Forest Research Institute Malaysia

Forest Research Institute Malaysia - Kepong,Kuala Lumpur

The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) founded in 1929 as the Forest Research Institute (FRI) was a department under the Forestry Headquarters Peninsular Malaysia. It was not until 1985, the Institute became a statutory body governed by the Malaysian Forestry Research and Development Board (MFRDB) under the then Ministry of Primary Industries. Later in 2004, FRIM was administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Located 16 km north west of Kuala Lumpur, the 544.3 ha campus is surrounded by the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve. FRIM, which recently was awarded the MS ISO 9001:2008 accreditation is headed by its Director General, Dato’ Dr. Abd. Latif Mohmod.

FRIM promotes sustainable forest management and the optimal use of forest resources through the knowledge and technology generated from the various researches conducted. Not only is FRIM proud of its diverse expertise, its award-winning researches and international collaborations have earned the Institute a name for itself in the tropical forestry.

FRIM has five research divisions, three technical support divisions and three administrative and finance divisions. Of the five research divisions, the Forestry & Environment Division focuses on conservation of forest ecology and biodiversity by providing data, standards and guidelines in managing tropical forest on a sustainable basis. The Forestry Biotechnology Division researchers into ways to establish cost-effective forest plantations as an alternative and/or supplementary supply of timber. The Forest Products Division researches into the utilisation of ligno-cellulosic materials and promotes the development of forest based industries. The Forest Biodiversity Division focuses on the conservation of forest biodiversity by providing samples, data, standards and guidelines in managing the tropical forest, while the Medicinal Plants Division researches into the medicinal values of forest plants and product development.

Among the facilities available at FRIM are the five arboreta that serve as ex-situ conservation areas and references for forestry education, a xylarium with more than 10,000 wood samples of over 1,500 species, a herbarium established in 1908 with over 200,000 specimens, a library, a nursery, several venues for seminars and conferences.

The nine field stations located in different localities in the country also facilitate researchers conducting studies in respective areas. The Institute also offers a wide range of tests and services for the industries such as preservative test, soil test as well as resistant tests for furniture and fire doors.

FRIM, which has become a popular spot for picnickers, joggers and nature groups provides visitors, opportunities for outdoor recreation and nature education activities. It is also a preferred place for family day event, bird watching, jungle trekking and nature photography. The campus, which was once a degraded land with and long-abandoned sterile mining pools, scrubby wasteland and barren vegetable farms, is today a haven for nature lovers to enjoy fresh and for serene ambiance.

ZOO NEGARA - A Journey Through Time

ZOO NEGARA – A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

THE HUMBLE BEGINNING ~ MR V.M. HUTSON’S 5-ACRE GARDEN

Zoos are found in almost every country and a year after its independence in 1957, Malaya too needed a National Zoo. During the annual exhibition of the Malayan Agri-HorticulturalAssociation(MAHA), the people of Malaya have shown great interest in caged animals on show at the exhibition. Mr. V.M.
Hutson (later Tan Sri) Committee Member of MAHA, was responsible for the miniature zoo set-up at the exhibition. There was no doubt that Malayans enjoyed the miniature zoos and through the local press, they voiced their wish for a more permanent showcase of animals. Manyof the animals that were exhibited at the annual MAHA exhibition were kept temporary at Mr. V.M. Hutson’s 5-acre garden at the Bangsar Estate (now Damansara). In the collection was an Indo-Chinese Tiger named Nikky, three Orang Utans called Jacko, Suzan and Jane together with six Estuarine Crocodiles and many others. Who would have thought that these animals would be the nucleus collection for Malaya’s National Zoo?

“BIRTH” OF NATIONAL ZOO ~ (ZOO NEGARA)

In September 1958, on the initiative of the Ministry of Natural Resources, a number of representatives of Government departments, relevant societies and interested individuals along with Mr. V.M. Hutson met and held preliminary discussions. A working party under the chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources was set up to examine the proposal to establish a National Zoo for the Federation of Malaya and to recommend a detailed and practical development plan to the Minister of Natural Resources. The discussions and investigations were based on the assumption that the Government would be unable to support the project with a substantial sum of money; but it was hoped that it would assist and support the zoo in other ways; by the exemption of taxes and entertainment duties, for instance, and possibly with a small annual subvention. Subsequently all these were granted by the State and Federal Governments. The working party eventually recommended that a Zoological Society should be set-up to finance and administer the zoo which, in early stages, was to be a small area with animals in conventional cages. Ifenough capital accrued from this and possible gifts, the Society would embark on a more ambitious scheme on a permanent site with ‘Whipsnade’ type enclosures.

INITIAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

The working party carefully considered the expense of showing a small number of animals such as bears, deer, gibbons, monkeys and reptiles in a four-acre site and concluded that two installments of $50,000 would be sufficient as initial capital.

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THE FIRST CHAIRMAN / FIRST PRESIDENT

Early in 1961, the recommendations resulting from these discussions were sent to the Minister for Rural Development, who wasnow the responsible Minister; and on 29 April 1961, a public meeting was held in the Tunku Abdul Rahman Hall to form the Malayan Zoological Society. At the meeting Mr. V.M. Hutson introduced the Deputy Minister of Rural Development Tuan Haji Abdul Khalid b. Awang Osman as the Chairman, and gave a brief resume of the events which led to the convening of the meeting. The Malayan Zoological Society with its primary objectives, thefounding and management  of the National Zoo was officially registered on 2 January 1962. The Deputy Minister of Rural Development was then the first President of the Malayan Zoological Society.


WHERE TO LOCATE THE NATIONAL ZOO?

By this time MAHA has included zoological exhibits in three annual shows and the gate had continued to rise, being 60,000 in 1958 and 93,500 in 1960. Yet even with such gate money the zoo would require other firm financial backing. At the time sites in Templers Park were being examined and it was estimated that their development would require at $200,000. This was already twice the originally estimated cost and as it eventually happened very much more has been necessary for the permanentbuilding on the site finally chosen.

Malayan Zoological Society had discovered no suitable site for the National Zoo. This was a problem which had vexed the Societyfrom the earliest days and continued to do so for another six months or more. Areas in the Lake Gardens, Pantai and Templer Park had all been examined but all for one
reason or another had proved unsuitable.


BIRTH OF THE MALAYAN ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

A second working party was elected at the inaugural meeting of the Society and during the next three months it worked hard to prepare for the first public meeting of the Society. The first Council was elected in this meeting and the Rules of the Society were adopted. So the Malayan Zoological
Society was truly born but certainly not with a silver spoon in its mouth.

At this time Major A.N. Weinman who was then the Director of the Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo was invited to visit Kuala Lumpur ashe had offered his services in helping the infant zoo to its feet. He spent a month here during which he inspected both Templer Park and the present site at Ulu Klang and submitted a report to the Council recommending the Ulu Klang site. He also submitted the general layout plan of the proposed zoo and detailed his recommendations for staffing, development and a list of exhibits.





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NATIONAL MOSQUE - Kuala Lumpur

MASJID NEGARA - NATIONAL MOSQUE

National Mosque - Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.

 

BACKGROUND

The National Mosque is  located in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Built between 1963 and August 27, 1965, the National Mosque is a symbol of the greatness of Islam as the official religion in Malaysia. It can accommodate 15,000 worshipers.

LOCATION

Located in the strategic area of ​​Kuala Lumpur City Centre, located next to the National Mosque of Malaysia Railway Station Building, Earth Force, General Post Malaysia, the Islamic Arts Museum, Kuala Lumpur Bird Park and nearby Lake Gardens. National Mosque area of ​​13 acres and the main building the approximately 3 acres. The whole area of ​​the mosque is surrounded in part by a concrete wall and partly by ornate railings. There are seven door for  non-Muslim tourists. There are also a public toilet located nearby build by Kuala Lumpur City Hall, located near the entrance specially for local and foreign tourists.

Before the establishment of the Shah Alam Mosque, the National Mosque is one of the most modern mosque in Southeast Asia. It is located in an area of ​​13 acres, the opposite side of the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station. Construction of the National Mosque symbolizes the spirit of unity and tolerance. It was designed by the Malays, built by the Chinese and Indians and funded by the contribution of the Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Hindus.

