Dubbed as one of the renowned and sustainably driven developers in Malaysia, UEM Sunrise Berhad (UEM Sunrise) is taking a step further by pushing its key initiatives in sustainability.
The developer is paving its way in the field through its embedded sustainable core values and its Sustainability Blueprint 1.0, along with its main key sustainable pillars; Liveability, Affordability,
Sustainability and Resilience, throughout all its developments, environment and community. UEM Sunrise Chief Executive Officer Sufian Abdullah opines: “Our unyielding dedication to environmental preservation, societal enhancement, and sustainability lies at the core of our mission.”
He reveals, “We are committed to not only being a driving force but a necessity in catalysing transformative change where eco-friendly practices are no longer just preferences but an indispensable imperative.
At UEM Sunrise, we proactively engage with climate change risks and opportunities as an essential component of our Board’s agenda. We diligently assess and mitigate potential issues, demonstrating our commitment to navigating this vital landscape with a forward-thinking approach.
Additionally, UEM Sunrise projects and operations, including our head offices, have established the Environmental Aspect Impact Registers (EAIR) to systematically address any potential climate change risks, among other environmental considerations.”
Moving forward, UEM Sunrise plans to work alongside partners from various industries to mitigate the effects of climate change and work towards carbon neutrality by 2050. “Among these key partnerships include partnering with SOLS Energy, where we seek to promote sustainable living by harnessing the sun’s natural power to energise our township homes.
As a result of this partnership, our loyal customers, called Trésorians community, enjoy exclusive offers on solar panel subscriptions, leading to instant savings on electricity bills,” reveals Sufian.
In addition to SOLS Energy, UEM Sunrise is the first property developer to sign two Memoranda of Understanding or MoUs with PETRONAS’s wholly owned subsidiaries, PETRONAS Global Technical Solutions Sdn Bhd (PGTSSB) and Gentari Sdn Bhd (GENTARI), respectively. Officially penned in September 2022, the two MoUs will explore different opportunities for collaboration in adopting renewable, green energy and mobility, as well as forming intelligent, sustainable cities for the future.
Sufian comments on the MoU, “In the immediate term, our collaboration with GENTARI will explore introducing low-carbon solutions, specifically installing EV charging points at key developments and an electric forecourt at UEM Sunrise facilities, as well as solar farms at UEM Sunrise lands.”
Apart from that, the company is pushing forward its initiatives via its investments, partnerships involving SIREH Park in Iskandar Puteri and its developments such as KAIA Heights in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
KAIA Heights: Building a greener future
Sitting atop the highest point in Equine Park, KAIA Heights stands as a beacon of sustainable living. This multigenerational project represents a harmonious coexistence with the natural world, ensuring a lush welcome home every time you step through its gates. KAIA Heights is situated at the peak of a hill, designed to ensure a naturally lush and inviting atmosphere that embraces its residents.
“At KAIA Heights, we understand the importance of an active lifestyle. Hence, we incorporated multi-sports areas into our design. Residents can enjoy recreational activities at various multi-purpose courts, including futsal, basketball, and badminton. We have taken special care to position these sports facilities slightly away from the residential building blocks to guarantee a peaceful atmosphere,” shares Sufian.
KAIA Heights offers more than just an idyllic living environment; it is also strategically located to provide access to everyday conveniences. Situated in a prime location, residents have easy access to shopping centres, schools, and healthcare facilities. Additionally, KAIA Heights boasts direct access to major highways such as Maju Expressway (MEX), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), and the Bukit Jalil Highways, ensuring smooth connectivity to the rest of the Klang Valley. For those who rely on public transportation, the nearest MRT station is the Equine Park MRT station around a 1.6km drive away.
At KAIA Heights, UEM Sunrise has adopted passive sustainable design features and prioritise using environmentally friendly, ethical, and sustainable materials throughout the development. Rainwater harvesting is employed for irrigation, conserving precious water resources. Nearly 40% of the existing forestry surrounding the site has been preserved, showcasing our deep respect for nature. The development even utilises compost derived from recycled horticultural waste and is thoughtfully designed without air wells to enhance natural ventilation. Therefore, KAIA Heights is proud to hold the GreenRE silver certification, further underscoring the developer’s commitment to sustainability.
Meanwhile, the developer has plans to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations within the residence. These stations will allow its residents to charge their electric vehicles conveniently in their homes, encouraging a more eco-friendly and sustainable future. This feature aligns with the rising demand for green infrastructure and subsequently, supports UEM Sunrise’s commitment to fostering more eco-conscious communities.
