TREE PLANTING AND BOTANIC GARDENS ICONIC PROJECT
SPEECH BY YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW
THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
TREE PLANTING AND BOTANIC GARDENS ICONIC PROJECT
6TH MAY 2021; BOTANICAL GARDEN
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YB Chris Lee Chun Kit
Assembleyman for Pulau Tikus
Puan Nur Syazwani binti Ismail Director of Penang Botanic Gardens
Dato’ Dr Saw Leng Guan
Curator of Penang Botanic Gardens
Dato’ Lawrence Cheah
President of ROSE Charities Malaysia
Mr. Jery Yeoh Hooi Seng
Founder and Executive Director of WhyteHouse Education Group
Members of the media,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen
A very good morning to all of you.
I commend the management and staff of Taman Botani Pulau Pinang for their dedication and hard work for keeping these 29 hectares of prime and undulating grounds in excellent condition.
Since its creation in 1884, more than 135 years ago, the lush greenery tranquil setting has made this place a favourite recreational park for Penangites and a popular tourist attraction. I am confident that every Penangite is proud that this very ground is touted as Penang’s unique natural heritage and the only one of its kind in Malaysia.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Due to the Covid19 pandemic, many projects, events and activities have been postponed or even cancelled. However, I am delighted to officially unveil the Penang Botanic Gardens Iconic Project. It is a project initiated on 13th January 2020 by our former Penang Governor, His Excellency Tun Dato’ Seri Utama (Dr.) Haji Abdul Rahman.
Both of these projects are excellent examples of collaboration between Taman Botanic Pulau Pinang, ROSE Charities International, and Whytehouse Education Group. I thank them all for their exemplary efforts in achieving a meaningful CSR undertaking.
Over the years, Taman Botani Pulau Pinang has managed to achieve several milestones, the most recent of which are the State Enactment of the Garden towards corporatizing the Garden and the publication of the Special Area Plan for the Gardens.
It is worth noting that the Penang Botanic Gardens have 11 gardens and five plant houses. This particular zone was previously known as the Sunken Garden, is now re-purposed into a Fragrant Garden, featuring flora that emits fragrance or smells.
I am sure that the fragrances will attract even more birds, insects and other wildlife to enrich the biodiversity here. This in turn can attract more visitors to appreciate and experience the wonder of the Gardens for themselves.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In our bid to realize the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’, I am happy to point out that today’s initiative is in line with the green efforts of the Penang State Government to plant 200,000 new trees by 2023 and 500,000 new trees by 2030 in Penang.
From 2008 to 2018, the Penang State Government planted 310,290 new trees. An additional 70,234 new trees was planted from 2018 to date, making a total of 380, 524 new trees planted throughout the State by both local councils since 2008.
Looking ahead, I sincerely hope that all parties in Penang will undertake even more green initiatives and efforts to make our state even greener than it is now. And now, it gives me great pleasure to unveil the plaque and to plant the Millingtonia hortensis, commonly known as Tree Jasmine to commemorate this auspicious occasion.
Thank you.