YTL marks 70 years with mangrove planting drive

YTL Cement, Malaysia’s leading homegrown building materials group, launched a large-scale mangrove tree planting programme under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform, BUILDS, in conjunction with the YTL Group’s 70th anniversary.

Held at the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, the programme was officiated by Dato’ Ts. Dr. Hj. Mohammad Ezanni bin Mat Salleh, Director of the Department of Environment (DOE) Perak, and witnessed by Firdaus bin Jamil, District Forestry Officer of Larut Matang, Perak State Forestry Department. Also present were senior representatives from DOE and the state forestry department.

Matang was selected for its ecological significance as one of the world’s best-managed mangrove ecosystems, known for its role in coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation. The programme saw 135 volunteers—including YTL Cement employees from across Perak, Johor, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur—join hands with DOE and Perak Forestry Department officers, as well as students from SMK Convent Teluk Intan, to plant 700 mangrove saplings.

Sustainability beyond business

Dato’ Halimah Hassan, Director of Green Enable Technologies, YTL Cement Group, expressed pride in the growing impact of BUILDS and its future aspirations.

“We look forward to expanding this programme to more locations across Perak, while continuing to strengthen collaboration with government agencies and educational institutions,” she said during her speech at the event.

“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 added.

A legacy of environmental commitment

BUILDS, YTL Cement’s CSR platform, is structured around three pillars—Community, Sustainability, and Education—ensuring that its programmes have a lasting impact on people and the planet. The Matang initiative is part of a wider series of BUILDS-led programmes that focus on environmental stewardship.

Since its launch in 2022, BUILDS has contributed to the planting of 1,669 trees across key locations such as Padang Rengas, Sahom, Kanthan, and the company’s Langkawi facility.

As YTL Group commemorates its 70th year of contributing to nation-building, the company remains focused on aligning operational excellence with environmental responsibility and community empowerment.