(From second left) Chan, Chong Eng and Ilias planting the saplings.
INFINITY Logistics and Transport Sdn Bhd joined hands with Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), Penang Forestry Department and Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association (Pifwa) to plant mangrove trees at Pusat Pendidikan Kecil Hutan Paya Laut near Nibong Tebal, Seberang Prai.
The event was held to mark International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem which is observed on July 26 annually.
Penang social development and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Chong Eng said the state wanted to spread awareness on the vital role played by mangrove trees which protected biodiversity between land and sea.
“Some 100 volunteers came to this event which is in line with the state’s mission to increase the size of its mangrove forests,” she said.
PPSB chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan said that the company had always taken steps to preserve the environment.
Infinity Logistics and Transport chief executive officer Datuk Seri Chan Kong Yew said they had planned to carry out mangrove planting annually but could not do so in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I hope the state Forestry Department will allocate a fixed area for us to plant more trees,” he said.
A total of 1,442 mangrove trees are to be planted with 700 planted on the first day, with the remaining to be planted on another day.
Also at the event were Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim, Jawi assemblyman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, Penang Forestry Department representative Mohd Hisham Muhammad and Pifwa president Ilias Shafie. — By M. SIVANANTHA SHARMA
