In keeping with their responsibility to safeguard the environment and Mother Earth, the Mercure Beach Penang along with several local authorities organized a beach cleaning activity at the shorefront of the hotel recently.
They also helped in the conservation of turtles and planted the merambong trees to attract rare turtle species to land and lay eggs.
In doing their bid towards the conservation efforts for turtle species, Mercure along with Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang Council Member Ms Rodziah Kassim and Persatuan Nur Salam Wilayah Utara headed by Puan Nor Liza organized a collaborative programme to raise more awareness in respecting nature and keeping the beaches clean and safe.
To share his concern and interest in the event was the State Exco for Infrastructure and Transport who is also the state assemblyman for Tanjung Bungah, YB Zairil Khir Johari.
He also pulled up his sleeves to help plant the merambong trees along with the volunteers.
“I am very happy to see this great effort after a long challenging pandemic period, to encourage a better economy for the tourism industry. This activity helps to keep our beaches clean including the conservation of our environment that will someday get visits from the turtles,” said Zairil.
In the meantime, for the layman and the uninitiated, merambong trees provide the suitable temperature for turtles to lay eggs.
Scientifically named “scaevola frutescens”, this plant can be found along Malaysia’s coastal areas. Two rare species of turtle, Green Turtle and Olive-Ridley Turtle are known to only lay eggs at the merambong tree.
Along with spreading more awareness to our environment, the commendable event also included the cleaning session with volunteers from the Persatuan as well as from government bodies including Navy personnel from nearby TLDM base, city council team and hotel associates.
“Mercure is happy to be part of this meaningful initiative to beautify our precious beach along with new findings that our beach area is suitable for the growth of the merambong plant to someday welcome turtle to lay eggs on our shores,” said hotel general manager, Navin Nishaal.
