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    Strategic partnerships on urban development

    An increasingly urgent need to mitigate climate change through responsible urban development has led to a new collaboration with Management and Science University (MSU).

    The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) was signed early September 2021, with three major areas of focus – sustainable development goals (SDGs), entrepreneurship, and education as well as training.

    The city of Shah Alam, population is estimated at 686,966 (2020), is located within the Petaling district as well as part of the Klang District in the state of Selangor.

    A major city in the Klang Valley, with land area totaling a little over 303 square kilometres, Shah Alam is bordered by the cities of Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya and the districts of Kuala Selangor and Kuala Langat.

    The MSU participation entails a strategic partnership into the Green Technology Master Plan 2017-2030, the Selangor State Green Technology Blueprint, the Sustainable Smart Shah Alam (SSAM) 2035 Blueprint, the New Urban Agenda (NUA), and the Low Carbon Cities Framework (LCCF).

    LCCF by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) 2011 concerns buildings, urban infrastructure, urban transport, and urban environment; whilst its Low Carbon Cities 2030 Challenge encompasses energy, water, waste, mobility, and greenery.

    Twenty-three buildings in Shah Alam collectively recorded 2.43 percent less electricity consumed by end 2018 as compared with 2015 baseline figures; whilst shopping centres Plaza Alam Sentral and PKNS Complex in the heart of the city remained in the top two spots for annual electricity consumption.

    Free service by the Smart Selangor Bus, which passes by the MSU campus grounds twice hourly daily, has also contributed to reduced carbon emission through reduced traffic congestion.

    In April this year, Management and Science University (MSU) received its first Green Pass; a Diamond-2 rating from Malaysia’s Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) for the University’s main campus buildings’ operation in Shah Alam Section 13.

    On the LCCF Framework and Assessment system, green spaces with trees are expected to reduce carbon emissions by as much as 2,600kg carbon dioxide per acre. A reduction of over 300,000kg of CO2 is anticipated through 127 acres of green spaces throughout Shah Alam.

    With the MBSA-MSU MoU, complementary support is in the pipeline for MBSA’s Green City Project as well as MSU’s National River Trail Project.

    Management and Science University had launched the MSU Environmental Sustainability Project (MESP) in 2019, with flagship programmes including MSU MyCoral and MSU MyMountain.

    MSU Malaysia entered the inaugural Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings that same year, and was placed in the World Top 301+ overall for eleven out of the seventeen SDGs; among which were for impact on good health and well-being, quality education, and climate action.

    Signing the MoU at the virtual ceremony were MSU President Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Wira Dr Mohd Shukri Ab Yajid and Shah Alam Mayor Dato’ Haji Zamani Ahmad bin Mansor. Also in attendance were MSU Vice President of Industry Linkages.