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Community Outreach
COMMUNITY OUTREACH :
DEEPENING OUR IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
Environment:
Water & River Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of Sungai Kinta Project
In FY13, we began a three year project to replicate our
successful Working Actively Through Education and
Rehabilitation (W.A.T.E.R) Project at Sungei Way for the
three tributaries of Sungai Kinta: Sungai Buntong, Sungai
Senam and Sungai Kledang. Sungai Kinta is one of the main
branches of the Perak River that runs through Ipoh city.
This project is in support of the on-going efforts by
the Department of Irrigation and Drainage of Perak &
Kinta in rehabilitating Sungai Kinta. Baseline surveys
conducted by Global Environment Centre (GEC) have
found low levels of understanding and knowledge among
local communities of their disposal of household waste
and how they pollute the rivers.
The project will focus on stakeholder engagement and
education of communities living along the tributaries of
the river. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed
by GAB Foundation with GEC and Universiti Tunku Abdul
Rahman (UTAR) will support the project by assisting with
on-ground activities. As agreed in the MoU, undergraduates
of UTAR will play an active role in testing and monitoring
water quality, and conduct community education activities
with local communities as part of their undergraduate
programme. We aim to conduct education and training
programmes for at least 40 schools, 30 local communities
and 20 business communities within three years after
project implementation.
The Ipoh City Council, Perak State Department of National
Unity and Integration, Perak State Department of Education
are also members of the technical committee.
The Foundation aims to create an impact on the lives of
the people in communities we operate in while reflecting
a genuine respect for people, society and its diversity. The
GAB Foundation emphasises on engagement with partners
who share common goals and who can contribute skills
and expertise. Federal and State Government departments
have been our strong supporters, while civil society
partners from the local communities and NGOs have
been instrumental in sharing invaluable information and
technical advice.
Over the years, we have developed a rich relationship with,
and gained the trust of, local government agencies, NGOs,
and community partners. Leveraging on lessons learned
from programme evaluation and our growing expertise in
related subject matters, the Foundation has been focusing
on deepening its involvement along the three pillars.
National River Forum
In September 2012, the Foundation organised the first-
ever National River Forum. Themed “Sustainable River
Management”, the objective of the forum was to bring
experts from all over the world to Malaysia to share
global best practices on river conservation and
rehabilitation. 198 participants attended the one day
forum to listen to experts from Malaysia, Singapore, UK,
Japan, Australia and Vietnam.
The Forum received support from key government
stakeholders. It was officiated by the then Minister of
Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), YB Dato’ Sri
Douglas Uggah Embas, and attended by Tan Sri Joseph
Kurup, then Deputy Minister of NRE; Dato’ Dr James
Dawos, then Deputy Minister of Tourism; and Datuk Ir Haji
Ahmad Husaini Sulaiman, Director General, Department of
Irrigation and Drainage, Malaysia.
W.A.T.E.R Project
The Working Actively Through Education and Rehabilitation
(W.A.T.E.R) Project continues to engage with the community
of Sungei Way. In its 6th year, we continue to maintain the
water quality of Sungei Way at Class III which is suitable for
living organisms.
Our community investment
activities are spearheaded by
the GAB Foundation. Founded
in 2007, the Foundation focuses
on three pillars: Environment,
Education and Community.
Three fish species were
released into Sungei
Way to mark World
Water Day in 2012
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