The Door of Ebor Research.
This story is a tribute to the community of Ebor Research. At the research station located in Batu Tiga, Shah Alam in Selangor, there was a door – not just any door, but a portal to possibility. It swung open every day to welcome Eborians, each dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and service. Every step through it was a step toward collaboration, innovation and the kind of discoveries. Though this door is already closed, the spirit of Ebor Research isn’t bound by hinges. It lives on in every lesson learned, every friendship forged and every spark of curiosity that will continue to inspire.
The Door of Ebor Research
The “Door” is quiet and unassuming, one that carries no fanfare, no grand ceremony. It’s just there, almost like an old friend who’s been with you so long that you forget how deeply you rely on it. This glass door at Ebor Research is ordinary in its design, but extraordinary in its presence. Silent, yet profound, it marks the beginning and end of every day. You don’t notice it at first. But then, as the days turn into months, and the months into years, you realise it’s become something much more than a simple entrance. It is the heartbeat of Ebor Research of Consolidated Plantation Bhd-then (now SD-Guthrie Bhd), a quiet witness to the lives of everyone who passes through it.
The door sways open and shut, effortlessly, like the gentle rhythm of time itself. Every morning, without fail, the door glides softly – shh-swish – and in that small sound, a world of connections is made. “Good morning!” or “Selamat pagi!” is heard from Janaki, the receptionist, her warm smile lighting up the room.
She and the rest of the admin and accounts team behind her, sit facing the door, always present, always observing. For them, it’s not just a door – it’s a window into the lives of the people who pass through it. They see new faces come and go, they watch the regulars walk by, and they notice the subtle changes in tone, in the rhythm of the office, as the years go by. They know that this door holds memories – small moments of joy, tension, frustration, laughter and even tears.
Across from her, Rajah – the Research Director’s driver, sits in his familiar spot. He has been with the office for so long that he can almost predict when someone will walk through the door. He might glance up from his newspaper and his reading glass, offering a nod or a quiet smile to a passing colleague, his eyes soft with the knowledge that this door is more than just a threshold. It is a silent witness to the lives that have unfolded within its walls.
To the casual observer, the door is just that – a glass barrier between the outside world and the heart of Ebor Research. But to those who pass through it day after day, it becomes something more. It becomes a bridge. A doorway not just into a building, but into a shared life, into the very pulse of Ebor Research itself.
It’s where we meet, connect, laugh and bid goodbyes.
And though the door is just glass and steel, there is comfort in its quiet motion. It’s always there, steady and dependable. Even on the hardest days, when the weight of deadlines or the burdens of R&D life seem overwhelming, the soft swish of the door reminds you that the world keeps turning, that things will continue, and that there is always a place to come back to.
Over the years, this door has watched Ebor grow. It’s witnessed staff members join and leave, marriages, births and losses. It has seen colleagues leave for new opportunities, and some never return – those whose final farewells were whispered in the quiet hum of a late-night departure. Some of those who passed through it are no longer with us, their memory carried by the doors that swayed for them.
But the door doesn’t judge. It doesn’t ask why we come, or where we go. It simply exists – quiet, steady, waiting. It is the silent keeper of our stories, the thread that ties us all together, whether we’ve been here for decades or are only passing through.
Behind it, the life of the office unfolds. The laughter of friends, the soft tapping of keyboards – or typewriters, once – and the distant hum of phone calls from another era. There are moments of deep conversations, quick exchanges and quiet pauses. The door has witnessed it all – the early mornings when the office is still sleepy and the late nights when only the hum of the air conditioner is heard. It has seen the hurried steps of people rushing in, late as always, and the slow, thoughtful exits as others leave, perhaps for good. And in the quiet moments, when the office is empty and still, it sways softly, a reminder that time moves forward, no matter who stays or who goes.
As the years pass, the staff of Ebor Research, have grown and changed. We may not always notice it, but in small, subtle ways, we have become a “family” tied together by the simple acts of living and working side by side, day after day. We have shared more than just our work; we have shared our lives. We have celebrated R&D achievements and milestones, we laughed together, we have differences in opinions, we have mourned together, and we have supported each other through every high and low. Like the door, we have become part of a quiet legacy, a story that continues to unfold, one day at a time.
