MSM recognises the importance of retaining quality employees as they play a pivotal role toward our continuous growth. On-going employee development and training programmes are regularly scheduled to enhance productivity. Our employees are also encouraged to improve their skills and knowledge through hands-on training, field experience and developmental programmes designed to maximise their capabilities. In addition, we encourage participation in national and regional events to boost industry experience and knowledge.

As part of the Felda Global Group, our employees benefit from exposure to Group-wide training and development initiatives organized by Felda Global. These include leadership development programmes for managers, executives and senior executives as well as the more recently introduced First Line Managers programme. Centred on grooming our talents, these programmes offer recognised qualifications, such as, Executive Master in Management (People Leadership) and Diploma in Management (Front Line Leaders). Top performers from Felda Global Group companies are identi铿乪d for participation in these courses which are conducted by private training vendors in collaboration with tertiary institutions such as Asia e-university and the Australia Institute of Management.

In addition, during the year under review, two of our executives attended the Fourth ASEAN Senior Management Development Program in June 2011, organised by the Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Malaysia. The week-long seminar imparted a better perspective of the business in terms of global economic conditions, competition and strategy.

MSM's production facility's Quality Assurance (QA) team underwent an in-depth training course entitled "Microbiological Examination Techniques of Sugar & Sugar Products" conducted by the School of Industrial Technology, University Sains Malaysia. The course, which was specially tailored to MSM's requirements, offered valuable knowledge and understanding to better meet the needs of our customers' quality standards.

During the year, MSM responded to the Malaysian government's new ruling to engage competent energy managers, tasked with improving the energy effciency of manufacturing operations. As a result, one of our engineers was certified by the Energy Commission as a qualified Energy Manager.