Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) today introduced the YSD SEPAKAT Programme, a strategic community leadership initiative to support selected People’s Housing Programme (PPR) communities in becoming positive, self-driven hubs led by their Residents’ Associations (RAs) and local leaders. The programme was introduced during Hari Bersama Komuniti at PPR Seri Malaysia, officiated by YB Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah binti Dr Wan Ismail, Member of Parliament for Bandar Tun Razak, together with Dr Hajah Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Sime Darby, partner organisations, RA leaders and local community representatives.  

Supported by the Ministry of Finance under the Belanjawan 2025 initiative, YSD SEPAKAT brings together RAs, NGOs, government agencies and private sector partners to help PPR communities design and lead their own solutions. The programme focuses on building leadership capacity, strengthening governance and expanding livelihood opportunities, so that communities are better able to stand on their own and sustain progress beyond any single funding cycle. 

At the Hari Bersama Komuniti launch in PPR Seri Malaysia, residents were introduced to the SEPAKAT empowerment initiative and its pool of mentors through on-ground clinics, advisory counters and sharing sessions with YSD partners and RA leaders. Booths on entrepreneurship, home-based businesses, skills training, financial literacy, education support, arts, youth activities and community services provided a dynamic platform for community leaders and residents to explore sustainable, needs-driven project ideas. These opportunities are designed to be scalable for long-term impact, leveraging available resources under SEPAKAT Ekonomi, SEPAKAT Sosial and Hab SEPAKAT Komuniti. This direct engagement ensures that communities understand their options, know where to seek guidance and can take the lead in shaping programmes that are practical, inclusive and sustainable. 

YB Dato’ Seri Dr Wan Azizah binti Dr Wan Ismail said YSD SEPAKAT reflects the MADANI aspiration to place communities at the heart of development. 

“In many PPR communities, we already see community leaders quietly at work — looking out for neighbours and finding ways through everyday challenges. The YSD SEPAKAT programme recognises this strength and provides the training, guidance and networks they need. When Residents’ Associations are trusted and supported in a structured way, they can build environments that are safer, more inclusive and conducive to shared wellbeing for everyone.” she said. 

YSD SEPAKAT builds on Yayasan Sime Darby’s wider social resilience agenda under Belanjawan MADANI, including Program SINAR YSD (Sokongan Inklusif Autisme, Remaja, dan Komuniti Rentan), which has strengthened protection and support systems for vulnerable groups nationwide. Lessons from these initiatives, including YSD’s partnerships in high-risk communities, have shown that long-term change is strongest when local leaders are equipped to manage programmes, uphold good governance and drive their own solutions. 

“Through initiatives like SINAR YSD, we have witnessed how trust, guidance, mentorship, and strong partner networks can transform community outcomes,” said Dr Hajah Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Sime Darby. “With YSD SEPAKAT, we are extending this approach to PPR areas—empowering Residents’ Associations to take the lead in their communities, while we provide training, strategic partnerships, with governance support.” 

Under YSD SEPAKAT, selected PPR communities will work with YSD and partners through three key components: 

• SEPAKAT Ekonomi 
  SEPAKAT Ekonomi supports community-led livelihood and income-generating initiatives proposed and managed by RAs together with residents. These may include micro-enterprises, home-based businesses, youth entrepreneurship, skills-based services and other efforts that open up diverse and sustainable income streams. Young people are encouraged to play an active role so that they build capabilities as future community leaders. 
• SEPAKAT Sosial 
  SEPAKAT Sosial strengthens the social fabric of PPR communities through initiatives such as community-based support for students at risk of dropping out, children with learning challenges or autism, financial literacy programmes, basic health and nutrition awareness, mobility support for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, and activities that promote positive values and mutual care. These interventions are designed and implemented with the RAs, reinforcing shared responsibility within the community. 
• Hab SEPAKAT Komuniti 
  Hab SEPAKAT Komuniti positions the community centre as an active hub for learning, coordination and support. It will function as: 
  • a flexible space for livelihood activities and skills training; 
  • a learning space for tuition, literacy and TVET-related workshops; 
  • a leadership and governance training point for RA and youth leaders; and 
  • a coordination point for services such as mobility support for older persons and persons with disabilities. 

At PPR Seri Malaysia, the Residents’ Association (RA) and local residents are expanding a community bakery operated by residents and single mothers to increase household income and participation in community life. Through YSD SEPAKAT, the bakery team is seeking appropriate equipment, market access, leadership and governance training, and mentorship with YSD project partners to strengthen operations and support new home-based bakers. 

Nearby at Perumahan Awam Seri Sabah 3A, the RA is scaling an urban farming initiative to raise community income. Support under YSD SEPAKAT includes improving vegetable production, introducing education-based eco-tourism and developing two agri-based products. The RA, led by En. Raja Ibrahim Raja Muhaiddin, recently received a five-star rating under DBKL’s Local Agenda 21 with technical support from the Department of Agriculture, TNB and DBKL. 

A Community Leadership Summit will be convened as the culmination of these efforts, led by the RA leaders themselves. The summit will showcase community projects, highlight impact and challenges, share good practices in governance, and recognise outstanding leadership and innovation. Selected high-performing PPRs will then be invited to serve as PPR Angkat, mentoring other communities and acting as central support hubs for neighbouring areas. 

YSD SEPAKAT is implemented with the support of partners including Excelerate, Pepper Labs, Ibupreneur, Yayasan Jariah Aafiyat, the Department of Agriculture, Global Environment Centre, Chumbaka and Kakiseni. Each partner contributes specific expertise in entrepreneurship, skills training, social support, environmental stewardship, digital education and arts engagement, aligned to the needs identified by PPR communities. 

Through this collaborative model, YSD SEPAKAT aims to demonstrate how resident-led leadership, accountable structures and the right alliances can build safer, more cohesive and economically resilient communities in PPRs, and provide models that can be replicated across urban Malaysia.