I am sure we can
move a mountain.
Let us together make the reasons for
the merger a reality. Let’s prove that
with this merger we can leverage on
the economies of scale, pool industry
experience and management talents and
establish the new Sime Darby Berhad in
the key growth sectors namely Plantation,
Property, Motors, Industrial and Energy &
Utilities.
The publication of this newsletter, which
is going to be bi-monthly, could not
have come at any better time. This
newsletter, published by Communications
Department, will be the avenue for
both the Management and the staff
to communicate. I hope all of you will
make use of this newsletter to make our
Division and our company in general, a
better place to work.
Before I end, I would like to wish everyone
Happy New Year 2008 and may this year
be a very good year to all of us.
Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid
 Dawn of
a new
era

T he name of the new entity that
merged Golden Hope Plantations
Berhad, Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad and
Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir introduces the Senior Management officials to the Prime Minister upon his arrival. They
are (from left) Dato’ Ir. Jauhari Hamidi, Executive Vice President, Utilities Division, Dato’ Mohd Shukri Baharom,
Executive Vice President, Energy Division and Northern Corridor, En Lawrence Lee, Executive Vice President, Motor
Division, En Mohamed Ishak Abdul Hamid, Executive Vice President, Group Human Resource and Dato’ Tunku Putra
Badlishah, Executive Vice President, Property Development and Strategic Investments.

Sime Darby Berhad was unveiled by

the Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi on November 28, 2007
in an exuberant ceremony at the Sime
Darby Convention Centre.
It was attended by some 1,000 guests
comprising the Board of Directors of
the new company, former Board of
Directors of the three merged entities,
business partners, employees and key
figures within the Malaysian politics and
economic landscapes. The excitement
and curiosity could be felt in the air.
Everyone was excited to know what
the new merged entity would be called
and how the new logo would look like.
The energetic drum showcase upon the
arrival of the Prime Minister added on to
the excitement.
The moment of truth finally arrived
after Dato’ Seri Abdullah finished his
speech. Accompanied by Chairman Tun
Musa Hitam and President and Group
Chief Executive Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir
Murshid, the Prime Minister placed his
signature on the commemorative plaque
and immediately after a 3D presentation
conjured up on air in the middle of
the stage. The presentation
showcased the five core businesses
under the merged entity culminated with
the disclosure of the name and the logo
of the merged entity – Sime Darby.
In his speech, the Prime Minister lauded
the move by the three “jewels in the
crown of Malaysian industry” to merge.
As individuals, the three companies were
already solid but with the merger the
new entity would have a better chance of
becoming global icons, he said.
Dato’ Seri Abdullah also praised the three
individual companies for moving out of
their comfort zones and embracing the
idea of pooling resources towards building
a new corporate giant.
“Instead of settling for a comfortable
existence, you were willing to push the
boundaries; to test yourselves against
the very best.
“Instead of just being satisfied at being
‘jaguh kampung’, you have set your
sights at becoming global champions,” he
said.
“We are witnessing today the birth of a
which new corporate giant. The merged entity
will not be starting from ground zero,
but will emerge fully formed, strong, and
fighting on all fronts.”
Tun Musa in his welcome address
highlighted that the new merged entity
was more than a plantation and property
company. The new merged entity, he
said, was also a leading distributor and
dealer of major automobile brands,
energy & utilities provider and the multi-
billion-dollar Bakun dam project and the
undersea transmission cables linking the
dam and Peninsular Malaysia were just
some of the projects undertaken by the
company.
“We are now at the threshold of exciting
times and the investment community
worldwide is confident of our potential.
Therefore we must continue to work
hard to live up to these expectations and
realise the synergistic benefits of between
RM400 to RM500 million annually as
projected before the merger,” he said.
Tun Musa also stressed that the new
merged entity did not only believe in
delivering the numbers but also hold
high regard to its responsibilities towards
social and environmental issues.
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Dato’ Seri Abdullah signing the commemorative plaque, Dato’ Seri Abdullah: We are witnessing Some of the 1,000 guests at the launch.
witnessed by Dato’ Seri Zubir and Tun Musa. today the birth of a new corporate giant.

3
 Downstream business comprises 21 entities in 15 countries worldwide

Bangladesh
• Bangladesh Edible Oils

Canada
China
• Cognis Oleochemicals
• Guangzhou KeyLink

United Kingdom Japan

• Cognis Oleochemicals Germany
• Cognis Oleochemicals
• Cognis Oleochemicals
Gmbh
United States
• Cognis Oleochemicals Netherlands
• Clean Energy B.V. Vietnam
• Unimills B.V. • Golden Hope Nhabe

United Arab Emirates

Thailand
• Sime Darby Edible
Brazil Products • Morakot Industries
• Cognis Oleochemicals
Malaysia Singapore
• Austral Edible Oils
• Sime Darby Edible
• Cognis Oleochemicals
Products
• Golden Jomalina Food Industries
South Africa • Kempas Edible Oils
Marketing Operating • Golden Hope Biodiesel
Companies Units • Hudson & Knight
• Golden Hope Bioganic

T he unveiling of the name Sime

Darby Berhad as the name of the
Effectively,
Malaysia’s
Sime
largest
Darby
listed
becomes
plantation
new merged entity comprising Golden company and largest property developer

Standing in Hope Plantations Berhad,

Guthrie Berhad and Sime Darby Berhad,
Kumpulan but most of all, the world’s number one
listed palm oil originator.

the eyes of on November 28, 2007 marked the birth

of a multinational with a focused set The combination of the plantation business

the World of winning businesses, either a global,

regional or local champion in key growth
of the three companies has made the new
Sime Darby, owner of a total of 208 oil
sectors namely plantation, property, palm estates and 65 mills in Peninsular
energy and utilities, industrial and Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia
motors. and Kalimantan, Sumatera and Sulawesi
Sime Darby’s planted hactarage stands at 524,626 ha with 65 mills in Indonesia.
across Malaysia and Indonesia
Currently Sime Darby’s Plantation & Agri-
business Division oversees a plantation
area of 329,470 hectares in Malaysia
Sumatera, and 195,156 hectares in Indonesia with
Indonesia
East Malaysia the potential of producing eight per cent
of the world’s total palm oil output that
West Malaysia
translates into RM8.8 billion revenue to
the company.
Sulawesi,
Indonesia The plantation downstream activities
of the Group include edible oil refining,
production of oils and fats products,
oleochemical and biodiesel. The activities
take Sime Darby’s operations to 15
countries including Malaysia, Singapore,
Kalimantan, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China,
Indonesia Germany, United Kingdom, Bangladesh,
Malaysia 298 31 329
South Africa, United Arab Emirates, the
Indonesia 176 19 195 Netherlands, Canada, the United States
Total mills: 65
Total 474 50 524 Malaysia - 42
Indonesia - 23
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Total estates: 208

Mature Immature Locations of
Estates and Mills Malaysia - 141
Indonesia - 67
4
 Why
Sime Darby
Berhad name
was chosen?

The new Sime Darby logo majestically donning Wisma Consplant 1 and 2 as seen from
the intersection at SS15, Subang Jaya.

T he decision to name the merged

entity Sime Darby Berhad was based
on recommendations by Synergy Drive’s
branding consultants who conducted an
in depth study into the brand positioning
for all the companies involved in the
merger.
Sime Darby Berhad was chosen as the
name of the new merged entity mostly
due to the brand equity it already
possessed as compared to the other two
merged companies. While Guthrie and
Golden Hope were well established in the
plantation and property sectors, Sime
Darby was a well established brand in
five business areas namely plantation,
property, energy & utilities, motors and
industrial.
Taking the existing brand equity into
account, the option for the name of the new
company was actually a choice between
a totally new name or Sime Darby. The
adoption of a new name would also cause
valuable equity associated with the Sime
Darby brand to be lost. The new Sime Darby logo being installed at Wisma
Consplant 1 building a few days after the November
28 official launch.
Besides that, the name Sime Darby also
had the credibility to position the new
merged entity as one of the leading
global drivers of sustainability from
all angles – economically, socially and
environmentally.
In addition, Sime Darby brand was
already known for its commitment to
social and environmental care. Therefore
the positioning represents continuity with
a new emphasis in this. It was also held
that maintaining a well established brand
like Sime Darby would enable the existing The new logo at Wisma Guthrie in Damansara.

