PM pays tribute to rubber industry... and condoms

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today paid tribute to Malaysia's rubber industry and how it was important to provide the world with contraceptives.

Speaking at the 9th International Rubber Glove Conference & Exhibition today, the former general practitioner had his audience in stitches when he sang praise about rubber's contributions to medicine and birth control.

"Rubber gloves enable people to perform surgery in order to cure patients. Of course 'rubber glove' is important in stopping too many people from being born," he said, triggering a roar of laughter from the floor.

"Imagine the world without (the) condom... If the world has a population of seven something billion now, it could be 10 billion because there's no way of preventing conception. So again, rubber has performed a great duty to humanity."

Malaysia is among the top producers of natural rubber although the country is a net importer of the commodity. Klang-based Karex Bhd is among top producers of condoms in the world and is contracted by brands such as Durex.

On a more serious note, the prime minister said more research and development was needed to better export palm oil, rubber and other plants.

"Malaysia did not begin with its own source of trees that yield such profitable business. As you know, rubber comes from Brazil and oil palm comes from West Africa.

"But it is the way you exploit these plants that counts. The more ideas you get on how to exploit them, the better it is for us. We need to look into researching other plants as well."

On rubber, Mahathir said there is an opportunity for Malaysia to keep on producing rubber and inventing new purposes for the commodity.

"Today we are not the biggest rubber producer in the world but we are the biggest rubber glove producer. We are also producing rubber products for surgical and engineering purposes.

"All these things will keep on be needed by the world. I believe rubber is also used to make an earthquake-proof building. That's why the research is important."

Mahathir cited the example of how research in rubber led to the enhancing the quality and utility of rubber gloves.

"I remember once that there were allergic reactions to rubber gloves. So the researchers had extracted the protein from the rubber which caused the reaction and now we have rubber gloves that will not cause any reaction."

He expected this the rubber industry to continue flourishing and produce billions of gloves in the future as to contribute to the wealth of the country and encourages business.

"The government promises to return to the days where we had Malaysia Incorporated. This is when the whole country is regarded as one big corporation where the government and private sectors work together to create profits for the country.," he said.

Also present at the event were Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok and Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association Denis Low Jau Foo. 

-Mkini