SETIU, Terengganu, July 30 — In a move to combat climate change, EcoKnights and MBSB Group have launched a groundbreaking mangrove planting initiative aimed at longevity and consistency of effort. This partnership is set to transform Setiu Wetlands Park, turning it into a thriving haven for marine life and a robust shield against coastal erosion.

The 2024 initiative kicked off with the planting of 240 mangrove saplings by 40 enthusiastic MBSB employees, supported by Terengganu State Parks Management Council, Sahabat Setiu and local communities. Mangroves, often dubbed nature’s guardians, are essential for preventing erosion, protecting shorelines, and capturing carbon. As Rafe Haneef, MBSB’s Group CEO, puts it, “At MBSB, mangrove replanting is a cornerstone of our sustainability strategy. We are committed to long-term investment in mangrove restoration, partnering with esteemed organizations like the Malaysian Nature Society and EcoKnights to ensure our efforts leave a lasting legacy.”

EcoKnights’ Tree For Us (T4Us) program will oversee the growth and survival of these saplings, ensuring the project’s long-term success. The collaboration has already proven effective; in 2023, the partnership achieved a stellar 95% survival rate for 490 mangrove saplings and 100 coastal trees across five states.

This year, the aim is even higher: planting 800 saplings to fortify coastlines. Fadly Bakhtiar, EcoKnights Program Director, remarked, “Our efforts go beyond just planting trees. Together, we’re ensuring our natural ecosystem continues to provide invaluable benefits to both the environment and local communities.”

This initiative isn’t just about trees; it’s about community, resilience, and the future. For inquiries, contact Norsiah Juriani Johari from MBSB Group at norsiah.johari@mbsbbank or Nabila Shohimi at nabila@ecoknights.org.my.

Photos of the event can be found:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10p7EgLQYtKDVGxlQN6Rcn_sgR1T2a3P-?usp=drive_link

ABOUT MBSB GROUP

MBSB has been a pivotal contributor in financial services sector for decades. The 2023 acquisition of MIDF has positioned us as a major player in Islamic banking, offering enhanced services, innovative products, and greater sustainability.

ABOUT ECOKNIGHTS®

EcoKnights® is a not-for-profit environmental organization that delivers development and environmental interventions to communities, government agencies, learning institutions, and companies. We mobilize and catalyze stakeholders towards sustainable development across trans- and interdisciplinary fields across four main pillars. Our mission is to impart long-lasting sustainable impact to the country. More information is retrievable at ecoknights.org.my

SOURCE : EcoKnights

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name : Aaron Riang
Sustainability Communication Coordinator
Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar EcoKnights Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor (EcoKnights)
Email : aaronriang@ecoknights.org.my

In a heartening display of unity and environmental stewardship, 606 dedicated volunteers from Liberty General Insurance Berhad (LGIB) gathered from May 6th to 9th, 2024, to plant 1,100 Rhizophora Mucronata mangrove trees. As part of EcoKnights’ Tree For Us (T4Us) initiative, this event was a demonstration of their commitment to sustainability and collective action.

The event started with encouraging speeches from representatives of Liberty General Insurance Berhad and EcoKnights, fuelling the volunteers’ excitement and determination. The volunteers then received guidance on safety measures and tree-planting techniques from speakers from EcoKnights and the Forestry Department. The group then began a 1.1 km walk to the planting plot, each step driven by a shared sense of purpose and responsibility.

Upon reaching the plot, the volunteers, with determination and enthusiasm, transformed the landscape one sapling at a time. Every time a sapling was planted, it was a lesson—and a display—of what could be achieved collectively. It served as a reminder that together, we can effect change.

For those interested in joining future environmental initiatives or learning more about EcoKnights, feel free to reach out to us at info@ecoknights.org.my. Let’s continue to make a lasting impact together, one step at a time.

Since 2018, DECATHLON has been committed alongside the World Clean Up Day association with the desire to educate everyone to practice their sport in a more responsible way. Last year, DECATHLON brought together 27,000 people in 40 countries to clean up more than 77 tonnes of litter.

This waste collection day has now become an unmissable event with family and friends. And this year, for the very first time in Malaysia, Decathlon has managed to unite more than 200 sports lovers around this cause, to collect waste in two different locations around Kuala Lumpur. The two groups gathered at a river logboom in PPR Sri Terengganu, Sentul, and at a roadside public park in Seksyen 17, Petaling Jaya.

The result of this environmental action spoke for itself. A total of 710.3kg of waste has been collected and sent to the relevant public authority, with 35.4% of it being recyclable.

