The Star, Malaysia : Re-vegetation for hill slopes in Mulu

Monday December 22, 2003

Re-vegetation for hill slopes in Mulu

BY SHARON LING

KUCHING: A community-based programme in Mulu to re-vegetate barren hill slopes and preserve the environment in the long term is being undertaken by PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd.

The immediate focus of the Mulu ecological enhancement programme, which was launched early this month, is on re-vegetating three hills which were cut and left barren when the Mulu airport was upgraded by PPES Works this year.

“Together with the local community, we have started replanting some low-growth vegetation such as creepers on the hillsides,” PPES Works executive director Jamel Ibrahim said yesterday.

“This is our immediate project for the next six months in Mulu. It will probably take three to five years to re-vegetate the area completely.”

He added that PPES Works planned to introduce sustainable activities and educate the local community on long-term environmental conservation.

The Mulu programme was introduced as part of the company’s commitment towards environmental conservation and sustainable development.

PPES Works, with its subsidiaries Sara Road Maintenance Sdn Bhd and Pavement Technology (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, had adopted an environment-friendly approach dubbed “Operation LANG” for all its projects.

“LANG” stands for “love and appreciate our natural greenery.”

Other initiatives under “Operation LANG” include organising environmental awareness campaigns, using environment-friendly construction materials and technology and training staff on environmental issues.