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PETALING JAYA: Ken Holdings Bhd and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Feb 20 to undertake collaborative research, share expertise, as well as develop Green Technology on energy efficient design and construction in housing construction.
“The partnership with UTAR is timely as UTAR has made headway in research in areas of contemporary and emerging importance including stem cell research, solar and renewable energy and environmental health. The partnership is an ideal fit with Ken Holdings Bhd. Having the knowledge, the expertise and hands on experience in green initiatives and innovations, we are confident that we will contribute significantly towards this project,” Ken Holding’s executive director Sam CS Tan said in his speech.
The project, with an estimated cost of about RM320,000, will be located at Ken Holding’s Ken Rimba in Shah Alam. Tan said plans are underway for the “Experimental Village” where a full sized home will be built to ensure full time data acquisition and a comprehensive host of research facilities for testing and recording of research data will be done in collaboration with UTAR. It will be carried out using heat insulated roofing sheets and wailing blocks/panels in order to collect sufficient data on ambient temperature change in relation to the use of specific building materials and design.
Ken Rimba is set to be Malaysia’s First Green Township comprising condominiums, terrace houses, commercial shoplots and low cost apartments.
Meanwhile, Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui, who witnessed the signing ceremony said the government introduced the Green Technology Financing Scheme in 2010 to assist companies that were users and producers of green technology. “So far, only 36 bank loans amounting to RM607 million have been approved. I think banks should be more forthcoming in their loan portfolios for these type of industries. There is some risk of course. Every loan has a risk. No loan is 100 per cent guaranteed. But, we can choose to be proactive to spur development of green technology," he said.
Chin added that the government also launched the Low Carbon Cities Framework and Assessment System in 2010, in line with Malaysia's commitment towards a low carbon economy and to reduce carbon intensity emission by 40 per cent in 2020. To-date, five locations (pilot projects) throughout the country has been identified to test run the framework including Ken Rimba in Shah Alam, Pulau Sah Besar in Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu, Perbadanan Hang Tuah Jaya in Melaka and Majlis Perbandaran Port Dickson.