In a bid to contribute to the local biodiversity, UEM Sunrise is working with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to plant various species of native trees from the Ayer Hitam forest reserve around KAIA Heights. This initiative also demonstrates the developer’s commitment to preserving the natural surroundings and supporting academic research.
As a developer committed to green living, UEM Sunrise is proud to lead the way in sustainable real estate development. “Our partnerships with SIREH Park and UPM, along with our dedication to developments like KAIA Heights, reflect our vision for a greener, more sustainable tomorrow.“
Sufian concludes, “Together, we can create a world where environmental responsibility is the foundation upon which vibrant communities are built.”
SIREH Park: Our commitment to nurturing nature
UEM Sunrise’s commitment to the development of SIREH Park goes beyond mere monetary investment, it reflects its steadfast dedication and proactive climate risk management. With that in mind, UEM Sunrise has partnered with SIREH Park to enhance the park’s initiatives, promoting SIREH Park as a model of ecological sustainability.
According to the developer, in order to strengthen the partnership: “Both parties will leverage on various strategic tools such as marketing campaigns, digital strategies and so on.”
Spanning 138 hectares (343 acres) of land, SIREH Park offers a diverse range of attractions and amenities that cater to all ages and interests, with well-maintained walking paths and multi-elevation jogging trails, providing an ideal space for outdoor exercise and leisurely strolls, lush green spaces for picnics and outdoor games. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the park’s well-preserved flora and fauna, comprising flowers and lush trees along with a wide array of bird species, making the park a paradise for birdwatching enthusiasts.
SIREH Park is envisioned as a thriving ecosystem that underscores the developer’s unwavering commitment to its sustainable growth.
UEM Sunrise has established a valuable partnership with the SIREH Park Trust called The Nusajaya Natural Heritage Trust (TNNHT), which was formed in July 2015. UEM Sunrise maintain: “Our collaboration with SIREH Park not only supports its immediate development, but also aligns with our long-term vision of fostering sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change.”
We have provided a substantial seed funding based on our financial planning, encompassing areas such as operational expenditures (OPEX) and capital expenditures (CAPEX) in efforts to bolster the park’s infrastructure and are actively considering the impact of climate change risks and opportunities.
“Furthermore, we are diligently working to align all future capital expenditures with UEM Sunrise’s long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target(s) or with the Paris Agreement’s objective of limiting global warming to 1.5° Celsius,” says Sufian.
Notably, the park has set a remarkable target of planting 25,000 tree saplings, a monumental effort in carbon sequestration. This initiative alone will sequester around 300,000 kg of carbon dioxide annually, significantly mitigating climate change.
In 2022, the collaborative efforts bore fruit, with the planting of 1,738 trees within SIREH Park and to date, 7,767 forest trees have been planted throughout the park. Remarkably, most of these trees were native species listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Species such as “Mertajam” (Lepisanthes rubiginosum), “Timah-Timah” (Ilex cymosa), “Penang sloe” (Kopsia arborea), “Bertih Paya” (Parartocarpus sp.), “Kembang Semangkuk” (Scaphium linearicarpum) and “Merawan Kanching” have found a home in SIREH Park, furthering UEM Sunrise’s biodiversity and conservation efforts.
In November 2022, UEM Sunrise organised a ‘Grow a Tree’ programme in collaboration with SIREH Park, bringing together 120 members of the developer’s loyalty customers,, the Trésorians, and residents from UEM Sunrise’s development projects in the Southern region, including East Ledang, Teega, Bayu Angkasa, Nusa Idaman, and The Maris Desaru. This heartwarming initiative exemplifies UEM Sunrise’s commitment to community involvement and environmental stewardship.
SIREH Park’s dedication to environmental education extends beyond its tree planting activities. The park actively collaborates with the community through various educational initiatives, such as eco-learning, volunteering, school outreach programmes, hands-on workshops and many more.
As a result of these activities, SIREH Park has served as a catalyst by forging partnerships with government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and corporations, including in close partnership with the Johor Bahru District Education Department (PPD) and the Johor State Fisheries Office on a freshwater fish breeding pilot project.
On top of collaborations with external parties, SIREH Park has also made its own organic composting from green waste collected during the park’s routine maintenance as part of the park’s 3Rs (reuse, reduce and recycle) activities.
SIREH Park has participated in iNaturalist as a project space by collaborating with Think City for the City Nature Challenge. iNaturalist is a non-profit social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the world.
In addition to SIREH Park’s collaboration with UEM Sunrise, the park also encourages individuals with a green heart to actively contribute to its growth. For as low as RM200 per tree, members of the public can participate in SIREH Park’s tree-planting programmes, where donors can monitor the growth and well-being of their trees through a dedicated app developed in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
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