Cheah’s 'Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming' and 'Flower Island' artworks for the Penyu Shell-ter Project. Photo: Herry Studio/KolmeGlu Art Collective
At a recent exhibition preview in Dungun, Terengganu, one-of-a-kind turtle sculptures were on display, bathed in soft light with mirrors beneath to highlight their unique shapes and colours.
These handcrafted pieces – each turtle with its own story – are being auctioned this month to support turtle conservation through the Penyu Shell-Ter Project, a fundraising campaign led by YTL Cement in collaboration with YTL Hotels.
In celebration of YTL Group’s 70th anniversary, the art project brings together 51 Malaysian artists and celebrities, each leaving their mark on one of 70 turtle sculptures.
The project features artists working in painting, sculpture, and street art, exploring diverse themes and mediums.
It also includes beloved public figures – world squash legend Datuk Nicol David, iconic singers Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Sheila Majid, and Datuk Zainal Abidin, known for his environmental anthem Hijau – who each hand-painted a turtle sculpture.
For star power, there’s 'Mrs Jazzy Pants' by Datuk Sheila Majid (left) and 'Vanishing Patterns' by Datuk Zainal Abidin. Photo: Handout
All proceeds from the turtle sculpture auction – held online and live on-site on Nov 25 – will support local NGOs Pulihara and the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia (TCS).
YTL Cement is also donating RM5,000 per artist to a charity of their choice, totalling RM255,000, extending the project’s impact to more social and environmental causes.
A meaningful legacy
Weighing 3kg, the turtle sculptures are made from ECOCem, a sustainable low-carbon material developed by YTL Cement’s Construction Development Laboratory.
“As we celebrate 70 years of the YTL Group, we reflect on the meaning of legacy. While honouring the past, we remain mindful of the future we want and the biodiversity that sustains it,” said Rachel Yeoh, executive director of YTL Cement, at the project launch at Tanjong Jara Resort in Dungun, Terengganu.
The venue sponsor, YTL Hotels, also brings its conservation experience to the project. At Tanjong Jara Resort, its in-house turtle hatchery, developed with Pulihara, has safeguarded over 110,000 eggs and released around 84,000 hatchlings since 2016.
Across its coastal resorts, initiatives such as coral restoration at Gaya Island Resort and reef protection at Pangkor Laut Resort highlight YTL Hotels’ ongoing commitment to marine ecosystems.
Rahayu (left) and Chen at the launch of the Penyu Shell-Ter Project in Dungun. Photo: Handout
“Our resorts have long been living classrooms for conservation. The Penyu Shell-Ter Project extends that ethos nationwide, inviting the public to join us in protecting fragile ecosystems,” said Yeoh Pei Xien, YTL Hotels & Properties’ vice president of strategy and transformation.
Endorsed by the National Art Gallery, the Penyu Shell-Ter Project unites art, sustainability, and civic engagement, showcasing Malaysia’s creative voices while highlighting urgent environmental issues.
Sending a powerful message
For Kuala Lumpur-based artist and sculptor Michelle Yap, 50, who contributed The Last Meal and A Silent Scream, her works are inspired by the struggle of turtles to survive.
“I wanted to highlight two critical threats faced by turtles – fishing nets and plastic bags. They either get caught in them or mistakenly ingest them, leading to their deaths,” said Yap.
“Turtles are a crucial part of the ocean’s ecosystem: they consume a lot of jellyfish, keeping jellyfish populations in check. If turtles were to disappear, then our oceans will be swamped with jellyfish, posing a threat to other creatures, including humans,” she added.
Painted turtle sculptures 'Spectrum Of Survival' by Hidayat (left) and 'Guardian Of The Blue Sea' by Amy. Photo: Hidayat Arshad
Ceramicist and crystal sculptor Gabriel Cheah from Kuala Kangsar, Perak, says participating in the project and learning about turtle conservation has made him optimistic about the future.
