RM500,000 Research Grant Awarded to UMT to Drive Scientific Research and Support Sustainable Development in Sabak Bernam and adjacent districts (part of Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor) referred to as Anjung Utara Selangor.

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Oct (Bernama) -- The Selangor State Government, through Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation) or MBI Selangor, has entered into a strategic partnership with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) to designate Sabak Bernam and adjacent districts (part of Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor) referred to as Anjung Utara Selangor as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (UBR).
 
This collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between MBI Selangor and UMT, marking a major milestone in Selangor’s efforts to advance sustainable development, environmental conservation, and scientific research within the Anjung Utara Selangor.
 
The exchange ceremony was held in conjunction with the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2025, where MBI Selangor Group Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Ts. Saipolyazan M. Yusop, and UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohd Zamri Ibrahim, officially signed the agreement.
 
The proposed UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation will place Anjung Utara Selangor on the global map, unlocking new opportunities for eco-tourism, community engagement, and sustainable land use, while ensuring the preservation of the area’s natural resources for future generations.
 
Sabak Bernam and its adjacent districts - including parts of Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor - are home to one of the largest swamp forests in the region, covering approximately 81,304 hectares. This area preserves over 58 million swamp trees, with the capacity to absorb an estimated 5 million tonnes of carbon. 

This initiative is one of the catalytic projects under Sabak Bernam Development Area (SABDA) and also part of Selangor’s broader vision to position Anjung Utara Selangor as a model region for sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience, aligned with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
 
SABDA, spearheaded by MBI Selangor and mandated by the Selangor State Government as a key economic initiative under Rancangan Selangor Pertama (RS-1), is undertaking a comprehensive effort to strengthen Selangor’s seafood economy in Sabak Bernam and ensure sustainable seafood production.
 
The initiative also aims to enhance Selangor’s food security through tech-led agriculture, while promoting ecotourism and agrotourism as platforms to celebrate Sabak Bernam’s local culture, traditions, and food heritage, all in alignment with environmental conservation efforts.
 
The SABDA initiative is deeply committed to empowering the communities of Sabak Bernam to cultivate thriving, resilient socio-economic and natural ecosystems. Its core vision is to position SABDA as a strategic catalyst for holistic and sustainable development.
 
MBI Selangor Group Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Ts. Saipolyazan M. Yusop, highlighted that, as an industrialised state with a high density of urban development, Selangor faces mounting challenges in managing environmental resources and climate- related risks, including increased incidences of flooding and extreme weather events.
 
“With growing urbanisation and the escalating impacts of climate change, adopting scientific research-based approaches to environmental and disaster management is no longer optional but rather it is essential.
 
“Balancing economic progress with biodiversity conservation and ecological preservation is now a strategic priority. Reducing carbon emissions and enhancing disaster resilience are top priorities in the state’s sustainability agenda,” he said.
 
He added that UBR project under SABDA is part of MBI Selangor’s commitment to promoting sustainable development and protecting Selangor’s rich biodiversity.

Sabak Bernam Consultative Council Chairman, Datuk Haji Rizam Haji Ismail, said the Selangor State Government has allocated a RM500,000 research grant to UMT to conduct in-depth studies in Anjung Utara, Selangor.
 
“The research will focus on biodiversity, marine ecosystems, and socioeconomic development. We are proud that MBI Selangor is spearheading the UBR project as one of the catalytic initiatives under SABDA, through the Selangor Research Institute (SRI).
 
The evidence-based policymaking supported by the research grant enables UMT to establish a robust foundation for both ecological preservation and sustainable economic growth in Anjung Utara, Selangor.
 
“The partnership between MBI Selangor and UMT will play a vital role in transforming SABDA through UBR into a national benchmark for biodiversity conservation, advancing the state’s environmental and sustainability agenda. It will also enable scientific studies on coastal and inland resilience, biodiversity, marine ecosystems, and sustainable community development - all crucial components of the UNESCO application process,” he added.
 
The research funding will also support the preparation and submission of the official UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Nomination Dossier, including research, analysis, and documentation on biodiversity, science, and socioeconomic aspects of the Anjung Utara Selangor.

UMT Vice Chancellor Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Mohd Zamri Ibrahim said the partnership is a strategic move to establish Anjung Utara Selangor as a national benchmark for environmental conservation, sustainable development, and scientific research, all in alignment with UNESCO’s rigorous standards.

“We are honoured to be entrusted by MBI Selangor to lead the research initiatives in Anjung Utara Selangor and being part of SABDA initiatives to cultivate thriving, resilient socio- economic and natural ecosystems which is rich in biodiversity. Our work will encompass a comprehensive species inventory of the region’s flora and fauna, along with socioeconomic assessments of the local communities,” he added.

The collaboration will pave the way for UMT to prepare the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Nomination Dossier for submission by the Selangor State Government to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Malaysia (NRES), and the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO (MNCU) for review and Cabinet endorsement. The final stage of the UBR will involve the formal submission of the dossier to UNESCO headquarters in Paris by the Ministry.

In addition, the involvement of all relevant agencies has played a crucial role throughout the dossier preparation process. These include the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM), the Town and Country Planning Department (PlanMalaysia), the Department of Fisheries Malaysia, the Sabak Bernam District Council (MDSB), the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council (MPKS), the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council (MPHS), and many other state and federal agencies including some Non-Government Organisation.
 
The UBR will actively engage local communities and relevant stakeholders in its planning and management, integrating three core functions - conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity; sustainable economic development that is socially, culturally and environmentally responsible; and logistical support through research, monitoring, education, and training. 
 

About MBI Selangor
Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporation (MBI Selangor) was established under the Menteri Besar Selangor Enactment (Enactment No: 3 1994) on 21 September 1994. MBI Selangor is a body that was established to administer the assets and investments of the State Government, and to represent the State in economic and business activities beyond the state government’s jurisdictions. MBI Selangor plays a key role in promoting and supporting the state government’s development efforts, as well as fulfilling its social responsibility obligations to the public. MBI Selangor is also driving the key economic initiatives outlined in the Rancangan Selangor Pertama (RS-1), launched by Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, the Selangor Chief Minister, in July 2022.
 
About UMT
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) is a public university established under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971. It was originally known as Terengganu University College (KUT), following its approval on 5 May 1999 as an associate campus of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM). KUT was granted autonomy on 1 May 2001 and subsequently renamed the Malaysian Science and Technology University College (KUSTEM) on 20 June 2001. On 1 February 2007, KUSTEM was elevated to full university status and rebranded as Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) - the name it continues to hold today. UMT began as UPM’s Centre for Fisheries and Marine Science, having served as a hub for students and lecturers of the Fisheries and Marine Science programmes to conduct practical sessions and research activities. Today, UMT is a comprehensive institution of higher learning, committed to excellence in developing human capital, conducting impactful research, and driving innovation. Its academic offerings span a wide range of disciplines, including science, marine studies, economics, business, and social development.