TANJUNG PIAI,  Dec 21 (Bernama) -- As part of the UMW Green Shoots (“UGS”) Initiative, the UMW Group continued with its planting activities in Tanjung Piai, Johor recently.  In collaboration with UMW Toyota Motor and UMW’s associate company, Perodua, the UGS Initiative is one of the Group’s efforts that aims to give roots to 300,000 mangrove trees across Malaysia by 2023.  The initiative reinforces the Group’s commitment towards addressing environmental sustainability and supports Malaysian government's mission to achieve 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 under the 12th Malaysia Plan – which is also the UMW Group's first pledge under the UMW Sustainability Roadmap.
 
Representing YAB Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the Menteri Besar of Johor, YB Tuan Raven Kumar A/L Krishnasamy, the state tourism, environment, heritage and culture committee chairman launched the mangrove planting event in Tanjung Piai.  Also present during the event was Encik Zailani Ali, Group Chief Human Resources Officer of the UMW Group, Encik Mohd Ezzuddin Sanusi, YDP Pontian Town Council and Encik Mohd Zulhafiz Mohd Salleh, Assistant District Officer of the Pontian District Office. 
 
With the help of 220 volunteers, comprising students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and SMK Sri Kukup as well as volunteers from the state, 2,000 mangrove trees had been planted at the chosen site in Tanjung Piai.  The Group will continue its efforts to restore mangrove trees throughout the country to meet its target of planting 300,000 mangrove trees by 2023, half of which will be planted in 2022. 
 
Mangroves play a crucial role in tackling climate change as studies have shown that it can sequester two to four times more carbon than mature rainforests.  Moreover, they are vital for healthy coastal ecosystems and act as shield against natural disasters such as floods and erosion. 
 
Zailani Ali remarked, “The UMW Group is cognisant of the importance of these mangrove swamp forests for the country’s ecosystem and wants to play a part in restoring them.  As one of our initiatives to mitigate the greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions, the Group has been steadily adding to the country’s green cover.  Under the UMW Green Shoots Initiative, we have planted mangrove trees in eight states in Malaysia namely Selangor, Terengganu, Pahang, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Sarawak and now Johor.  We are on track to meet our target to plant 150,000 mangrove trees in 2022.”  
 
The Group is collaborating with Yayasan Hijau Malaysia and Malaysian Nature Society to ensure the success and sustainability of the UGS Initiative.  Astro is the education partner for the UGS initiative, covering content on television, radio and digital to create awareness for this important cause.  Over and above the tree planting efforts, the Group intends to engage, educate, and empower Malaysians, especially the youths, to contribute to the betterment of the environment.  The initiative is also supported by Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa as well as universities throughout the country, by mobilising the student volunteers for any tree planting programmes organised by the Group. 
 
“We have carried out tree planting programmes with volunteers from the UMW Group, known as UMW Community Champions together with student volunteers from various universities and schools as well as other volunteers.  We believe that this initiative will not only help to re-green Malaysia but also become an educational platform about the importance of the environment especially conservation of trees to all levels of society.  We believe that the support we receive from all parties will continue to motivate us to intensify our UGS Initiative,” he added.
 
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.

Source: UMW CORPORATION SDN. BHD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: S Vikneshwaaran 
Tel: +6019-8505799
Email: vikneshwaran.s@umw.com.my 

--BERNAMA