BYD Malaysia Turns 1,200 Public Pledges into Tree Planting Drive, Expands CSR to Sabah Fire Relief
BYD Malaysia stepped up its Light the Change corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme by converting more than 1,200 public pledges into tangible environmental action through a tree planting initiative at The Waterfront @ ParkCity.
The programme, originally introduced as a platform to encourage collective action towards sustainability, now moves beyond its digital roots. Following a pledge campaign held late last year, the company has begun translating commitments into real-world impact, starting with urban reforestation efforts.
120 Trees Planted Using Miyawaki Method
Held in conjunction with Earth Day, the initiative brought together 120 participants, including teams from BYD Sime Motors, BYD and DENZA dealer partners, employees, media representatives, students from The International School of ParkCity (ISPKL), and stakeholders from The Waterfront @ ParkCity.
Together, they planted 120 trees spanning 10 native species, selected to enhance biodiversity and restore the surrounding urban green space.
The trees were planted using the Miyawaki method, an urban reforestation technique designed to create dense, fast-growing forests. According to BYD, this approach enables vegetation to grow up to 10 times faster and 30 times denser, forming self-sustaining ecosystems within two to three years.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to turning intention into action,” said Jacob Ma, Managing Director of BYD Malaysia. “Through BYD Light the Change, we are creating opportunities for our partners, communities, and the younger generation to be part of something meaningful. It is not about scale alone, but about consistently driving efforts that go beyond what we do as a business, and making a lasting difference where it matters.”
The effort also aligns with BYD’s broader global mission to “Cool the Earth by 1°C,” with further phases of the programme expected to expand into areas such as mangrove conservation and wider ecosystem restoration.
Extending Support To Sandakan Fire Victims
Beyond environmental initiatives, BYD Malaysia has also extended the Light the Change programme to community aid efforts.
In response to a recent fire in Kampung Bahagia, Sandakan, which displaced thousands, the company mobilised its dealer network to deliver relief supplies to affected families.
Working alongside BYD Sime Motors and BYD Regas in Kota Kinabalu, collection points were set up at dealerships before aid was distributed directly to evacuation centres, including PPS Gelanggang Futsal Sim-Sim, PPS Dewan Serbaguna Warga Tua, and PPS Sibuga.
In total, around 1,000 victims were reached, with at least 250 essential supply packages—comprising bottled water, food, and basic necessities—distributed on the ground.
“Our thoughts are with the families impacted,” added Jacob Ma. “Through Light the Change, we remain committed not only to environmental responsibility, but also to supporting communities when it matters most.”
Ongoing Commitment
BYD Malaysia says it will continue to monitor the growth of the newly planted trees while scaling the programme into broader environmental and community-focused initiatives.
CarTok Editor’s Note
CSR programmes often struggle to move beyond symbolic gestures, but for BYD, it actually closed the loop — turning digital engagement into something measurable on the ground.
It may not transform the landscape overnight, but consistency is what will define whether Light the Change becomes meaningful long-term or just another campaign. For now, BYD Malaysia is at least doing the harder part: following through.
