Saturday, 27 May 2023, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang - Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM), a foundation spearheaded by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB), organised a mangrove planting programme today, which saw the participation of over 50 employees from BPMB and volunteers from Kelab Belia Prihatin Malaysia (Belia Prihatin).

In the programme, employees and volunteers came together to plant 500 mangrove saplings, to rehabilitate and protect the mangrove area at Pusat Penyelidikan Kecil Hutan Paya Laut in Nibong Tebal, Penang. Through this initiative, ALAM hopes to promote environmental conservation and bring society’s attention to the urgent need to rehabilitate Malaysia’s mangrove forests. The programme was also organised in support of the Government’s ongoing “100 million tree-planting by 2025” campaign, under its “Penghijauan Malaysia” agenda launched in 2021.

ALAM has set a goal to plant 2,000 mangrove saplings in four locations throughout Peninsular Malaysia this year, with the first mangrove planting programme held at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park on 26 February 2023. ALAM is also actively engaged in various environmental preservation initiatives, including promoting awareness, educating the public, and fostering a whistleblowing culture through partnerships with communities, public entities, and private sectors.

BPMB’s Chief Human Resource Officer, Puan Sainursalwa Sani, said, “This programme is a demonstration of one of BPMB’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillars, which is about Caring for the Environment. It also aligns with BPMB’s purpose of delivering impact capital for national development – not only does this initiative help the environment in general, it also creates positive impact and long-term benefits for the local communities. Through ALAM, we are pleased to partner with Belia Prihatin, and will continue to play our part in educating the public on the importance of environmental conservation.”

ALAM’s Chief Executive Officer, Puan Wan Faizah Che Din, highlighted that the public needs to be aware of the importance of mangroves in the overall biodiversity. She said, “Studies have shown that mangroves play an important role as a natural barrier against coastline erosion, and mangroves also trap four times more carbon than normal forests. Given the enormous benefits of cultivating mangroves, proper administration and conservation are necessary to ensure its continued existence. We welcome all corporate and government collaborations to address the need to conserve and rehabilitate the wetlands.”

Belia Prihatin’s President, Encik Luqman Hakim Md Zim, added, "We hope everyone plays their role in protecting mangroves, including the youth. Mangrove forests help to ensure Malaysia’s continued healthy biodiversity, by creating a new habitat for wildlife, helping to reduce the impact of climate change and providing a sustainable and long-term seafood supply.”

ABOUT BANK PEMBANGUNAN MALAYSIA BERHAD

Celebrating its Golden Jubilee in 2023, Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB) was incorporated on 28 November 1973 as a development financial institution to assist small- and medium-sized enterprises through financing facilities, training and advisory services.

Today, BPMB Group is focused on financing in sectors deemed strategic to national economic development. Owned by Minister of Finance (Incorporated), BPMB Group 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 total group shareholders’ funds of RM8.86 billion (as at 31 December 2022), the BPMB Group is well positioned to meet the financing and business development needs of Malaysian businesses.

ABOUT AMANAH LESTARI ALAM (ALAM)

Amanah Lestrai 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).

ABOUT KELAB BELIA PRIHATIN

Kelab Belia Prihatin Malaysia (Belia Prihatin) is a youth collective registered under the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia and an official member of YOUNGO - the children and youth wing of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) representing Malaysian youth.