Design and supervision of the building was done by architects Design and Research Division, Federal Department of Public Works. They take about three years to complete. Before starting the design of the National Mosque, the main architect, Baharuddin Abu Kassim visited mosques in India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Republic and Spain.

Mosque of Malaysia - Post Modern Architecture

Post-Modern Architecture

The term post modern architecture indicate an approach that contradict the principles and edicts of what was understood as the modern style.

The term post modern or modernistic architecture are sort of revivalism that signify one of the many ways which the post modernist attempts to create an architecture of meaning for the people or public at large  rather than for the elite.

There are two types of Post-Modern Architecture :

• Foreign Revival Architecture

• Vernacular Revival Architecture

Foreign Revival in mosque architecture seems to be the order of the day with such examples as the Putra Mosque, the Shah Alam Mosque, the Wilayah Mosque, the UTM Mosque in Johor, the Sarawak State Mosque, etc

Al Bukhary Mosque - Alor Star Kedah

PutraJaya Mosque - Putra Jaya

State Mosque - Sabah

State Mosque - Sarawak

State Mosque - Shah Alam Selangor

State Mosque - Terengganu

The use of an eclectic array of Iranian and Turkish domes, Egyptian and Turkish minarets, Persian Iwan gateways, lavish courtyards surrounded by the sahn, and an Arabian hypo-style planning composition and pointed or semi circular arches showered in sumptuous classical ‘Islamic’ decorations.

The Vernacular Revivalism calls for a slightly less monumental approach with its use of the three tiered pyramidal roof form built either of concrete or timber.

Conclusions

There is a varied architectural style for mosque design in Malaysia.

Mosque of Malaysia - Modernistic Architecture

Mosque of Malaysia - Modernistic Architecture

Modernistic Architecture are ideas that relate to notion of which true architecture is one that rejects historic revivalism in any form, historical evolution of architectural design, that rejects ornamentation in any form, traditional element of any nature and exclusiveness of design. Modernistic architecture however  celebrates abstraction in forms of practicality and also celebrate the structural expression in architecture. Two important elements of architecture in modernistic architecture are:

1. Expressionism
2. Structuralism

Modernistic Expressionism Architecture

'Modernistic Expressionism’ as any form of architecture that carries a metaphoric message through the use of structurally expressive form.

The Negeri Sembilan State mosque uses a series of intersecting reinforced concrete conoid to refer to the horn-like gable roofs of the Minang traditional architecture.

 

The reference to the ‘bumbung gonjong’ is uniquely expressed in the structural play of the conoids.

The architect had not resorted to the simplistic revivalism alternative of the traditional roof but has reinterpreted it in an abstract but creative way.

 

 

Negeri Sembilan State Mosque - Seremban

2nd level main entrance of the State Mosque of Negeri Sembilan - Seremban

Aerial View of Negeri Sembilan State Mosque - Seremban

The large chandelier in the main prayer hall.

The roofing architecture design gathered from the shape of buffalo horn

.

 

Another view of Negeri Sembilan State Mosque.

Maximum utilization of the main prayer hall.

 

Modernistic Expressionism and Structuralism

The Masjid Negara is the best example of the combination of a modernistic reinterpretation of traditional Malay Architecture with a folded plate ‘dome’ with a metaphor of a royal umbrella.
The Masjid Negara is the best example of the combination of a modernistic reinterpretation of traditional Malay Architecture with a folded plate ‘dome’ with a metaphor of a royal umbrella. Used an extensive set of serambi or verandah space with light courts and air wells to provide ample daylighting and passive cooling to the building.
 

MODERNISTIC STRUCTURALISM

Main structural system used reinforced concrete frames and shell.

The folded plate and intersecting conoidal shells are seen as progressive images that can be attached to the dynamism of Islam.
 

There is also a number of buildings of steel as the main structure with metal decks or Teflon stretched tents as the roofing.

The form of the structures can be said to be borne solely by the architects because clients at whichever level of society are unable to understand or converse in the structural language and intricacies of structural metaphors.

National Mosque - Kuala Lumpur

National Mosque - The compound of the mosque.

National Mosque - Main Prayer Hall

National Mosque - Interior View

National Mosque Malaysia - Aerial View

Modern Venacular Architecture

Modern Vernacular Architecture

Refer to buildings which are constructed using mainly reinforced concrete structural frame with plastered brick.Considered ‘vernacular’ because the practice and availability of these new materials and construction technique in this country presently.

