KUALA LUMPUR, 3rd December 2010 – Themed “Merry Green Christmas”, this year’s season for giving brings about an even greater meaning as Isetan of Japan Sdn Bhd ties up with WWF-Malaysia (World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia) for a good cause. The Charity Campaign which will run from 3rd-16th December 2010 at Concourse Floor, Isetan KLCC (main venue), GF, Isetan The Gardens and GF, Isetan Lot 10 is in collaboration with American fashion designer Anna Sui and the popular Japanese collectible toy Be@rbrick, where proceeds from the sales of Anna Sui (T-Shirt, eco-bags & canvas bags) and Be@rBrick (available in 4 colours) phone straps will go to WWF-Malaysia’s Forest Restoration and Orang-Utan Monitoring Project in North Ulu Segama, Sabah. 

Save the forests of Ulu Segama, the home of the orang-utans! 
WWF-Malaysia is striving to conserve orang-utans and their forest home.  Based on the aerial survey conducted by WWF-Malaysia in 2005-2006, North Ulu Segama is one of the key habitats for the orang-utan in Ulu Segama Malua with an estimated orang-utan population of 400 in 2004, and about 300 today.

The orang-utan’s forest home has been over exploited for timber since the 1950’s, which has caused a rapid degradation of the forest structure.  It is fragmented in some areas while some parts are degraded, making orang-utan food scarce as a result of previously unsustainable logging operations before stricter measures were imposed by the Sabah State Government. Hence, there is an urgent need to rehabilitate and restore degraded forests for the orang-utan’s survival by increasing their range in North Ulu Segama.

Despite these threats, there is hope for the orang-utan. Realising the importance of the Ulu Segama Malua forest for orang-utan conservation, the Sabah State Government banned logging activities for a ten-year period starting from end-2007 and placed the Ulu Segama-Malua Forest Reserves under its Sustainable Forest Management programme for the conservation and protection of the orang-utan habitat. The Sabah State Government has made a commitment to conserve the area and, through the Sabah Forestry and Sabah Wildlife Departments, has invited WWF-Malaysia to assist in the development and implementation of a management plan for the area. Illegal logging has ceased in the Ulu Segama Malua forest.  Several hundreds of hectares of illegal encroachment, including some by oil palm, have been cleared of palms. Forest rehabilitation through native tree planting has commenced in 2007. WWF-Malaysia is currently collaborating with the Forestry Department of the Sabah State Government to carry out reforestation of an area of approximately 2,400 hectares in the Ulu Segama Malua forest.

About Be@rbrick

Bearbrick, spelled as Be@rbrick is a collectible toy designed and produced by Japanese company – MediCom Toy Incorporated where the at sign in the replacement of the letter ‘a’ is a trademark of MediCom Toy. The name Be@rbrick is derived from a cartoon-style representation of a bear in a simplified version and a potbelly. Every plastic figure comprises a head, torso, hips, arms, hands and legs, which allow points of articulation-swivel head, swivel waist, ball joint arms, swivel wrists and ball joint legs.

Charity campaign collaboration with Anna Sui
Isetan is partnering with American fashion designer Anna Sui on a limited edition T-shirt and eco bag collection that will be sold exclusively at Isetan KLCC, Isetan Lot 10 & Isetan The Gardens. Customers will have two different T-shirt designs to choose from with proceeds benefiting WWF-Malaysia’s Forest Restoration and Orang-Utan Monitoring Project in North Ulu Segama, Sabah. 
                                                                   
Charity for a Cause
As a caring corporate citizen, Isetan of Japan Sdn Bhd’s principal in doing business has always been to give back to the community. Their dedication and commitment towards corporate social responsibility is deeply embedded in its corporate philosophy.
Isetan has committed to progressively increase the amount of corporate social responsibility by doing its bit for charity by tying up with WWF-Malaysia in line with Isetan’s 20th Anniversary events.
Purchase a Bearbrick (available in 4 colours-blue, pink, green and silver) phone strap or an Anna Sui T-Shirt/Eco Bag/Canvas bag and you will be helping to save the lives of the orang-utans in North Ulu Segama, Sabah. A small step will go a long way in restoring the degraded forests for the survival of the orang-utans.  

About Isetan:
Isetan of Japan Sdn Bhd, a leading retailer from Japan, renowned for its selection of high-quality range of merchandise has 3 outlets in Malaysia namely KLCC, Lot 10 and The Gardens, Mid Valley.

Isetan Kuala Lumpur celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year, aptly commemorated by the tagline “20 YEARS OF FABULOUS FASHION & SERVICE”. In 1990, Isetan opened its first department store in Lot 10 shopping center, Kuala Lumpur. Eight years later, on 30 May 1998, Isetan Kuala Lumpur opened its flagship store at Suria KLCC. Isetan then set up its third departmental store in The Gardens, Mid Valley in year 2007.

Recognising the need for the convenience of customers, I Online KL, Isetan’s 24 hour online shopping website was created and launched in November last year. This assists customers to make informed choices from the comfort of their homes. For more info, please log on to www.ionlinekl.com.my for a selection of high quality merchandises to select from.

About WWF-Malaysia:
WWF-Malaysia (World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia), the national conservation trust, currently runs more than 75 projects covering a diverse range of environmental protection work. Since 1972, WWF-Malaysia has worked on important conservation projects, from saving endangered species such as tigers and turtles, to protecting our highland forests, rivers and seas. We also undertake environmental education and advocacy work to achieve conservation goals. By conserving our natural resources, WWF-Malaysia is helping to protect our livelihoods, food and water supply, thus securing our good quality of life and our children’s bright future. We thank our supporters whose donations are our lifeblood. If you would like to donate to WWF-Malaysia or learn more about our projects, please call: +603-78033772 or visit our website at: wwf.org.my.

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Issued by Isetan of Japan Sdn Bhd