More than 250 students from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) joined a community effort in planting 2,022 indigenous trees at the Kampar university’s Agricultural Park in Perak.
The “One Student 10 Trees” campaign by Malaysian Rubber Council (MRC) and UTAR was aimed at cultivating values and practices of environment conservation.
The trees that were planted within the UTAR Agricultural Park will be maintained by the university as an arboretum.
The event was launched by Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng.
Present were MRC chief executive officer Nor Hizwan Ahmad, UTAR president Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat alongside senior management as well as administrators of MRC and UTAR.
The campaign is expected to encourage more universities, colleges and higher-learning institutions nationwide to contribute to the goal of 22 million trees to be planted within the next eight years.
Nor Hizwan said MRC had always taken a proactive stance towards sustainability by striving to uphold the highest standards of governance and ethics besides promoting sustainable business and practices by limiting the negative impact of its operations on the environment.
“We are guided by the six sustainability pillars. The fourth pillar, which is environmental development, exemplifies MRC’s commitment to advocate and enhance awareness in preserving the environment.
“As an agency under the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, we must contribute to the creation of a more sustainable society by making constant efforts to improve the way we operate by focusing on the economic, environmental, social and governance (EESG) principles.
“MRC has a bigger role now. Apart from strengthening the export and domestic market of Malaysian rubber products, we are enhancing efforts to improve the industry’s overall sustainability by advocating awareness, while preserving the environment as well as promoting renewable energy and ensuring social compliance,” he added.
Prof Ewe thanked all parties for the meaningful collaborative project to promote a greener and more sustainable environment.
“As a university, we are committed to educating our students and staff on conservation and sustainability for future generations in support of the government’s vision and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“UTAR has also taken steps to create awareness for a greener environment and instil the knowledge as well as habits towards responsible consumerism along with good habits among its staff and students.
“We also support initiatives towards net- zero carbon emissions by promoting the planting of more trees, encouraging cycling on campus and moving towards the use of solar energy as a natural source of energy in our Kampar campus,” he said.