Datuk Michael Tio (front right) with the forklift replica and the proud students who built it, displaying their certications at Peninsula College, Shah Alam. – AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
Peninsula College enters Malaysia Book of Records by building ‘forklift replica’
PENINSULA College Shah Alam students built the Biggest Forklift Replica Made of Recycled Materials on Dec 5, which entered into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR).
Conducted by 61 students from the Diploma in Logistics Management, it was part of their assignment in the Logistics Business Strategy and Planning module.
The structure was fully made of recycled materials such as plastics, cardboard, PVC pipe, tin and pallets, to construct a 1:1 forklift replica with a dimension of 190cm in height and 103cm in width.
PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd group chief executive and managing director Datuk Michael Tio, who is also MBR’s chief executive officer, gave out MBR certificates to the participating students.
“I hope this certification will remind you of your achievement during your study in Peninsula College, Lighthouse campus,” said Tio.
He further elaborated that The Lighthouse campus was conceptualised with the idea of creating top logisticians every year and for that the college has brought together industry experts to impart their knowledge.
“Whether you continue to work for PKT or anywhere outside, always remember the story that you bring with you to be inspired at the Lighthouse campus,” he said.
‘They have to strategise, use their resources efficiently and plan to get this replica done,’ says programme leader and senior lecturer Prakash Nadaraja.
The one-month plus initiative exposes students to authentic, meaningful learning processes and encourages knowledge creation.
Through the application of task-specific team activities such as collecting materials, planning, coordinating teams and meeting deadlines, students are also improving motivation and academic pride.
Students Ethan Yong Yee Hei, Sam Wei Mam and Parveen Louis who are studying for their Diploma in Logistics Management were the project heads.
“We were divided into seven different groups, to work individually on seven different parts,” Ethan said.
He elaborated that the project taught the team the importance of planning and strategy.
“A lot of what we do for this whole week is mainly on planning as we realise that without the proper planning, we cannot really do this smoothly.”
‘By using recycled materials, students will gain knowledge on how important it is to recycle,’ Peninsula College Shah Alam chief executive Edmond Edward.
Some of the challenges that they faced include taking the correct measurements, as shared by Parveen. “Each group’s measurements have to be exact in order for the different parts to line up properly.”
In addition, the project aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution and the importance of recycling.
“It is important for us to do this in order to attract attention to send the message of not wasting so much and to recycle materials that you can reuse daily for building other other things,” Wei Mam said.
Peninsula College Shah Alam, chief executive Edmond Edward said that by using recycled materials, students will gain knowledge on how important it is for them to recycle.
“It also teaches them indirectly what items can be recycled and not end up clogging a landfill. As they are curators of Mother Earth for the future, we hope to cultivate this sense of responsibility in them.
“We are known for our logistics programme and because the college is situated within PKT Logistics’ working environment, working on the replica of a forklift helps them put into practice what they see,” he added.
A closer look at the replica forklift made from recycled materials by the Peninsula College students.
Programme leader and senior lecturer Prakash Nadaraja said that the project was part of the assessment for the Logistics, Business Strategy and Planning course.
“They have to strategise, use their resources efficiently and plan to get this replica done to be in the Malaysia Book of Records.”
He added that by working on the project students would be able to learn parts in a forklift and teamwork.
“They would learn how to plan a project properly to make it successful.”
Once the replica is completed, it will be displayed at PKT Logistics Group’s One Logistics Hub warehouse, where Peninsula College’s lighthouse campus is in the same compound.
Peninsula College Shah Alam is wholly-owned by PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd. It also has two other state-of-the-art campuses, the City Kampus in Klang and the iconic The Ship Campus in Batu Kawan, Penang.
