22/05/2026

FRIDAY | MAY 22, 2026

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

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Perak Orang Asli to gain from mushroom cultivation project

items – coffee, tea and dipping sauce – which have strong demand, including from the United States. Muhammad Hakim said the project has received full backing from the Perak government, adding that Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad planted the first tiger milk mushroom seedling at the site in September 2024. He said 500 seedlings have been planted, with plans to ramp up cultivation to 2,000 seedlings per month starting in July. Muhammad Hakim said aside from its economic value (it can reach up to RM3 per gramme), the mushroom is traditionally believed to help with respiratory conditions such as asthma and lung infections. “Demand for tiger milk mushroom increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, as many people began paying closer attention to products linked to lung health and the respiratory system.” collaborating with several related agencies to realise a Proof of Concept project in Ulu Slim, Perak, which has been identified as one of the high potential locations for geothermal development in Peninsular Malaysia. Meanwhile, UKM Earth Sciences and Environment Department senior lecturer Dr Muhammad Taqiuddin Zakaria said the country should also pay attention to the potential of other earth resources, including rare earth elements. – Bernama

o Initiative at Piah Forest Reserve successfully reintroduces species into native wild forest habitat to develop commercial products

LENGGONG: A tiger milk mushroom preservation project by Yayasan Bambusa at the Piah Forest Reserve has enabled the reintroduction of the species, scientifically known as Lignosus rhinocerus , into its native wild forest habitat. The project, launched in 2024 in collaboration with the Lanoh Orang Asli community from Kampung Air Bah, has also helped boost the community’s economic standing through their direct participation throughout the project chain. Yayasan Bambusa founder and CEO Dr Muhammad Hakim Abdullah said the project covers about 100ha in Compartment 194 of appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme on Wednesday. Mohd Hariri, who is also Geological Society of Malaysia former president, said several related agencies, including the Minerals and Geoscience Department, Sustainable Energy Development Authority and the Energy Commission, are actively studying the sector’s development potential. He said the main constraint in

the forest reserve, which has been identified as a propagation site for tiger milk mushroom, purported to be one of the few areas where the species is being bred in its natural forest habitat, Bernama reported. “The tiger milk mushroom, which has existed for thousands of years, is a fungal species that has long disappeared from the wild. The project is therefore fully funded by Yayasan Bambusa and managed entirely by the Orang Asli community.” He added that tiger milk mushroom is being developed into a commercial product, with plans to produce three mushroom-based accelerating the development of the industry is not technology but the absence of a specific policy framework. “We need a National Geothermal Policy to attract investment and guide proper and sustainable exploration methods. Neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand have long benefitted from this energy source.” He said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) is currently

Yayasan Bambusa forest rangers working at the tiger milk mushroom project site at the Piah Forest Reserve. – BERNAMAPIC Plan to explore potential of geothermal energy development

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has strong potential to transition towards renewable energy through the exploration of geothermal energy following the discovery of more than 100 hot spring locations nationwide, including in Sabah and Sarawak, said Geology expert Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Hariri Arifin. He said his research showed a wide distribution of hot spring areas across Malaysia, although their use remains limited to tourism, recreational and

light domestic applications. “It is unfortunate because most of these hot spring areas are left idle without large-scale management. Some are also poorly managed and polluted with waste such as eggshells and food containers. “If we apply expertise in earth sciences and geophysics, these geothermal resources have the potential to power turbines to generate cleaner and more sustainable electricity,” he said when