Dato’ Dr. Kamarul takes over as ANRPC secretary general

On June 30 Prof. Dr. Djoko Said Damardjati ended his three-year tenure as Secretary General of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries and handed the reigns to Dato’ Dr. Kamarul Baharain bin Basir. Following the end of his term, Damardjati has taken up the post of principal scientist in the Centre for Food Crops, part of Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

“I owe a debt of gratitude to the rubber industry fraternity spread world over…for the support and cooperation I received,” stated Damardjati upon announcing his departure. “I wish every success to Dato’ Dr. Kamarul Baharain bin Basir who will be assuming the office of secretary general on 1st July. Dato’ Dr. Kamarul, a former director general of the Malaysian Rubber Board, is bringing to the ANRPC more than 34 years of diverse experience he gained in developing Malaysia’s rubber industry through research and development, legislation and enforcement, supporting services, marketing and training.”

 Dato’ Dr. Kamarul served the Malaysian Rubber Board in various capacities from 1976 onwards, including as director general between 2006 and 2010. He has also held a number of other positions, including chairman of the International Rubber Trade Association, chairman of the Malaysian Rubber Exchange, chairman of the Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre in the UK, member of the International Rubber Research and Development Board and chairman of the Technical Committee of Standards Writing on Engineering Rubber Products.