Decathlon then hosted an event at their Petaling Jaya store, during which the local NGO Zero Waste Malaysia managed to raise awareness on the waste situation, but also educated sports users on the importance of preserving the spaces in which they practice sports. As a reminder, an average Malaysian generates about 1.2 kg of trash daily.

Adrian Lafage, Sustainability Leader at Decathlon Malaysia shared his thoughts on the importance of such actions: “It is important for us to take this kind of sustainable drive as a starting point, to set an example and show our beloved sportspeople how to adapt their daily habits and be more conscious about their waste consumption. On a corporate level in Malaysia, we have launched our workshop and second-life initiatives to extend the life of our products, and therefore promote a better circular economy. Thankfully, this event was a success thanks to our involved sports lovers community, who is extremely engaged in protecting our playgrounds”.

Arnaud Sauret, CEO of Decathlon Malaysia also added: “Here in Malaysia, the natural landscapes provide us a considerable amount of opportunities to practice sport, especially thanks to places such as the tropical rainforest, mangrove areas and untouched coral reefs. It is our duty to remain self-aware of our impact, and try to act responsibly when it comes to protecting it.”

This awareness campaign has also been successful thanks to the partnership with the local NGO EcoKnights, who was the officially appointed partner of Decathlon.

EcoKnights is a non-governmental environmental organization established in 2005. The organization focuses on working with key stakeholders to drive and empower sustainable actions for a better planet. Sustainable community development is the core of all EcoKnights’ efforts and this is delivered through policy advocacy, on-ground and hands-on community efforts, corporate partnerships, youth volunteerism and strategic engagements and fundraising.

Programme Director of EcoKnights, Fadly Bakhtiar also shared: “Partnerships such as today (between Decathlon, EcoKnights, Local Councils and the general public) are crucial for capacity building in developing countries. What we do today will be passed down to future generations. In the spirit of World Clean Up Day and as responsible citizens, each individual must do their part to set a good example for everyone to participate in volunteerism and activism to contribute to Malaysia’s sustainability.”

Decathlon is the world’s largest sports retailer with the mission of sustainably making the pleasure and benefits of sport accessible to the many. Founded in 1976 – Decathlon fuels the passion for sports with over 1,700 stores in some 70 countries. On the 15th of October 2022, Decathlon Malaysia will open its 10th store in Cyberjaya in DPulze Mall. The team of accomplished sportswomen and men want to offer the best offer of sports products and services to all. On top of offering more than innovating 5,000 sports products on 60 sports, Decathlon Malaysia is also a wellness center supporting all sports lovers before, during and after their practice through sports events & classes, healthy food restaurant, physiotherapy services, advice & recommendation from experts… Join MY Decathlon Club now!

Decathlon Malaysia Media contact
nawel.hamzaouiduchemin@decathlon.com

National Autism Resource Centre (NARC), Fakulti Sains Komputer & Matematik telah bekerjasama dengan EcoKnights Malaysia iaitu sebuah organisasi alam sekitar bukan kerajaan dalam melancarkan kempen’ Old Soles New Life’ iaitu kempen kitar semula kasut. Kerjasama ini juga turut mendapat sokongan dari Dow Malaysia dan Life Line Clothing Malaysia iaitu syarikat kitar semula tekstil terkemuka. Kempen ini merupakan pertama kali dilakukan di Malaysia yang melibatkan pengurusan ekosistem sisa kasut.

Kempen yang berlangsung selama dua bulan bermula dari 4 Ogos sehingga 18 September 2022 ini merupakan fasa pertama projek untuk mendedahkan model ekosistem kitar semula sisa kasut kepada komuniti di Malaysia. Antara jenis kasut yang boleh disumbangkan ialah semua jenis kasut bergetah atau elastomer seperti kasut sukan, kasut sekolah dan but bola sepak tanpa kancing logam, selipar dan juga sandal. NARC mensasarkan jumlah kutipan sebanyak 3,750 pasang kasut atau 1,125 kg. Warga UiTM dijemput untuk mengitar semula kasut terpakai dan yang tidak digunakan ke dalam tong sampah kasut yang disediakan di Kompleks Al-Khawarizmi, Fakulti Sains Komputer dan Matematik.

