TUMPAT, KELANTAN, 25 June 2022 – As part of its commitment towards addressing the environmental sustainability, UMW Holdings Berhad (“UMW Group”), in collaboration with UMW Toyota Motor (“UMWT”) and UMW’s associate company, Perodua, aims to give roots to 300,000 mangrove trees spanning across Malaysia by 2023 through the UMW Green Shoots (“UGS”) Initiative.
The UGS Initiative was officially launched today by YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) in Pantai Sri Tujoh, Tumpat. Representing the Menteri Besar of Kelantan at the event was YB Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail, Chairman of the Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Biotechnology, Green Technology and Environment Committee of Kelantan. Also present were Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, Group Chairman, UMW Holdings Berhad and Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, President and Group CEO, UMW Holdings Berhad.
The launching of the UGS Initiative was symbolised by the planting of mangroves trees by YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa and the invitees at Pantai Sri Tujoh, which was joined by student volunteers from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan. A total of 1,200 mangrove trees were planted at the selected site today, which is part of the UGS Initiative’s target to plant 10,000 trees across the shore of Tumpat.
To ensure the success and sustainability of the UGS initiative, the Group is collaborating with Yayasan Hijau and Malaysian Nature Society. The other parties supporting the initiative include the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Water, National Forestry Department and the respective state departments, who will assist in identifying key locations for tree planting and coordinating the activities involved. Astro has been roped in as the education partner for the UGS initiative to support the Group in spreading awareness on the importance of environmental sustainability, particularly on the importance of trees to the environment through the tree planting activities nationwide as well as the various television programmes and social media platforms by Astro.
The UGS Initiative is also in line with the Malaysian Government’s National 100 million Tree-Planting Campaign 2021 – 2025, which was launched in January 2021.
“The UMW Group wishes to demonstrate the need for a balance between economic progress and care for the environment. We are committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and in so doing, we have chosen to integrate sustainability into our business strategy and approach. The Group has been increasingly adding to the country’s green cover as one of our initiatives to mitigate the greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions while gradually embedding circular economy principles in our business operations. It is imperative that everyone plays a part in tackling climate change and, through the UGS initiative, we are taking steps towards investing in nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration,” Dato’ Fuaad reiterated.
Over the course of the next two years, the identified locations will involve the planting of mangrove saplings. With the dwindling mangrove trees in the country, it is crucial that restoration efforts of these mangrove swamp forest ecosystems are hastened as it provides infinite value to coastal protection and the country’s biodiversity as well as food resources. Mangroves provide a slew of benefits for coastal human communities as they act as storm barriers by protecting inland areas from flooding and erosion, help filter river water of pollutants and trap excess sediment before it reaches the ocean as well as help safeguard a wide array of wildlife, especially the marine life. More importantly, mangroves also have a big impact on climate. Studies have shown that, mangroves can sequester two to four times more carbon than mature rainforests.
Commenting on the initiative, Ravindran Kurusamy, President of UMWT said, “Toyota has always been passionate about the environment. Here in Malaysia, UMWT wants to continue to make a difference for a greener, more sustainable future. We hope that the UGS Initiative will engage, educate and empower Malaysians to ensure the future generations will live and prosper in a cleaner and greener environment.”
Meanwhile, Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad, President and CEO of Perodua remarked, “The UGS Initiative compliments our green initiatives such as installing solar panels at our headquarters as well as introducing a carbon neutral policy to ensure our operations and practices preserve and protect the environment.”
Apart from the involvement of UMW employees, customers, as well as the local communities, the Group will collaborate with the Ministry of Education via Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa, local universities such as University Malaysia Pahang, University Technology Malaysia, University Kebangsaan Malaysia and schools to enable participation of youths in the initiative. The UGS Initiative will also extend invitation to the customers of Toyota and Perodua as well as their families to participate in the tree planting activities nationwide.
Henry Tan, Group CEO of Astro said, “As a voice for good, Astro applauds UMW Holdings Berhad for its UGS Initiative for taking this significant step to contribute to environmental sustainability. We share and support this effort as the educational partner covering content on TV, radio and digital to create awareness for this important cause.”
Dato’ Fuaad further added that over and above the tree planting efforts, the Group intends to instil awareness on environmental conservation and restoration within the community, especially among the youths, through on-the-ground activities as well as knowledge sharing.
