THE LAUNCH OF NATURE CLASSROOM BY WHYTEHOUSE & THE HABITAT PENANG HILL

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE LAUNCH OF NATURE CLASSROOM BY WHYTEHOUSE & THE HABITAT PENANG HILL
29 October 2020

YB Yeoh Soon Hin

Penang State Exco for Tourism & Creative Economy

YB Chong Eng

Penang State Exco for Social Development & Non-Islamic Religious Affairs cum Chairperson of PWDC

YB Phee Boon Poh

Penang State Exco for Environment & Welfare

Mr & Mrs Cockrell

Founders of The Habitat Penang Hill

Honourable State Assemblymen and Members of Parliament

Dato’ Cheok Lay Leng

General Manager of Penang Hill Corporation

Mr Jonathan Freddy P Bagan

Tourism Director, Ministry of Tourism & Culture

Mr Jery Yeoh

Co-Founder, The Whytehouse Education Group

Mr Allen Tan

Managing Director of The Habitat Penang Hill

Distinguished Guests & Members of the Media

Good Morning everyone!

Firstly, I would like to thank The Habitat and Whytehouse Education Group for inviting me to this event held in the beautiful rainforest of Penang Hill.  

On behalf of the Penang State Government, I would like to congratulate our hosts today for the establishment of The Habitat-Whytehouse Nature Classroom at The Habitat Penang Hill which is rich not only in historical and cultural heritage but also in natural and biological heritage.

The Habitat Penang Hill has done Penang proud not only in coming up with a world-class rainforest discovery centre and eco-tourism site but also a platform to educate our future generations in order for them to gain a deeper understanding of and to connect with Mother Nature.

Studies have shown that a nature-based education offers many unique benefits to a child’s academic, social and behavioural development and I am sure that this partnership between The Habitat and Whytehouse Education Group will contribute towards providing a meaningful nature-based education to our children for years to come.

As Sir David Attenborough said, teachers possess “enormous power” to influence the thoughts and actions of their pupils. “Bringing nature into the classroom can kindle a fascination and passion for the diversity of life on earth and can motivate a sense of responsibility to safeguard it.”
(Source:https://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/jan/09/environment-lessons-as-important-as-maths-and-english-says-attenborough)

This initiative, I believe, is also in line with the policy of the state government to position Penang Hill as a centre of excellence for education and eco-tourism which is mentioned in the Vision and Mission Statement for PHC.

I am most glad and remain hopeful that when there is a common purpose of what we want to achieve especially concerning Mother Nature, all of us are in the right direction heading towards developing a Family-focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.

Malaysia needs more programmes concerning nature like the one we are launching here today as part of a national curriculum for kindergartens and schools across the country and we are proud that once again Penang is leading the way in opening the eyes, minds and hearts of our young in this crucial matter.

The recent submission to UNESCO for the listing of the proposed Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme will propel our position as a Centre for Edu-tourism. If successful, the listing will make Penang a truly unique destination with not one but two international accolades under the UNESCO banner.

I would like to thank all those involved including Dato’ Cheok Lay Leng and his team at PHC, Mr. & Mrs Harry Cockrell and their team at The Habitat and all the other agencies and partners who spared no effort in this initiative.

Once again, well done and thank you for the launch of The Habitat-Whytehouse Nature Classroom at The Habitat Penang Hill today.