AMANAH LESTARI ALAM SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ALAM BE-LEAF PROGRAMME 2024 WITH MANGROVE PLANTING IN KLANG

Klang, 12 May 2024 - Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM), a national initiative dedicated to environmental sustainability, today launched its ALAM Be-Leaf Programme 2024 with a mangrove planting event at Mangrove Point, Klang.

This event, a collaborative effort between federal and state governments, private and public sectors, and academic institutions, underscored ALAM's commitment to environmental stewardship and highlighted the importance of involving youth in conservation efforts. This marks a significant milestone for ALAM, which was recently appointed by the Ministry of Youth & Sports (KBS) as the "Rakan Pelaksana" for the Rakan Muda 2024 program under the Rakan Bumi lifestyle.

The ALAM Be-Leaf Programme 2024 aims to mobilize youth volunteerism and participation in environmental conservation. It serves as a feeder to Greening Malaysia: National 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign (2021-2025) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), with Yayasan Hijau Malaysia as one of the implementing agency, supporting efforts to increase the country's forested areas. In 2023, ALAM kicked started the 'We Be-Leaf Together’ Programme in collaboration with a youth NGO under KBS, successfully planted over 8,000 mangrove saplings across four regions and engaging over 3,000 volunteers.

The event today also included activities such as mangrove planting, clean-up sessions, and educational workshops to raise awareness about the importance of mangrove ecosystems. A total of 300 trees were planted showcasing the tangible impact of the initiative. Over 100 volunteers joined the event, including representatives from Rakan Muda, Jabatan Belia Selangor, NRES, Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Selangor, Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG), Yayasan Hijau Malaysia, YouthCare Malaysia, IIUM, and UITM. The initiative was co-funded by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad, UNITAR, and ALAM, demonstrating a strong public-private partnership in support of environmental sustainability.

The launch saw the attendance of YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Ali Tan Sri Abdul Kadir, ALAM Chairman, along with other notable figures from government, corporations, NGOs, and academia.

In his welcoming remarks, Datuk Ali Tan Sri Abdul Kadir expressed his excitement about ALAM's dual accomplishments. "Being appointed as Rakan Pelaksana for Rakan Bumi is an incredible honour and an opportunity for us to encourage more youth to participate in environmental initiatives. We hope that the ALAM Be-Leaf Programme will breed a new generation of eco-champions for a more impactful outcome," he said.

During the launch, YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad emphasized the government's commitment to environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation. "Mangroves play a crucial role in our ecosystems, and initiatives like ALAM Be-Leaf Programme are vital in addressing climate change and fostering environmental awareness among our youth," he stated.

YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth and Sports, delivered the closing speech, emphasizing the role of youth engagement in nation-building initiatives. "Youth are the cornerstone of Malaysia's future. It's crucial that we engage them in projects like these to not only foster environmental stewardship but also to ensure they play an active role in shaping our nation's trajectory," she remarked.

The Mangrove Point is a community project under the Selangor Maritime Gateway, covering 70 acres near the Klang River's mouth. It features a unique ecosystem and lush surroundings that encourage meditation, health, and well-being.

As part of the ALAM Be-Leaf 2024 programme, several key locations have also been identified for upcoming activities across Malaysia. The next event will be a mangrove planting in Merbok, Kedah, in collaboration with the Forestry Department of Kedah, followed by Setiu Wetlands in Terengganu, with support from the Terengganu State Parks Management Council. The final location for the year is Tanjung Piai in Johor, in partnership with Johor National Parks.

ABOUT BANK PEMBANGUNAN MALAYSIA BERHAD

Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad was incorporated on 28 November 1973 as a development financial institution. Owned by Minister of Finance (Incorporated), Bank Pembangunan has been accorded the highest rating of ‘AAA’ by both RAM Rating Services Berhad and Malaysia Rating Corporation Berhad. It is regulated and supervised by Bank Negara Malaysia under the Development Financial Institution Act 2002.

With a Group Total Assets value of RM27.0 billion (as at 31 December 2022), Bank Pembangunan is well positioned to meet the financing and business development needs of Malaysian businesses.

ABOUT AMANAH LESTARI ALAM (ALAM)

Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM) is a national initiative mooted by the Ministry of Finance Malaysia and spearheaded by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad, with a vision to transform Malaysians’ mindset and behaviours on the environment. Derived from the 12th Malaysia Plan, ALAM aims to create awareness, educate and instil whistleblowing culture by collaborating with communities, public and private sectors. ALAM also advocates policy for improved governance and bridging the policymakers with stakeholders. ALAM targets three specific segments, i.e. Primary school students, Youths and Adults – aimed at helping to address the relationship Malaysians have with the country’s present natural capital and future generations. ALAM’s focus is centred on seven UN SDGs; SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 17 (Partnership for The Goals).