Recreational Park, jointly organised by Sun Life Malaysia and the Kajang Municipal Council.
Sun Life Malaysia, a Life Insurance and Family Takaful provider, gathered over 70 employees to plant 350 landscape and rare fruit trees. This tree planting drive doubled up as the official kick-off for its long-term, 3-year tree planting initiative, #PlantTreePlantHope, which is aimed at promoting a greener and more sustainable environment.
Speaking at the tree planting drive, Ho Teck Seng, Deputy CEO of Sun Life Malaysia said that climate change is a critical and pressing global issue and communities around the world have doubled down on environmental conservation initiatives to mitigate the risks of climate change.
“As a brand that champions sustainability, Sun Life Malaysia is committed to support the national agenda of promoting restoration and preservation of our natural environment. Our Purpose of helping Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives cannot be achieved without concerted efforts to support the transition to a low-carbon future. Today’s event marks the kick-off for our 3-years tree planting initiative and we are committed to a long term continuous effort to drive meaningful outcomes for a more sustainable and healthier world,” said Ho.
The tree planting event was officiated by Yang Dipertua Kajang Municipal Council, Tuan Haji Najmuddin bin Jemain. Also present were Amin bin Abdullah, CEO of Yayasan Hijau Malaysia, alongside employees from Sun Life Malaysia and Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj).
According to Sun Life Malaysia, this tree planting initiative also supports the government’s Greening Malaysia Programme (Program Penghijauan Malaysia), which targets to plant 100 million trees by 2025.
“Forests are the green lungs of Mother Earth, they are also vital to human health and well-being. We are delighted to partner with the Kajang Municipal Council and Yayasan Hijau Malaysia to create more green urban spaces that will provide the ideal setting for local communities to lead an active healthy lifestyle that contributes to the long-term health of the mind and body,” Ho added.
Some of the rare fruit and landscape trees planted during this initiative at the Sungai Chua Recreational Park in Kajang include Pokok Kayu Manis, Pokok Asam Jawa, Pokok Ciku, Pokok Cermai, Pokok Kundang, Pokok Ajaib, Pokok Jambu Batu, Pokok Nona, Pokok Abiu, and Pokok Kayu Serai.
The second instalment of Sun Life Malaysia’s 2022 tree planting initiative will be held in August where 150 mangrove trees will be planted to repopulate the coastline of Sijangkang Mangroves Recreational Forest & Park. As a natural coastal defence, mangrove trees serve as a barrier against storm surges and floods, with their roots trapping river and land sediment to slow down erosion.
Research has also shown that mangroves outperform other forests in their ability to store carbon, as when their trees, roots, and branches die, they are usually covered by soil. This slows the breakdown of materials while boosting carbon storage.
Sun Life Malaysia is a member of Sun Life, a leading international financial services organisation with over 157 years of experience in providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions.
As a global financial services leader, Sun Life said it constantly seeks new ways to increase its sustainability efforts. The company has earned a spot in the Corporate Knights’ Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World for 13 consecutive years.
In 2021, it announced a goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 in both operations and investments, with interim targets to be established in 2022. The company also set a goal in 2021 of $20 billion in new sustainable investments by 2025. Its current portfolio value of sustainable investments is $65 billion.