Our
equity to be built on further.

Values Respect for the individuals

we interact with and the
environment that we operate
in (internally and externally)
Stretch the horizons of growth
for ourselves, our business
and our people through our
y

unwavering ambition to achieve

lit

Executive Vice President, Dato’ Azhar and committing to being outstanding personal and
bi
si

Abdul Hamid in his speech at the responsible in all our actions. business results.
n

Ex
po

ce

Plantation & Agri-business Division’s

es

lle
R

brand launch explicated the values that

n
&

ce
ct

each employee of the new Sime Darby

values
pe
es

Berhad should live by.

R

En

These values are simple and easy to

it
te

gr
rp

te

remember. But these values would serve

ri

In
si
n

no purpose if they are not practised. Seek and seize Uphold high levels of
g

Hence, carry these values not just with opportunities with speed personal and professional
and agility challenging the values in all our business
you but most importantly within you, set boundaries. interaction and decisions.
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all the time.

5
 Who’s
who in the Plantation &
Agri-business Division

EVP Office
The Plantation & Agri-business Division En Mustamir Mohamad

management team comprises competent

Human
professionals who are very experienced and Resources
En Zulkifli Zainal
Abidin
knowledgeable in their fields.
Finance
Mdm Tong Poh Keow
Plantation &
Agri-Business Strategy & Business
Division Development
Dato’ Azhar Abdul En Haris Fadzilah
Hamid Hassan

Communications
Pn Putri Rafidah
Megat Khas

Upstream Plantation R & D Centre

Tn Hj Helmy Othman
Downstream Minamas Tn Hj Khairudin
Dr Anhar Suki En Franki Anthony
Basha Hashim
Dass

Trading & TQEM Plantation

Agribiz & Foods
En Yap Chuan Yu
Logistics Tn Syed Mahdhar Advisory
En Jasni Muhamad Syed Hussain Dr Mohamad Nazeeb
Ali Thambi

Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid,

Executive Vice President, Plantation & Agri-Business Division.

He was the Managing Director of Sime Plantations Sdn Bhd and the Divisional Director,
Plantations & Food Division of Sime Darby. Prior to this, he was the Managing Director of
Tractors Malaysia Holdings Berhad from 2004 until 2006 and concurrently, the Divisional
Director for Sime Darby Group’s Heavy Equipment Division in the Asia Pacific, covering
China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. He began his career with
British Telecom Plc, UK in 1989 as an Internal Audit Manager. He joined Sime Darby
Group in 1994 as Financial Controller of Sime Tyres International Sdn Bhd. Dato’ Azhar
was appointed by PNB as Group Chief Executive Officer of Pernas International Holdings
Berhad from November 2001 to October 2002. He is a member of the Association of
Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom and the Malaysian Institute of
Accountants.
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6
Tn Hj Helmy Othman Basha,
Senior Vice President I, Plantation Upstream.

He was Head, Plantation Malaysia of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad and Chief Executive
Officer of Highlands & Lowlands Berhad and Guthrie Ropel Berhad. He joined Kumpulan
Guthrie Berhad in 1997 as Finance & Administration Manager and was promoted to
Group General Manager, Finance in 2001. He was posted to Minamas Plantation,
Indonesia in 2001 while at the same time in charge of the Guthrie Group Treasury
function in Kuala Lumpur. He returned to the Head Office in 2004 as Head, Marketing
and later in the same year he was posted to Head, Corporate Planning & Strategic
Development. He is a qualified accountant (ACCA) and started his career at Wellers,
an Oxford based accountancy firm.

Dr. Anhar Suki,

Senior Vice President II, Oils & Fats/Biofuel-Downstream.

He was Director, Oils & Fats of Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, in charge of the
downstream operations. Prior to that he held several positions in the Group including
Director, Engineering, General Manager, Golden Hope Academy and General Manager,
Golden Hope Furniture. He started his career with Universiti Pertanian Malaysia before
joining Golden Hope in 1991. He is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from UMIST
(UK), MApp. Sc (Environment) and PhD (Chem Eng) from UNSW Australia and EMBA
from AIM (Philippines)

En Franki Anthony Dass,

Senior Vice President II, Plantation Minamas.

He was Head, Plantation Operations of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad’s Plantation Indonesia

since April 2006. Prior to that, he was the General Manager, Plantation Operations
from April 2002 before promoted to Senior General Manager, Plantation Operations
in October 2004. He is the President Director of Guthrie Pecconina Indonesia since
January 2006 and a member of the Incorporated Society of Planters.

Tn Hj Khairudin Hashim,
Senior Vice President I, R & D Centre.

He was Director, Research and Development of Golden Hope Plantations Berhad. He

joined the company in 1979 as Research Officer and was appointed Director, Research
& Development in 2004. He holds a Bachelor and a Masters degree in Agricultural
Science, from Universiti Putra Malaysia and Masters in Management from the Asian
Institute of Management, Philippines.

En Yap Chuan Yu,

Senior Vice President II, Agri-business & Foods.

He was previously Director, Oils & Fats of Sime Darby Berhad’s Plantation & Food
Division. He first joined the company in 1973 and has over 30 years of experience in
edible oil sourcing, manufacturing, branding, trading and distribution. He has managed
downstream edible oil refineries, crushing plants and food operations in Thailand,
Singapore, Malaysia and China and is well versed with marketing palm products, soft
oils and specialty fats across Asia, Africa, Middle East, Russia, China, Japan, and
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Australia. He holds a degree in Accountancy from the University of Singapore.

7
 En Jasni Muhamad,
Senior Vice President II, Commodities Trading & Marketing.

He was General Manager of Sime Darby Berhad - Commodities Trading Malaysia. He

joined Sime Darby Berhad in 1995 as an I.T. Manager, managing the overall IT operations
of the Oil & Gas and Engineering Division. From 2001 to 2003 he was the IT Manager
for Sime Plantations Sdn Bhd. He graduated from the US with BSc in Mathematics and
Statistics and MSc in Computer Science.

Tn Syed Mahdhar Syed Hussain,

Senior Vice President II, TQEM.

He was the Senior General Manager - TQEM Department of Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad.
He began his career with Kumpulan Guthrie as a Technologist in Quality Assurance
Department. He was promoted to Manager in 1992 and General Manager in 2000. He
holds a degree in Chemistry from Universiti Sains Malaysia, a degree in Quality & Statistic
from International Institute of Rotterdam, Holland and a degree in Business Engineering
from Univeristi Teknologi Malaysia/Warwick, United Kingdom.

Dr Mohamed Nazeeb Ali Thambi,

Senior Vice President I, Plantation Advisory.

He was Director, Plantation of Sime Darby Berhad’s Plantation & Food Division. Started
his career with Sime Darby in 1979 as Estate Assistant. He then served Ebor Research,
the research and development arm of Plantation Division, as an Agronomist before rising
to Head of Crop Production. He was promoted to Operations Manager Business Units 5, 6
& 7 / Agricultural Advisor in 2001 and Director, Plantation Division in 2002. He obtained
his PhD in Agronomy from University Malaya in 2000. He currently sits on the MPOB
Board, representing the Malaysian Palm Oil Association.

En Mustamir Mohamad,
Vice President II, Executive Vice President Office.

He joined Sime Darby Group in September 2005 as Manager, Value Management in

Group Strategy. Prior to this he was a Manager in the Investment Operations and
Financial Markets Department, Bank Negara Malaysia. He began his career with
PricewaterhouseCoopers, London in 1995, managing audit clients in the Oil & Gas sector.
He holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from London School of Economics and
Political Science. He is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in
England and Wales and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

En Zulkifli Zainal Abidin,

Senior Vice President II, Human Resources.

