Friday, January 23, 2015

RAJA PERMAISURI PERAK TUANKU ZARA SALIM LAUNCHED EMKAY GROUP'S COFFEE TABLE BOOK 'VILLA TANJUNG WAN' AT MENARA MUSTAPHA KAMAL ON 23 JANUARY 2015

KEE@FSWMAG.COM


 EMKAY GROUP PUTS CONSERVATION AS NO 1
PRIORITY FOR PULAU BANDING DEVELOPMENT
Coffee table book features upcoming eco-friendly resort villas in  130 million year old rainforest in Perak’s Belum-Temengor enclave

EMKAY Group is making conservation its prime focus in its long-term development plans for Pulau Banding which include creating a premier heritage location for Malaysia.

The island is the gateway to the Belum-Temengor Tropical Rainforest and a legacy for future generations, with a sustainable business model comprising components of eco-tourism, education and preservation initiatives as well as social and community development of the local Orang Asli community.

“The special approach to our development in Pulau Banding which is a unique 243-hectare inland man-made island in Gerik, Perak, will put us on the world eco-tourism map.

“The Belum Rainforest Resort, an eco-resort on the island, is the facilitator towards this mission and serves as the gateway to the 130 million year old rainforest which is even older than Brazil’s Amazon,” said EMKAY Group Executive Director Tuan Hj Ahmad Khalif bin Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal at the launch of the Villa Tanjung Wan coffee table book by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim.

The launch was also witnessed by EMKAY Group Executive Director Dato’ Hjh Fazwinna bin Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal and other key figures of the business and corporate world.

Working closely with Yayasan EMKAY, the EMKAY Group has organised various programmes aimed at building the capacity of the Orang Asli, primarily through Early Childhood Education. 

Under Yayasan EMKAY, an i-Play Toy Library project was implemented to instil in the young children the joy of learning, in a fun and holistic environment.

In order to ensure that the island is developed sustainably, a self imposed guideline – Pulau Banding Charter - was formulated based on collated inputs from key stakeholders for the standard guidelines in planning and implementation of the overall development.

One of the requirements of the Charter was the setting up of the Pulau Banding Rainforest Research Centre to drive scientific findings and education on the bio-diversity of the Belum-Temengor Tropical Rainforest.

The main areas of research include: conservation of environment and genetic resources; establishment and maintenance of a database of all the flora and fauna found in the rainforest; and bio-prospecting for bioactive compounds for use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Villa Tanjung Wan epitomises how the Belum Rainforest Villas will feature ultra-luxury resort homes for visionary buyers seeking to leave behind a legacy. A total of 18 exclusive villas will be built upon a hill and rise above the lake’s edge where they will enjoy natural ventilation from winds flowing across the lake and through the trees.

The coffee table book looks at the history as well as background of Pulau Banding  and captures how the total community protects, conserves and adopts a development practice in a manner that is positive to the environment of the island and its surroundings.

“In addition, the coffee table book of Villa Tanjung Wan chronicles the preservation and appreciation of the natural surroundings, and how these wonderful homes will be built using eco-friendly materials and techniques.

“The villas offer not only beauty and tranquillity for the discerning few but also afford them the opportunity to champion the conservation of the rainforest,” said Tuan Hj Ahmad Khalif.

A portion of the buyers’ investment, through a percentage of the sales proceeds and regular maintenance charges, will go towards the Pulau Banding Foundation for the upkeep of the Pulau Banding Rainforest Research Centre where researchers work towards conservation and scientific research.

The day’s event also featured the launch of the online charity gateway by Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim, enabling nature lovers to make a contribution to the Pulau Banding Foundation at anytime and from anywhere.

Belum Rainforest Villas were launched by the Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia on 9 May 2014.  He lauded the uniqueness of the project and likened it to a Malaysian-style ‘Camp David’ which could be the setting for high-level Government meetings and summits.

Efforts are being made to get the Royal Belum Rainforest listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site and this has been mooted by Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak.

