By Zaki Salleh
GOPENG: Perak has established itself as a leader in the country’s mineral industry with the launch of the first commercial laboratory in Malaysia, Terra Mineral Lab Sdn. Bhd. (TML), and the Mineral Research Excellence Centre (CoE) in the Gopeng Industrial Area.
The establishment of the laboratory was initiated through the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc).
Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, stated that the laboratory will not only serve as an analysis facility but also as a symbol of the state’s commitment to advancing the mineral industry, particularly in the field of non-radioactive rare earth elements (NR-REE).
“TML is equipped with technology capable of analyzing and identifying mineral content with high precision.
“This is an important step to strengthen Perak’s position in the national mineral industry.
“TML is currently in the process of obtaining MS ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation from the Malaysian Department of Standards as the first step to recognize it as the country’s main commercial laboratory for mineral analysis,” he said.
He said during the press conference after officiating the opening of Terra Mineral Lab and the Mineral Research Excellence Centre.
TML has a cost of RM12 million and is operated by 15 local experts, including senior chemists, chemists, and assistant chemists.
They are a result of a career program organized by the Perak Child Aspirations Center (PASAK).
Saarani added that alongside the establishment of TML, the state government has launched the Centre of Excellence for Research (CoE) as a step to strengthen the agenda for Responsible Mining.
“Strategic collaborations with the Institute Darul Ridzuan (IDR) and leading local research institutes such as Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) will ensure Perak remains at the forefront of innovation and mineral research.
“These initiatives are part of the state government’s strategic steps to realize the Responsible Mining agenda within the Perak Sejahtera 2030 plan,” he explained.