He was the General Manager, Human Resources of Golden Hope Plantations Berhad,
which he joined in 1999. Prior to this, he was a Human Resource Manager in Sime
Darby Berhad. He holds a Masters in International Affairs and a Bachelor in Business
Administration from Ohio University, USA.
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8
Mdm Tong Poh Keow,
Senior Vice President I, Finance.

She was Head, Group Finance and Administration and Chief Finance Officer Kumpulan
Guthrie Berhad since January 1, 2006. She joined Kumpulan Guthrie in 1983 as
Accountant-cum-Assistant Company Secretary for Highlands & Lowlands Berhad and
was subsequently promoted to Group General Manager, Finance (Group Accounting
& Financial Reporting) in 2001. She began her career with Siva, Heng & Monterio
(now known as Heng & Monterio) as Audit Assistant in 1978 and joined Shapadu
Holding Sdn Berhad in 1981 as Accountant cum Company Secretary. She is a Fellow of
the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK, a member of the Institute of
Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, UK and a member of the Malaysian Institute
of Accountants.

En Haris Fadzilah Hassan,

Senior Vice President II, Strategy & Business Development.

He was General Manager, Corporate Strategy and Business Development of Golden

Hope Plantations Berhad since May 2006. Prior to this, he was the Head of Strategic
Development and Corporate Planning in Proton Holdings Berhad from May 2005, Head
of Iran Project, International Business Division, Proton Marketing from November
2003 and Head, Corporate Planning Division, Proton Berhad from December 2000.
Concurrently from 2000 to 2003, he was the Head of Domestic Operation and Head of
Public Relations in Proton Berhad. He has an MBA in International Business Management
and Management Information Systems from the University of Miami, Florida.

Pn Putri Rafidah Megat Khas

Vice President II, Communications.

Joined Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd as Head – Communications on November

28, 2007. She has served the Sime Darby Group for more than 18 years in similar
capacities at Sime Darby Head Office and at the Heavy Equipment Division.

An Economics graduate from University of Malaya, she has more than 30 years hands-
on experience managing the profile and perception of company image in local, regional
and international media.

Her working experience include senior appointments at an International Public

Relations consultancy, Burson Marsteller, as Lecturer & Course Tutor at the School of
Mass Communications UiTM, Public Affairs Manager of TV3, Account Manager at Public
Relations Management (a PR Consultancy - part of Boustead Group of Companies;
subsequently acquired by Ogilvy Worldwide), and Manager - Public Affairs and
Advertising at Standard Chartered Bank.
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9
 Sustainable
Futures
in
made real
Sandakan
Brand New: Dato’ Azhar (right) and the
estate and mill officials take a maiden ride on
the boat with the children.

Datuk Azhar handed over the boat to Sandakan Bay Palm Oil Mill Manager Mr Raymond
Herbertson Navamany. The boat is placed under the custody of the mill as it is located
closest to the jetty.

The presentation of the boat was part of Sime Darby’s corporate social responsibility
The Gift: This is the boat that will facilitate the children’s (CSR) initiatives to facilitate education among the children of its employees. The
daily commute to school.
company has also adopted three Tamil schools within its estates.

S ime Darby’s tagline, “Developing

Sustainable Futures”, was created
not for show and the Plantation & Agri-
business Division is taking all available
opportunities to make this aspiration as
tangible as it can for all its beneficiaries.
Also present at the event were Senior Vice President I, Plantations Upstream Tn
Hj Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, Senior Vice President I, Plantation Advisory Dr
Mohamed Nazeeb P. Ali Thambi, Senior Vice President II, TQEM Tn Syed Mahdhar
Syed Hussain, Senior Vice President II, East Malaysia Region, En Fairuz Ismail, Vice
President I, Sabah Zone, Tn Hj Abd Rasid Ahmad, the respective estate managers,
employees and the school children.

A group of 50 primary school pupils

comprising children of employees at Tun
Tan Estate, Sentosa Estate and Sandakan
Bay Palm Oil Mill in Sandakan, Sabah
were the lucky ones to receive a gift that
will help in their journey to pursuing a
good life in the future.
In his speech, apart from emphasising on the importance of adhering to safety
procedures on the boat, Dato’ Azhar also encouraged the children to study hard
to qualify for Sime Darby Scholarship Programme. He indicated that to date, no
children of Sime Plantations’ employees had won such a scholarship. He added that
the children should look towards this as a real opportunity to do better for themselves
and to perceive it as a chance to live a much better life than that of their parents.

The gift, in the form of a RM165,000
46-footer fibreglass boat powered by a
150HP engine, will ensure their daily 10-
kilometre commute by boat to Sekolah
Kebangsaan Kuala Suan
Kinabatangan area will be much safer,
reliable and comfortable.
After the launch, Dato’ Azhar and the entourage were taken on a tour to Sandakan
Palm Oil Mill and the bird sanctuary in Sentosa Estate where some Orang Utan nests
were found. This mooted Dato’ Azhar to suggest the planting of banana trees as a
source of food for the primates.
Lamba in
While they were there, Dato’ Azhar and his team also went to the Orang Utan
Sanctuary in Sepilok for a discussion on a possible CSR initiative.

“No investment in the safety of the

children and their ability to realise their
true potential in life, will ever be too
much, or enough. Keeping them in school
and to see them excel in their studies,
to achieve and be the best that they
can be will be our reward. This is what
Sime Darby hopes to do - “developing
sustainable futures’,” said Executive Vice
President Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid in
his speech at the launch of the boat on
Over To You: Dato’ Azhar hands over the mock key to Safety First: Dato’ Azhar fastening the clip on
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January 1, 2008 at the Tun Tan Estate the boat to Mr Herbertson Navamany. the life jacket of one of the school children.

jetty at Sandakan Bay.

10
L et us work together and prove our
critics wrong!

ONE FAMILY
That was the clarion call from Executive
Vice President Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid
in his maiden speech to employees of the
Plantation & Agri-business Division at the

ONE
divisional brand launch on December 5,
2007.

Addressing more than 700 employees at

the gathering, Dato’ Azhar said the family
of the new Sime Darby Group must work
together to brave the challenges ahead
MISSION
and show the world that the newly
merged entity was bigger and better in
all sense of the word.
“However, whatever plans or strategies we put together is going to be ineffective if
we, the people responsible for the future of the Group’s plantation business, are not
He said this in reference to criticisms
in control or are not committed to the targets that we have set,” he said, adding that
levelled against the newly merged entity
the Group had set its target on Plantation Division to deliver real synergy value of
that none of the three merged companies
between RM300 and RM500 million.
was best in class among the plantation
upstream players in the region.
The target, he said, was not something impossible to achieve.
“Why? Because I have you on my side,” he said.
The negative comments were highlighted
by President and Group Chief Executive
Dato’ Azhar repeatedly reminded the employees that they were all part of the new
Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid at the
Sime Darby family, a family strengthened by the merger and not a family re-born.
townhall session in the morning of the
official unveiling of the new merged
He also expressed his confidence in his management team who had planned and
entity’s name and logo by Prime Minister
would be executing initiatives to build a sustainable future for everyone.
Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on
November 28, 2007.
“We have our sights on doing things better, bigger and of course we want to make
more money or profit. However...we have to do it together. All of us are going to be
While acknowledging the criticisms, Dato’
important in creating our future,” he said, adding that a good future was in store if all
Azhar was optimistic that the new Sime
employees were willing to work together with full commitment under the new Sime
Darby would be able to place itself within
Darby Group.
the range of the best plantation players
in the region in the next 24 months with
While stressing the importance of moving ahead as one under the new Sime Darby
the strategy and plans that had been
Group, Dato’ Azhar reminded all the employees not to forget their history, namely the
developed for the Division.
three companies the employees were formerly from.

“My advice is never, ever, forget our history and never, ever, forget where we came
from. Treasure the past but live the future,” he said.

