Kota Kinabalu: City Hall (DBKK) remains committed to supporting programmes or initiatives that promote environmental preservation, especially those potentially being part of the city’s eco-tourism attraction.
Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah said initiatives such as tree planting are apt for any organisations to carry out within Kota Kinabalu as it would not only enhance the natural beauty but also highlight the city’s characteristics.
“Such efforts are in line with the State Government through a campaign that aims to plant some one million trees by 2025 which is supported by DBKK.
“For DBKK, this programme is also like the initiative known as “Bah Tanam Pokok” that is actively implemented as part of our commitment in making Kota Kinabalu a green, sustainable and resilient city,” he said,His speech was read by City Environmental Health Department Director Syron A Tunggolou at the OUM-DBKK “Save Our Earth” Programme at Daray Wetland Eco-Tourism, Kampung Darau, Saturday.
With one million trees as the objective, Sabin said it was vital for various parties or oganizations to collaborate to guarantee success in making the city greener and a highly viewed eco-tourism destination for local and foreign tourists.
He also commended Open University Malaysia’s (OUM) move to organise such event as it would further encourage other institutes or private sectors to comfortably join hands with local authorities or department in realising their objectives especially those involving environmental sustainability.
“With this kind of collaboration, we can further expand the network of support from various parties in making the sustainability agenda a success.
“Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes such as this not only strengthen awareness of environmental sustainability, but also connect educational institutions, local authorities, and the community.
“It becomes a medium to form a more responsible society, sensitive to environmental change, and united in shouldering shared responsibilities,” he added.
As there have been numbers of activities carried out this year in the mangrove forest, Sabin said the Darau Wetland the location as it was a vital part of the mangrove ecosystem in Kota Kinabalu.
He also said that the mangrove forest plays an important role in not just in terms of beautification of the city but also source of clean air to community as well as act as a natural habitat for wildlife.
“We live in an era where the issues of climate change, soil erosion, river and coastal pollution, and the loss of green areas are increasingly critical. Therefore, efforts to preserve and conserve the environment are no longer an option, but a shared obligation.
“The Darau Wetland, which is our location, is part of a very important mangrove ecosystem. Mangrove forests are not only habitats for various species of marine life such as fish, shrimp, and crabs, but also act as natural roots to reduce coastal erosion and filter pollution,” he added.
As of 2024, DBKK has planted more than 4,000 trees under the ‘Bah Tanam Pokok’ initiative.
Meanwhile, OUM President cum Vice Chancelor Dr Ahmad Izanee Awang said that the institute will remain resilient in carrying out various programmes that underlines the institutes three main initiatives comprising environmental preservation, education and community services.
For environmental preservation programmes, Izanee said a target of 2,500 trees are expected to be planted through their CSR initiative “Save Our Earth” which has now reached the fifth series this year following implementation in Tawau, Sandakan, Kuching and Miri.
Aside from that, OUM has also been implementing education programme – Learning is Fun – which is aimed for primary and secondary students to plant the learning interests among the youths along with their community services to help those faced with disasters such as floods or homes destroyed by fire.
“As of today, we have planted 1,800 trees and we are committed to achieve the 2,500 targets by the end of the year. We will also be continuing the ‘Save Our Earth’ initiative in Sungai Petani, Kedah, followed by another in Sarawak.
“And as for these three main CSR programmes, we will carry them out continuously and periodically which will depend on the initiative and creativity of our learning centres (OUM) across Malaysia.
“We have produced a blueprint to carry out several activities such as this across the country to ensure its success,” he added.
Izanee also said that OUM will always be opened to carry out collaboration with other colleges or learning institutes as well as private sectors and government agencies to carry out more CSR programmes that highlights the university’s three main cores.
During the programme, some 100 participants from OUM, DBKK along with OUM students and Alumni carried out planted 200 trees along the Darau Wetland.
