Images of SEA Games athletes receiving saplings in addition to medals on the podium has sparked the curiosity of many people, including netizens.

They also wonder what kind of plant the athletes received.

Apart from a gold, silver or bronze medal, every athlete who wins a place on the podium is also given a Rimau doll, the official SEA Games mascot, and a basket containing a sapling.

“I would like to know where these athletes plan to plant their trees ... because I’m thinking, if they are given plants, can they actually take them back (to their country)?” asked a netizen.

Another asked: “We are all wondering, what type of tree they are getting?”

“Maybe they are each getting a Musang King durian sapling, as the fruit is very pricey,” said a netizen.

The saplings are a green initiative called the “One Medal, One Tree” programme by the Malaysian SEA Games Organising Committee.

Under the initiative, a total of 5,249 saplings – which matches the number of medal winners at the Games – will be given out.

The athletes, however, will not get to keep the saplings as they will all be planted along Peninsular Malaysia’s Central Forest Spine, which is a series of forest reserves in Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu.

The trees will be planted below highway viaducts where animals can safely cross the roadways that run through forests.

The saplings are of various Malaysian jungle plant species, including syzigium polyanthum (Pokok Salam), gardenia hombroniana (Pokok Bruas) and syzygium malaccense (Pokok Jambu).

A posting on the 29th SEA Games Facebook page (facebook.com/kualalumpur2017) explaining the details of the One Medal, One Tree programme received many comments expressing support for the green initiative.

“Great initiative,” wrote Mohamad Shafiq.

“Now I know why, I always wondered why plants instead of fresh flowers. Great initiative Malaysia! Save the earth,” wrote Facebook user Amirul Mukminin.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by IWAN SHU-ASWAD SHUAIB

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