...in the plantations sector where

The new family of Sime Darby which was strengthened right up to the board of
none of the three companies was
directors would be guided by the platform and mission of “Making a Sustainable
top of the class or even among
Future Real for Everyone”, a platform that was typical to the plantation operations.
the top three in class. Yes, the
“Being able to adopt a culture that promotes real and effective sustainability is an
yield numbers are better than
extremely important element in our future,” he said, adding that the mission to make
the national average but that is
sustainability real for everyone would be achieved by abiding by the values that had
not saying a lot. ...how confident
been propagated by the Group.
are you that a team comprised of
those with less than sterling track
The values are centred on Respect & Responsibility, Enterprising, Excellence and
records can deliver the goods?
Integrity.
- Analyst
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11
 Selamat Datang Dato’...
Dato’ “ Kita mampu melakukannya kerana saya ada anda di sisi saya.”

SATU B ersama kita bekerja dan buktikan pengkritik kita silap!

Itu adalah seruan dari Naib Presiden Eksekutif Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid di dalam

KELUARGA ucapan sulung beliau kepada kakitangan Divisyen Perladangan & Agri-bisnes di majlis
pelancaran jenama peringkat divisyen pada 5 Disember, 2007.

TEGUH Menurutnya keluarga Sime Darby Berhad yang baru

mengembleng tenaga menempuh segala cabaran yang menanti di masa hadapan dan
mesti bersama-sama

BERSAMA
membuktikan kepada dunia bahawa syarikat gabungan yang baru ini bukan sahaja
lebih besar tetapi ia lebih baik dari segala segi.

Walaupun menyedari bahawa terdapat kritikan yang mengatakan bahawa tiada

sebuah pun syarikat di bawah gabungan Sime Darby Berhad yang tergolong di dalam
kelas terbaik di dalam industri perladangan kelapa sawit serantau, Dato’ Azhar yakin
bahawa dengan strategi dan perancangan yang telah disusun, Sime Darby mampu
untuk merapatkan jurang tersebut dalam masa 24 bulan yang akan datang.

“Walau bagaimanapun, segala perancangan dan strategi yang telah disusun rapi
tidak akan memberikan apa-apa kesan sekiranya kita, orang yang telah diamanahkan
dengan masa depan perniagaan perladangan Kumpulan, tidak bersungguh-sungguh
untuk mencapai sasaran yang telah ditetapkan,” katanya.

Kritikan yang dilemparkan terhadap prestasi perniagaan perladangan ketiga-tiga

syarikat yang digabungkan itu telah diutarakan oleh Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutif
Kumpulan Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid semasa sessi dewan orangramai pada
pagi perasmian logo dan nama baru syarikat gabungan oleh YAB Perdana Menteri
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Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pada 28 November 2007.

12
 Dato’ Azhar berkata Kumpulan telah Di dalam menegaskan peri-pentingnya
mensasarkan Divisyen Perlandangan bertindak sebagai sebuah keluarga di
untuk menghasilkan nilai sinergi nyata bawah Kumpulan Sime Darby yang
di antara RM300 dan RM500 juta. baru, Dato’ Azhar mengingatkan setiap
kakitangan agar tidak melupakan asal-
“Adakah kita mampu?” beliau bertanya. usul mereka.
“Jawapan saya ialah kita mampu! “Nasihat saya ialah jangan sesekali
Mengapa? Kerana saya ada anda di sisi melupai sejarah dan asal-usul kita.
saya. Ianya semudah itu,” katanya. Simpan kenangan itu dan hidupkan
masa hadapan,” katanya.
Antara tetamu yang hadir pada petang itu.
Di dalam ucapan beliau yang disampaikan
kepada lebih 700 kakitangan dari Wisma Keluarga Sime Darby yang baru yang
Consplant, Wisma Guthrie, ladang- diperkukuhkan sehingga ke peringkat
ladang terpilih dan Pusat Penyelidikan & Lembaga Pengarahnya akan di pandu
Pembangunan, Dato’ Azhar berulang kali oleh landasan dan misi untuk “Menjadikan
mengingatkan bahawa mereka adalah Masa Hadapan Mampan Nyata buat
ahli keluarga Sime Darby yang baru. Semua Orang”. Misi ini begitu hampir
kepada operasi Divisyen Perladangan &
“Kita kini telah menjadi sebuah keluarga, Agri-bisnes.
bukan keluarga yang dilahirkan semula
tetapi keluarga yang diperkukuhkan oleh “Keupayaan untuk mengamalkan budaya
proses penggabungan ini yang direka yang mempromosikan kemampanan
sedemikian rupa untuk menggerunkan yang nyata dan berkesan adalah sangat
lawan dan menakjubkan sesiapa sahaja,” penting untuk masa hadapan kita.”
kata beliau. Tambah beliau misi untuk menjadikan
kemampanan ini sesuatu yang nyata
Bersama ahli-ahli di dalam pasukan bagi semua orang boleh dicapai dengan
pengurusanya, Dato’ Azhar berkata berlandaskan nilai-nilai yang telah diwar-
mereka telah merancang dan akan warkan oleh Kumpulan Sime Darby.
melaksanakan inisiatif-inisiatif untuk
membina masa hadapan yang mampan. Nilai-nilai tersebut adalah : Saling
menghormati & Bertanggungjawab,
“Kami akan berusaha untuk melakukan Berdaya Usaha, Kecemerlangan dan
Dato’ Azhar, Datin Aminahtun Elizeth, Tn Hj Helmy tugas dengan lebih baik dan kami mahu Integriti.
dan Dato’ Sabri keluar dari bilik menunggu menuju ke
dewan besar. menghasilkan lebih banyak keuntungan.
“Walau bagaimanapun kita harus Perlancaran logo peringkat Divisyen
melakukannya bersama-sama. Kita Perladangan & Agri-bisnes yang diadakan
semua akan mempunyai peranan penting di Hotel Holiday Villa ini adalah salah satu
di dalam membentuk masa hadapan,” program pelancaran peringkat divisyen
tambah beliau. yang diadakan selepas pelancaran rasmi
jenama dan logo baru syarikat gabungan
Dato’ Azhar berkata beliau tidak boleh pada 28 November, 2007 di Sime Darby
menjanjikan jalan di hadapan yang tiada Convention Centre.
halangan tetapi menegaskan bahawa
masa hadapan yang cerah menanti setiap Pelancaran peringkat divisyen tersebut
kakitangan sekiranya mereka sanggup juga dihadiri oleh Penasihat Integrasi
berusaha dengan penuh kesungguhan Perladangan Dato’ Sabri Ahmad, isteri
di dalam syarikat Sime Darby yang baru kepada Dato’ Azhar, Datin Aminahtun
ini. Elizeth Ibrahim dan ketua-ketua
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jabatan.

13
 There must be something funny happening on stage.

A Rousing Affair
atDivisional
Brand Launch
Many talents were uncovered that day. Should we have Plantatio

I t was not quite the event where

fun and laughter were expected
to fill the air but they did! Despite the
absence of professional entertainers,
staff of the Plantation & Agri-business
Division had loads of fun at the divisional
brand launch on December 5, 2007. All
thanks to the co-operation of more than
700 staff members who attended the
event. Datin Aminahtun Elizeth and Dato’ Azhar are a picture of
happiness at the event that day.

The fun began with the banner

competition which saw eight groups,
selected from the various departments
housed at Wisma Consplant I, Wisma
Guthrie and one group representing
Research & Development, presenting
their best effort at creating a banner on
the theme “Making Sustainability Real
For Everyone”. Each group was required
to have a minimum of six members with
equal representation from the merged
companies – Golden Hope, Guthrie and
Sime Darby – simply to create a sense
of togetherness and teamwork among
the staff of the different entities.
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Tn Hj Helmy tickled pink by the antics on stage.

