| PUTRA SCIENCE PARK

UPM –Uncle’s Chang Dive Lodge targeting Green Resort Status

SEMPORNA, 18 August – Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Datin Paduka Dr. Aini Ideris officiated the Industrial Empowerment Ceremony organised by UPM and Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge with an aim of strengthening the green innovative entrepreneurship cooperation formed over the last two years.

This UPM programme led by the Institute of Agricultural and Food Policy Studies (IKDPM), Faculty of Design and Architecture and Faculty of Forestry is the product of the Knowledge Transfer Programme, sponsored by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia in Mabul Island, Semporna, Sabah.

As a result of the knowledge transfer collaboration, 10 green initiatives have been implemented at Uncle Chang’s Dive Lodge which aims to become a truly 'Green Resort'.

 

During the ceremony, UPM also launched a Manual, ‘On Job Training’ (OJT) to be adopted not only by tourist operators in Mabul, but also in the whole of Sabah soon.

The OJT could act as a guide for entrepreneurs towards achieving the green industry’s 'Trash to Cash' objective.

Uncle Chang also donated a trustee cheque for RM96,000 for the Mabul Greening Programme initiative to UPM through its Vice Chancellor.

This is Uncle Chang’s third contribution to UPM for the same cause. His previous contributions totalled up to RM32,000.

Prof. Aini said that Uncle Chang's Dive Lodge has shown a positive difference in the efforts of initiating tourist operations that are ‘greener and more environmentally friendly’ as the programme focuses on the management of organic wastes through permaculture and non-organic wastes through recycling.

“A lot of efforts such as demonstrations on Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) by UPM experts, the establishment of a recycling centre, collection of water from air-conditioners, recycling plastic bottles into flower pots that have been set up for marketing in Mabul Island and eco-tourism project by highlighting the green tourism operation.

The ceremony was also witnessed by the Sabah State Tourism Director, Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar; the  Chairman of the Board of Trustee of Sabah Parks, Dato' Seri Tengku Dr Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahamood; Programme leader, Prof. Madya Dr. Sridar Ramachandran, Dean of FRSB, Prof. Madya LAr. Dr. Osman Mohd. Tahir, Faculty of Forestry, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Zakaria Hussin, Pengarah IKDPM Prof. Madya Dr. Shaufique Fahmi Ahmad Sidique  and a group of researchers as well as post-graduate students of UPM. - UPM

SXDcRAX~