By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 12: The Malaysian Peat Society (MPS) held its 15th annual general meeting (AGM) today at the Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (TROPI), reaffirming its role as Malaysia’s leading platform for the promotion of peat and peatland research, collaboration and advocacy.
Affiliated to the International Peatland Society (IPS), MPS helps TROPI serve as a national bridge connecting Malaysian experts with global networks in scientific, technical, environmental and economic aspects of peatland utilisation and sustainability, said a press release.
“The 15th AGM provided a strategic platform for members to reflect on the Society’s milestones, present and approve the 2025 Budget.
“One of the key highlights today was the election of MPS office bearers, and Datu Dr Lulie Melling was re-elected as president of the MPS, continuing her influential leadership role for the 2025–2027 term,” said a press release.
It further elaborated that Dr Lulie’s re-election comes at a time when she is gaining increasing recognition globally and nationally.
She currently serves as an executive board member of the International Peatland Society (2024–2026) and was recently appointed as the chairperson of the Sarawak Chapter of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM).
“As president of the MPS, she also represents Malaysia on the National Committee of the IPS, strengthening Malaysia’s voice in the global peatland discourse.”
The Society’s achievements in 2024 reflect its growing influence and impact:
- Co-organiser of the International Sago Symposium 2024, in collaboration with University Technology MARA (UiTM) and the Society of Sago Palm Studies (SSPS), with support from FAO, JICA, and the Sarawak Convention Bureau.
- Co-hosted the Living Labs for Wetland Research (LiWeFor) Seminar 2024 with the University of Tartu, Estonia and TROPI, which attracted over 150 participants and strengthened collaboration in wetland research initiatives.
- Facilitated Malaysian participation in major international scientific platforms, including the 17th International Peat Congress in Taizhou, China; EGU General Assembly in Vienna, Austria; IUSS Centennial Congress in Rome, Italy; and AGU Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C.
With its renewed mandate, the Society will continue to prioritise capacity building, collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and sustainable management of peatlands in line with national priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards climate change mitigation.
In her remarks, Dr Lulie re-emphasised the urgency of protecting peatlands in the face of climate change.
“Malaysia must continue to lead the way through science, innovation, and collaboration. Peatlands are not just carbon stores—they are life-sustaining systems that must be protected for future generations,” she said.
She also expressed her heartfelt gratitude to MPS members and the broader network of partners and supporters.
“I am deeply honoured by the continued trust placed in me. I would like to sincerely thank all MPS members and our partners—locally and globally—for their unwavering support and commitment. The achievements we have made would not have been possible without your active participation, shared vision and commitment to promoting peatland sustainability.”
The 15th AGM concluded with strong commitment from members to strengthen the MPS’s outreach, scientific engagement, and policy advocacy to ensure that Malaysian peatlands remain a national and global environmental priority.
The following is the MPS executive committee lineup for the 2025–2027 term:
| President | Datu Dr Lulie Melling, FASc. |
| Vice President | Mr John Ko Wai Seng |
| Secretary-General | Dr Herman Umbau |
| Vice Secretary-General | Jicqueline Ratai |
| Treasurer-General | Nicodemus Ujih |
| Vice Treasurer-General | Jee Hon Chong |
| Committee Members | Frederick Haili Teck
Dr Daniel Tan Dr Nur Azima Busman |
— DayakDaily