14

A moment worth capturing. Some of the happy faces
One day prior to the event, each group
was given a piece of white cloth for
the banner and RM100 to purchase
stationery and other items to decorate
the banners according to their creativity
and understanding of the theme.
In order to get everyone involved
during the event, winners of the banner
competition was based on the highest
decibels recorded from the applause of
the audiance. A total of RM1,300 was
at stake that afternoon – RM600 for the
champion, RM400 for the first runner-up
on Idol next year?
and RM300 for the second runner-up.
Not only that the competition received
overwhelming response despite the
short notice given for the participants to
make the preparation, most of the teams
managed to get more than the minimal
required number of members. Even more
heartening was the effort put in by the
teams to create the banners.
The winner of the day was “Selambe”,
the team representing Administration
and Foreign Workers Department. It was
“Mr Ramli Sarip” gave the best rendition not only the catchy explanation of their
of The Best and won RM300.
Dato’ Azhar posing with participants of the banner competition and their creative banners.
banner that won them the applause but
it was also their creative sketch about a
typical day at the estate that won them
the audience’s hearts and ultimately the
RM600.
The first runner-up was team ‘Together
for Success’ from Plantation Downstream
while the second runner-up went to
team “The New Dawn” from Plantation
Strategy and Business Development.
The fun continued when the VIPs,
without much coaxing, went up the stage
to sing a short but very motivating song
simply called “The Best”. Soon after, the
song reverberated through the entire
ballroom of Holiday Villa, Subang Jaya
when everyone joined in.
The Plantation & Agri-business divisional
brand launch held at Holiday Villa was
one of the divisional brand launches
held following the official brand launch
on November 28, 2007 at the Sime
Darby Convention Centre.
The launch was attended by Executive
Vice President Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid
and wife Datin Aminahtun Elizeth
Ibrahim, Plantations Integration Advisor
Dato’ Sabri Ahmad, and heads of
department.
Brand launch at estate and strategic
operational unit levels will follow suit
to enhance brand awareness among all
employees.
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Who says we can’t sing? See we got a hamper!
15
 What the
banners say?

1st Prize: 3rd Prize:

‘Selambe’ – Administration & ‘The New Dawn’ – Plantation
Foreign Workers Strategy & Business Development
Members: Members:
2nd Prize: - Ahmad Zahedi Ahmad Daud
- Hadenor Abdul Hamid
‘Together for Success’ – Plantation
- Ku Abdul Mutalib Ku Mustaffa - Abdul Razak Aya
Downstream
- Nor Lizaidy Sulaiman - Shylaja Devi Vasudavan Nair
Members:
- Nadzari Hamid - Segavan Guventen
- Syed Mohd Redza Syed
- Zalenah Tambychik - Leoh Siew Kim
Kamarul Bahari
- Zulkifli Abidin - Nor Aliza Sahar
- Rose Lina Salehud-din
- Suraya Md. Ali
- Asha Letchumanan
“Our banner depicts the unity among - Rozaliza Abdul Aziz
- Zalina Hedra
the employees of the former Golden - Chen Siew Voon
- Liew Hsien Ta
Hope Plantations Berhad, Kumpulan - Lee Kheng Yam
- Khairudin Abdul Rahman
Guthrie Berhad and Sime Darby Berhad - Mohd Izam Baharom
which have now come under the new - Ruslinna Abdullah
“The six human figures holding
Sime Darby Berhad.”
hands at the bottom of the banner
“The slogan for the banner is ‘Sustainability
represent the upstream, downstream,
is Everyone’s Responsibility’ which is
Commodities, Trading and Marketing,
depicted by the 3Ps concept (People,
Agrifood, Minamas and support
Planet and Profit), a concept that
services departments working together
emphasises sustainable practices
to strengthen the Plantation & Agri-
such as caring for the people and the
business Division. A sustainable future
environment that we operate in ahead
is depicted by the futuristic background
of the concern for profit.”
and the recycle arrows. Planted seed
at the doorway means the start of a
journey which is achieved via Sime
Darby (thus the Logo) with the sun on
the background; the natural source of
sustainability that is real for everyone.”
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16
‘Soul Provider’ – Human Resources
Members:
- Nor Jehan Mohamed
- Putri Lily Aiza Megat Adlan
- Nor Maslizawaty Mahat
- Suriati Ismail
- Rinawati Makaraseng
- Noor Azlah Mohd Yusof
“We believe that the way to make a
sustainable future real for everyone is by
making the Plantation and Agri-business
Division a learning organisation. This
means involving everyone in acquiring,
cultivating and applying knowledge for
continuous improvements. Only through
continuous learning, innovation and
improvements that the organisation
will be able to withstand the challenges
ahead and positions itself as a number
one global player in the industry.”
‘Chilli Hot Traders’ – Commodities
Trading & Marketing
Members:
- Zuraisham Salleh
- Muhammad Hidayat Mohamad
- Amalina Ahmad
- Eddie Effendi
- Syarafina Tajidin
- Rosnah Husin
“Together as one: from a seed to a
sustainable future ahead...”
‘Glass Vision’ – Plantation Upstream
Members:
- Ahmad Alwi
- Sharin Luqman
- Philip Joseph
- Rosly A. Rahman
- Indra Parasuraman
- Shahrizal Hisham
“A vision seen through a glass is the
mission statement - making sustainable
future real for everyone. Looking
inwards will see the older generation
handing over the sustainable seedling
to the young person who represents the
future generation. This seedling will
grow into a palm tree that will generate
a sustainable income for our company.
The forest surrounding the globe depicts
the company’s commitment to conserving
rainforest and biodiversity.”
‘Big Bucks’ – Finance-Treasury & Tax
Members:
- Amir Hisham Hashim
- Sharifah Atikah Syed Bakhir
- Nor Khamziha Shamsuddin
- Faezah Mohd Amin
- Mohd Khairy Mohd Ramly
- Nardhialeena Mohd Aris
“Sime Darby Berhad’s Plantation Division
working together as one to excel in
business and to show commitment to
conserve the environment for our future
generation thus reflecting our seriousness
in realising a sustainable future for
everyone - globally.”
‘SD Jewel’ – Finance-Procurement
Members:
- Irwan Ridzwandi
- Shaida Ghazali
- Robiah Mohd Salleh
- Nur Amaliza Bachik
- Mohamad Zaini Abdul Hamid
- Onichandran Chantiran
- Mohd Nazri Mohd Nor
- K. Yeogaraj
“The yellow symbol represents three
people from the three different entities
united under the new brand name
Sime Darby Berhad. The green colour
represents the environment and
plantation. We should strive to work as
one in order to achieve a sustainable
future without compromising success
and this can only be done through team
work and loyalty to the company. Our
message here is for us to stay focused
and united. We believe that if we work
as a team, we will be able to overcome
any obstacles.”
‘The Eye of the World’ – R&D Centre
Members:
- Shuhaimi Shamsudin
- Yong Foo Chee
- Mohammed Faisal
- Seri Suriani Jahaya
- Visvamohanan Thebarayan
- Sharifah Saidah Syed Alwi
Jamalullail
“The Earth represents the environment,
the three hands holding one another
represent the people from the three
merged entities and the new Sime
Darby logo embedded within the planet
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represents the company or economic
criteria which compliments each other.”
17
 Understanding
Sustainability
“Whatever we take from the planet we
must give it back” – Lina Foo.
“It’s about the environment”
– Michelle.
“Developing a business that takes into
consideration its social responsibility
as well as its accountability to the
shareholders. We aim to be stable while
continuously increasing the company’s
value and profitability.” – Salman.
“Maintain good reputation of the
business and quality of work”
– Zakiah.
“Continuous existence of the company’s
elements namely people, financial
and assets along with continuous
improvement of these elements.”
– Abdul Razak Aya.
“Teamwork. Teamwork ensures
sustainability in whatever we do”
– Nizam Mohamad.
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Sustainability begins with you.
18
T
hose are just some of the answers
that one can expect to get by casually
asking the question: What does developing
sustainable futures mean to you?
The answers above are a snapshot on how
divergent the opinion can be. But is it really
that divergent? Or are they just presenting
the different facets sustainable futures can
take within an organisation?
The term Sustainable Futures has been
influenced by the notion of Sustainable
Development which came as an outgrowth
of the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992. It was
first coined through a report generated by
the United Nations called Brundtland Report
that indicated sustainable development as:
“.... development that meets the needs
of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.”
Being an outgrowth of the Earth Summit,
it is natural for Sustainable Development
to have a very strong environmental
flavour to it. Some even equate it to Green
Development or Green Economy. However
in actuality, sustainable development is
more than that. According to the United
Nations, sustainable development implies
that development should take a broad
view of human welfare; that is it should
encompass and give equal consideration to
economic, social and environmental gains in
development. As such, it is different from
Green Development where the ultimate
priority would be given to the environmental
gains over others.
Diligence in collecting every single loose fruit that
drops during harvesting is one way of assuring the
sustainability of the company’s plantation operations.
It is meant to focus on improving the quality
of life for all but without increasing the
usage of limited natural resources. It also
advocates the use of natural resources but
not the abuse of it and a life in harmony
with all the elements around us.
Similarly, developing sustainable futures
goes along the same line as the sustainable
development advocated by the UN and its
presently accepted meaning. It certainly
delves into the notion of giving balance
between social, environmental and
economical progress of the company. But
beyond that, sustainable futures also look
into the stability and continuity of the
company and its ability to fulfil its obligation
towards its shareholders.
Looking back at the statements above,
there are traces of sustainable futures in all
the statements. Yes, sustainable is about
the environment. Yes, being sustainable
is about team work and also about
maintaining good reputation and quality of
work. And yes, it is also about sustaining
continual improvement of the company.
Not forgetting, meeting our present needs
without compromising the future.
So, is the meaning of sustainable futures so
divergent in the company?
No.
Is it wide ranging and multiple faceted?
Yes
It seems that developing sustainable
futures and the notion of sustainability
is fast becoming a part of what we do in
this company. The statements above are
testament to that. Regardless of what level
an employee is at, developing sustainable
futures has manifested itself and it is the
thing that drives the employee on a daily
basis.
What about you?
The task at hand now is to further grow
the idea within ourselves. It can be
done by simply asking ourselves: Is this
sustainable?
 HERITAGE PARK:
Our contribution
towards the future
E
mployees who attended the official
brand launch and the subsequent
divisional brand launches would have
each received a commemorative gift - a
beautiful acrylic block with a 3D image
of a germinating seed embedded in the
centre.
To the uninitiated, the gift could just pass
off as a paperweight but the ‘certificate’
that was included in the box will tell the
recipient that there is more to it than
meets the eye.
The germinating seed symbolises birth
and in this case the birth of the new Sime
Darby Berhad. But that is not all. The
seedling also symbolises a real seedling
that has been planted at Heritage Park in
Perak in honour of each employee. Yes,
each employee. In fact, there will be more
seedlings nurtured at the park than the
total number of Sime Darby employees
put together.
Sime Darby’s association with Heritage
Park began sometime in the middle of this
year with the adoption of the Heritage
Park – a 400-hectare area in the forests
Dato’ Azhar (second from right) and Mdm Tong Poh Keow (left) with the mock cheque for RM2 million
presented to Mr Kingham (middle). With them are Mrs Kingham ((2nd left) and daughter Jessica.
of Slim River, Perak. The company plans
to turn the park into a gene bank of 3,000
types of trees found in Malaysia.
Sime Darby President and Group Chief
Excutive Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid
was quoted in the New Sunday Times in
May, 2007 as saying that the company
would cultivate five million trees and
transplant the nurtured seedlings to
catchment areas in Batang Padang, Perak,
over the next 15 years. Dato’ Seri Zubir
also told the newspaper that seedlings
would also be planted in Sime Darby’s
plantations to develop conservation areas
nationwide.
But no, Sime Darby is not diversifying
its business to include planting of forest
trees. The company will make this happen
by channelling funds for the project that
is being undertaken by a 71-year-old
former planter Mr James Kingham who
runs Perniagaan Tunas Harapan that
owns three nurseries in Ulu Behrang,
Tanjung Malim, Perak. He has collected
more than 800 species of forest trees
over the last 10 years, some of which are
rare, endangered and near extinction.
The acrylic block and the plant certificate
that every employee received.
To start the ball rolling, Sime Darby
donated RM2 million to fund the
collection of seedlings, germinating
and replanting works. A simple cheque
presentation ceremony was held at
Wisma Consplant 1 on December 7,
2007 for this purpose. Executive Vice
President Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid was
present to present the cheque for that
amount to Mr Kingham.
The Heritage Park project is Sime Darby’s
commitment towards conserving the
rainforests. Besides this, Sime Darby is
also dedicating up to 10 per cent of the
area in each estate as animal sanctuary
and this would be the company’s policy
in the next 15 years. This is one of
the efforts to be implemented as part
of the company’s contribution towards
preserving the environment which is
inline with Sime Darby’s mission of
“Developing Sustainable Futures”.
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19
 Setting the
tone for
sustainable
development

Participants visiting Synergy Drive’s exhibition booth

Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir shaking hands with RSPO
President Dr Jan Kees Vis.
Participants at RT5 listening intently to the speech by
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S
posing with Synergy Drive’s Plantations Integration
ime Darby Berhad’s commitment Advisor Dato’ Sabri Ahmad (4th from right).
towards developing sustainable
futures was set even before the Legal Day
1. Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid, then
the Chief Executive Officer of Synergy
Drive Bhd set the tone of the company’s On RT5, Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir called
commitment in his keynote address at on all the RSPO members to deliver the
the opening of the 5th Roundtable on mandate for the certification process
Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Meeting for sustainable palm oil. “If we do not
(RT5) in Kuala Lumpur on November 20, deliver this mandate, not only will we fail
2007. our organisation and our stakeholders
but ultimately consumers will look for
Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir said the alternatives,” he said.
company was committed to sustainable
development because it believed that At the closing of RT5 on November 22,
it had a part to play in protecting the 2007, the mandate was delivered.
environment and social responsibility
towards the community. “Only by The much awaited Certification Scheme
operating in such a manner that the for Sustainable Palm Oil system for
economic benefits could be delivered to sustainable palm oil, mooted at RT3
the people in Malaysia and Indonesia,” in 2003, was officially launched by
he said referring to the countries where Plantation Industries and Commodities
Synergy Drive had plantation interest in. Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui. With
the certification system which contains
He said for a long time, the companies among others the protocols for verification
under Synergy Drive had been practising and certification of sustainable palm oil,
various plantation activities that were supply chain mechanisms for trade and
meant to ensure the sustainability of branding of sustainable palm oil and
its plantation business. They include guidance for implementation of the RSPO
the zero-burning replanting policy, P&C by smallholders, industry players
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), active can now get down to business to make
participation in RSPO towards developing sure that everything is in order to get
the Principles and Criteria (P&C) in the their estates and mills certified.
production of sustainable palm oil,
implementing biodiversity studies on The three-day conference was attended
60,000 hectares of its plantations and by 560 participants comprising planters,
carrying out a conservation project at Non-Governmental Organisations and
the Belum-Temenggor forest called The palm oil producers from all over the
Hornbill Project. world. Synergy Drive presented two
papers entitled “Tracking & Tracing for
Commodity Grade Sustainable Palm Oil”
and “Making Sense of Sustainability”
apart from taking part in the exhibition.
In addition, Synergy Drive also hosted
a pre-conference visit for 40 delegates
to West Estate and West Oil Mill in

Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir.

