- Six community and student groups share RM30,000 in grants for river restoration projects
- Project to nurture best river management practices
- On-going grant cycle by National River Care Fund (NRCF)
Kuala Lumpur, March 15, 2017: In support of river restoration, six selected local community groups and universities were awarded with grants totaling RM30,000 from Global Environment Centre (GEC).
The river restoration project was initiated by GEC under the National River Care Fund (NRCF) Cycle III aimed at nurturing a river care civil society that has the capability to contribute and demonstrate the best river management practices in Malaysia.
“Since its establishment in 2015, NRCF has provided a total of RM106,000 in grants benefiting 26 recipients comprising community groups, education institutions and interest groups.”
“The grants were given to support establishment and sustainability of community based water and river care program in Malaysia,” said NRCF Chair of the Advisory Committee, Datuk Ir. Lim Chow Hock yesterday.
The recipients are community-based environmental group, Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (R.E.A.C.H), Universiti Putra Malaysia Environmental Studies Students Association, UCSI Aquatic Science Students Association, the Community Development Committee of Kampung Batu 16 Dusun Tua in Kuala Langat, non-profit innovation group, Federasi Kolektif DIY and Pertubuhan Gagasan Prihatin Semenyih (PGPS).
Recipient, PGPS was awarded the RM5,000 grant to support its capacity building program for the local community in Semenyih area on river monitoring and pollution reduction.
“We are grateful for the support under the grant. The funds from this grant will go a long way in helping our mission to monitor and protect the Semenyih River from pollution as well as encroachment activities,” said PGPS Chairman Azman Ahmad.
GEC director, Faizal Parish said that the six projects have been selected to receive the grants under four different categories – Awareness Raising and Community Participation Activities, Riverine Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Livelihood in River Conservation and Promoting Best Management Practices on Pollution Reduction.
“I am delighted at the number of applications that were received in Cycle III. It shows that there are many community–led groups in Malaysia with a keen interest to protect our river, the source of our drinking water.”
“Those who missed out on the current grant cycle should not be discouraged and urged people to apply again when the grant program opens in mid-2017,” said Faizal.
He also encouraged more corporations to contribute to the cause and added that all contributions are fully tax deductible.
The NRCF Cycle III receives support from Yayasan Hasanah, a foundation established by Khazanah National Berhad.
