A thousand enthusiastic nature lovers turned up to participate in the tree-planting event to commemorate the grand opening of AEON CO. (M) BHD’s 16th JUSCO store , Cheras Selatan, Balakong on 4th November 2006.

The event was officiated by Deputy Ministry Housing and Local Government, YB Dato’ Hajah Azizah bt Datuk S.P Haji Mohd Dun. Featuring 4,000 saplings from plants such as bunga hati-hati, rhoeo dawft, kekacang, rose jepun, pink rain lady, bunga raya batik and fox tail palm tree, the tree-planting project was a great success.

Dr Osman Mohd Tahir, Dean of Landscape & Architecture, demonstrated the planting procedure and this was followed by planting by 1,000 volunteers comprising JUSCO staff, customers, business partners, staff of Majilis Bandaran Kajang, the local Fire Department, Police Department and the National Landscape Department, school pupils and their teachers and local residents. AEON really feels that through the tree planting, JUSCO in cooperation with local community members is making a really positive difference for the environment in a lasting way.

Tree-planting is AEON’s long-term commitment to help create healthier natural areas and make it more livable for today’s and tomorrow’s generations. To date, JUSCO has planted more than 210,000 seedlings in the areas surrounding our stores in Malaysia. The biggest tree planting exercise was carried out at Paya Indah Wetlands, Selangor in 2004 to commemorate JUSCO’s 20th anniversary in Malaysia.

Our tree-planting programme is in line with our corporate and social activities that aim to increase awareness among local residents and the larger community about JUSCO’s mission to green the Earth for future generations as well as assert the importance of environment protection and conservation. JUSCO, a subsidiary of AEON Japan, is part of a global network of environment conservation, through AEON Group 1% Club and AEON Group Environment Foundation.

We hope the community effort involved in this tree-planting activity will build awareness among the young, especially school children, about the importance of environmental conservation. What’s more, the joint effort will foster closer ties between JUSCO and local residents and as potential shoppers the tree planting event will be sweet remembrance when they visit the shopping centre.