“I tend to view things from a positive perspective, and I wanted to bring that emotive quality into my turtle sculptures. Rather than just painting them, I incorporated modelling clay to add flowery ‘barnacles’ on Flower Island and featured my recurring character Joyful on Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. Both pieces convey a shared story of hope and perseverance,” said the 27-year-old, who is also a member of the KolmeGlu Art Collective.
Hidayat Arshad, 34, and Amy Nazira, 36, a husband-and-wife artistic duo based in Kota Damansara, Selangor, each submitted one sculpture for the project.
Hidayat’s piece Spectrum Of Survival represents the intersection between nature and human expression, while Amy’s Guardian Of The Blue Sea reflects our shared responsibility towards nature.
“I painted it in blue and white to evoke porcelain – a symbol of fragility and timeless beauty – as a metaphor for the delicate state of our marine ecosystems. The girl holding a stick and wearing a ‘Say No to Plastic’ shirt embodies the voice of awareness, particularly from the younger generation who will inherit the world we shape today,” said Amy.
'This project is rooted in our (YTL) values and aims to support local talent whilst raising funds and awareness for environmental conservation and endemic turtle species,' says Yeoh. Photo: Handout
Hidayat added that he hopes the project sparks curiosity and empathy among Malaysians for the plight faced by turtles.
“I want people to look beyond the surface of these painted turtles, to feel their beauty and understand their role in our ecosystem. Art can spark conversations and shift perspectives, and if this project inspires even a few people to care more about marine life and conservation, that would be a meaningful impact,” he said.
The work continues
At last month’s World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced that the green sea turtle is no longer endangered, thanks to decades of sustained conservation efforts, and is now listed as “Least Concern.”
But this doesn’t mean conservationists can rest on their laurels, said Rahayu Zulkifli, Pulihara’s CEO.
“The news is indeed encouraging, but we still need to address the threats faced by the green sea turtles in Malaysia. This includes egg poaching, accidental bycatch in fishing gear and habitat destruction,” said Rahayu.
“The funds from the auction will help us in carrying out more conservation efforts, such as buying sea turtle eggs from licensed egg collectors for safe incubation, as well as awareness and outreach programmes with local communities and more,” she added.
Yap's 'A Silent Scream' sculpture, which brings home a slice of reality. Photo: Michelle Yap
Isandra Shazlynn, Pulihara’s project manager at Tanjong Jara, said, “Sea turtles take 30–35 years to mature, and for green sea turtles, only 1 in 1,000 survives. In our most successful year, 2022, we saved 21,000 eggs and released 19,000 hatchlings – so in 30 years, hopefully 19 will return to the beach.”
Besides the turtle hatchery at Tanjong Jara, Pulihara also operates other project sites in Terengganu: one at Turtle Bay, Lang Tengah Island and another at Chakar Hutan Beach, Kerteh.
Less familiar to Malaysians are freshwater turtles, or terrapins. TCS focuses specifically on these species, including the southern river terrapin (Batagur affinis).
“Unlike sea turtles, freshwater river terrapins are little known in Malaysia, yet they are critically endangered and need focused river- and community-based conservation,” said Dr Chen Pelf Nyok, co-founder and executive director of TCS in Kemaman, Terengganu.
TCS’s work includes nest protection, egg collection, hatchling rearing and release, as well as community education. They also collaborate with researchers on population monitoring, genomic studies, and telemetry tracking to guide evidence-based releases and reintroduction efforts.
Last month, TCS released 680 river terrapin hatchlings at Kemaman River, marking its largest release to date.
“Funds from the Penyu Shell-ter Project will help secure the equipment, supplies, and staff needed to sustain our conservation work. We’re truly grateful to corporations like YTL, as we can’t do this alone. We hope this project also inspires more people to support turtle conservation,” concluded Chen.
The Penyu Shell-ter Project charity auction is now open online, with the live event on Nov 25 in Kuala Lumpur. More info here.