As we look back on our time at Ebor, we will remember not just the projects we completed or the deadlines we met, but the bonds we formed in that small space by the door. We will remember the quiet moments – the shared smiles, the unspoken understanding, the laughter that echoed through the hallways. We will remember how it felt to be part of something larger than ourselves, to belong to a place where everyone knew your name, where you were seen and heard, and where the little acts of kindness were what truly mattered.
And when the day comes that we left Ebor – for whatever reason, whether when we retire or pursued new career, new dreams – we will walk through that door one last time. Goodbye – the door will whisper as we pass through, but we will know it’s not truly goodbye. It is just another gentle swish, a reminder that life goes on, and that something familiar will always be waiting for us, no matter where we go.
The Canteen and Garden
The canteen at Ebor Research is more than just a place to grab a bite; it’s the heartbeat of the research station, the gathering spot where Eborians come together to share updates and laughter. And at the heart of it all is Kak’ Aini, or Puan Saniah, the warm and welcoming soul who runs the canteen with the kind of care that makes it feel like home. Her tea and coffee have become legendary, offering the perfect pick-me-up to fuel those long hours of research. Whether it’s the rich, comforting aroma of freshly brewed tea or the robust coffee that gives you the energy to power through another experiment, the canteen has become the go-to place for a daily caffeine or theine fix.
But it’s not just the drinks that draw people in – it’s the atmosphere. The canteen is a space where the daily grind of research gives way to friendly banter and spontaneous ideas. Conversations flow as freely as the coffee, and you’ll often find people gathered around, discussing everything from breakthroughs to weekend plans. And then there’s the ping-pong table, a beloved fixture that has provided countless hours of camaraderie and talent search for the paddlers to represent the Plantation Division for the Sime Darby Games. After a long day of work, it’s the perfect place to unwind, letting off steam with a friendly match or cheering on colleagues. There’s no competition too fierce, just good-natured fun and a chance to let the mind relax.
But the beauty of Ebor Research doesn’t stop at the canteen. Just outside, the gardens – meticulously cared for by Arumugam and Lajis aka Aziz – add another layer of tranquility to the space. These hard-working gardeners pour their passion and dedication into every flower bed, hedge and pathway, creating a peaceful haven that’s cherished by everyone. The vibrant colours and lush greenery offer a refreshing escape, inviting Eborians to take a break, breathe in the fresh air, and gather their thoughts.
The canteen and the beautiful gardens represent more than just physical spaces – they embody the spirit of Ebor Research: a place of connection and recharge. In a place where discovery and innovation are the focus, these spaces provide a reminder of the importance of balance – whether over a cup of beverage, a ping-pong match or a quiet moment in the garden. They are where work and play meet, where ideas bloom, and where the heart of Ebor Research truly comes alive.
Ebor’s Legacy in Sabah Estates
The door sent forth researchers to many places including Sabah. Ebor Research left a lasting impact in oil palm estates through tropical plantation research and trials. Sabah’s plantations such as Segaliud, Menggaris and later in Sandakan Bay served as many trial-sites. Researchers focused on crop diversification and interplanting including Acacia, rattan and coconuts amid cocoa; pollination studies, optimising yields, germplasm for planting materials development and refining agronomic practices tailored to the region’s unique conditions. Collaborative efforts with estate managers ensured innovations were practical and effective.
There was also a research collaboration with Sabah’s Ulu Dusun Agricultural Research Station in Sandakan where the oil palm tissue culture technology was transferred to DOA of Sabah in exchange for oil palm germplasm from Sabah Breeding Programme. I still fondly remember the likes of Dr Mahinder Singh, Phua Peh Kee, Mary Ngui, Elizabeth Malangkig, Betty Kwan, Zuraini Shaharudin, Au Wai Fong and Chung Min Shen among the many friends from the UDARS family.
The insights gained from these trials and collaborations laid the foundation for many practices in the industry today particularly under the Sabah conditions.
Ebor research team in Sime Darby’s Sandakan Bay Project in 1991 led by Dr Ho Chai Yee (Research Director) and Loong Sing Guan (Oil Palm Head) – with the author in the centre.
