By: Nurul Ezzaty Mohd Azhari
Photo by: Mohd Sabri Omar
SERDANG, May 17 - 26 student volunteers from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) have planted 100 Gutta Percha tree saplings in conjunction with the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 200 at Bukit Ekspo, Putra Agriculture Centre (PPP), here today.
UPM PPP Deputy Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hezmee Mohd Noor, said the tree planting was done simultaneously in 23 selected locations in Malaysia and supported the Malaysia’s green initiatives through the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA) by 2025.
“Today, a total of 5,017 trees of this type were planted in 23 selected locations and listed in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) today.
“Interestingly, this Gutta Percha tree has been used as an insulating material for the world’s first submarine cable, which can be obtained from this tree,” he said.
The plant is a light hardwood type suitable for producing interior decoration and panels. Its leaves are yellowish green or rusty with copper-coloured leaf veins, while the white flowers are small in size.
The largest Gutta Percha tree planting programme this time is organised by Yayasan Telekom Malaysia and Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS) to raise awareness of the history of telecommunications in the country as well as to become a heritage tree in the country.
Also present was Yayasan Telekom Malaysia representative, Siti Hajar Shafii. - UPM
