PUTRAJAYA:Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today planted a Merbau tree in the garden of Seri Perdana, the Prime Minister’s official residence, to kick off the 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign 2020-2025.

In his speech, the Prime Minister called on the people to participate in the campaign and ensure the success of the agenda to make Malaysia green.

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

Also present were Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSa) Minister Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, Deputy Minister Ali Biju, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and KeTSa secretary-general Datuk Zurinah Pawanteh.

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

In a statement, Muhyiddin said the 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign was part of the Greening Malaysia Programme, one of the national agendas for addressing climate change and improving the quality of life of people.

He said the programme would preserve the biological diversity which is an invaluable national treasure while improving the quality of the environment and rivers.

“The Greening Malaysia Programme is also a pledge and commitment of the government based on the Shared Prosperity Vision to contribute to a greener future,” he said.

The campaign, organised by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSa) with cooperation from the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM), state forest departments, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) and state governments aimed at having 100 million trees planted across the country over the next five years.

Muhyiddin said through the campaign, JPSM estimated an increase of 20,000 to 80,000 in preserved forest areas by 2025.

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

The Prime Minister said it was also aimed at protecting the country’s natural resources in all socio-economic development activities and maintaining the global recognition of Malaysia being one of the 12 megadiverse countries.

So far, he said Malaysia had managed to record forest cover of 55.3 per cent in line with the pledge made at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to maintain at least 50 per cent of the country’s landmass under forest cover.

When calling on the people from all walks of life, including companies and corporate bodies to support the national agenda, Muhyiddin said: “Let’s start our New Year 2021 resolution by greening Malaysia! Our Trees, Our Life!”

-- BERNAMA