Kuala Lumpur, 24 September – The fifth edition of the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) Photography Contest 2022 successfully concluded with 33 winners received their prizes at a prize-giving ceremony held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival (KLPF) 2022 at Viva Shopping Mall here earlier today.
The MTCC Photography Contest 2022 was held from 22 April to 30 June and comprised three categories, with one taking into consideration Malaysia’s transition into the endemic phase of COVID-19. The Forest Landscapes and Ecosystems category was open for images showcasing the rich, natural wonders of Malaysia’s forests and human interactions which reflect the multiple uses of forests. The Wood for the Future category was focused on innovative applications and multiple uses of wood such as in buildings, homes, appliances and art installations that feature the longevity and aesthetic values of wood as a sustainable material. The #reconnectwithnature category was created mainly to encourage people to go out and enjoy the outdoors with healthy activities such as hiking, jungle trekking, camping or having a picnic in natural landscapes.
Mohd Ezzat Moh Rasjid, a 35-year-old lecturer from Terengganu, was named the grand prize winner of the contest. He won the judges’ hearts with his mesmerising shot of the Jambu Bongkok Recreational Forest in Jambu Bongkok Forest Reserve, Dungun, Terengganu. He received RM1,500, magazines courtesy of PCP Publications and a certificate.
Desmond Ngu Chien Yew from Sibu, Sarawak won the first prize in the Forest Landscapes and Ecosystems category with a picture titled “Boat access towards nature in Ngemah, Sarawak”. Two merit prizes for the same category went to Mohd Muhiyadim Mohammad Yusoff and Lukman Hakim Yusoff, a photographer from Terengganu. Desmond bagged RM1,000 while Mohd Muhiyadim and Lukman Hakim received RM500 each.
The charm of an age-old wood craftmanship of “perahu kolek” (traditional fishing boats) in Kampung Pantai Sabak, Kota Bharu, Kelantan has earned photographer Tan Ee Long the first prize in the Wood for the Future category. The category’s merit prizes were awarded to Chong Keng Loy and Wenny Gan, both from Selangor.
In the social media category, #reconnectwithnature, 10 winners were chosen, comprising three best photos and seven consolation prizes. The best photo winners received RM100 each while the consolation prize winners received RM50 each.
The judging was done by MTCC CEO, Siti Syaliza Mustapha, PCP Publications General Manager and Editor-in-Chief, Jessica Chan and renowned photographer Azul Adnan. Winning images were chosen based on several criteria including creativity, relevancy to the theme, originality and overall impact.
MTCC Steps Up Efforts to Promote Certification
Carrying the theme “Experience Forest, Experience MTCS-PEFC”, the contest was aimed at utilising the art of nature photography to raise public awareness on the uniqueness and benefits of Malaysia’s forests and ecosystems while promoting the importance of valuing the nature and sustainable forest management through timber certification to benefit future generations.
MTCC CEO, Siti Syaliza said the Malaysia Policy on Forestry, which was launched on 21 March 2021, specifically mentions certification as a crucial tool with special reference to the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) in promoting the implementation of sustainable forest management in the country.
“This development signals the increasing significance of certification and the MTCS in Malaysia’s forest conservation efforts and sustainability agenda. As the National Governing Body of the MTCS, MTCC will continue to step up our efforts in instilling public awareness on forest sustainability and promoting the importance of certification via public outreach programmes such as this contest,” she said.
She said the contest, which has been a collaborative effort between MTCC and PCP Publications since 2017, attracted a total of 162 participants with almost 1,000 submissions.
“With Malaysia’s transition into the endemic phase taking place, this year’s contest was focused on encouraging Malaysians to reconnect with nature and show their appreciation of our precious forests through their lens. We always believe that a picture speaks volumes when it comes to nature appreciation,” she added.
Winning photographs are on display at KLPF 2022 on 23-25 September. The top three winning images will be in the running to win the International 2022 PEFC Photographer of the Year Award organised by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
The MTCS is a national voluntary scheme endorsed by the PEFC, a leading global alliance of national forest certification systems. To date, a total of 5.62 million hectares of natural forests and forest plantations in Malaysia have been certified under the scheme.
