The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development, Datu Haji Abdullah bin Julaihi, today hosted Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) Chairman, Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, for a courtesy visit to strengthen collaboration on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development priorities in Sarawak. Also in attendance were YSD Governing Council Member Datu Dr Rashidah Bolhassan, YSD Chief Executive Officer Dr Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin, YSD Chief Operating Officer Ms Muzdalifah Mohd Nasir, General Manager of Sarawak Forestry Corporation Tuan Abang Arabi Abang Aimran, Head of Forest and Wildlife Division Puan Tessy Nimos, Head of Biodiversity and Environment Division Puan Tang Hung Huong and Head of Urban and Country Planning Division TPr. Wan Sufian bin Wan Mustapha. 

The discussions focused on the strategic alignment of YSD’s philanthropic initiatives, supported by donor companies Sime Darby Berhad, SD Guthrie Berhad, and Sime Darby Property Berhad, with Sarawak’s priorities for environmental stewardship and community wellbeing. 

Since 2011, YSD has been actively engaged in Sarawak through 25 projects, including 20 currently ongoing, with investments exceeding RM65 million. These initiatives span across YSD’s five pillars of Education, Environment, Community & Health, Sports, and Arts & Culture. 

A key focus of the visit was YSD’s ongoing collaboration with Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) on the Sarawak Red Langur Conservation work at Maludam National Park. YSD is supporting the development and implementation of the Species Conservation Action Plan (SCAP) for the critically endangered Sarawak Red Langur, a species with fewer than 300 individuals remaining and found exclusively in Maludam National Park. The SCAP supports species protection and environmental education and includes strategies that strengthen responsible nature-based tourism while contributing to the economic upliftment of at least 8,000 individuals from the B40 group living around the park. 

“The Ministry’s leadership is vital in driving conservation priorities that safeguard Sarawak’s rich natural heritage while balancing community needs,” said Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, YSD Chairman. “Since 2011, YSD has been deeply committed to Sarawak, and we are proud to strengthen partnerships with state agencies and local stakeholders. Together, we aim to deliver lasting impact—protecting biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, and ensuring that conservation efforts benefit both nature and the communities who depend on it.” 

In the environment pillar, YSD continues to strengthen conservation outcomes in Sarawak through collaboration with SFC and SD Guthrie Berhad, including the SD Guthrie YSD Plant A Tree project at Damai Estate in Bintulu. The project involves planting 60,000 endemic and endangered trees across 95 hectares to rehabilitate degraded land and increase biodiversity value adjacent to Bukit Tiban Forest Reserve, alongside habitat enrichment efforts such as planting selected fig tree species that support hornbill food sources.  

Separately, the South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP) has commenced orangutan conservation work in Sarawak to support collaboration with YSD projects and SD Guthrie estates, recognising different ecological and institutional contexts towards human-orangutan coexistence.  

At the same time, marine conservation outcomes are being advanced through YSD’s long‑term partnership with the Marine Research Foundation, strengthening fisheries management in Sarawak through electronic monitoring, the adoption of turtle‑safe fishing practices via the Turtle Excluder Device (TED), and evidence‑based bycatch reduction in local waters.  
 
Beyond conservation, YSD continues to expand opportunity and inclusion. In education, YSD has provided RM10.4 million in scholarships and bursaries for Sarawakian students, including persons with disabilities and those pursuing TVET pathways with Automotive and Welding Institute of Sarawak (AWISAR) and Sarawak Agriculture Vocational Training Institute (SAVTI) of Sarawak Skills., while the YSD REACH Programme has delivered RM1.44 million in back-to-school support statewide, complemented by Sekolah Angkat MADANI initiatives in Miri and Bintulu.  

In healthcare and community, YSD supports HIV intervention through Teratak Kasih Tok Nan Miri, early oral cancer detection via the MeMoSA mobile app, and navigation services at Sarawak General Hospital, alongside Program SINAR YSD which includes Sarawak’s first transit shelter for pregnant teenagers with Pertubuhan Pembangunan Insan Sarawak (PPIS). YSD is also preparing for the upcoming expansion of autism-inclusive support through OSEIC Sarawak, with 30 Early Intervention Assistants currently in training to strengthen services ahead of the new Miri branch opening in mid-2026, expected to benefit more than 1,500 children statewide. 

YSD also nurtures talent and cultural vitality. In sports, programmes such as Midnight Football with Global Peace Foundation Malaysia (GPFM) in Serian and Bau have built resilience and leadership among at-risk youths. In arts and culture, YSD has broadened access through partnerships with ASK Dance Company, Kakiseni, and KL Shakespeare Players, enriching creative literacy and cultural appreciation among students statewide.