With a built-up area ranging from 4,000 sqft to 5,000 sqft, the villas reflect the distinctive design ethos created with signature clean lines and pared-back, contemporary style united with an eclectic design, with a natural approach utilising local materials with bold textures using glass, ceramic, wood and tile.

Units will offer breath-taking views of the serene Temengor Lake. The villas will be built according to standard modules and laid out on site to suit the existing site terrain.

While prices for these highly sought-after bespoke villas range from RM 10 million each, more importantly these visionaries will leave behind a legacy for generations to come.

Flexibility in design to accommodate trees will be within the building footprint. The villas offer luxury, comfort and security with all modern facilities including wi-fi connection in a rainforest environment.  

This unique development will be managed by Belum Rainforest Management that runs the adjacent 4-star Belum Rainforest Resort, the country’s first accredited eco-resort.


 THIS CONTEMPORARY BUT SYMPATHETICALLY DESIGNED VILLA WAS CREATED TO BLEND WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND DISTURB THE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM
 BUT IT IS NOT MEANT FOR PEASANTS AND MEMBERS OF THE POORER CLASS BUT FOR HIGHCLASS FOLKS LIKE ME AS IT COSTS RM 13,000 A NIGHT BUT ACCOMMODATES 20 AND COMES WITH YOUR OWN BUTLER, CHEF AND STAFF. EXACTLY MY STYLE!




























YOU CAN BUY YOUR OWN VILLA FROM RM 10 MILLION EACH


















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LAUNCH OF VILLA TANJUNG WAN COFFEE 

TABLE BOOK

23 JANUARY 2015

SPEECH BY TUAN HJ AHMAD KHALIF BIN TAN SRI MUSTAPHA KAMAL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMKAY GROUP


I wish to thank all of you for taking the time off from your busy schedules to be here with us on this special occasion. 

We are particularly grateful to Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim for consenting to grace our event today.

I would like to set the tone of my speech by quoting an inspirational man, whose efforts and foresight have guided our team to where we are today.

He is no other than my father, Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal, the Chairman of EMKAY Group:
“If we as good corporate citizens don’t find the means to assist nature and itsenvironment, whatwill our world be like for the next generation?

“If we incorporate into our day-to-day the willingness to grow with nature with as little impact as possible…then we leave behind a legacy and not a betrayal.”­­­­

In today’s event I would like to share with you three topics that are close to the hearts of my team and myself – the urgency of time, our involvement in Belum-Temengor Rainforest and finally our need for more ambassadors of the rainforest.

Urgency of time.

I would like to share with you 3 key facts that connects us here today

1. A third of the world’s oxygen that we breathe comes from Rainforests; mainly the Amazon, Congo and the South-East Asian Rainforests. Later you can ask Dr. Daniel Baskaran where the other two thirds comes from.

2. In the past few years, we have been witnessing or have been affected by prolonged drought, haze and currently floods that seem to be getting worse.  Maybe Mother Nature is trying to tell us something.

3. Belum-Temengor is a 130 million year old tropical rainforest. It is one of the oldest rainforest in the world, older then the Amazon and Congo. It is four times the size of Singapore. 

It is home to a large array of flora and faunasome of which are endemic to this forest only.  Some of the flora and fauna are endangered. This forest complex is God’s gift to mankind and we are blessed to have it right in our backyard.

These three simple facts tell us that we are all connected and it should be a concern to all of us here.  Not just the Orang Asli in Belum-Temengor whose houses are still under water from the recent northern and east coast rains. However, as I speak the impact of deforestation may be going against us and the effect of our non-action may only be felt by future generations to come. 

Is this the legacy our current generation would like to leave or to be known for?

Unless a game changer is implemented such as protecting the remaining forest and finding other means of generation of revenue through carbon trading and bioprospecting, to name a few, I am sad to say that we may be the last few generation to enjoy this God’s gift to mankind.

Time may not be on our side.

While my team and I may not fully understand or be able to delve in programs like carbon trading, we at EMKAY Group through the Belum Management and Conservation, Belum Rainforest Resort, Pulau Banding Foundation and our Chairman, are doing what we believe will make a difference.  

