Shah Alam, 23 January 2016

AEON Co (M) Bhd lives up to its environment preservation commitment with the initiation of its latest Hometown Forest Programme at the soon-to-be-open AEON Mall Shah Alam.

First held in Ayer Keroh, Melaka, the tree-planting initiative is a 25-year-long AEON tradition and is carried out at each of its new mall. Managing Director of AEON Co (M) Bhd, Ms Nur Qamarina Chew, explained, “As a responsible corporate citizen, AEON will continue to contribute its resources to preserving the eco-systems wherever our stores or malls are present. For the record, AEON has planted more than 10 million trees and shrubs throughout its global network. We believe in promoting awareness of the urgent need to green and preserve our planet, not just for ourselves but also for our future generations.”

Launched by Chief Minister of Selangor, YAB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin bin Ali, and attended by Chairman of AEON Co (M) Bhd, YBhg Dato’ Abdullah bin Mohd Yusof, the event held today saw the participation of 850 volunteers across various organisations. The involved parties included Shah Alam City Council, Royal Malaysia Police Force (Shah Alam division), Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Selangor division), AEON business partners, as well as students from local schools and universities along with AEON Cheers Club members.

The tree-planting activity was preceded by a short briefing by Dr Ang Lai Hoe of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM). Up to 13,000 plants-from fruit trees and palm trees to herbs and flowers-were given a new home around the vicinity of AEON Mall Shah Alam.

Additionally, AEON, together with FRIM, has set up an Educational Forest Area at AEON Mall Shah Alam to educate the younger generation on the preservation of endangered tree species. The ‘forest’ features six medicinal plants (Serai, Bunga Kantan, Pandan, Mahkota Dewa, Mas Cotek and Orange Jasmine) and 53 main tree species and fruit trees (they include Merbau, Keruing, Jering and Rambai).

Every volunteer of the day was gifted with a tree, prepared by the Free Tree Society together with the AEON Cares team, to take home after the event. On top of being a token of appreciation for their help, the giveaway was also an extension of AEON’s efforts in cultivating a ‘green’ movement by encouraging a habit of tree-planting at home.

During the event, the Malaysian AEON Foundation also donated RM3,000 each to five schools with the intent of helping deserving children purchase additional books for their educational betterment. The five schools that received the donation were Sek Keb Seksyen 13, Sek Keb Seksyen 9, Sek Keb Taman Tun Dr Ismail Jaya and SJK (T) Ladang Glenmarie.