Berdasarkan statistik dari Lembaga Pembangunan Pelaburan Malaysia (MIDA) telah menganggarkan bahawa jumlah sisa pepejal yang dijana pada 2021 ialah 38,427 tan sehari, dengan 82.5 peratus dilupuskan di tapak pelupusan sampah. Memandangkan kasut mempunyai jangka hayat yang lebih pendek, tapak pelupusan sampah telah menunjukkan peningkatan dalam sisa kasut. Kempen ini akan menangani masalah ruang yang terhad di kawasan tapak pelupusan sampah seterusnya mengurangkan kesan kepada alam sekitar di Malaysia.

Dalam projek ini, pihak Dow Malaysia akan memproses tapak (bahagian bergetah) kasut yang diambil dari sumbangan warga UiTM untuk dikisar dan seterusnya menghasilkan butiran getah. Butiran getah ini akan digunakan dalam pembinaan infrastruktur terutamanya permukaan padang sukan. Antara projek yang telah berjaya dilakukan adalah di taman permainan yang dibina di Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Tadom (A), Banting, Selangor, sebuah sekolah orang asli yang rosak teruk akibat banjir pada Disember 2021.

Presiden EcoKnights, Dr Yasmin Rasyid turut menyatakan bahawa dengan kerjasama ini secara tidak langsung EcoKnights dapat menunjukkan cara bagaimana sisa kasut terpakai boleh digunakan semula untuk tujuan lain dan akhirnya dapat menjana ekonomi sekeliling.

Dalam masa yang sama, Encik Dale Warren sebagai Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Life Line Clothing turut menyatakan bahawa dengan inisiatif ini sedikit sebanyak dapat Dow Malaysia dapat membantu memainkan peranan utama dalam melaksanakan kitar semula kasut di Malaysia.

Pengerusi National Autism Resource Centre (NARC), Professor Dr. Nursuriati Jamil menyambut baik kempen ini dan berharap warga UiTM akan bersama menyokong dengan menyumbang kasut lama di tong pengumpulan terletak di FSKM. Kerjasama di antara UiTM dan pihak industri ini merupakan salah satu tanggungjawab sosial korporat (CSR) dan ini adalah bukti komitmen UiTM dalam menyumbang kembali kepada masyarakat. Pada masa akan datang, NARC merancang untuk bekerjasama dengan Industry, Community and Alumni Network (ICAN) UiTM dan UiTM Green Centre (UGC) untuk projek yang melibatkan kelestarian universiti dan komuniti.

— UiTM News Hub

Residents of Lake Edge in Puchong, Selangor, are taking their recycling to the next level with the “Old Soles, New Life” programme.

The initiative processes the rubber parts of old footwear into granules used to create safe playground surfaces, running tracks and floor padding.

The programme is a collaboration between sustainability organisation EcoKnights, materials science company Dow Chemical and textile recycling company Life Line Clothing Malaysia (LLCM).

Lake Edge Residents Association chairman Mariam Osman said at the launch, a single wheelie bin was quickly filled up with old shoes.

“There is good awareness among residents on green efforts as we also have a twice-monthly collection of recyclable materials and garden waste,” she added.

EcoKnights founder and president Dr Yasmin Rasyid shared that less than a month after kicking off the programme on July 20, they had reached their collection target of 4,000 pairs of shoes to rebuild the playground of SK Bukit Tadom (A), an Orang Asli school in Banting, Selangor, which had been damaged by the December 2021 floods.

“We hope to replicate this effort for the playgrounds at PPR flats, Kemas preschools and community spaces in need,” she said.

Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han and Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng were present at the launch along with Dow Chemical Singapore and Malaysia country director Paul Fong and LLCM chief executive officer Dale Warren.

“The Selangor government welcomes initiatives like this because we need to reduce the waste sent to landfills,” said Sze Han, who is also Selangor local government, public transportation and new village development committee chairman.

Michelle said collection bins for the programme were also available at Sunway University, Monash University, Taylor’s University and Inti International College in Subang Jaya.

Meanwhile, Fong said footwear suitable to be turned into sports surface materials included sports shoes, school shoes, slippers and sandals.

Dow Chemical will be sponsoring 75 bins which will be deployed in stages in the Klang Valley and Johor, including at the local councils of Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, Klang, Pasir Gudang, Iskandar Puteri and Johor Baru.

— The Star

SHAH ALAM, 14 OGOS: Kerajaan Negeri mengalu-alukan inisiatif mengumpul kasut terpakai atau rosak untuk dikitar semula yang disifatkan lebih lestari berbanding dibuang ke tapak pelupusan sampah.

EXCO Kerajaan Tempatan Ng Sze Han berkata usaha dilaksanakan sekumpulan kejiranan Lake Edge Residence Puchong mengumpul lebih 100 pasang kasut wajar dan berpatutan demi masa depan generasi akan datang.

