Johor Bahru, 5 Jun 2015 – Ambassador Joseph Yun, the United States Ambassador to Malaysia made a visit to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia en route to Singapore. He, together with a group of 15 embassy staff and family members are on the last leg of a six-day bicycle trip from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore to commemorate the World Environment Day on June 5. The trip began in Putrajaya on May 31 and will finish today (5 June 2015) in Singapore.
In conjunction with the visit, UTM hosted an environmental themed project Art-in-the-Park . The project is also in commemoration with the World Environment Day.
Art-In-The-Park program is a program that promotes upcycling among students, with the upcycling of old or unused materials into creative décor. This is the blend of creative savvy with environmental sustainability in mind. It not only turns the unwanted into valuables and reduces impact on the environment, but also brings personal style and creativity to life.
For the art-in-the-park event, UTM students used their innovation and creativity in upcycling old newspapers, old tires and discarded wooden planks into objects like a two-seater sofa, garden furniture and bicycle rack.
Sustainability and green initiatives have always been close to UTM. UTM believes that raising the awareness among students and the campus community on the need to manage a sustainable environment on campus is of utmost importance
The spirit of environmental responsibility continues to be inculcated among the campus community, particularly among students. In UTM, this mindset is instilled through an array of initiatives. One such initiative is the Sustainable Arcade with UTM students practicing efficient waste management. UTM also promotes the No Plastic Bag Campaign which aims to reduce the use of plastic bags on campus.
UTM promotes a sustainable and eco-friendly concept throughout its campus. This has been formalized through the UTM Campus Sustainability Policy, which is used as a guideline in ensuring that UTM functions as a Sustainable Campus Community through responsible and optimized resource management; innovative environmental and ecosystem management; efficient energy management and leadership commitment and campus-wide participation.
Through its Sustainability Energy Management Program, UTM has been able to save about 2 million kilowatt of energy per year since 2009 through initiatives like the Lamp Retrofitting Project and an Online Electrical Billing Management System. Through its Ecotourism Campus initiative, UTM is able to conserve nature for the enjoyment of communities both within as well as outside UTM.
The US Embassy group, led by Ambassador Yun, stopped in several cities along the way to meet local governments, NGOs, universities, and the media to promote environmental awareness and experience local culture. Planned stops include Melaka, Pontian, Johor Bharu, and other cities and towns. During the trip, the ambassador participated in a number of outreach events organized by several local partners.
At UTM, Ambassador Yun and his entourage were greeted by UTM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Ir Dr. Wahid Omar, and Director of the Office of Corporate Affairs, Prof. Dr. Masputeriah Hamzah. UTM applauds the effort the US Embassy team in raising awareness and concern on the environment. The entire UTM community wishes them well, and here at UTM, we will continue to do our part at all levels in conserving the environment.
