Jamilah (centre) poses with Sabati members after planting a sapling to commemorate Arbor Day 2015 along Jalan Diplomatik.
KUCHING: A total of 980 saplings were planted along Jalan Diplomatik at Petra Jaya here in conjunction with World Arbor Day or Tree Planting Day 2015.
Chief Minister’s wife Datin Patinggi Puan Sri Jamilah Anu, who officiated at the tree planting ceremony, said Arbor Day is a day to remind everyone to be conscious and cautious of their environment.
“We cannot imagine living on a very barren land as it is very unpleasant and since nature gives us rich flora we must constantly check that we live continuously in a green environment,” she said before planting a sapling to commemorate the occasion yesterday.
“Let us appreciate our green environment and make it beautiful and take care of it as we don’t want to see just bricks and rocks.
“This will make our air fresh and give us healthy living, especially in Kuching,” she added.
At the same time, she told city residents and village folks to be involved in tree planting and to appreciate the environment.
“It is also important they understand the importance of having trees in their surroundings and how nature evolves to give us conducive place to live in,” she elaborated.
Jamilah also reminded everybody, especially the authorities who beautify towns and cities across the state, to continue maintaining the green landscapes in their respective towns and cities.
“However, we should cut those trees that are a threat and maintain those that are overgrown and trim their trunks and leaves which are very shady. But if we cut down trees then we have to plant more to replace what is gone,” she advised.
She praised Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) for their support, especially in organising Arbor Day and the planting of trees since 1993.
Thus, she hoped that DBKU would continue making Kuching a green and safe city to live in.
She also thanked DBKU for taking up her challenge last year to plant 3,333 saplings under its jurisdiction this year.
As president of the Association of Wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers of Sarawak (Sabati), she urged members to be proactive in environmental activities and lead others to safeguard our green environment.
To all non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the corporate sector, the government and its agencies, schools and institutions of higher learning, she said it would do a lot of good to the environment if they plant new trees to replace those they have cut.
She hoped by doing so Malaysia would one day be a ‘garden nation’ of the world.
Earlier, DBKU director Dr Sadiah Abdul Samat said the council would continue with its green campaign to help make Kuching a green, beautiful and vibrant city.
She disclosed that since the National Arbor day on March 3, 1997, the council had planted more than 7,500 saplings and more and more areas under its jurisdiction now had greenery landscape.
Later, Jamilah presented a cheque with an undisclosed amount from Sabati to Sadiah for purchasing some tokens for participants of yesterday’s event.
Sabati members including its deputy president Dato Sri Empiang Jabu and education committee chairperson Datin Amar Fatimah Iskandar and DBKU member Datuk Wee Hong Seng were among those participating in the event.
The event was organised by DBKU in collaboration with Sabati, Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, NGOs and institutions of higher learning.