Headline Lush quality of life MediaTitle The Star Date 25 Jan 2016 Color Full Color Section Metro Circulation 338,368 Page No 1,3 Readership 1,032,000 Language English ArticleSize 770 cm² Journalist EDWARD RAJENDRA AdValue RM 25,585 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 76,755 Lush quality of life Urban forestation projects in Selangor aim to create more green lungs for a balanced environment. >3 RM40mil urban forest in Shah Alam Putra Heights in Subangjaya also to have its own recreational park By EDWARD RAJENDRA and KATHLEEN MICHAEL [email protected] URBAN forests connect us to Section 13, Shah Alam, for the Programme m Shah Alam. nature, providing a balance urban forest. He said the gazetted land was a between development and envi­ "Discussions have begun to short distance from the Raja Tun ronment conservation. bring in the right people with the Uda Library in Jalan Kelab Golf City folk will be glad to see know­how on urban forestation. 13/6. more and more parts of the Klang "Allocations to finance the pro­ The Selangor government has Valley getting a green makeover ject have been given under the allocated RM40mil for the project, in the form of urban forests and 2015 and 2016 Budget. We envis­ which will be carried out in phas­ lush recreational parks. age a forest in three years from es. The latest additions are a 16.3ha now. Also at the event was Tourism, urban forest in Shah Alam and a "People will be spending time to Environment, Green Technology 3.23ha recreational park in relax, having a picnic with their and Consumerism Committee Subangjaya. families or just enjoying the shade chairman Elizabeth Wong, who Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk under the canopy of trees," Azmin said the forest would be known as Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the said after launching Aeon Co (M) People's Park. state had gazetted the land in Berhad's Hometown Forest "Challenges such as develop­ Headline Lush quality of life MediaTitle The Star Date 25 Jan 2016 Color Full Color Section Metro Circulation 338,368 Page No 1,3 Readership 1,032,000 Language English ArticleSize 770 cm² Journalist EDWARD RAJENDRA AdValue RM 25,585 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 76,755 ment and changing climate pat­ school students joined in to plant 2,000sqm open lawn. Among the terns make it more important for trees and shrubs around the Aeon other facilities are 32 parking bays, us to move towards environment Mall. 15 motorcycle bays and public conservation," she said. Forest Research Institute of toilets. Azmin said Selangor must have Malaysia (FRIM) eco­physiology Sime Darby Property managing 30% of forested area at all times. head and senior research officer director Datuk Jauhari Hamidi said Selangor now has 33% forested Dr Ang Lai Hoe who gave a the recreational park would provide area and the state government briefing on the right methods of added value to residents in Putra plans to increase its urban tree planting trees, said FRIM was Heights and surrounding areas committed to share knowledge on canopy. "The park with its many "Trees will help enhance the creating urban forest and help recreational facilities will foster a quality of our lives as from an people better understand the need healthy lifestyle," he noted. annual measurement, 100 trees for an ecosystem of trees within Nor Hisham said a recreational neighbourhoods. can remove two tonnes of carbon park was listed in the "Wishlist dioxide from the air," the Mentri "Urban forest provides neigh­ Green City 2030" that was drawn up Besar elaborated. bourhoods with environmental and social benefits," he said. through dialogue engagements with Earlier at Shah Alam's Aeon the public. Mall, about 850 volunteers gave In Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, res­ He said creating green lungs in their time and energy in planting idents welcome a new development Subang Jaya would help improve trees. that will give residents its own green the well­being of the community, Aeon Hometown Forest lung. and the efforts should not rest solely Programme will see 13,000 trees The recreational park is now on one group. and shrubs being planted and also under way thanks to Sime Darby "We need more commitment from given out to people to green Shah Property Berhad, B&G Property Sdn all parties in enabling us to make Alam city. Bhd and Malaysian Institute of our action plan a reality. Aeon Co (M) Berhad managing Planners (MIP). "We hope that developers, director Nur Qamarina Chew said Its groundbreaking ceremony government agencies, non­ as a responsible corporate citizen, took place on Saturday at The government organisations and even Aeon would contribute its Glades, officiated by Subang Jaya the community will step forward to resources to preserving the Municipal Council (MPSJ) president ensure that we can turn Subang eco­system wherever its stores or Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan. Jaya into a green city by 2030," he malls were situated. The ceremony was organised in added. In Malaysia, Aeon has planted conjunction with World City A memorandum of understanding some 500,000 trees and shrubs. Planning Day 2015­2016, and is seen was signed between MPSJ and MIP Nur Qamarina said there was as a step towards helping MPSJ fulfil after the groundbreaking ceremony, an urgent need to create aware­ its MPSJ Green City Action Plan to coordinate, implement and ness to green and preserve the 2030. monitor activities related to the planet for future generations. The park will have numerous Low­Carbon City framework. Aeon Co (M) Berhad chairman types of tropical plants selected by The day also saw activities for the Datuk Abdullah Mohd Yusof the local council, giving visitors a community such as colouring together with Nur Qamarina, cool and refreshing environment. contest for children and a 25km Azmin, Kota Anggerik assembly­ There will be a 5km jogging and Green Ride around Putra Heights for man Dr Yaakob Sapari, state cycling track, 4.5km tactile the public. health, welfare, women and fami­ walkways for the disabled, 13 Police officers from Subang Jaya ly affairs Dr Daroyah Alwi, Aeon pedestrian and cyclist stations also took time off to join the Asia Sdn Bhd managing director , eight shaded areas, a 600sqm play community event. Shinobu Washizawa together with area, two playing courts and a The recreational park at Persiaran Putra Perdana will have a 44m open lawn for public use when completed. Headline Lush quality of life MediaTitle The Star Date 25 Jan 2016 Color Full Color Section Metro Circulation 338,368 Page No 1,3 Readership 1,032,000 Language English ArticleSize 770 cm² Journalist EDWARD RAJENDRA AdValue RM 25,585 Frequency Daily PR Value RM 76,755 Volunteers planting trees around Aeon Mall in Shah Alam. Nor Hisham (left) and Jauhari (second from left) planting a tree at Persiaran Putra Perdana, Putra Heights, which will be turned into a recreational park for the public. — Photos by RICKY LAI and IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/ The Star.