Say Yes to 3R’s (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) Too
Yang Berusaha Encik Ahmad Faisal bin Abdul Karim, Ahli Lembaga Penasihat, Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur graced the Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong themed Jom Bersih Bukit Bintang 9- Yes to 3R’s (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) at Plaza Low Yat Boulevard on Saturday, 7 November 2015 at 7.30am.
Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong themed Jom Bersih Bukit Bintang 9 – Yes to 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) is jointly organised by the Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee (BBCEC) comprising Hotels, Shopping Complexes, Authorities and Hawkers. They are namely The Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur, Federal Hotels International, Plaza Low Yat, Sungei Wang Plaza, Wolo Hotel, Melia Kuala Lumpur, Metro Hotel, and Royal Bintang Hotel.
Ms Ooi Lee Ping, Director of Group Marketing, Sales & Business Development and Operations of Federal Hotels International said “We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Yang Berusaha Encik Ahmad Faisal bin Abdul Karim, Ahli Lembaga Penasihat, Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur for taking time off to grace the Jom Bersih Bukit Bintang 9 – Yes to 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.Federal Hotels International Group, The Federal Kuala Lumpur and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur have once again jointly organised together with BBCEC Member, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Local Agenda 21, Ministry of Federal Territories and spearheading the second Gotong Royong this year in 2015 to continue with the commitment of working towards a sustainable environment, promoting the friendly neighbourhood in Bukit Bintang Central area. Bukit Bintang is the famed tourist belt in Kuala Lumpur, and it is important to continue to boost a clean working and living environment as well as to also spur interaction among the local community and students as well as joint responsibility and team work. The Bukit Bintang gotong royong is now in its 15thyear in 2015, Federal Hotels International initiated the first Bukit Bintang Gotong Royong in 2001 together with The Federal Kuala Lumpur and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur. The objective of the gotong royong then and now is aimed to clean up the Bukit Bintang Central area and to educate both the public and students on the importance of keeping our premises in Bukit Bintang and the environment clean and green. Working towards a sustainable environment, promoting the 1Malaysia spirit of friendly neighbourhood in Bukit Bintang Central; constantly maintaining and enhancing a consistent safe and clean image of Bukit Bintang to ensure that both locals and tourists alike continue to visit this attractive tourist destination and very popular shopping, dining and entertaining hub in the heart of Kuala Lumpur are the main core value of organising this gotong royong. CSR today is part and parcel of the organisational way of succeeding in business, and an ethical action to give back to society, nurture and aid in the progress of a better and clean environment. We take pride for all the participants in contributing their time to take part in this massive gotong royong.
Mr Simon Leong, Senior General Manager of The Federal Kuala Lumpur said “Jom Bersih Bukit Bintang 9 Yes to 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse & Recycle) is the sequel to our YES to 3R in April this year. The objective is to continuously reinforce further awareness and to keep pace with the government’s effort to achieve a lower level of waste discards in the country. It is imperative that we have to instil the spirit and put more efforts on cleanliness and practice of 3R.. There are so much talks on waste segregation, in seminars, workshops, media campaigns and etc. When is the right time to walk these talks with 100% action?
A few weeks back, quoted by the media, Tuan Haji Zain said, we are making a baby step forward, since the implementation of waste segregation on 1st September. This baby can only make progress beyond the second steps with the commitment of all of us whether you are Malaysians or our foreign friends residing here. Every day is the right day and time to do it, reduce, reuse and recycle the waste we produced.
I’m really grateful to have partners like Alam Flora and Icycle Malaysia, conducting talks to school children on 3Rs and Chef Alwi Mahfodz on not just “how to cook but to chase away the mosquitoes”. Special thanks to College Antarabangsa Green city, Persatuan Penduduk Kampung Malaysia Tambahan, PTR Raya Permai and RA Taman Paragon Heights for sharing their experience in 3Rs waste management. Other hot topics include dengue and typhoid, both are related to poor hygiene and sanitation, we have with us senior DBKL health officers to pass on the knowledge of prevention. Please feel free to move around the ‘education’ booths after the clean-up and learn some tips from our partners which I am certain it will benefit us all.
I wish to congratulate Plaza Low Yat in collaboration with LA 21, Recycling and Organics Sdn Bhd and ICycle Malaysia, who jointly initiated the e waste collection program. Believe me, we got almost nothing for the 1st 2 months but due to the perseverance and never give up attitude of the partners, they made another baby step forward on e-waste management. The collection of e waste to date since May this year, amount to 1373 kg and still growing.
We expect the turnout of 1,000 volunteers participating in this morning’s massive gotong royong. Participants are comprising of private sectors, school children, ministry officers, DBKL officers, government agencies and government link companies. This gotong royong campaign is in line with the “Cleanliness blueprint for Bukit Bintang” which was launched in December 2012. Such initiative by DBKL engaging with the stake holders working towards the common goal of reducing down time and improved efficiencies on cleanliness and safety is commendable. As stakeholders to the blueprint, theBukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee, will continue to focus on “how we could improve” with the support of Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and the relevant agencies. Once again, we will be combing the main streets and back lanes of Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Imbi, Jalan Alor, Jalan Pudu and Changkat Tong Shin, disseminating the spirit of cooperation to keep Bukit Bintang clean. We will continue to practise the 3Rs Reuse, Recycle and Reduce as less waste means healthier earth” said Mr Simon Leong, Chairman of Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee.
Mr Simon later welcomed the new members on board namely Fahrenheit 88, Lot 10 and Ansa Hotel Kuala Lumpur.
Encik Muhammad Irwan Goh, Executive General Manager of The Federal Kuala Lumpur said “Our Management and Staff comprising Front Office and Reservation, Finance & Accounts Department, F&B Department, Sales & Marketing, Housekeeping, Maintenance, Banquet as well as Chefs will be participating in this meaningful event. The Federal KL has been practising the 3R – reduce, reuse and recycle concept as we believe it is important to cultivate the healthy environment from home and thus help to sustain the clean environment for future generations. BBEC Gotong Royong is an ongoing interaction that involve local communities from hotels, to retail and even school children to further promote Gotong Royong spirit. We want to provide better holiday experiences for guests and tourists visit Bukit Bintang and Kuala Lumpur”
“Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong is a vibrant programme that will further inspire the community to care for their environment in ways that are well managed. It is also one way to motivate every individual to take up environmental ownership and to care for the environment as a way of life for a better living environment for present and future generations. Equal vital importance is the building of a better community spirit to interact, cultivate relationship and understanding among the business people, and people like most of us working in this area” said Mr Louis Sebastian, Executive Assistant Manager of Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur.
As Good Corporate Citizens, Federal Hotels International together and its FHI Group of Hotels namely The Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur are very pleased to be able to continue spearheading the initiative of such community service, i.e. to clean-up our beloved Bukit Bintang Central area. Now, this BBCEC Gotong Royong has drawn further support and participation from both public, Government Sector and Private Sectors, they are namely Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan; Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur L.A21 Kuala Lumpur, Pejabat Cawangan Bukit Bintang DBKL, SWCorp, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, Kementrian Pelancungan dan Kebudayaan, Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya, Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Wilayah Kuala Lumpur, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Indah Water Consortium, MMC – Gamuda KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd; Malaysian Association of Environmental and Health, Recycling and Organics Sdn Bhd, Icycle Malaysia, students from SMK Taman Maluri, SMK Puteri Titiwangsa, Sekolah Bandar Baru Sentul, Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu Muda, Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Cheras, dan Yayasan Muamalat Belia.
On behalf of Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee, and The Federal Kuala Lumpur being the host of the 30th Gotong Royong, we would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in making this event successful:
· Kementrian Wilayah Persekutuan
· Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur
· Pejabat Cawangan Bukit Bintang DBKL
· Local Agenda 21 Kuala Lumpur.
· SWCorp
· Kementrian Pelancungan dan Kebudayaan, Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya.
· Alam Flora Sdn Bhd.
· Indah Water Consortium.
· MMC – Gamuda KVMRT (T) SDN BHD
· Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Wilayah Kuala Lumpur.
· Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
· Yayasan Muamalat Belia.
About Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong
Established in 2001, Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee started with a few members namely Federal Hotels International Group of Hotels in Kuala Lumpur namely The Federal Kuala Lumpur and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur, Plaza Low Yat, Melia hotel, Royale Bintang hotel, Bintang Warisan hotel, Nova Hotel, Sungai Wang Plaza, Bukit Bintang Plaza, Hawker’s association of Jalan Alor, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and Alam Flora. We embarked the 1st Gotong Royong with about 250 participants. As the years went by, more establishments volunteered their services. BBCEC is 15 years old in 2015 with accomplishment of total 30 gotong royong since its inception. BBCEC is proud to remain committed towards a good cause. Todate, we have with us over 800 strong participants.
The Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee is committed to regularly meet up once a month, with the representatives from LA21, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Alam Flora to jointly work towards sustainable clean and green environment. BBCEC will continue to organize such gotong royong campaign at least twice a year, with the co-operation and assistance from all parties concerned.