Held today at the Sime Darby Plantation Tower in Ara Damansara and graced by YSD Chairman Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, Board of Sime Darby Plantation
Senior Director Dato’ Halipah Esa, Sime Darby Berhad Chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, YSDGoverning Council Member Puan Sri Normah Hashim, and Managing Director and YSD Governing Council Member Datuk Helmy Othman Basha, YSDVAC 2023 marked a momentous celebration of the foundation’s commitment to sustainable community impact since its inception in 1982.
 
In July this year, YSD was named the ‘Foundation of the Year’ in the ESG Leadership Excellence category by CSR Malaysia at the Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards 2023, where the Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri handed the award to YSD CEO Dr Yatela Zainal Abidin. This accolade not only recognises YSD’s dedication to delivering sustainable values but also sets the stage for the YSDVAC 2023.

YSD Chairman Tunku Imran congratulated the employee volunteers and encouraged more employees to come forward and carry the spirit of volunteerism further, “This recognition reflects the efforts, dedication, and passion of the Sime Darby employees to make positive changes in the community and the environment. I hope more will come forward to become ambassadors for positive change, champions of empathy, and catalysts for progress, because each of us can play a role in building a more sustainable and inclusive society.”

The ceremony celebrated the best volunteering teams and individuals from each of the Sime Darby companies for the impact of their volunteering initiatives and their extensive volunteering efforts on the ground under both the YSD Huluran Kasih and YSD Eco Citizen programmes to contribute towards the betterment of society and environment respectively. Over the past year, these individuals have been the driving force behind some of YSD’s most impactful initiatives, enriching lives and making a lasting impact through their time, expertise, and dedication.

Since the launch of the YSD Huluran Kasih in 2018, over 250 activities have been carried out with more than 4,000 employee volunteers, clocking over 47,000 hours of volunteer time. And with the launch of the new YSD Eco Citizen programme this year, the foundation anticipates a significant increase in employee participants and volunteering hours, further reinforcing its resolve to community and environmental efforts.YSDVAC 2023 also featured YSD project partners, including Free Tree Society, Global Environment Centre, Mental Illness Awareness and Support Association, Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia, The Lost Food Project, Yayasan Orang Kurang Upaya Kelantan, MERCY Malaysia, and the Malaysia Federation of the Deaf. The event attended by the Sime Darby employees also highlighted YSD’s support for Yayasan Chow Kit, Nyala Dance Theatre, and IDEAS Autism Centre, who took the stage with their special performances.

“Today we acknowledge the pivotal role Sime Darby employee volunteers have played in effecting positive change within the communities. This ceremony is more than just an occasion; it is our expression of profound gratitude for our volunteers’ exceptional contributions. They have not only fuelled YSD’s initiatives but have also become the driving force behind our commitment to empowering communities, safeguarding the environment, and nurturing a more sustainable and inclusive future for all,” said YSD CEO Dr Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin.