Kertih, November 20, 2005 - The OPTIMAL Group of Companies (OPTIMAL), a joint venture involving PETRONAS, Malaysia's National Petroleum Corporation, and Union Carbide Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) today to embark on a long term initiative that will focus on conservation and environmental education.

YAB Dato' Seri Idris Jusoh, Menteri Besar Negeri Terengganu Darul Iman was present to witness the signing of the MoU between OPTIMAL and MNS. Representing OPTIMAL at the signing were Mr Jim Fitterling, Chief Executive Officer, and YM Dato' Tengku Mahamad Tengku Mahamut, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, whilst MNS were represented by YBhg Dato' Dr Salleh Mohd Nor, President, and YBhg Dato' Dr Hashim Abd Wahab, Vice President.

Under the MoU ,OPTIMAL will collaborate with MNS to take on a four-year project which involves two inter-related initiatives comprising the Kertih River Mangrove Rehabilitation Project, and the establishment of the OPTIMAL-MNS Environmental Education Centre (EEC) in Kertih. A grant of approximately RM 3.0 million has been allocated for the project that will be rolled out in two phases.

In his speech, YM Dato' Tengku Mahamad said, "Malaysia has one of the world's oldest Rainforest which has a wide array of habitat. It is our responsibility to protect the fauna and wildlife of the habitat and preserve it for our future generation. Based on this belief, OPTIMAL has taken the initiative to work together with MNS to restore the mangrove vegetation along the Kertih River.

"OPTIMAL is totally committed towards the success of the Mangrove Rehabilitation Project. Together with MNS, we are working towards a long-term plan that will ensure that the habitat along the Kertih River and its vicinity is constantly monitored and maintained," added YM Dato' Tengku Mahamad.

Community participation involving schools, local institutions of higher learning and the local community in the mangrove rehabilitation project would be given priority, said YBhg Dato' Dr Salleh. "The involvement of villagers in this project would instill not only awareness but ownership and responsibility of the mangroves.

"This project is also in line with the Government's five-year programme in the Ninth Malaysia Plan to rehabilitate the country's coastal areas. The devastating magnitude of last year's tsunami disaster has clearly shown the importance of mangroves in protecting our coastlines," added YBhg Dato' Dr Salleh.

Phase 1 of the project which kicked off in October 2005, consist of reforestation and rehabilitation of ecologically sensitive mangrove habitat and coastal vegetation along the Kertih River. This Phase will also include ecosystem management and activities promoting com m unity participation in primarily three villages within the vicinity of the rehabilitation site, namely Kampung Gelugor, Kampung Tengah and Kampung Telaga Papan. Through this effort, the project aims to restore the mangrove and surrounding coastal vegetation to its original state by carefully selecting and replanting mangrove species according to niches within the ecosystem or by proper zone segmentation which is also known as 'zonation'.

Phase 1's primary activity will be the setting-up of a mangrove mini nursery and replanting of stringently selected 1,000 mangrove seedlings along the Kertih River. Supporting activities will be implemented in stages to promote long-term awareness and sustained conservation of the ecosystem . Among the activities planned are establishment of environmental education programmes for the local villagers and the creation of a Community River Watch Group to monitor water quality as well as other living organisms and plants along the integrated river basin.

The project will enter into Phase 2 by end 2006 where it will focus on the implementation of environmental education programmes and curriculum centered at the EEC. The Centre, which is the first of its kind in the East Coast of Malaysia, provides an integrated environmental education avenue that aims to promote awareness, understanding and care for nature amongst schoolchildren, teachers and the local community through displays and show case of information relating to the Kertih River ecosystem and Kertih's unique coastal terrain and biodiversity. It will also include the involvement of OPTIMAL employees in setting up School Nature Clubs (KPA) in Terengganu which would be linked to the EEC.

The two-year duration for Phase 2 will also see the implementation of training and educational activities such as mangrove ecology, nature walk, forest ecology studies, bird watching, camping and stream ecology studies.

By creating an ongoing educational program m e targeted at young Malaysians, OPTIMAL and MNS hopes to create a generation of Malaysians that will learn to appreciate and protect their natural heritage.

"Apart from creating a base for environment education, we hope that the EEC will also play an active role in providing a platform to promote interest in the subject of Science amongst children in Terengganu, so that we would be able to develop our young people for future careers in science and technology," remarked YM Dato' Tengku Mahamad.

"The implementation of this Project is also in line with the Corporate Social Responsibility policies and practices of our shareholders, PETRONAS and Dow . In this regard, the establishment of the EEC complements and supports the strong education and hum an capability development focus of PETRONAS' programmes and initiatives in Kertih," concluded YM Dato' Tengku Mahamad.

For more information, please contact Nirmala Devi, Manager, Public Affairs, OPTIMAL Group of Companies, 03-27836868.

About OPTIMAL Group of Companies

The OPTIMAL Group of Companies (OPTIMAL) is a joint venture involving PETRONAS, Malaysia's National Petroleum Corporation, and Union Carbide Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. The Company serves key markets in the Asia Pacific region from its world-scale petrochemical facility located in Kertih, Terengganu. Established in July 1998, with a total investment of RM 5.3 billion (USD1.4 billion), OPTIMAL comprises of three companies namely OPTIMAL OLEFINS (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD, OPTIMAL GLYCOLS (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD and OPTIMAL CHEMICALS (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD.

OPTIMAL manufacturers and supplies m ore than 15 different petrochemical product families and approximately 75 products ranging from basic feedstock of Ethylene and Propylene, to intermediates like Ethylene Oxide, Ethylene Glycol, Butanol and various Ethylene Oxide derivatives. The products also include basic and high performance chemicals.

Website: www.optimal.com.my

About The Malaysian Nature Society

The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), established in 1940, is Malaysia's largest and oldest Non-Governmental Organization which strives towards the protection of Malaysia's natural heritage.

The main role of MNS, is conservation, whereby research into key habitats are done with a team of full-time scientific officers and volunteer scientists. A membership ­based organization, MNS is run by elected members on a voluntary, non-profit basis. The society organizes hikes, talks, slide shows, camping trips and other wholesome family activities. The Kuala Selangor Nature Park as well as education programmes at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, Boh Tea Estate in the Cameron Highlands and Rimba Ilmu at Universiti Malaya, are also run by MNS. A total of 229 secondary schools throughout the country are associated with MNS through the Kelab Pencinta Alam (School Nature Clubs).

The society's publications include the Malaysian Naturalist, a magazine written for the educated lay reader; Tapir, a new sletter for schools; the Malayan Nature Journal, a scientific periodical; a website and many books.

Website: www.mns.org.my

Archived News Release

Back to top