KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (Bernama) --  In conjunction with World Book Day 2019, UEM Sunrise Berhad (“UEM Sunrise” or the “Company”), one of Malaysia’s leading property developers and master developer of Iskandar Puteri, launched its first book drive called “BukuDrive” at Publika Shopping Gallery (“Publika”) in Kuala Lumpur to collect books for its “BukuHub”. The book drive will be held all-year round, with boxes strategically placed around Publika for the public to drop off their books. BukuDrive was launched by Yang Berhormat Puan Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development on 26th April 2019. 

BukuHub, a community project and UEM Sunrise’s first CSR flagship programme, aims to enhance the living environment of the community while cultivating the habit of reading. It embraces the Company’s two-pronged Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy - Education Enhancement and Community Engagements. Its Education Enhancement programme is based on the firm belief that education is a fundamental human right and must be extended to every child regardless of gender, race, religion or economic status. 

“As a responsible property developer, UEM Sunrise has developed as well as supported various community and educational-related programmes in driving our sustainability initiatives for the benefits of the communities, especially within the geographical areas where our developments are being undertaken. BukuHub first made its debut in People’s Housing Project (PPR) Uda Utama, Johor, in support of the National Community Policy (DKN) introduced by the government. It was aimed at improving the overall living environment of the B40 group and adding more facilities in affordable housing developments,” said Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UEM Sunrise.

Housing a communal space in the PPR, the PPR Uda Utama community library - which offers about 500 books - was completed and handed over to the residents on 15 February 2019. After the launch, there were requests to have similar library community projects, to be set up at schools and public areas for easier access to books as well as allowing people to borrow, swap or read books at no cost. Hence, the second BukuHub was set up at Publika, Kuala Lumpur in March followed by the third BukuHub at Feebay.Co Avenue K, Kuala Lumpur this month. UEM Sunrise is targeting to set up 7 more BukuHubs this year.

“I am pleased to see that we now have a community mall like Publika has allocated a space for books and for people to read while they are at the mall. Parents can spend time with their children at BukuHub on days that they also come to the mall to shop. This effort by UEM Sunrise is deemed to be in line with the naming of Kuala Lumpur as the World Book Capital for the year 2020, by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). KL was selected because of the city’s strong focus on inclusive education; its ongoing development of a knowledge-based society; and its population’s easy access to reading materials. I hope BukuHub will also become a socially inclusive programme by engaging the local communities regularly and providing the necessary assistance to continuously improve community participation and foster shared prosperity,” said YB Hannah Yeoh.  

Currently, all the BukuHubs have a good mix of new and pre-loved books. With BukuDrive, it is hoped that more reading materials will be added to the shelves. 

“In all its endeavours, UEM Sunrise is pushing beyond the boundaries of building space to encourage the growth of close-knit communities in an environmentally sustainable environment, in line with our vision of building happy sustainable communities of the future with you and for you. The legacy that UEM Sunrise wants to leave behind should not just be limited to objects or structures, but rather, to ignite the spark of passion, drive, and determination that enables curiosity, generates ideas and changes the world for the better,” added Anwar. 

In collaboration with its strategic partners, UEM Sunrise has also accomplished several notable CSR milestones including its PINTAR School Adoption Programme and PINTAR Al-Quran Programme, Educational Aid Programme with Orphanages, Iskarnival, Back to School Programme, Community Outreach Programme, festive events and celebrations as well as crime prevention and safety talks. 

Source: UEM Sunrise Berhad 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Emilia Azyyati
Corporate Communication
UEM Sunrise Berhad 
Tel: 017 380 6937/03 2718 7725 
Email: emilia.rahman@uemsunrise.uemnet.com

--BERNAMA