“Kasut yang masih elok akan dibaiki dan diberi kepada golongan memerlukan manakala yang rosak dikitar semula serta dijadikan bahan di taman permainan kanak-kanak atau gelanggang sukan,” katanya ketika dihubungi.

Sze Han berkata beliau percaya ramai individu mahu melupuskan kasut lama mereka tetapi tidak tahu di mana ia perlu dibuang.

“Mereka tidak mahu buang dalam longgokan sampah domestik, ini menunjukkan masyarakat kita sedar langkah tersebut tidak betul dan lestari.

“Justeru, dengan kesedaran tersebut saya percaya ramai mencari kaedah betul untuk menghantar kasut mereka kepada pihak boleh melupuskan. Saya berharap usaha ini diteruskan di kawasan lain juga,” katanya.

Terdahulu, Sze Han merasmikan program ‘Old Soles New Life, Repurposes Your Old Shoes’ semalam di Lake Edge Residence Puchong yang turut dihadiri Ahli Dewan Negeri Subang Jaya Michelle Ng Mei Sze.

— SelangorKini

In a joint statement today, they said the two-month campaign is the first phase of a project to achieve a permanent circular model of recycling shoe waste in the nation. 

“The public will be invited to recycle their used and unwanted shoes responsibly by dropping them into any of the shoe waste bins with distinct red lids and white bodies around Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur and Johor,” the statement said. 

The statement added that the soles of the collected shoes (rubberised parts) will be grounded into rubber granules and it would be used in infrastructure construction particularly on sports surfaces, to help reduce the current standard use of hazardous recycled tyres.

— BERNAMA

This two-month campaign, dubbed as Old Soles New Life, is the first phase of a project to achieve a permanent circular model of recycling shoe waste in Malaysia. 

The public will be invited to recycle their used and unwanted shoes responsibly by dropping them into any of the shoe waste bins with distinct red lids and white bodies around Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur and Johor. 

“This campaign will bring the concepts of recycling and sustainability accessible to everyone. ”

“It emphasises that anyone can do their part by simply dropping their used shoes in the allocated shoe bins to be recycled into sports infrastructures which can be used again,” said Paul Fong, Country Director for Dow Malaysia and Singapore. 

“In addition, environmentally-friendly technologies will be used in the builds which will be safer for people and the environment.”

Rubberised soles to be upcycled for infrastructure construction

The soles (rubberized parts) of public-collection shoes will be ground into rubber granule which will be used in infrastructure construction particularly sports surfaces. 

By doing so, it helps to reduce the current standard use of hazardous recycled tyres. 

The recycled shoe materials will be bound using Dow’s water-based and solvent-free binder technology in a playground built at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Tadom (A), Banting, Selangor, an indigenous school that was severely damaged by a flood in December 2021. 

When compared to traditional sports and playground surfaces, the result is both safer and more environmentally friendly.

Partnership to drive sustainability through public participation

Dr Yasmin Rasyid, Founder and President of EcoKnights, stated, “This partnership is a good example of public-private collaborations to drive sustainability through active public participation.

“We hope that this effort, among others, will open the path for demonstrating how waste can be reused for other purposes and, ultimately, how the circular economy works.”

“Our goal is seeing a significant behavioural shift among Malaysians in terms of how we consume materials, how we treat and discard waste, and, ultimately, how we reuse materials for a better or different purpose. 

“This is one way EcoKnights is driving the urgency of adopting a sustainable lifestyle to transition into a carbon-neutral nation.”

Mr Dale Warren, CEO of Life Line Clothing Malaysia, said in a statement on Wednesday “Our goal is to divert as many shoes away from landfills as possible and that can be achievable by working with members of the community and corporations who are aligned towards the same goal.”

The Malaysia Investment Development Authority estimates that the amount of solid waste generated in 2021 will be 38,427 tonnes per day, with 82.5 per cent disposed of in landfills.

Because shoes have a shorter life expectancy, landfills are seeing an increase in shoe waste. This could be the answer to addressing the limited space for landfills and reducing the environmental impact for a better Malaysia.

He continued, “This initiative could help play a major role in implementing shoe recycling in Malaysia and we are excited about the outcome of this collaboration. 

“We strive to develop and incorporate innovative technologies into our daily practice, and this tried-and-true concept is one we are eager to put into action.”

The Malaysia Investment Development Authority estimates that the amount of solid waste generated in 2021 will be 38,427 tonnes per day, with 82.5 per cent disposed of in landfills.

