Trkiye: Trkiye First Lady Emine Erdogan spent about one hour visiting the Perdana Botanical Gardens here today. Emine was welcomed by the Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Emine, a prominent advocate for environmental sustainability, explored booths showcasing Kuala Lumpur Zero Waste Management by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Renergy Bumi Hijau, and Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change (MGTC). Other booths included Berjaya Enviroparks Sdn Bhd, Green Unity Ventures, Persatuan Sosioekonomi dan Alam Sekitar (PERSEAS), and Seberang Perai City Council. During her visit, Emine also planted a Merbau tree (Intsia palembanica, Leguminosae) in the garden compound.

Maimunah, in her welcoming speech, highlighted Emine’s visit as a testament to the strong ties between Trkiye and Malaysia, particularly in their mutual commitment to environmental sustainability. She commended the waste management policies in Trkiye, noting them as a global benchmark for sustainable living and expressed Malaysia’s eagerness to learn from Trkiye’s experiences. Maimunah also explained Kuala Lumpur’s initiatives like the Waste-to-Wealth Programme and the One Community, One Recycle (1C1R) initiative, both aimed at reducing landfill waste.

Maimunah emphasized that Emine’s presence serves as a reminder that sustainability is a way of life, requiring a collective approach. She expressed hope for greater collaboration and reinforced the shared vision for a sustainable and waste-free world. Emine and Wan Azizah also witnessed the signing of letters of exchange between the Zero Waste Foundation from Trkiye and local organizations, aiming to foster cooperation in zero waste practices, waste reduction, recycling, capacity building, and technology transfer.