It may be a small gesture but we hope our efforts will inspire others to join in and be part of the solution –and that is, becoming a voice for the Belum-Temengor Rainforest eco system.


This leads to my second topic of the day. Our team’s efforts and Villa Tanjung Wan Coffee table book.

Personally, I was never a nature enthusiast. My appreciation and lovefor nature started with our involvement in Belum-Temengor seven years ago coinciding with the birth of my first daughter. 

My first inspiration came from my father whose passion or action in investing 100 million Ringgit into this unique cause has made my sister and I travel there on a monthly basis. 

Both of us agree we have grown to love the trips to Belum and each time we are there, we experience something new in the rainforest. My father is truly a man who lets his actions speak louder than his words.

A quote from Dr. Seuss – Through his wonderful character the Lorax:

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

My second inspiration has come from my three beautiful children. Their fascination with nature and constant reading of Dr Seuss’ books namely “The Lorax” has changed the way I look at a tree. 

My business partner Peter Chan tells me that before there were iPhones and Facebook, there was the simple shade of a tree that connects people together, to meet and talk face to face.  

My camping trips to Belum with my kids have gotten us closer and we constantly ask Mr. Google the name of the insects or trees many of which I too do not know.

Today, the Island has become the gateway to Royal Belum Rainforest with an eco-friendly resort nestled in the beautiful natural environment. The island is also home to a state of the art research and interpretative center managed by the Pulau Banding Foundation.  

This development is an inclusive master plan to develop a sustainable community who shares a sense of responsibility to protect a legacy for future generations.  Current efforts are in place with the State and Federal government to enlist this area as a UNESCO world natural heritage site.

Although seeing is believing and we cannot bring the entire Belum-Temengor to you today, we hope that the Villa Tanjung Wan coffee table book captures the journey that we have taken in becoming the voice of the rainforest. 

This 198-pages of scenic pictures and simple explanations, is intended to capture a glimpse of the beauty that is the Belum Temengor Rainforest.  I hope you will enjoy it and will share with others our journey towards protecting this God’s gift to mankind.

And this leads to my final topic of the day. How can all of you be involved in this journey? I would like to introduce a few key people that you may want to get more information about our initiatives in Belum-Temengor Rainforest.

Firstly, Dr. Daniel Baskaran and Dato’ Rashid representing the Pulau Banding Foundation. These two gentlemen lead the research activities and they are walking encyclopedias of the rainforest.  When Mr. Google doesn’t know I will ask them.

Secondly, Dato’ Fazwinna and Dato’ Anuar Yang Gazali representing the Belum Rainforest Resort. Apart from knowing all the best sites to visit in Belum,  they are the best people to ask for better rates.

Thirdly, my close colleagues Mohan and Harvey representing the Belum Management and Conservation group who are the caretakers of this inclusive Belum development.

And if you want to talk about Dr. Suess and the Lorax you can come to me.

While you enjoy the pictures and the food, please also do talk to the many voices representing the rainforest, here today.  

Conservation and protection of the rainforest for our future generations is a worthy cause and you can help by:

1. Knowing more about Belum-Temengor rainforest through the coffee table book or asking the people I introduced to you earlier.

2. Making an online donation to the Pulau Banding Foundation, today or as soon as you get home.

3. Most importantly visit this God’s gift to mankind. Seeing is Believing.

If you’ve done all this, I believe you have done your part today and I have done mine.

Before I end, I would like to thank all those involved in making the Villa Tanjung Wan coffee table book a reality and also to those involved in organizing this event. Thank you.

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Tuanku Zara Salim thank you once again for gracing our event today, launching our coffee table book as well as the online foundation portal.

In summary, saving the rainforest is a worthwhile cause but time is not on our side. Our involvement today may not be the game changer to deforestation but it is our way of being part of the solution. I welcome all of you to do your part in protecting this legacy for the future generations.

Wabilahhitaufiqwalhidayah. Wasalammualaikumwbt.









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