A group of employees from AmBank recently showed their support for Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) by participating in coral reef rehabilitation efforts off Pulau Tioman. The team planted 200 “corals of opportunity,” which are living corals that have been transplanted to areas where corals are lacking.
Founded in 2007, RCM is a non-governmental organization that is dedicated to promoting a healthy ocean and bringing together various stakeholders to manage coral reefs in a sustainable manner. The organization’s field office on Tioman Island is managed by Cintai Tioman, a long-term community program aimed at protecting coral reefs and improving the livelihoods of the local community.
The ultimate goal of these efforts is to ensure the sustainable use of the island’s natural resources for the benefit of all parties involved. Shazman Shahid, the head of corporate communications and marketing at AmBank Group, expressed the bank’s hope that this coral reef planting initiative will help to conserve marine biodiversity and raise environmental awareness among employees.
Alvin Chelliah, the chief program officer at RCM, emphasized the time, effort, and cost involved in coral reef rehabilitation. He praised the support from corporations like AmBank in their ongoing mission to protect the reefs in Tioman. In addition to planting corals, the AmBank team also deployed coral pots at RCM’s reef rehabilitation site in Kampung Tekek. The survival and growth rates of the corals will be monitored regularly.
Furthermore, the bank employees engaged in recycling activities by repurposing glass bottles to create coral blocks. Over time, the team will observe and document the marine life that inhabits the rehabilitated site. Apart from Tioman Island, RCM also has field teams based in Mantanani, Semporna, Redang, and Johor islands. The organization’s work focuses on training divers and conducting surveys at more than 300 locations across Malaysia to monitor the health of coral reefs.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