“Educating and creating awareness about the environment would instil lifelong learning and lead to behavioural change for the betterment of the environment. We aspire for this initiative to kickstart a movement on environment conservation that will lead to, among others, “1 Malaysian planting 1 tree a year” as a simple contribution towards our sustainable future especially for our younger generation,” he concluded.
The UGS Initiative was officially launched by YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) (second from right). The others in the photo are, from left, Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, Group Chairman, UMW Holdings Berhad, YB Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail, Chairman of the Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Biotechnology, Green Technology and Environment Committee of Kelantan and Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, President and Group CEO, UMW Holdings Berhad.
The launching of the UGS Initiative was symbolised by the planting of mangrove trees by YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) (second from right). On the right is Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, President and Group CEO, UMW Holdings Berhad.
TUMPAT, KELANTAN, 25 Jun 2022 – Sebagai sebahagian daripada komitmennya terhadap kelestarian alam sekitar, UMW Holdings Berhad (“Kumpulan UMW”), dengan kerjasama UMW Toyota Motor (“UMWT”) dan syarikat bersekutu UMW, Perodua, berhasrat untuk menanam sebanyak 300,000 pokok bakau merentasi Malaysia menjelang 2023 melalui Inisiatif Pucuk Hijau UMW (“UGS”).
Inisiatif UGS telah dilancarkan secara rasmi oleh YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Menteri, Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Ekonomi) di Pantai Sri Tujoh, Tumpat. Mewakili Menteri Besar Kelantan pada majlis itu ialah YB Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pertanian, Industri Asas Tani, Bioteknologi, Teknologi Hijau dan Alam Sekitar Kelantan. Turut hadir Tan Sri Dato' Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, Pengerusi Kumpulan UMW Holdings Berhad dan Dato' Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan, UMW Holdings Berhad.
Pelancaran Inisiatif UGS diteruskan dengan penanaman pokok bakau simbolik oleh YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa bersama jemputan di Pantai Sri Tujoh yang disertai oleh sukarelawan pelajar Universiti Malaysia Kelantan. Sebanyak 1,200 pokok bakau telah ditanam di tapak terpilih hari ini, yang merupakan sebahagian daripada sasaran Inisiatif UGS untuk menanam 10,000 pokok di seluruh pantai Tumpat.
Untuk memastikan kejayaan dan kemampanan Inisiatif UGS, Kumpulan bekerjasama dengan Yayasan Hijau dan Persatuan Pencinta Alam Malaysia. Antara pihak lain yang menyokong inisiatif ini termasuk Kementerian Tenaga dan Sumber Asli, Kementerian Alam Sekitar dan Air, Jabatan Perhutanan Negara dan jabatan negerinya, yang akan membantu dalam mengenal pasti lokasi utama untuk penanaman pokok dan menyelaraskan aktiviti yang terlibat. Astro telah menjadi rakan pendidikan untuk inisiatif UGS untuk menyokong Kumpulan dalam menyebarkan kesedaran tentang kepentingan kelestarian alam sekitar, khususnya mengenai kepentingan pokok kepada alam sekitar melalui aktiviti penanaman pokok di seluruh negara serta pelbagai program televisyen dan platform media sosial oleh Astro.
Inisiatif UGS ini juga selaras dengan usaha kerajaan dalam Kempen Penanaman Pokok 100 juta Kebangsaan 2021 – 2025, yang telah dirasmikan pada bulan January 2021.
“Kumpulan UMW ingin mewujudkan keseimbangan yang baik di antara kemajuan ekonomi dan pemeliharaan alam sekitar. Kami komited dalam usaha mencapai karbon sifar menjelang 2050, dan dengan itu, kami memilih untuk menerapkan kelestarian ke dalam keseluruhan strategi dan pendekatan perniagaan kami. Mempergiatkan aktiviti penanaman pokok merupakan antara salah satu inisiatif Kumpulan UMW untuk menangani isu pelepasan gas rumah hijau (“GHG”) serta menerapkan prinsip ekonomi sirkular dalam operasi perniagaan kami secara beransur-ansur. Adalah penting untuk semua orang memainkan peranan dalam menangani perubahan iklim dan dengan itu, melalui inisiatif UGS, kami mengambil langkah ke arah pelaburan berasaskan alam semula jadi dari segi penyerapan karbon”, kata Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali.