Portray a gable or pyramidal roof with a small dome or the more expensive ones would find a larger single dome over the main prayer space. The verandah would be enclosed by a series of arches.

The plans of these mosques usually contain a single prayer space with the women area being separated on the rear part of the space with a curtain or movable partitions.

These mosques possess an aura closer to that of the Prophet Muhammad’s early mosque as they are used as community centers and places for travelers to rest overnight.

The mosques were built purely for practicality and  the most cost efficient so with the  economic way of construction and that is with the use of reinforced concrete frame with plastered brick.

The basic square or rectangle form derived from the construction system is then ‘decorated’ with the accepted language of ‘mosque architecture which is the use of arches and small or large domes.

The fenced up mosque projects the idea of separation between daily lives and that of the spiritual ones. 

Kampong Baru Mosque - Kuala Lumpur

Tuanku Raden Mosque - Kuala Pilah N.Sembilan

Kg Dato Keramat Mosque - Kuala Lumpur

Tuanku Munawir Mosque - Sri Menanti - N.Sembilan

Mosque in Malaysia - North Indian Style

North Indian Architecture

The term is used to describe the similar Moghul type architecture that once flourished colonial Malaya. The style is imitative of Mogul/Moorish type architecture.

Significant feature such as the small and large onion domes, multitude of spires and smaller dome canopies. More than 1 minaret, multifoil arches over decorated column.
The Ubudiah Mosque in Perak, the Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang, the Jame’ Mosque and Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur are prime examples of this style 

 

The architectural plans of the mosques are similar to other mosques. Where the design architecture with its central domes and arched verandah way.The mosque compound is normally fenced up at the full lengths of its  perimeter with ample parking area and normally with medium to large green grass meadow..
The North Indian Architecture is easily differentiated from any others due to its generous use of small and large onion domes, multitude of spires and small domed canopies, more than one minaret, horse shoe or multiform arches over decorated columns. 

Jamek Mosque - Kuala Lumpur Main Entrance

Jamek Mosque - Kuala Lumpur 

Zahir Mosque - Kedah

Masjid Kapitan Keling - Penang

Masjid Kapitan Keling - Penang

 

Another view of Kapitan Keling Mosque-Penang

 

Awsome view of Ubudiah Mosque - Kuala Kangsar Perak

Another view of this Majestic Ubudiah Mosque.

E.g. The Ubudiah Mosque in Perak, the Kapitan Keling Mosque in Penang, the Jame’ Mosque and Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur.
The architectural plans of the mosques are similar to the mosques of any other design plan with its central domes,arched verandah and alleys.

The early twentieth century mosques were built of reinforced concrete structure and enclosure wall for the main prayer hall.

The roofs are covered with domes made from reinforced concrete, aluminum or any durable material which are able to withstand the harsh climate of Malaysia.

Mosque of Malaysia - European Classical Style

European Classical Style

Another form of eclectic architecture with more than one style of mosque building because of the colonizations. Much of the architecture design from the medieval Europe with more emphasis towards  or derived from the greco-roman design. Where most of these mosque were built during the late 18th and early 19th century.

This architecture design is most common sight in Johor because of the chosen architectural style.Western Architecture preferred design by the Sultan of Johor at that time.

Grand view of The Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque in Johor Baru

The main prayer hall with Roman column come with moorish style arch.

The inner alley of the mosque

The pulpit where the "imam" recite the Friday prayer sermon.

Another view of the side alley.

View from the Straits of Tebrau.

 

A strong symmetrical composition of the massing and space is also an identifying feature. Uses of Moorish style and touch of roman-greco arches in every opening. Also we could easily observed the heavy proportion of the minarets a typical European design. Continues cornice inside the building.
The Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque in Johor Bahru is equipped with four stout minarets with small domes crowning the top. The main prayer hall has a closed hipped roof. 

 

The Pasir Pelangi Mosque uses a deep pyramidal roof form reminiscent of the traditional vernacular mosques of the past but without any dividing tiers. 

The Pasir Pelangi Mosque - Johor Baru