(From left) Zulqarnain and Zaida sign the MoU while Sufian, Nik Nazmi and Izani look on.)

KUALA LUMPUR: Through its joint-venture subsidiary Mega Legacy (M) Sdn Bhd with Melati Ehsan Group, UEM Sunrise Bhd signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Universiti Malaya (UM)  to assess the lake in Kepong Metropolitan Park.

The lake is situated next to UEM Sunrise’ Kiara Bay township. The MoU aims to assess water quality and the heavy metal contents of the lake.

Witnessed by Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Mega Legacy (M) chairperson Zaida Khalida Shaari and UM faculty of science dean Dr Zulqarnain Mohamed signed the MoU.

UEM Group managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani and chief executive officer Sufian Abdullah were also present to witness the signing.

“It is heartening to see UEM Sunrise proactively working to ensure the environmental sustainability of its developments. The MoU demonstrates that much can be done in protecting as well as improving Malaysia’s environment through the common effort of all sectors of the nation, including the government, private sector and academia.

The preservation, for the public, of the Kepong Metropolitan Park and its Lake is absolutely essential. Moving forward, we hope to see more such collaborations towards making Malaysia’s urban spaces more liveable and towards greater sustainability in the nation as a whole,” Nik Nazmi said.

The initiative will be financed through a grant provided by UEM Sunrise’s parent company UEM Group, outlining two phases. In the first phase, UM will test the water quality for the presence of heavy metals and sediments, as well as the lake’s microbiological contents. The findings will determine the next steps to be taken in the second phase to restore the quality of the lake’s water.

With the MoU, UEM Sunrise aims to transform Kiara Bay into an integrated lakefront development, influencing the design development and future placemaking programmes. It is worth noting that the treatment of the lake will also be a stepping stone in preserving aquatic life and biodiversity, as maintaining the lake is crucial for the ecosystem.

“As a conscientious developer, we have long recognised the need to balance contributions to the environment, society and economy in all our developments and townships that fulfil communities’ social, physical and spiritual needs. The Kepong Metropolitan Park serves as a communal recreational facility for the public to come together and engage in leisure activities,” Sufian said.

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