Curtin Malaysia and BQB join forces in green concrete research to drive Sarawak’s sustainable future

Miri, Sarawak – 22 July 2025 – In a step toward building a greener and more sustainable Sarawak, Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Best Quality Batching Sdn. Bhd. (BQB) to launch an industry-funded research project focused on reducing the carbon footprint of concrete production.

The project, titled ‘Replacement of Supplemental Cementitious Materials (SCMs) into Mixed Concrete’, aims to explore how agricultural, industrial, and plastic waste can be used to replace traditional cement materials in ready-mixed concrete – a major contributor to global carbon emissions.

The MoA signing ceremony, held at Curtin Malaysia’s campus on 11 July, was graced by Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Minister for Transport Sarawak and Chair of the Curtin Malaysia Management Committee. In his address, Dato Sri Lee hailed the project as “timely and forward-thinking,” praising the collaboration as a shining example of academia and industry working hand-in-hand to support Sarawak’s sustainability and circular economy goals.

“By rethinking how we produce concrete, we are taking bold strides to reduce our carbon footprint while transforming agricultural waste into valuable construction resources,” said Lee. “This collaboration will not only support the state’s Post-COVID Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, but also help position Sarawak as a leader in green technology innovation.”

Representing Curtin Malaysia was Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu, Acting Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, speaking on behalf of Professor Vincent Lee, Pro Vice-Chancellor, President, and Chief Executive. Also present were key members of Curtin Malaysia’s research and engineering leadership, including John Curtin Distinguished Professor Ramasamy Nagarajan, Dean of Research and Development, and Dr. Yong Leong Kong, who is leading the research project.

“BQB is a forward-thinking industry partner whose commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with Curtin Malaysia’s strengths in engineering, science, and technology,” said Professor Vu. “This partnership is another example of how Curtin Malaysia is driving innovation that has real-world impact, not just for Sarawak, but for the global construction industry.”

Meanwhile, BQB Director Jeremy Yaw Hou Yuen echoed the urgency of the project, stating that “cement manufacturing remains one of the world’s largest sources of carbon emissions.” He added that BQB is committed to reducing the use of traditional cement and embracing greener alternatives through this collaborative research effort.

The research team, led by Dr. Yong, includes Ir. Dr. Lee Yeong Huei, Dr. Tina Ting Chui Huon, and Dr. Timothy Ting Zhi Hong. Their goal is to assess the viability of incorporating Supplemental Cementitious Materials (SCMs) into ready-mixed concrete, with the potential to significantly reduce environmental impact while maintaining structural performance.

Also attending the ceremony were BQB Managing Director Pui Chin Nga, Research Project Manager Jarone Choo Chin Yii, Research Team Lead Liew Kah Mun, and Site Manager Victor Lee Zheng Siang, alongside Curtin Malaysia’s Associate Deans and senior academics from its Faculty of Engineering and Science.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit its website at curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Professor Vu (left) presents a souvenir to Jeremy Yaw, witnessed by Dato Sri Lee (centre).

Group photo featuring Dato Sri Lee (front row, 7th right), Professor Vu (5th left), Yaw (6th right), and representatives from Curtin Malaysia and BQB.