PM launches drive for 100 million trees

Last updated on January 13th, 2021 at 08:14 am

PUTRAJAYA: Today, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin planted a Merbau tree in the Seri Perdana garden, his official residence, to kick off the 2020-2025 100 Million Tree Planting Programme.

The Prime Minister called on people to take part in the initiative and to ensure the progress of Malaysia’s green agenda.

“To all Malaysians, let’s come together by planting 100 million trees across the country by 2025 to ensure the success of the Greening Malaysia agenda,” he said at the launch of the campaign, as well as its mobile app and special website www.100jutapokok.gov.my.

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources (Ketsa) Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, Deputy Minister Ali Biju, Chief Government Secretary Zuki Ali and Ketsa Secretary-General Zurinah Pawanteh were also present.

The campaign with the theme ‘Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life’ was also launched simultaneously at the state level.

The program will conserve the biological diversity of the country while improving the quality of the environment and rivers, Muhyiddin said.

The initiative, coordinated by Ketsa in partnership with the forestry department, the state forestry departments, the Malaysian Forest Science Institute and the state governments, aims to plant 100 million trees nationwide over the next five years.

“The campaign is expected to contribute between 30 million tonnes in urban areas and 85 million tonnes in forests and other areas per year to the absorption of carbon by plants,” he said.

“The campaign is expected to contribute between 30 million tonnes in urban areas and 85 million tonnes in forests and other areas per year to the absorption of carbon by plants,” he said.

To date, he said, in line with the commitment made at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to keep at least 50 percent of the country’s land mass under forest cover, Malaysia has managed to record forest cover of 55.3 percent.

Calling on individuals, businesses and corporate bodies to support the national agenda, Muhyiddin said: “Let’s start by greening Malaysia with our New Year 2021 resolution!” Our Life, Our Trees! ”