Malakoff Corporation Berhad continued its commitment towards the environment by collaborating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) and Department of Marine Park Malaysia (JTLM) in its efforts to care for the marine ecosystem. The Malakoff-NRE Coral Rehabilitation Project 2016 held from 26 to 28 September 2016, at Pulau Besar, Mersing, Johor, was aimed at highlighting the importance of coral in the marine ecosystem and to raise awareness and support from the local community on the threats that they are facing.

The event was launched by Deputy Minister of NRE, Y.B. Datuk Haji Ir. Hamim bin Haji Samuri, who acknowledged Malakoff’s on-going coral rehabilitation efforts. Also present at the ceremony were Dato’ Dr Sukarno bin Wagiman, Director General of JTLM and Tuan Haji Ismail bin Ithnin, Deputy Director General (Development), Department of Environment (DOE).

“This is the fourth year that Malakoff has collaborated with JTLM within Johor Marine Park since the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme was started in 2013. This demonstrates the determination of Malakoff through its CSR programmes in championing marine biodiversity conservation activities in Malaysia.

“In 2013, the ministry, through the National Marine Biodiversity Council, has approved a coral restoration programme to be carried out at islands throughout the country. With this in mind, JTLM has actively planted coral nubbins with the collaborations of corporate organizations, including Malakoff.

“Since the start of this programme, 32,498 nubbins have been planted by JTLM in states that has marine parks, with a total area of 2.7 acres”, added Y.B. Datuk Haji Ir. Hamim in his speech.

At the event, a contribution of RM25,000 from Malakoff was also handed over to Y.B. Datuk Haji Ir. Hamim as a representative from the ministry for the project.

During the three-day event, ten divers from JTLM and Malakoff planted 4,000 nubbins around the island and a coral clean-up activity was also carried out. In addition to that, ten mooring bouys were installed at the islands within Johor Marine Park and 300 meters of marker bouys were also placed at the water recreational area at the waters off Pulau Besar.

The mooring and marker bouys provided by JTLM will facilitate the anchoring of boats at the islands and will ensure the safety of visitors while participating in activities such as swimming and snorkeling. This will reduce the risk of damaging the marine ecosystem, especially coral, at the marine parks, and lower the probability of accidents and injuries to visitors during such activities.

The event was also a pre-launching for the upcoming Hari Alam Sekitar Negara (HASN) 2016, organized by the DOE that will be held in Kuching, Sarawak on 22 October 2016. The celebration of HASN this year with the theme of “Alam Sekitar Tanggungjawap Bersama” is hoped to increase the public’s awareness on the importance of caring for the environment, especially on the effects of pollution to the marine ecosystem.

Malakoff’s previous environmental efforts in Pulau Mentinggi and Pulau Aur, Johor also generated positive impact to the community and the marine biodiversity in the surrounding areas. The projects owed its success to the continuous support from NRE, who guided Malakoff in the right direction in its marine biodiversity conservation efforts.

As a result of its commitment to the Environment, Malakoff has previously received several regional and national CSR awards on its environment efforts, namely the prestigious Anugerah Langkawi (2014) and Environment Week Special Appreciation (2013) by NRE, CSR of the Year Award (2013) by MIM, Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards on Green Leadership (2013), Appreciation for Habitat Restoration Initiatives in conjunction with World Ocean Day (2012) by NRE and Prime Minister’s CSR Award in Environment (2010).