At a dinner to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Malaysian Aquaculture Development Association (MADA) presented Khoo Eng Wah with its Outstanding Contribution to Aquaculture Award. MADA was established in 1999 and currently has 500 members, representing various segments of industry in Malaysia. It is the leading aquaculture association in Malaysia. The celebration dinner was attended by 500 industry stakeholders.
Adjunct Professor Khoo is a pioneer in fish farming having started his career in aquaculture in the 1970s as head of Pertamina Aquaculture, Batam Island, Indonesia. Subsequently, over the following 25 years, Khoo managed several marine fish and shrimp farms in Malaysia. Khoo graduated with a BSc in Biology from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and post graduate Diploma in Fisheries from National University of Singapore.
In 1995, Khoo founded Sepang Today Aquaculture Centre (stac.com.my) which undoubtedly is the first and only premier private aquafarming human resources development and training school in Malaysia. Up to December 2021, He has trained at least 1200 participants and groups from local and foreign companies as part of their human resource development program in aquaculture.
Khoo also had industry advisory positions in aquaculture at Tunku Abdul Rahman University. Currently, he is also Adjunct Professor at the New Era University College.
In 2023, STAC was successfully added to SchoolAndCollegeListings – a leading online directory for schools, colleges, educational professionals, and other institutions in the education sector. This means that STAC is recognised as a educational establishment internationally. STAC is a registered human resource development (HRD) training provider in Malaysia.
Khoo also leads GMS Aquaculture Solution Sdn Bhd, focussing on precision aquaculture technology solutions and production of EQF (enhanced quarantine fry/fingerlings) particularly hybrid groupers (giant Epinephelus lanceolatus and tiger Epinephelus fuscoguttatus groupers).
At STAC, Khoo provides a hands-on approach in aquaculture, useful for those interested in learning about aquaculture but not through the academic system. Over the years, it has trained local and international participants. On setting up STAC, Khoo said, “I saw a dire need for trained human resources in aquaculture and started my commitment to serve this need for Malaysia and also worldwide. I am proud that STAC is playing an important role, providing trained and skill human resources to uphold the development of the industry.â€
Khoo added that for the past years, he has been receiving news about the achievement and performance from STAC alumni’s farms from Saudi Arabia Red Sea Tiger Prawn Farm, Seychelles Marketing Board Tiger Prawn Farm, Seahorse Corporation Tiger Prawn Farm and Central Cold Storage Kuching Tiger Prawn Farm at Sarawak, and many individual farms from Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.
STAC offers continuing education opportunities which includes in house training programmes as well as a 10 day Grow-out Technical Transfer Certificate courses (tiger and Indian shrimp, seabass, freshwater prawn and etc.) and 25 day hatchery courses for organisations and public investors or aquafarmers. The centre offers the opportunity for aquaculturists to further enhance and enrich their knowledge and skills in aquafarming.
At the dinner, MADA President Dr Benedict Lim, MADA iterated that the association is working with the relevant government agencies to overcome challenges faced by industry. The latest hurdle is on the restriction imposed by Thailand for the export of Asian seabass Lates calcarifer, citing the presence of antibiotics residues. Malaysia exports almost 60% of its farmed seabass to Thailand. MADA is also working on plans to assist the government in the development plans in 47 cage culture projects.