Source : https://borneoecho.com/2022/07/20/first-shoe-waste-recycling-ecosystem-in-malaysia/

Non-governmental organisation EcoKnights and Taiwan Excellence joined hands to clean-up and help upgrade the school.

Taiwan Excellence, through its “Project Bumi – Meet The Needs” environment, social and governance (ESG) campaign, contributed products such as kitchen safety devices, sensor flush kits and waterproof paint to the school.

About 90% of SK Bukit Tadom schoolchildren are Orang Asli.

Late last year, EcoKnights programme director Fadly Bakhtiar approached SK Bukit Tadom headmistress Mimi Hidayah Muhd Adam to organise a gotong-royong at the school.

A team of 100 volunteers from EcoKnights participated in the gotong-royong.

The team also contributed new furniture and printers.

Not long after that, Taiwan Excellence reached out to EcoKnights, offering to help the school to ease its financial burden.

Mimi said the efforts of Taiwan Excellence and EcoKnights had tremendously helped the teachers and pupils.

“The school has 13 teachers, and six of their houses were affected by the floods. We felt completely hopeless,” she said.

The flood caused major damage to the school.

Meanwhile, Fadly said, “We hope that other large companies will make their products and services accessible to the community.

“This is not only to serve the community, but also to open the minds of these young children by introducing them to all these innovative products.”

Taiwan Excellence is a platform under Taiwan’s economic affairs ministry. — By MEGAT SYAHAR

Source : https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2022/07/12/knights-rush-to-the-aid-of-banting-school

“Mahu mencari sesuatu yang menarik, menyeronokkan dan bermakna buat anda? Sertailah Larian Coway 2021 bersama saya,” kata Dhabitah dalam laman Instagram miliknya.

“Tema tahun ini adalah berlari untuk wilayah anda. Saya tinggal di Selangor jadi saya mewakili Team Sentral. Bagi sesiapa yang tinggal di Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Selangor anda boleh menyertai larian ini dengan mendaftar secepat mungkin dengan membeli tiket penyertaan. Ia larian antara wilayah secara maya pertama kali diadakan,” katanya.

Larian Coway, yang kali pertama diadakan pada 2017, menyasarkan jarak 200,000 kilometer secara kolektif. Apabila peserta mencapai angka itu, Coway Malaysia akan menyumbang sejumlah RM200,000 kepada tiga pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) EcoKnights, Mercy Malaysia dan Reef Check Malaysia.

Selain Team Sentral, pasukan yang bertanding termasuk Team Utara (Kedah, Perlis, Pulau Pinang dan Perak), Team Selatan (Johor, Negeri Sembilan dan Melaka), Team Pantai Timur (Kelantan, Terengganu dan Pahang) serta Team Borneo (Sabah dan Sarawak).

Dhabitah, yang bertanding pada temasya Sukan Olimpik Tokyo 2020 baru-baru ini berkata, bagi setiap tiket yang dibeli, penaja juga menyumbang RM10 kepada Happy Water Project, inisiatif tanggungjawab sosial korporat untuk membekalkan air bersih kepada masyarakat Orang Asli yang memerlukan di seluruh negara.

Bermula esok hingga 23 Oktober, larian selama sebulan itu membolehkan peserta berlari di mana sahaja dan pada bila-bila masa selagi mereka terus bersemangat untuk mencatatkan jarak dalam kilometer menggunakan aplikasi Strava.

Pasukan dengan jarak purata tertinggi dari setiap orang akan dinobat sebagai juara keseluruhan. Pertandingan antara wilayah itu memberi peluang terbaik kepada pelari menunjukkan semangat kesukanan dan keupayaan mereka mewakili negeri dan wilayah masing-masing sambil bersama-sama berkongsi pengalaman larian dengan peserta dari seluruh negara.

Sementara peserta boleh memilih untuk berlari di mana sahaja, mereka juga akan mendapat akses untuk peta “secara langsung” laluan mereka yang akan memaparkan perkembangan mereka secara visual. Di samping itu, pelari juga boleh mengumpulkan lencana pencapaian maya bagi setiap jarak 5km yang dicapai.

Larian itu terbuka kepada semua warganegara Malaysia atau pemastautin berusia 16 tahun ke atas dan peserta mesti mendaftar secara atas talian di laman web Coway Run 2021 sebelum 23 Oktober. Setiap peserta akan menerima kit larian Coway Run bernilai lebih RM300.

Sumber: Harian Metro

Saksikan video Dhabitah mempromosikan Coway Run 2021 dibawah

Sumber: Instagram dhabitah_sabri