YTL Cement Group Champions Sustainability with Mangrove Planting Initiative in Perak. In celebration of YTL Group’s 70th anniversary, YTL Cement Malaysia—the nation’s leading homegrown building materials group—launched a mangrove tree planting initiative under its corporate social responsibility platform, BUILDS. The programme kicked off at the ecologically significant Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve in Kuala Sepetang, Perak, underscoring the Group’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
The event was officiated by Dato’ Ts. Dr. Hj. Mohammad Ezanni bin Mat Salleh, Director of the Department of Environment Perak, and witnessed by Firdaus bin Jamil, District Forestry Officer of Larut Matang, along with senior representatives from the Department of Environment and the Perak State Forestry Department. The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, known for its vital role in coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation, was selected as the ideal location to anchor YTL Cement Group’s long-term environmental goals.
A total of 700 mangrove saplings were planted during the event by 135 volunteers, including YTL Cement Group employees from Perak, Johor, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur, as well as volunteers from the Department of Environment, Perak State Forestry Department, and students from SMK Convent Teluk Intan. This collaborative effort reflects the essence of BUILDS, which integrates three key pillars—Community, Sustainability, and Education—into the Group’s corporate responsibility agenda.
Dato’ Halimah Hassan, Director of Green Enable Technologies at YTL Cement Group, emphasized the importance of this initiative in her address, stating the Group’s intention to expand the programme to more locations across Perak. She highlighted that sustainability is embedded at the core of YTL Cement’s operations, aiming to create value not just for business, but for people, the planet, and future generations. “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.
Since 2022, YTL Cement has planted over 1,600 trees in areas such as Padang Rengas, Sahom, Kanthan, and Langkawi. These efforts are part of the BUILDS programme’s broader mission to support environmental preservation, promote educational engagement, and strengthen community involvement in sustainability.
As YTL Group marks 70 years of nation-building, this initiative reaffirms its dedication to aligning operational excellence with environmental and social responsibility. For more information on YTL Cement Group’s sustainability efforts, visit www.ytlcement.com.