theSun Property October 2017

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ONTINUING

from last

week’s article on the

interviewwith the Energy,

Green Technology and

Water Ministry (KeTTHA)

Secretary-General Datuk Seri Dr

Zaini Ujang onMalaysia’s journey

towards achieving its green pledges

and becoming a green player

instead of a green consumer.

ZERO IN ON GREEN

Briefly, the Green TechnologyMaster

Plan (GTMP) focuses on six sectors –

energy, manufacturing, transport,

waste, water and building. While these

areas of concern will be monitored,

just as important are the people, those

working to succeed the plan and those

who play a significant role in

determining the success of the plan –

the rakyat.

“The government can come up

with many frameworks, policies and

schemes, but we cannot succeed on

our own. We cannot continuously be

giving out subsidies and incentives

either. The people must be aware,

mindsets must be aligned, changed if

need to; we all need to be working

towards achieving the same goal for

the betterment of all. After all,

receiving high income nation status

will benefit everyone as it is the nation

which makes the country,” Zaini

expounds.

With that, the KeTTHA secretary-

general urges the public to learn of the

GTMP and understand its

fundamentals. “It is not just important

to adopt green technology (GT), it is

vital in moving forward,” Zaini says.

He then relates the importance of

greener living by citing what Prophet

Muhammad said: “In the Muslim

context, those of this faith should

remember what the prophet said; that

if someone was going to die, they

should go plant a tree. He did not ask

them to donate all their money to

charity or to pray incessantly, but

simply plant a tree.

“It is a great virtue to plant a tree. If

you look after a tree you will receive

the fruits of your labour,” Zaini shares.

While “going green” and planting

trees are part and parcel of the big

green plan, there are many ways the

people can make changes to their

current lifestyles and adopt more

green choices and sustainable

practices. Zaini, an avid cyclist,

recommends cycling. “You could say I

cycle almost daily. It keeps me trim

and I am not contributing to green

house gasses while at it.”

SEA OF GREEN

In order to attain the goals set in the

GTMP, the people are urged to

inculcate greener methods of working

throughout the six sectors being

monitored. For those who need

direction, awareness programmes on

“greener lifestyles” have been on-

going since Malaysia first took it upon

itself to reduce its carbon footprint.

Fromwebsite and online portals,

roadshows, advertisements, flyers,

articles and announcements on social

media; including the International

Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition

&Conference Malaysia (Igem) 2017,

which recently came to a close and has

been running for eight consecutive

years; plus programmes and

workshops by NGOs and green

agencies; there is no excuse

for the man on the street to

be illiterate on the subject.

(Google YaHijauMalaysia,

established to promote and

educate students and

communities on GT.)

Moreover, there is the

comprehensive GTMP text,

a publication by KeTTHA,

available on its website.

Over the next five years,

the government will be

focusing on driving the

adoption of GTwhile

shifting its economic

development plans towards

green growth. These will be

expedited via: government

green procurement; green

financing; green incentives; green

cities; and international

collaborations. As this section focuses

on property, we will discuss Green

Cities and GT issues that relate to

property development and aim to

protect the ecosystem.

“In promoting the development of

green cities, the government intends

to promote sustainable developments

and green practices among players in

this industry. By using lower carbon

emissions in its working processes,

this can improve the quality of life for

the community,” Zaini adds.

HEADED TOWARDS

GREENER DAYS

KeTTHA andMalaysia Green

Technology Corporation (MGTC)

launched the LowCarbon Cities

Framework and Assessment System

(LCCF) in 2011 to help local

municipalities and developers achieve

low carbon city status. It identifies

potential target areas to reduce carbon

emission via systemic analysis and

reviewwith periodic assessment on

carbon emission via a carbon

calculator. Green Cities will be

established on this “design”.

By and large, GT aims to boost the

national economy. With green targets

met and adopted across the five

sectors, by 2020, GT is estimated to

contribute about RM22.4 billion (1.2%

of national GDP). Green investments

and green jobs are estimated at around

RM36 billion (creating 144,590 jobs).

Towards 2030, GT is expected to

contribute nearly three times as much.

The building sector is projected to

be the third fastest growing sector

contributing at least RM11.8 billion to

GDP. This industry is estimated to

increase CAGR (compound annual

growth rate) by 16%, attracting some

RM13.8 billion in cumulative

investments. The sector is expected to

be driven by:

growth in new and existing

private green buildings;

export-oriented businesses for

green building materials;

energy-efficient building

systems through heating,

ventilation, air-conditioning and

solar hot water systems, etc.

Industrialised Building Systems

and green building construction;

and

stronger local demand growth

via full enforcement of Uniform

Building By-Laws on energy

efficient building systems.

Decoupling carbon emission from the

nation’s economic growth has the

added benefit in ensuring that

Malaysia remains competitive as an

investment destination while keeping

in pace with other green player

economies. Looking ahead, the GTMP

paves the way for Malaysia’s

SUPER SWANKY AND STYLISH ...

The

InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 in the capital city of Hanoi,

Vietnam opened its doors to guests recently. It offers 359

sophisticated and luxurious rooms perched between the 62nd and

71st floors of the Keangnam Landmark72 complex. Apart from

panoramic views from “the highest hotel in Vietnam”, guests get

access to the Club InterContinental Lounge, one of the largest

lounges in Southeast Asia, brimming over with perks, benefits,

treats and luxuries. Check out the Stellar steakhouse and vibrant

Q Bar – sterling F&B outfits said to cater to the discerning set. For

more information, visit the InterContinental Hotels Group website.

Zaini

Together, go for green

> Towards greener, cleaner and improved lifestyles

Transformasi National 2050 (TN50),

which will positionMalaysia among

leading global economies.

“Together, the people and the

government can create a greener and

more sustainable Malaysia for future

generations. But lifestyles must first

change; mere planning and policies

can’t,” Zaini asserts. Hence, the rakyat

are urged to implement green

practices and adopt sustainable

lifestyle habits for the GTMP goals to

be met and benefit the nation.

Follow our section over the next

fewweeks on green concerns across

the property development industry.

Iskandar Malaysia – envisioned amodel as a ‘sustainable and socially

equitable city of the future’.

photos :www.inhabitat.com

Introductionofvariousgreen

buildingratingtools.

EEinfederalgovernment

buildings.

GITA&GITE

CITP

CoEbyCIDB.

Removalbarriersfortheuseofrecycledmaterials.Stimulate

marketdemand(domestic&export).

ImprovedrecyclingrateofC&Dwaste.

Sustainablesupplyoftalent.

ImproveIBSadoptionrateandwastemanagementinthe

constructionsector.

Building

2015

2020

2030

Implementationtimeline

GREENSERIES

2017 :

cities

2018 :

cities

2019 :

cities

2020 :

cities

2016 :

cities

52 cities

implementing

cumulatively

theSun ON FRIDAY

MARCH 11, 2016

theSun ON FRIDAY

OCTOBER 27, 2017