(From left) Seko, Okada, Ismail and Norwati exchanging the LOI to signify the collaboration. — Courtesy photos
THE Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme has begun its next chapter in reforestation with a new initiative in Segamat, Johor.
The initiative, announced by Aeon during a ceremony at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), will see 30,000 trees planted across 36ha over three years from 2025 to 2027.
This announcement also marked the completion of the programme’s first phase in Bidor, Perak, where 30,000 rainforest trees were planted between 2014 and 2023 on a 22.75ha former tin mining site.
A symbolic tree planting session with species including meranti temak nipis, meranti tembaga and sesenduk at Padang 44 in FRIM Kepong marked the start of the Segamat phase.
At the ceremony, Aeon managing director Naoya Okada and FRIM director-general Datuk Ismail Parlan exchanged a letter of intent (LOI) to formalise the collaboration.
Okada (right) and Ismail (second right) planting a tree at the ceremony.
The exchange was witnessed by FRIM deputy director-general (Research) Norwati Muhammad, and Aeon deputy managing director Tsugutoshi Seko.
“The Bidor project is a testament to what can be achieved when corporate responsibility combined with scientific expertise,” said Okada.
“We are proud to carry this legacy forward in Segamat.”
He added that since 1991, Aeon had planted over 557,000 trees nationwide as part of its environmental initiatives.
The initiative in Bidor also contributed to the 100 million tree planting campaign by Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.
Ismail said the Bidor site would be maintained as a research and seed production plot, adding that the reforestation efforts have successfully attracted various species of fauna, including migratory birds.
“FRIM welcomes the collaboration with Aeon in conserving and protecting the environment.
“We are also open and ready to explore other areas of collaboration in the future,” said Ismail.
