MONT KIARA played host in raising awareness and support for the Orangutan Appeal UK at the Rockin’

For The Environment green festival last Saturday and Sunday.

The musical extravaganza organised by GO International Group Sdn Bhd and its community project Doppelganger Open Mic presented two days of art, music and environmental education at SohoKL in Solaris Mont Kiara, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.

The event saw expatriate rock group Benchmarx, local musicians like Yunar, George Wong, and Funkcoustic join forces (and voices) with non-governmental organisations Malaysian Nature Society and Forest Voices to raise funds for Orangutan Appeal UK.

The festival, focusing on animal and environmental conservation awareness combined Eco-Fair Bazaar, environmental talks by Noah Jackson, writer and photographer, Forest Voices, and sustainable living choices by Tiny Tapir.

The Malaysian Nature Society also conducted recycle paper making workshops while Gerai Orang Asal, Orangutan Appeal UK had their stalls there.

The programme held to commemorate Earth Week was initiated by five expatriate school teachers who make up rock band Benchmarx, and raise funds for conservation and environmental education-oriented NGOs in Malaysia.

Spokesman for the band Kenny Peavy, a science teacher at the International School of Kuala Lumpur, said the band strongly believes that Malaysians are not as environmentally friendly as they could be.

“There is a lot of work to be done in Malaysia to promote environmentally friendly lifestyle, starting from kampung to the government,” he said.

Kenny and his band contributed to past environmental projects, raising RM7,000 for Sea Turtle Research Unit (now known as Turtle Research and Rehabilitation Group) for Turtle Rock in 2007 and RM12,000 for MyCat.

This year they hope to raise even more to help Orangutan Appeal UK to raise awareness of the need to protect Borneo’s charming red apes. For those who missed the chance for some good acoustic music and eco-friendly tips, it’s still not to late.

Visit www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk to learn more about the Orangutan Appeal UK and contribute to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah.