Persada Johor International Convention capacity (Persada Johor) is pleased to announce that it has become Malaysia’s first convention facility to join the United Nations Global Compact Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB).
The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world’s largest corporate sustainability effort, encouraging firms to align their operations with 10 widely agreed principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.
As stated by Persada Johor General Manager David Emir Bareng, Persada Johor’s membership in the UNGCMYB demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainability, responsible business practises, and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We firmly believe that by embedding sustainability principles into our core business practises, we will minimise our environmental footprint and also contribute to the social and economic well-being of our community,” he added.
Bareng was addressing at the convention centre during a signing ceremony between Persada Johor and UNGCMYB, which was represented by UNGCMYB Board Director and Johor State Director, Edey Suresh.
Raven Kumar a/l Krishnasamy, Chairman of the Johor Tourism, Environment, Heritage, and Culture Committee, was present for the signing.
Raven Kumar stated that Persada Johor’s decision to join the UNGC and embrace sustainable practises was perfectly aligned with Johor’s green efforts, and that by incorporating sustainable measures into the centre’s operations, the centre will not only contribute to Johor’s environmental goals but will also set an example for other businesses in the convention industry.
“This membership will also provide Persada Johor International Convention Centre with access to a global network of like-minded organisations, opening doors to new collaborations, knowledge sharing, and best practises in sustainability. It will enable them to stay at the forefront of industry trends and innovations, ensuring that their events and content creation are aligned with global sustainability standards.
“We believe that sustainability is not just a choice but a responsibility that we must embrace. Through partnerships like the one we are witnessing today, we can create a powerful synergy, bringing together the expertise and resources needed to tackle the environmental challenges we face,” he added.
Meanwhile, Edey stated that the Persada Johor International Convention Centre is more than just a venue for events, ideas, and innovation; by embracing sustainability, they can become change agents, inspiring and influencing not only the events they host but also the countless individuals and organisations that gather within their walls.
Raven Kumar and Edey also observed the exchange of partnership documents with Persada Johor between CUCKOO International (MAL) Sdn Bhd (CUCKOO International) and Kloth Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
Six CUCKOO water purifiers will be installed in and around the convention centre as part of the collaboration with CUCKOO International. This programme attempts to limit the usage of single-use plastic bottles, especially at large-scale conferences and exhibits.
KC Hoe (Hoe Kian Choon), Founder and CEO of CUCKOO International, stated that CUCKOO was glad to support Persada Johor in their ESG efforts as the official water purifier provider to provide all visitors with sustainable access to safer, cleaner, and healthier drinking water.
“As a Healthy Home Creator, our goal is to ensure access to solutions that could help more people live healthier and happier,” he added. Representing CUCKOO at the exchange of documents was CUCKOO International Sales Vice President, Michael Lee.
Meanwhile, the collaboration with Kloth Malaysia addresses textile waste by promoting the circularity concept and assisting the local population by providing options for upcycling and repurposing textile materials.
Persada Johor’s commitment to sustainable business practises and responsible corporate citizenship, according to Kloth Malaysia co-founder Sarahah Kedah, sets fantastic precedence for the industry, and Kloth Malaysia is happy to be one of the centre’s ESG partners in order to keep fabric out of landfills.
“Together, we are making a significant impact on sustainability and the preservation of our environment,” she said, adding that since November last year, Persada Johor has collected 550kg of fabric waste (the equivalent of 3,300 t-shirts).
Persada Johor, in the words of Bareng, has already taken the first steps towards decreasing trash, conserving energy, and limiting the usage of plastic.
For example, the convention centre’s onsite restaurant, Restoran Selasih, went straw-free in June to reduce plastic usage, and bottled water, which is typically provided during meetings and seminars, will be phased out in stages and replaced with water pitchers and glasses as a more sustainable alternative.
“We are also embarking on various other initiatives, including food waste management, used oil recycling, installing EV chargers to promote electric vehicle usage, and adopting energy-efficient lighting systems throughout our facilities.
“Looking ahead, we have ambitious plans to implement rainwater harvesting, urban farming, and solar power harvesting, all aimed at reducing our environmental impact and promoting a greener future,” said Bareng.
 is pleased to announce that it has become Malaysia's first convention facility to join the United Nations Global Compact Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB). The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world's largest corporate sustainability effort, encouraging firms to align their operations with 10 widely agreed principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. ){kind=link}