KUCHING, 27 January 2025 – The Premier of Sarawak, Y.A.B. Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg today hosted Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) Chairman, Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar, to strengthen their collaborative efforts for community welfare and biodiversity conservation in the region. Also in attendance were YSD Governing Council Member Datu Dr Rashidah Bolhasan and CEO Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin.

The discussions focused on the strategic alignment of YSD’s philanthropic initiatives supported by donor companies SD Guthrie Berhad, Sime Darby Berhad, and Sime Darby Property Berhad, with Sarawak’s developmental goals.

The Premier stated, “YSD’s strategic support for Sarawak through partnerships with local government agencies, non-profit organisations, and industry players is crucial for closing important gaps and advancing our region’s sustainability and social welfare strategies. We anticipate these projects will continue to bring substantial benefits to our people.”

"The Premier and I share a vision of sustainability and empowerment for Sarawak,” stated the YSD Chairman, Tunku Imran. “YSD has been actively engaged in Sarawak since 2011, driving initiatives that have created significant impacts in critical areas of education and sustainability. Our discussions today add to our mutual commitment to continue and accelerate our reach in environmental, educational, and healthcare initiatives across the region. We look forward to contributing even more substantially to Sarawak in the coming years."

Since 2011, YSD’s engagement in Sarawak across 20 projects, including 16 that are currently ongoing, has seen investments exceeding RM60 million fuelling initiatives like the Sarawak Red Langur Conservation at Maludam National Park, in collaboration with the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) that promotes conservation and environmental education, as well as eco-tourism to contribute to the economic upliftment of at least 8,000 local communities from the B40 group.

The Premier and YSD also discussed the Plant-A-Tree project in collaboration with SD Guthrie Berhad, where efforts are underway to plant 60,000 endemic and endangered trees on 95 hectares in Damai Estate, Bintulu, to rehabilitate degraded land and increase the biodiversity value of the area adjacent to Bukit Tiban Forest Reserve while offering economic opportunities to local communities. The project also aims to conserve the majestic hornbills by planting selected fig tree species that are their food source.

YSD has significantly advanced educational opportunities in Sarawak, providing nearly RM9.7 million in scholarships and bursaries statewide for students from B40 families and those with disabilities. Additionally, the YSD REACH Programme has delivered RM1.3 million in back-to-school support since 2014, in collaboration with Sime, SD Guthrie, and Rotary Club Kuching Central. This commitment is bolstered by the success of completed education projects in the region.

Previous educational contributions include provision of 866 laptops to needy students from 7 schools under the CERDIK initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating continued learning amid disruptions. Further enhancing educational access, the Rumah Arau project with the Sarawak Education Department, established halfway homes for primary school children and their mothers, enabling consistent school attendance in rural areas. The Midnight Football Programme, in collaboration with Global Peace Foundation Malaysia, assisted at-risk youths in Bau using sports to build resilience and leadership skills, while fostering a supportive community environment.

Healthcare initiatives remain YSD’s priority in Sarawak with partnerships with the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) and Cancer Research Malaysia (CRMY) focusing on improving access and outcomes. Ongoing tripartite collaboration with MAF and MOH for the HIV Intervention Programme at Teratak Kasih Tok Nan Miri, the MeMoSA mobile application for remote oral cancer detection, and the Patient Navigation Programme at Sarawak General Hospital, where 21% of the patients assisted nationwide are from Sarawak, have significantly enhanced local healthcare services.

A new initiative, “Dawn Hope” : A Safe Haven for Girls in Need, supported by the Ministry of Finance, will provide Sarawak’s first transit shelter for pregnant teenagers, launching on February 1 in Kuching as part of the YSD SINAR or “Sokongan Inklusif Autisme, Remaja, dan Komuniti Rentan” Programme.

Looking ahead, YSD is committed to strengthening its engagements in Sarawak, exploring new opportunities in sustainability and further expanding educational and conservation efforts to meet the evolving needs of the region.

Highlighting future initiatives, YSD plans to:

i. Extend the Red Langur project with SFC to new areas, enhancing habitat protection for one of the world’s rarest primates.
ii. Expand the Human-Orangutan Coexistence project into Sarawak by adapting successful strategies from Sabah to facilitate conservation and best management practices for good coexistence between people and orangutans outside protected areas and in mixed forests.
iii. Launch a new initiative in Miri to address teenage pregnancies in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), focusing on education and support for young women.
iv. Increase TVET bursaries, providing more opportunities for B40 students to meet local industry needs and bridge educational divides in underprivileged communities.