Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest

Datuk Azizah (centre) says that the Malaysian Government will re-launch the nationwide tree-planting campaign that was first initiated in 1997 by former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

On 15 September 2004, 3,000 volunteers from Japan and Malaysia gathered at the Paya Indah Wetlands in Dengkil, Selangor to plant 30,000 saplings on an eight-hectare piece of land that will be known as the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest. The tree-planting event was organised by AEON Co. (M) Bhd (formerly known as Jaya Jusco Stores Bhd) in commemoration of Jusco's 20th year in Malaysia (Jusco is one of the leading retailers in Malaysia).

Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government, Datuk Azizah Mohd. Dun, launched the event by planting the first sapling. The Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest was supported by the National Landscape Department, Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Forest Research Institute Malaysia and the Embassy of Japan. Speaking at the event, Datuk Azizah said the Malaysian Government will re-launch the nationwide tree-planting campaign that was first initiated in 1997 by the former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. An allocation of RM200 million is set aside under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001-2005) for this, with each state expected to plant 750,000 trees annually. The re-launching is planned to get more states to achieve the target and to get more participation from the private sector.

Also present at the launch were Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr. Tadashi Imai, Honorary Chairman of AEON Co. Ltd. Japan, also Chairman and Founder of AEON Environment Foundation, Mr.Takuya Okada and Chairman of AEON Co. (M) Bhd, Datuk Abdullah Mohd. Yusof.

The RM1.1 million greening effort involved 1,000 volunteers from Japan and 2,000 Malaysians, comprising students, teachers, NGOs as well as Jusco's staff, customers and business associates.There were 30,000 trees planted during the event and among the types of trees planted were Flame of the Forest, bottlebrush, wild cherry, ixora and several types of tropical fruit trees such as papaya, ciku (Achras sapota Linn.) and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum).

AEON Co. Ltd. Japan established the AEON Environment Foundation in 1991. The foundation organises various projects on environment conservation such as tree-planting and sponsors international conferences and seminars on environmental issues. It has been the practice and tradition of the AEON Co. to plant trees around each new Jusco shopping centre in Malaysia and worldwide. The tree-planting exercise, which involves their customers, is aimed at making their new shopping centres rich in greenery and providing attractive and pleasant public space for the local
community.

Paya Indah Wetlands lies adjacent to Putrajaya, the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) and is near to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Formula I Grand Prix circuit. In 1996, Paya Indah Wetlands was a barren land, devoid of life. Years of industrial activities took a toll on the surrounding flora and fauna. Through commitment and determination, the area is now a unique landscape of rehabilitated wetland ecosystem. Paya Indah opened its doors to the world on 13 October 2001.