Dalam tempoh dua tahun yang akan datang, lokasi yang dikenal pasti akan melibatkan penanaman anak pokok bakau. Dengan pokok bakau yang semakin berkurangan di negara ini, adalah penting usaha pemulihan ekosistem hutan paya bakau ini disegerakan kerana ia memberikan nilai yang tidak terhingga kepada perlindungan pantai dan biodiversiti negara serta sumber makanan. Bakau memberi banyak manfaat kepada komuniti manusia pantai kerana ia bertindak sebagai penghalang ribut dengan melindungi kawasan pedalaman daripada banjir dan hakisan, membantu menapis air sungai daripada bahan pencemar dan memerangkap lebihan sedimen sebelum ia sampai ke lautan serta membantu melindungi pelbagai jenis hidupan liar, terutamanya hidupan laut. Lebih penting lagi, bakau juga memberi impak besar kepada iklim. Kajian telah menunjukkan bahawa, bakau boleh menyerap dua hingga empat kali lebih banyak karbon berbanding hutan hujan matang.
Mengulas mengenai inisiatif itu, Ravindran Kurusamy, Presiden UMWT berkata, “Toyota sangat mementingkan alam sekitar. Di Malaysia, UMWT sentiasa menuju ke arah masa hadapan yang lebih hijau dan mampan. Kami berharap UGS akan bersama memain peranan dalam mendidik dan memperkasakan rakyat Malaysia untuk memastikan generasi akan datang akan hidup makmur dalam persekitaran yang lebih bersih dan hijau.”
Sementara itu, Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad, Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perodua berkata, "Antara inisiatif hijau UGS kami adalah seperti memasang panel solar di ibu pejabat kami serta memperkenalkan dasar neutral karbon untuk memastikan operasi dan amalan kami memelihara dan melindungi alam sekitar."
Selain daripada penglibatan kakitangan UMW, pelanggan, serta masyarakat setempat, Kumpulan juga turut bekerjasama dengan Kementerian Pendidikan melalui Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa, universiti tempatan seperti Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia dan sekolah untuk mewujudkan penglibatan belia dalam inisiatif tersebut. Inisiatif UGS juga akan melibatkan pelanggan Toyota dan Perodua serta keluarga mereka untuk menyertai aktiviti penanaman pokok di seluruh negara.
Henry Tan, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan Astro berkata, “Sebagai suara untuk kebaikan, Astro berbangga dengan UMW Holdings Berhad di atas Inisiatif UGS ini kerana mengambil langkah penting untuk menyumbang ke arah kelestarian alam sekitar. Kami turut menyokong usaha ini sebagai rakan kongsi pendidikan yang meliputi kandungan di TV, radio dan digital untuk mewujudkan kesedaran untuk kepentingan kelestarian.”
Dato’ Fuaad turut menambah bahawa selain daripada usaha penanaman pokok, Kumpulan berhasrat untuk menyemai kesedaran tentang pemuliharaan dan pemeliharaan alam sekitar di kalangan masyarakat, terutamanya golongan belia, melalui aktiviti di lapangan serta perkongsian pengetahuan.
"Mendidik dan mewujudkan kesedaran tentang alam sekitar akan menyemai pembelajaran sepanjang hayat dan membawa kepada perubahan tingkah laku ke arah penambahbaikan alam sekitar. Kami berharap inisiatif ini akan mencetuskan titik permulaan ke arah pemuliharaan alam sekitar di kalangan masyarakat, dimana "1 Malaysia menanam 1 pokok setahun" sebagai sumbangan ringkas ke arah masa hadapan yang mampan terutamanya dikalangan generasi muda," katanya.
Inisiatif UGS telah dilancarkan secara rasmi oleh YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Ekonomi) (dua dari kanan). Yang lain dalam gambar itu ialah, dari kiri, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, Pengerusi Kumpulan, UMW Holdings Berhad, YB Tuan Mohd Saripudin Tuan Ismail, Pengerusi Pertanian, Industri Asas Tani, Bioteknologi, Teknologi Hijau dan Jawatankuasa Alam Sekitar Kelantan dan Dato' Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan, UMW Holdings Berhad.
Pelancaran Inisiatif UGS disimbolikkan dengan penanaman pokok bakau oleh YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Ekonomi) (dua dari kanan). Di sebelah kanan ialah Dato’ Ahmad Fuaad Kenali, Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan, UMW Holdings Berhad.