Carey Island and Golden Jomalina Food

Industries Sdn Bhd.
20
 Dutch Minister
Visits Carey Island
Prof Dr Cramer and Datuk Peter Chin commemorate their visit to Carey Island in this group photo.
En Mohd Yusof (right) imparting his knowledge about
the golden fruits to the guests during field demo at
West Estate.
G olden Hope Academy and Sime
Darby’s estates in Carey Island had
the honour of receiving one of the world’s
most influential environmentalists Prof Dr
Jacqueline Cramer and her entourage on
December 10, 2007.
Prof Dr Cramer who is the Netherlands’
Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning
and the Environment was in Malaysia on
the invitation of Minister of Plantation
Industries and Commodities Datuk Peter
Chin Fah Kui.
Datuk Peter Chin and the Malaysian
delegation comprising palm oil captains
and experts went on a mission to
Holland, Belgium and the UK in July,
2007 to mitigate the misconception about
Malaysia’s palm oil industry.
At Golden Hope Academy, Prof Dr Cramer
and her delegation were given an overview
of the plantation operations by Total
Quality and Environmental Management
(TQEM) Head, Tn Syed Mahdhar Syed
Hussain.
The visitors were also given a briefing on
Sustainable Palm Oil Practices by Research
and Development Head Tn Hj Khairudin
Hashim, which included information on
renewable energy, traceability and a 15-
minute video on Sustainable Palm Oil
Traceability (SPOT).
The delegation was later taken to West
Estate where they were given a field
demonstration on fresh oil palm fruit
harvesting and briefing on the estate’s best
practices by Vice President II, Plantation
Operations Upstream, En Mohd Yusof
Jamil. They were shown the Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) methods used in
the estate which include the planting of
beneficial plants to attract pest predators
and the use of barn owls to control rodent
population in the estates.
Speaking to the Press after a two-hour
closed-door bilateral meeting, Prof Dr
Cramer said the certification under the
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil held
in Kuala Lumpur from November 20 to
22, 2007 had shown a big progress in
terms of developing principles and criteria
for methods which can have impact
on environment, social and economic
aspects.
This is where the oil comes from, could be what Datuk
Peter Chin is telling Prof Dr Cramer.
Prof Dr Cramer listening intently to Tn Syed Mahdhar’s
briefing on the planting materials developed by the
Group. With them are Tn Hj Helmy (left) and Datuk
Peter Chin (2nd left) and some of the delgates.
Datuk Peter Chin said through this new
phase of co-operation between Malaysia
and the Netherlands - a force to be
reckoned with in the issue of environment
- Malaysia hoped to be able to convince
the European Union that palm oil produced
by Malaysia is sustainable.
The issue of sustainability in palm oil
production is made more crucial following
the issuance of the Cramer Report early
this year. The report, among others,
proposed that products imported through
the Netherlands must be sustainable
and meet several criteria ranging from
biodiversity, food security to carbon
dioxide emission levels. The Netherlands
is currently the top 10 buyer of Malaysia’s
palm oil.
Also present during the visit were the
Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr
Lody Embrechts, Sime Darby Plantation
Sdn Bhd’s Head, Plantation Upstream,
Tn Hj Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha,
senior officials of Malaysian Palm Oil
Board (MPOB), Malaysian Palm Oil
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Council (MPOC) and Malaysian Timber
Certification Council (MTCC).
21
 PLATINUM
AWARD FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
REPORTING

Ground cover crop, the barn owls, the beneficial

plants, the predator insects and the zero-burning
replanting technique are practices typical around
the plantations. However, these practices have big
impact on the pages of Golden Hope Plantations
Berhad’s 2006 Annual Report.
The NACRA Award won by Golden Hope.

The portrayal of these practices and the company’s commitment

towards sustainable development that was prominently presented
through its environmental policy won Golden Hope the Platinum
Award of the NACRA 2007 for Best Annual Report in Environmental
Reporting. Golden Hope pushed the incumbent, Shell Refining
Company (Federation of Malaya) Berhad, aside to bag the highest
award in the category. Golden Hope had to settle for the Gold Award
in the same category for its 2005 Annual Report.

The award presentation was held on the night of November 29, a

day after the unveiling of the name and logo of the merged entity,
Sime Darby Berhad, by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi.

NACRA or National Annual Corporate Report Awards was started in

1990 to recognise and honour commercial entities that have gone
the extra mile to show a commendable degree of excellence in
corporate reporting.
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22
 Up-close
with Oil Palm
The day’s visit is commemorated in a group photo
at Golden Hope Academy.

Officer of Imperium Renewables, Mr

David Leonard, Chairperson of Hawaii
House Committee on Energy and the
Environment, Mdm Mina Morita, Director
of Technology, and Engineering Mr Jeffrey
Rose.

They were briefed on estate operations

and a demonstration on fruit harvesting,
loading and transportation techniques.
Some of the delegates listening to the briefing given by En Avtar Singh, West Estate Senior Assistant.
Participants were also taken to the

M ost of them had never seen an oil biodiesel plant at East Estate where they

palm tree in their lives but they were were met on arrival by Vice President II,

excusable as they came from a nation Oil & Fats/Biofuels, Tn Syed Said Syed

where oil palm could never be grown. Saggaf. The delegates were particularly

After their half-a-day visit to Carey impressed with the facilities at the plant

Island, they did not only know how palm as well as what they saw in the estate.

trees look like but they also knew how

to make palm biodiesel on their own! The familiarisation programme was mainly

It is a bit too far-fetched but one thing organised to increase the awareness and

for sure the 15 delegates from the US understanding about palm oil industry

Food Industry who joined the Malaysian in Malaysia, its developments from the

Palm Oil Council (MPOC)’s Business business and research perspectives of

Familiarisation Programme had a better food industry players in the US. This

idea about oil palm trees, the process is especially vital because the US is

involved in the production of crude palm increasingly becoming an important

oil and biodiesel, at the end of their visit importer of palm oil. The programme

on December 5, 2007. was also meant to give industry players

in Malaysia an avenue to meet potential

Participants of the programme comprised clients.

members of the food industry who were

interested in using palm oil in their
products. They were led by State Senator
of Hawaii State Capitol, Mr. Ron Menor. The
other delegates include Chief Operating
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23
 Sime
Plantations’
Management
Trainees
Graduate
All 35 Management Trainees commemorate their big day with Dato’ Azhar
and the Plantation & Agri-business Division’s management team.

Some of the 35 graduates posing with Vice President II,
Human Resources, En Abdul Razak Hussain.
At the end of the five months, all 35
trainees graduated. The Graduation
Day was held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf
& Country Club (KLGCC) on November
29, 2007. They received certificates and
books and most important of all, their
appointment letters from Executive Vice
President, Plantation & Agri-business
Division Dato’ Azhar Abdul Hamid, at
the function that was also attended
by the management team and head of
departments of Sime Darby Plantation
Sdn Bhd.
To date graduates have been posted
to various department in the Division.
Nineteen of them have been assigned
to various estates as cadet planters, six
as assistant mill engineers at several oil
mills, four as executives in Agri-business
and one each at Commodities Trading
and Marketing, Central Marketing Unit,
Environment Safety & Health, RSPO,
Sime Darby Technology Centre and
Human Resources.
The Management Trainee Programme
is an initiative of Human Resources

I t was probably the most gruelling Department and Learning &

five months in the lives of 35 fresh Development that was carried out with
graduates who enrolled in the Sime the aim of ensuring constant availability
Plantations’ Management Trainee of skilled and competent pool of junior
Programme. During that period, they were executives. The implementation of this
put through both classroom and on-the- programme is aimed at providing fresh
job training with real work assignments graduates with corporate executive and
and responsibilities to uncover their operational skills necessary for the real
capabilities and inclinations. business environment.

The curriculum did not only cover the Dato’ Azhar sharing some words of wisdom The trainees were selected from highly
with the graduates.
technical aspects of plantation and motivated, confident and assertive
the industry but also leadership. The fresh graduates who applied for the
programme, which aims to promote programme. They went through several
management excellence, provided screening and interview processes
the trainees with the opportunity to before they were called in to undergo
demonstrate and develop their individual the five months training programme.
leadership skills under the careful
guidance of supervisors and mentors.
It gave the trainees the foundation to
gauge their competencies to match
the immediate and future competency
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requirements of the business. Dato’ Azhar presenting the certificate for completion
of the five months course to one of the 35 graduates.

24
Some of the employees who have moved in at Wisma Guthrie before end of November, 2007.

Relocation:
Welcome to
Your
New Homes Refurbishment work taking place at Wisma Guthrie in
late November to cater for the relocated staff.

