Jom Bersih Bukit Bintang 6 - Cleaning and Greening

In line with the Cleanliness blueprint for Bukit Bintang launched in 2012 launched by our honourable Datuk Bandar, Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee (BBCEC) are pleased to organise the 27^th Gotong Royong themedJom Bersih Bukit Bintang 6 – Cleaning and Greening. The BBCEC is comprising of Hotels, Shopping Complexes, Authorities and Hawkers comprising The Federal Kuala Lumpur, Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur, Federal Hotels International, Plaza Low Yat, Sungei Wang Plaza, Melia Kuala Lumpur, Berjaya Time Square, Melia Hotel, Royale Bintang Hotel, Metro Hotel and Wolo Hotel.

Ms Ooi Lee Ping, Director of Group Marketing, Sales & Business Development and Operations of Federal Hotels International said “Federal Hotels International (FHI) and our FHI Group of Hotels namely The Federal Kuala Lumpur and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur are once again jointly working with the Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee Members, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Local Agenda 21 and the Ministry of Federal Territories on this 27th Gotong Royong . We are very honoured to have our honourable Datuk Bandar, Yang Berbahagia Datuk Seri Haji Ahmad Phesal bin Haji Talib to grace the BBCEC Gotong Royong themed Jom Bersih Bukit Bintang 6 – Cleaning and Greening at Plaza Low Yat Boulevard this Saturday morning. The Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong is now in its fourteen year, the inaugural Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong was first initiated in 2001 by FHI & FHI Group of Hotels working as a team together with The Federal Kuala Lumpur, Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur, Plaza Low Yat and the Local communities, Hotels & Shopping centres, restaurants &Hawker’s Association in the Bukit Bintang vicinity, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Local Authorities, Bomba and Alam Flora. The objective of the Gotong Royong then and now is still the same - to promote global environmental sustainability, to create further awareness on the importance of maintaining a sustainable environment, keeping our surroundings and premises clean, green and safe, promoting the 1Malaysia spirit of friendly neighbourhood in Bukit Bintang Central; maintaining a consistent clean, green and safe image of Bukit Bintang to ensure that both locals and tourists alike continue to visit this very popular shopping, dining and entertainment hub in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. The number of volunteers participating has grown over the years comprising the private sectors, nearby Hotels & Shopping centres, restaurants in the Bukit Bintang vicinity, local communities and Associations, school children and college/university students, Ministry officers, DBKL officers, Government agencies and Government link companies, Alam Flora, Bomba, Syabas, MRT, MMC-Gamuda and more, and this morning we have an estimated turn out of some 800 to 900 participants today. We believe such community initiative will further foster community pride and galvanize community support to continuously maintain a clean, green and safe living environment and to educate as well as to create awareness that we all too, can do the job together as One Team to enhance the beauty of our beloved Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Garden City of Lights.”

Mr Louis Sebastian, Executive Assistant Manager of Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur said “The Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong is a vibrant programme that will further inspire the community spirit to care for their environment in ways that are well managed. It is also one way to motivate every individual to take up environmental ownership and to care for the environment as a way of life for a better living environment for present and future generations.Equal vital importance is the building of a better community spirit to interact, cultivate relationship and understanding among the business people, and people like most of us working in this area.”

