In an ongoing endeavor to promote environmental sustainability, 32 community projects in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, focusing on green and low-carbon initiatives will receive funding totaling over RM1 million.
Datuk Hasrin Kamal Hashim, the mayor of Iskandar Puteri, stated that the Iskandar Puteri City Council’s (MBIP) programme was in its sixth year and was offering its largest allocation yet.
He explained that MBIP aims to promote balanced development by strengthening environmental sustainability and preparing the city to cope with the effects of climate change. This is particularly important as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) is expected to accelerate development in the region.
“In keeping with JS-SEZ’s focus on green investment and sustainability, this year’s Iskandar Puteri Low-carbon Community Grant (IPRK) 6.0 has two new priority areas, Green Digital Ecosystems and the Circular Economy,” he said in a statement to The Star.
Following MBIP’s inclusion in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, Hasrin said the programme had expanded beyond its original focus on low-carbon efforts to also support initiatives related to smart cities and learning cities.
Since its introduction in 2021, the IPRK programme has supported 125 community projects, with total funding exceeding RM2.3 million.
“These initiatives were designed to benefit 70,000 residents in Iskandar Puteri, having already diverted over 200,000 kg of waste from landfills and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 639,533 kg,” he stated.
According to Hasrin, MBIP and its strategic partners, the University of Technology Malaysia, the Iskandar Regional Development Authority, the Johor Education Department, and SWM Environment Sdn Bhd, received 144 applications for 2026.
Applications for the programme came from a wide range of groups, including residents’ associations, places of worship, educational institutions, schools and non-governmental organisations.
According to him, IPRK places emphasis on inclusive and sustainable projects that can deliver lasting benefits to both the environment and the wider community.
“Ecosoap Empowerment by Johor Down Syndrome Association, which educates on recycling used cooking oil into circular economy products, is one of the selected projects,” he added.
For its “Kraf Hibiscus” initiative, Hibiscus Zone residents’ association in Taman Pulai Indah previously received RM20,000 under IPRK 5.0.
Through upcycled tile items, the project has empowered housewives and senior citizens while diverting over 4,000 kg of fabric waste from landfills.
The organisation was given RM40,000 this year to develop it into a social enterprise and integrate technology solutions with traditional economic practices to create a sustainable value chain.