A
fter years of coming to the same
office, it was time to move. It was
not an easy exercise but thankfully
everything went well. Sime Darby’s group-
wide relocation exercise which affected
around 1,223 employees from the three
merged sister companies; Golden Hope
Plantations Berhad, Kumpulan Guthrie
Berhad and Sime Darby Berhad; started
in early November 2007.

The exercise involved the relocation of

various departments within the Plantation
& Agri-business Division, mostly located
in Menara PNB, Jalan Tun Razak and Carey
Island, to Wisma Consplant in Subang
Jaya and Wisma Guthrie in Damansara.

The Commodities, Trading & Marketing

(CTM) Department was the first to move
from Menara PNB to Wisma Guthrie on
November 3, 2007. By December 14,
2007, 90 per cent of departments under
the Division had all been relocated to their
respective new homes, except for R&D –
Plantations, Chemara Office and Chemara
Laboratories Sdn Bhd in Seremban which
are targeted to be relocated by March
2008 and June 2008 respectively.

Moving out of Carey Island.

To help you find your way in the new
Plantation & Agri-business Division’s
location setup please refer to pages 26
and 27.
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Two administrative staff unpacking their belongings

at their new work station in Wisma Consplant 1.

25
 No Department Location Telephone no

1 Executive Vice President’s Office 14th Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133

Wisma Consplant 1

2 Human Head of Department’s Office 14th Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133

Resources Wisma Consplant 1
Human Resources 7th Floor, East Wing, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1
Administration 1st Floor, Centre, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1

3 Finance Head of Department’s Office 14th Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133

Wisma Consplant 1
Finance-Operations 1st Floor, East Wing, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1
Treasury & Tax 1st Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1
Legal & Company Secretary 4th Floor, East Wing, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1
Procurement 1st Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1
Upstream Productivity 1st Floor, East Wing, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1
IT 2nd Floor, East Wing, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1

4 Strategy & Head of Department’s Office 14th Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133
Business Wisma Consplant 1
Development Strategy & Business Development 13th Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1

5 Communications 14th Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133

Wisma Consplant 1

6 Plantation Upstream 2nd Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644

Security 1st Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
Land Management 1st Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
Rubber Operations 1st Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
Plantation Agency & Consultancy 1st Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
Engineering 2nd Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
Synergy & Transformation 2nd Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
North Peninsular Region 2nd Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
South Peninsular Region 2nd Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
East Malaysia Regional Office Bintulu 08-6332746
Indonesia PT Sandika Nata Palma, Kalimantan Barat 0062-561-748898

7 Plantation Downstream 4th Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644

Edible Oils & Fats – Malaysia 4th Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
Edible Oils & Fats – Asia Pacific Region 63/1-6, Sukhumvit 26, 0066-2- 661-3738-52
Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Edible Oils & Fats – Unimills B.V, Lindsedijk 8, 3336 Le 0031-78-610-9202
Europe & Africa Region Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands
Bioenergy 4th Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
Oleochemicals 4th Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
Global Marketing 3rd Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
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Business Support 4th Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644

Engineering 3rd Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644
26
No Department Location Telephone no

8 Plantation Minamas Central Plaza Lt - 5 Jln Jend . 0062-21-5707001

Sudirman Kav 47 Jakarta

9 R&D Centre Golden Hope Research Centre (GHRC) KM10, Jalan Banting-Kelanang, 03-31202311
- Head Office Banting, Selangor
Golden Hope Research Centre Lot 2664, Jalan Pulau Carey, 03-33266888
– Upstream & Downstream Pulau Carey, Kuala Langat, Selangor
Golden Hope Research Centre, Sabah Bombalai, KM 18, Jalan Merotai 089-920426/
Tawau, Sabah 089-750732
Golden Hope Research Centre, Sarawak KM 72 Jalan Bintulu Miri, Bintulu 086-327293
Sarawak
R&D – Mechanisation, c/o Ladang Tanah Merah 06-6672751
Tanah Merah Satellite Office Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan 06-7655200
R&D – Plantations, Chemara Office Jalan Sungai Ujong , Seremban
Negeri Sembilan
(Relocation not completed) *Will relocate by March 2008 to: 03-33266888
Lot 2664, Jalan Pulau Carey, Pulau Carey,
Kuala Langat, Selangor
Chemara Laboratories Sdn Bhd Jalan Sungai Ujong, Seremban 06-7655200
Negeri Sembilan
(Relocation not completed) *Will relocate by June 2008 to: 03-33266888
Lot 2664, Jalan Pulau Carey , Pulau Carey,
Kuala Langat, Selangor
Guthrie Biotechnology Laboratory Lot 370 Mukim Port Dickson , 06-6510351/
Sdn. Bhd. Rantau, Negeri Sembilan 06-6510355
Sime Darby Technology No 2, Jalan Tandang, Petaling Jaya 03-77878900
Centre Sdn. Bhd. Selangor
Golden Hope Agrotech KM10, Jalan Banting-Kelanang 03-31202311
Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. Banting, Selangor
Guthrie Plantation and KM10, Jalan Banting-Kelanang 03-31202311
Agricultural Services Sdn. Bhd. Banting, Selangor

10 Agri-business / Foods 13th Floor, West Wing, 03-56317133

Wisma Consplant 1
Agri-bio 7th Floor, Centre, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1
Sime Darby Foods Marketing Sdn Bhd 7th Floor , Centre, 03-56317133
Wisma Consplant 1
Sime Farms Sdn Bhd 13th Floor, Wisma Consplant 1 03-56317133
Kapar Coconut Industries Sdn Bhd Jalan Kapar, Kapar, Selangor 03-32508052
Golden Hope Food & Beverage Sdn Bhd Jalan Bruas, Setiawan, Perak 05-6931911
PNB Enterprise Sdn Bhd Bangunan PNB, Jalan Tun Razak, 03-20505180

11 Trading & Logistics 4th Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644

12 TQEM 1st Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644

13 Plantation Advisory 3rd Floor, Wisma Guthrie 03-20941644

Contribution & Feedback

The editorial board welcomes contribution of articles/ feedback from all staff. Kindly forward the articles/ feedback to:
Seedlink,
Communications, Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd,
14th Floor, Wisma Consplant 1, No.2, Jalan SS16/4, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor.
seedlink

E-mail: simeplcomm@simedarby.com
* Please state your name, address, contact number and source (if applicable)
27
 Sime Darby Berhad top management.
SIME DARBY

Golden Hope, Guthrie, Sime Darby

Tiga nama
Tiga entiti, berasingan, bersendirian
Tegap, teguh, ternama lagi terbilang
Di sini, di sana, di mana jua

Berabad lama membina nama

Menjana, mempertingkat, melebar
sayap niaga
Berasaskan sumber, asli dan insani
Meneroka bidang teknologi
Tradisi mahupun terkini
Downstream, Wisma Guthrie.
Namun, itu semua sejarah lama
Satu warga satu nama
Tapi cuma pada nama
Satu tujuan misi terbilang
Bukan tekad apa lagi iktikad
Satu keluarga tetap bersama
Bertiga menjadi satu
Satu usaha sama dijulang
Satu gabungan mercu tanda
Berbekal semangat jitu
Fasa baru dirangka jitu
Meneroka alam baru
Integriti digalas menuju mercu
Seiring negara maju
Hadapan kita perlu bersatu
Demi warisan anak dan cucu
Mampan, slogan berbunyi
Administration, Wisma Consplant 1.
‘sustainable’ memberi erti
Warga baru umpama jaguh
Tiga nama satu kini
Berdaya usaha kualiti bermutu
Sime Darby menuju destinasi
Kenangan lama tersimpan teguh
Keluarga baru padu bersatu

Nukilan :
Cekap, amanah, pantas bekerja
Rafeah Bachik
Bertanggungjawab kita sesama
Downstream – Oils & Fats
Semangat baru kami teruja
Wisma Guthrie – 13/12/2007.
Laungkan suara Teguh Bersama!!

14th floor, Wisma Consplant 1.

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Strategy & Business Development, 13th floor, Reception, 14th floor, Wisma Consplant 1. At the Divisional Brand Launch, December 5.
Wisma Consplant 1.
28