Mr Simon Leong, Organizing Chairman of BBCEC and General Manager of The Federal Kuala Lumpur said “This is our first Gotong Royong event for 2014, the Jom Bukit Bintang 6 – Cleaning and Greening. The BBCEC Committee members will plant trees and shrubs in Bukit Bintang areas such as at the premise frontage of The Federal Kuala Lumpur, Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur, bbpark, Melia Hotel and Metro Hotel to beautify the city. We are happy to have seen gradual improvements over the years due to the joint collective efforts of all smart partners including DBKL, LA21, Alam Flora, the Hotels and shopping centres in the vicinity as well as the local communities and all your continuous support. One of the prerequisites for Malaysia to achieve a developed country status by year 2020, is the effective management of solid wastes as it is generally recognised that there is a strong relationship between effective management of solid waste and a good quality of life and a healthy environment. In addition, the attractiveness of the Country to foreign visitors and investments is very much influenced by a clean and healthy environment. Whist the Government may have the will and take the necessary action to change the ways wastes are managed, it can only achieve changes with the support and active participation of the local communities. Bukit Bintang is also a food haven on level with shopping. It is alarming to know that we in Malaysia generate wastes of over 30,000 tonnes per day and still growing, and food waste accounts for almost half the amount. Malaysians love of food has come at a cost, an unsustainable growth in food waste. When food is wasted, other vital components also go to waste, the energy, the effort needed to produce food and cooking it. Food waste are very difficult to manage compared to other solid waste due to its perishable and decaying nature which often lead to contamination of our rivers and water sources. Though we have seen vast improvements over the years, but it is yet to the level of our aspiration of a “clean and beautiful”. The increased in waste bins placements in specific sites plus the increased in frequencies of waste collection brought in some level of success but this is still a recurring problem due to indiscriminate dumping of wastes in certain parts of the Bukit Bintang and the City which are still apparent. We the Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee have been monitoring and highlighting such issues to the relevant agencies and they always responded positively. It is a very much improved Bukit Bintang now compared to when we started this program in 2001. But for now and years to come we must have one common resolution in managing and reducing our waste, that is to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, towards achieving the reality of a clean and beautiful city. As stakeholders to the blueprint, the Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee, we will continue our commitments to focus on “how we could improved” with the support of Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur and the relevant agencies”

As Good Corporate Citizens, Federal Hotels International (FHI) & FHI Group of Hotels namely The Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur are committed to continue working on this meaningful BBCEC Gotong Royong which has drawn support and participation from both Public, Government Sector and Private Sectors, namely Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan; Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur L.A21 Kuala Lumpur, Perbadanan Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal dan Pembersihan Awam (PPSPPA), Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, Malaysian Plastic Manufacturers Association, Indah Water Consortium, Recycle and Organics Sdn Bhd, Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam, Sekolah Wesley Methodist Sentul, Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Damansara, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bangsar, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Puteri Titiwangsa, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Padang Tembak, Green City Kolej, KFCH College, Malaysian Association of Environmental and Health, Syabas, Polis DiRaja Malaysia, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur/Putrajaya, MRT Corporation, MMC Gamuda Sdn Bhd, Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur as well as Management & Staff from Federal Hotels International (FHI) & FHI Group of Hotels namely The Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur, Plaza Low Yat & bbpark plus the Low Yat Group Head office.

On behalf of Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee, Federal Hotel being the host of the 27^th Gotong Royong, would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in making this event successful:

· Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan.

· Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur.

· Plaza Low Yat

· Berjaya Time Square

· IWK Sdn BHd

· Alam Flora

· Motac

· Perbadanan Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal dan Pembersihan Awam (PPSPPA)

· Syabas

· Royale Bintang

· Melia Hotel

· Metro Hotel

· Hotel Capitol

· MPMA

· Sungei Wang Plaza

· LA21 Kuala Lumpur

· MRT Gamuda

· Berjaya Times Square

· Wolo Bukit Bintang

About Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong

Established in 2001, Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee (BBCEC) started with a few members namely Federal Hotels International and FHI Goup of Hotels namely The Federal Kuala Lumpur, Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur, Plaza Low Yat, bbpark, Novotel Century (now known as Royale Bintang Hotel) Melia Hotel, Swiss-Garden Hotel, Bintang Warisan Hotel, Nova Hotel, Agro, Park Inn International, Allson Gensis, Sungai Wang Plaza, Bukit Bintang Plaza, Sun Complex, Imbi Plaza, Hawker’s Association of Jalan Alor, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Bomba and Alam Flora. We embarked on the 1st Bukit Bintang Central Gotong Royong with about 250 participants.As the years went by, more establishments volunteered their services. The BBCEC is 14 years old in 2014 with an accomplishment of a total of 27 Gotong Royong organized since its inception in 2001. BBCEC is proud to remain committed towards a good cause. Todate, we have with us a strong some 800 to 900 participants. The Bukit Bintang Central Environmental Committee regularly meet up once a month, with the representatives from LA21, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, Alam Flora to jointly work towards a sustainable clean and green environment.BBCEC will continue to organize such Gotong Royong campaign at least twice a year, with the co-operation and assistance from all parties concerned.