PAAB LAUNCHES EDU-SUSTAINABILITY CAMPAIGN AT USM PENANG, AIMS FOR NATIONAL EXPANSION

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB), a wholly-owned company of the Minister of Finance Incorporated, has selected Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Penang to implement the PAAB Lestari 2024 (Edu-Sustainability) Campaign.

According to PAAB chief executive officer Zulkiflee Omar, the campaign is being conducted in collaboration with Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd (PBAPP) and Water Watch Penang (WWP), a non-governmental organisation.

He said that the campaign is part of a long-term strategy to empower and strengthen environmental conservation efforts within higher education institutions.

"To carry out this campaign, RM50,000 has been allocated to USM to upgrade water supply facilities and campus infrastructure at Desa Siswa Indah Kembara L-12, which is expected to be completed in three months.

"Various sustainability initiatives will be implemented to educate students on water conservation and green practices, raising their awareness about environmental sustainability issues," he said after launching the PAAB Lestari 2024 Campaign at the USM Penang campus today.

Also present were PAAB chairman Datuk Seri Jaseni Maidinsa, USM deputy vice-chancellor (Industry and Community Network) Prof Dr. Azlan Amran, WWP president Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr. Chan Ngai Weng, and PBAPP chief operating officer Rosyidi Lat.

According to Zulkiflee, the campaign also includes the replacement of water taps and toilet tanks with water-efficient products, which are expected to reduce water consumption and save up to 50 per cent on current water bills.

"This aligns with the government's recommendations in Malaysia's Environmental Sustainability Plan 2020-2030, which targets a daily water usage of 160 litres per individual by 2030," he added.

Since 2019, PAAB has allocated RM1.15 million for the implementation of its PAAB sustainability CSR programme, which includes four main initiatives: the PAAB School Sustainability Programme at 13 schools in Kelantan, Johor, Pahang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan; the PAAB Green Mosque Programme at nine mosques and surau; the Beach Clean-up and Mangrove Planting Programme, A Wave of Change, at four locations; and the latest initiative, the PAAB Lestari 2024 (Edu-Sustainability) Campaign with USM Penang.

Zulkiflee said that the USM Penang campus was chosen due to its high clean water consumption, which is among the highest in the state, comparable to that of industries and hotels.

He expressed hope that the campaign would raise awareness among students about water conservation and environmental sustainability.

Jaseni said that they aim to expand the campaign to the USM Engineering Campus in Nibong Tebal and the USM Campus in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, adding that it can also be extended to other universities, such as Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).

-- BERNAMA