Come for World Habitat Day – Malaysian Environment Week at IOI Mall, Puchong, 23-25 Oct 2009

My DUN Kinrara constituency is co-organising a very special event to showcase the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve as our natural heritage just right at our doorstep in Puchong from this Friday to Sunday at IOI Mall (View Map). Visitors will be taken to visit the forest reserve on a first-come-first served basis.  We want to encourage the residents of Puchong especially to treasure this forest reserve. So come one, come all!

Annoucing the event to the press. Seated on the sofa are Kristine Ng from IOI Mall, myself, YDP of MPSJ Dato Adnan Md Ikhsan. Also present but not in the picture was TH Teoh, event organiser from SJ Echo.

The Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve used to be 4,270 hectares in size. However, under the previous state government, much of it had been developed until only 1, 248 hectares exist today. The Selangor State govt under Pakatan Rakyat is serious about wanting to preserve this forest for our generations so we have banned the further destruction of the trees, and we have plans to restore 3% of the forest.

The Star, Monday, October 19, 2009

Take a trip to forest reserve
By JADE CHAN

THE PUBLIC will get the rare opportunity to visit the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve in Puchong during the upcoming World Habitat Day Programme and Malaysian Environment Week.

The event, to be held from Oct 23-25 at the main concourse of IOI Mall’s New Wing, is organised by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok’s office, Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Forestry Faculty and IOI Properties.

Forest in the city: A sparkling stream inside the Ayer Hitam Forest Forest in Puchong.

It is organised in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DOE), Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Selangor Forestry Department, WWF Malaysia, Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Subang Jaya district police, and Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP).

MPSJ public relations officer Azfarizal Abdul Rashid said the council-level event is aimed at increasing awareness on the need to protect and preserve the environment and ecosystem, encouraging green practices, and educating the public on the role that nature plays.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is scheduled to launch the event on Saturday at noon.

Among the highlights are the scheduled trips to the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve and Enviro-Challenge Competition.

The trip to the forest will be held held at 11am and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday (two sessions for each day).

It is open to the public for free. Transport is provided. Visitors have to register and gather at the IOI Mall’s lobby, as seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Enviro-Challenge Competition uses the “explorace” concept, whereby 100 participants (in groups of five) will cycle around Puchong to collect clues and complete tasks that are related to the environment.

The competition is held from 7.30am-11am on Saturday, and is targeted at students and youths. The competition offers prizes valued at RM2,000, RM1,500 and RM1,000 to the first, second and third place winners respectively.

A colouring competition for children will also be held at 2.30pm on Saturday.

For enquiries, call the MPSJ at 03-8026 3188/ 8026 7401