The Door That Once Was
Unfortunately, the DOOR is no longer with us. The facility, once the heart of Ebor Research, has closed its operations – its R&D service now a thing of the past. The R&D facility has been merged with others R&D stations and located elsewhere. A silent witness to the ebb and flow of time, steadfast and constant, the door has left us. It has seen us come and go, it has swayed with the rhythm of our lives, welcoming and bidding farewell without a word. But now, its soft swish is no more. The door no longer opens to greet us as it once did, no longer closes behind us with a quiet finality.
Yet, in its quiet, unspoken way, the door held the memory of everyone who passed through it. Every smile, every tired sigh, every hurried step, every lingering goodbye – it witnessed it all, silently absorbing the comings and goings of a community of Eborians that once thrived within those walls. And now, though it is gone, it invites us to cherish the memories of what we once shared.
The door is gone, but its essence remains in each of us. It reminds us that while spaces may close, lives continue to move forward, and new doors will open. We may no longer walk through that familiar threshold, but the journey we made together once in our lives will live on in the stories we carry with us. We move forward, aging gracefully, holding to the bonds we forged, to the moments of joy, the challenges we overcame, and the quiet comfort of knowing we were never truly alone.
Brian John Wood, the first EBOR R&D Director in action with the researchers Chuah Joo Hor, KR Pillay, Dr Peter Lim Kim Huan, O.K Chew and Dr Gan Lian Tiong
The (Brian) Wood Cup
EBOR now is Every Body Old and Retired
Many did not know that EBOR was originally an acronym for “Eastern Borough Oriental Rubber” – apparently, it was a plantation company which was once listed in London Stock Exchange, though former employees, now fondly call it “Every Body Old and Retired”.
Today, the former site of Ebor Research in Batu Tiga has been transformed into a residential area known as Pinggiran USJ. This change marks a poignant symbol of the fading legacy of plantation R&D facilities that once formed the backbone of Malaysia’s agricultural sector. Across the country, many plantation research stations – dedicated to tropical plantation crops like cocoa, rubber and oil palm – have been either merged, relocated or shut down, leaving behind only memories and echoes of their impact on the plantation industry.
Pinggiran USJ itself stands as a bittersweet reminder of this transformation – a symbol of what has been “terpinggir” (left behind) as the country and companies’ priorities have shifted. Alongside Ebor, other prominent research sites like Guthrie Chemara, Golden Hope Prang Besar, OPRS Banting, Highland and Lowland HRU, EPA Kulim, RRIM and others have also faded from public memory. These institutions were more than just names; they were hubs of perennial plantation innovation and expertise, where tireless R&D teams shaped the future of Malaysia’s plantation industry.
Behind these names were countless unsung heroes – scientists, agronomists, crop protectionists, plant breeders, other field researchers and experimental officers, R&D field workers and many other service providers – who worked relentlessly to elevate Malaysian agriculture to global leadership in tropical crops.
Their contributions laid the foundation for modern practices and standards that transformed the industry.
Yet, as time passes, the world moves on and the memory of the pioneers fade, their legacy often unrecognised. Indeed, “terpinggir” as time moves forward, their contributions deserve to be remembered as an integral part of Malaysia’s agricultural heritage.
To my dear Eborian colleagues, friends and family – thank you. Thank you for the years we shared, for the laughter that filled the office and canteen, for the quiet moments and the conversations that marked our days. You were the heart of Ebor Research, just as much as the door was.
And though we are in different paths and realms in life, remember this: we will always be a part of each other’s stories. The door was there for us, and now it remains in our memory – in the quiet corners of our minds, in the memories we leave behind, and in our lives, we continue to live – with our families and friends, no matter where we go, where we are. Though the door no longer sways, the spirit of Ebor lives on in us, in our shared history and in the friendships we will carry forever.
So, to the DOOR that was once a part of our daily lives – thank you for witnessing our journeys. And to all of you, my dear colleagues, friends and family – thank you for being a part of this chapter of life. We move on, but we carry the door within us, and always, we will remain connected by the memories of what we shared.
The post The silent door of Ebor Research appeared first on Borneo Post Online.
