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CIMB Islamic, WWF Malaysia collaborate to conserve Fraser's Hill's botanical treasures

RAUB: Fraser's Hill, one of the country's oldest national heritage, is also home to various endemic and endangered plant species. 

Yet, most of the forest complex, which sprawls nearly 83,000 hectares across the Titiwangsa Mountain Range, remains unexplored.  

CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad (CIMB Islamic) has taken the first step to protect Fraser's Hill's botanical treasures. 

Together with WWF-Malaysia, CIMB Islamic launched a botanical inventory project on Saturday to survey and catalogue the flora species that thrive on the highlands. 

CIMB Islamic chief executive officer Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff said the project ultimately aims to persuade the Pahang state government to gazette Fraser's Hill as a state park. 

CIMB Islamic, he said, will contribute RM443,900 for this three-year project that kicked off in December 2021. 

"This was made possible through CIMB Islamic's first-ever environmentally-focused savings account – EcoSave Savings Account-i (Ecosave) – that was introduced in 2008. 

"Through Ecosave, the bank contributes 0.2 per cent of the total average portfolio balance to green and social causes every year. 

"The outputs from this botanical inventory will contribute towards the development of the "Flora of Peninsular Malaysia" project that was initiated by the government. 

"The management recommendations from this project would also provide strong scientific justification for the Pahang state government to establish the Fraser's Hill State Park," he said at the project's launch ceremony at Fraser's Hill recently.  

CIMB Islamic Bank chief executive officer Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff (left) and WWF-Malaysia chief executive officer and executive director, Sophia Lim (right) - File pic credit (CIMB Islamic)

Ahmad Shahriman said, in line with Bank Negara Malaysia's Financial Sector Blueprint agenda which emphasises preparing the Malaysian financial system to be more sustainable and climate-resilient, CIMB Islamic has always been at the forefront of value-based intermediation, championing initiatives that prioritise positive impact on society. 

This includes the conservation and preservation of the environment.

"Our long-standing partnership with WWF-Malaysia certainly reinforces our joint-commitment in mitigating the risks for threatened species and endangered habitats within the 83,000-hectare Fraser's Hill Forest Complex. 

"This is yet another significant milestone as we continue reinforcing our ongoing efforts to support and care for society, including environmental protection. 

"Playing our role as a responsible corporate citizen, we are cognisant of the need to protect the welfare and wellbeing of the surrounding communities and the country's beloved heritage site, the Fraser's Hill Forest Complex, as well as its unique flora and fauna for future generations to enjoy.

"Looking ahead, we hope our collaboration with WWF-Malaysia will contribute positively towards the betterment of the environment, local communities, and the general economy at large, aligned with CIMB Group's new brand proposition, 'Moving Forward with You', whilst fostering the spirit of Merdeka, ahead of the upcoming Hari Kebangsaan.

"We also hope more business communities and financial institutions can join us on this journey by playing a more active role in biodiversity protection and conservation," Ahmad Shahriman elaborated.

During the three-year project, WWF-Malaysia will work together with the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) to catalogue the vascular plants found in Fraser's Hill. 

The botanical inventory will also provide assessments and management recommendations to conserve these species as well as their habitats. 

WWF-Malaysia chief executive officer and executive director, Sophia Lim, said the Fraser's Hill Forest Complex meets the three International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria that qualifies it as an Important Plant Area. 

"This is due to the high species richness and the presence of threatened as well as endemic species and endangered habitats. 

"After all, montane forests are home to unique natural treasures, especially flora species that thrive in the cooler climate. 

"In fact, Fraser's Hill Town Board has the highest diversity of seed plants compared to other highlands," she said. 

Preliminary survey on Fraser's Hill montane forests, Lim said, has shown promising results. 

Of the 3,000 hectares surveyed during the first phase, the research team logged almost 1,500 species of vascular plants in the inventory. 

In 1998, a checklist had identified 952 species of indigenous seed plants at Fraser's Hill. 

Meanwhile, 36 of these plants are endemic to Fraser's Hill, with 12 not being sighted in the last 60 years.

In addition, a virtual awareness programme called "Flora Saturday Series" was also organised on three Saturdays in June 2022, as part of the project.

Sophia Lim and Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff (centre) with winners of the "Flora Saturday Series" programme. - File pic credit (Dhesegaan Bala Krishnan)

Ahmad Shahriman assured more activities will follow suit, such as a digital guidebook on the flora of Frasers' Hill, interpretive signboards to encourage responsible tourism and a Fraser's Hill Flora Race. 

Besides the botanical inventory in Fraser's Hill, he said CIMB Islamic has also sponsored the operation and maintenance of Taman Tugu and a conservation project in Setiu Wetlands. 

"To date, CIMB Islamic has contributed RM3.5 million towards supporting 14 environmental projects through EcoSave.

"Customers can choose to open an EcoSave account at any CIMB Islamic branch nationwide, with a minimum deposit of RM250.

"Subsequently, apart from indirect contribution towards green initiatives, customers who maintain a monthly average balance of RM5,000 without any over-the-counter transactions within the month, will enjoy a RM5 monthly cash incentive. 

"Additionally, customers will also receive quarterly updates via EcoSave's e-newsletter on green initiatives undertaken by EcoSave," he said.

CIMB Group's next big sustainability project is the Cooler Earth Sustainability Summit – which will be held from 20 to 24 September 2022. Interested participants can visit their website to register for free. 

The fourth edition of the summit, where WWF-Malaysia is also a knowledge partner, will bring together key leaders, experts, individuals and businesses to encourage greater discourse in sustainability and shape a more sustainable future.

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