PETRONAS Employees to Walk for the Environment

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 November 2019 – About 48,000 PETRONAS employees and their family members in Malaysia and across the globe would do their bit to conserve the environment by participating in the PETRONAS Walk4Trees Challenge.

Participants will collectively walk 20 billion steps for one year, beginning November 12 to enable planting of trees which would constitute a carbon sink, a natural reservoir that stores carbon-containing chemical compounds.

PETRONAS’ corporate social responsibility arm Yayasan PETRONAS will plant one tree for every one million steps, aiming for 20,000 trees to be planted in identified locations nationwide.

PETRONAS Chairman and also Yayasan PETRONAS Chairman Datuk Ahmad Nizam Salleh, officiated the Challenge in a ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre recently, accompanied by PETRONAS Vice President of Group Health, Safety, Security and Environment (GHSSE) Dzafri Sham Ahmad.

Dzafri said the initiative reflects PETRONAS’ commitment towards sustainability by conducting and growing its business in manners that positively contribute to society and the environment.

“It is also to raise awareness among our employees on sustainability as well as on ‘good health and well-being’, which is one of the seven UN Sustainable Development Goals in which PETRONAS believes it can make the greatest impact,” he added.

The trees will be planted simultaneously by PETRONAS employees and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) upon the completion of the challenge at identified locations across the country.

Yayasan PETRONAS meanwhile will enable communities in the selected areas where the tree saplings will be planted, to either start or expand their nurseries. The communities will be trained on how to care for these trees over three years, expanding their knowledge and experience with new skills to improve their livelihood.

Yayasan PETRONAS CEO, Lita Osman said: “This Challenge offers various benefits, including in conserving the environment, giving employees a platform to participate in a healthy initiative while delivering positive outcomes for communities.

“We often think that one person cannot make a difference. By committing to a collective target, this programme challenges us to walk today for a better tomorrow. Hand in hand, we can flourish.”

In total, 11 locations throughout 10 states nationwide have been identified as planting sites. The selection of saplings is based on non-invasive and existing species in the selected areas and availability of planting materials. Participants will install a custom-designed PETRONAS’ MESTIfit4Health smartphone app that will automatically record their steps for the purpose of the Challenge.

About Yayasan PETRONAS
Yayasan PETRONAS is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of PETRONAS. Its mission is to contribute to the well-being of society. Yayasan PETRONAS aims to deliver sustainable impact, improving the quality of life and socio-economic outcomes for communities across the nation through its focus areas in Education, Community Well-being and Development and the Environment.

W: https://www.yayasanpetronas.com.my
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IG: https://www.instagram.com/yayasanpetronas

Issued by
Media Engagement Department
Group Strategic Communications
PETRONAS