KUCHING: In conjunction with its 70th anniversary, YTL Cement, Malaysia’s leading homegrown building materials group, planted 700 mangrove trees under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform, BUILDS, in a large-scale environmental initiative at Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in Kuala Sepetang on Thursday.
The launch of the mangrove tree-planting programme was officiated by Director of the Department of Environment (DOE) Perak, Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh, and witnessed by District Forestry Officer of Larut Matang, Perak State Forestry Department, Firdaus Jamil, alongside senior representatives from DOE and the Forestry Department.
Chosen for its ecological importance, Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, which serves as a natural coastal barrier, carbon sink, and biodiversity haven, provides an ideal site for anchoring YTL Cement Group’s long-term environmental and sustainability goals.
The event brought together 135 volunteers, including YTL Cement Group employees from Perak, Johor, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur, along with officers from the Department of Environment, staff from the Perak State Forestry Department, and students from SMK Convent Teluk Intan.
The initiative saw participants work side by side to plant 700 mangrove saplings in celebration of each year of YTL Group’s journey since its founding.
“We look forward to expanding this programme to more locations across Perak, while continuing to strengthen collaboration with government agencies and educational institutions,” said Director of Green Enable Technologies, YTL Cement Group, Datuk Halimah Hassan.
She added that BUILDS reflects the company’s broader commitment to sustainability and long-term value creation.
“With sustainability at our core, we are not just future-proofing projects – we are building progress that extends beyond business. BUILDS is about creating lasting value for people, the environment, and the communities we serve.
“Together, we can position Perak as a model for sustainable development, one that can be replicated across other states,” she said.
Established in 2022, BUILDS is YTL Cement Group’s CSR platform built on three core pillars: Community, Sustainability, and Education.
It aims to align the group’s corporate responsibility efforts with national sustainability goals and international climate action commitments.
Since the inception of its BUILDS initiatives, YTL Cement Group has planted a total of 1,669 trees across various locations including Padang Rengas, Sahom, Kanthan, and its Langkawi facility, with the addition of 700 new mangrove saplings marking a significant milestone in its environmental journey.
As YTL Group celebrates seven decades of nation-building, the company remains committed to driving progress not only in infrastructure and industrial development but also in workforce empowerment, environmental responsibility, and community engagement.
For more information on YTL Cement Group’s sustainability efforts, visit: www.ytlcement.com.
