Yayasan Sime Darby Impact Reaches Over 7.2 Million Lives Nationwide

Anchored by long-term funding from its three donor companies – Sime Darby Berhad, SD Guthrie Berhad and Sime Darby Property Berhad – YSD deploys funds across five core pillars: Education, Environment, Community & Health, Sports and Arts & Culture. Targeted programmes that reinforce the national GEAR-uP agenda play a key role in raising the floor for all Malaysians by uplifting lives and broadening access to socio-economic opportunities.

Close partnerships with the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability and various agencies in recent years have been pivotal to sustaining wide-reaching impact through shared values. This is complemented by YSD’s participation in the GLC Demi Rakyat dan Negara (GDRN), a coordinated platform encompassing initiatives across education, community well-being and humanitarian response, including MOF-supported GDRN Bantu matching grant for disaster relief.

Dr Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer of YSD, emphasised how YSD's track record reflects its enduring commitment to empowering individuals and communities while protecting the environment.

Commenting on this, she said, “Behind each life reached is a story of possibility, resilience and hope. This milestone reflects the power of long-term commitment and collective action. It would not have been possible without the steadfast support of our donor companies, the trust placed in us by the government, and the dedication of our partners and communities across Malaysia. These collaborations demonstrate the power of a shared purpose in creating opportunities for more Malaysians to realise their potential. At YSD, we believe lasting impact is measured by lives empowered and futures transformed, and we remain committed to investing in people to create positive change for generations to come.”

Going beyond financial support, the three donor companies leverage their scale, industry networks and talent pool to amplify YSD’s reach each year. Through various flagship volunteer initiatives including YSD Eco Citizen and YSD Huluran Kasih, 13,765 employees have so far contributed approximately 82,265 volunteer hours in support of 672 environmental and community activities.

Creating Opportunities through Education and Community Development

Education remains a key focus area and has been at the heart of YSD's work from the start. Since its inception in 1982, the foundation has awarded 6,961 scholarships to high-performing and deserving individuals across the country, with more than 2,300 trained in vocational programmes. YSD's scholarship support spans vocational studies, certificates, diplomas and undergraduate studies, helping deserving Malaysians pursue educational pathways that equip them with the knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully to the nation's development.

Alongside this, the YSD Special Needs Bursary programme continues to expand access to education for students with disabilities. Among this year’s bursary recipients is Aliya Najihah Mohaji, a Bachelor of Laws student at Universiti Malaya, whose resilience in overcoming the challenges of a physical impairment is matched by her strong advocacy for disability rights and inclusion through organisations such as Persatuan Mahasiswa Istimewa Universiti Malaya and Majlis Belia OKU Malaysia.

In addition to scholarships, the foundation continues to invest in innovation pathways such as the Sime Darby Young Innovators Challenge (SDYIC), empowering young Malaysians to transform ideas into solutions that benefit communities and shape a better future. This year, the 11th edition brought together 3,991 students from 519 schools nationwide, including 125 rural schools. Female students represented almost half of participants, while the programme was supported by 600 mentors comprising teachers and undergraduate students.

YSD's efforts in education are complemented by its work in community and health. As part of its community and health pillar, YSD elevates vulnerable demographics through targeted programmes. Program SINAR YSD assisted over 9,500 individuals by mid-2025, delivering specialised support for teenage mothers, children with autism and families facing social barriers. SALAM Autisme YSD is supported by MOF funding to expand specialised clinical services, upskill educators and improve public infrastructure for neurodivergent individuals.

In healthcare, YSD has worked with Cancer Research Malaysia (CRM) since 2001 to improve cancer outcomes through research, innovation and access to care. The longstanding partnership has advanced work in areas including Asian genomics, genetic counselling, cancer risk prediction and early detection, including innovations such as the AI-enabled MeMoSA mobile application for early oral cancer detection.

Protecting the Environment, Strengthening Communities

YSD’s commitment to building sustainable futures is also evident in environmental conservation that goes hand-in-hand with community development. In Perak, YSD has supported the Perak State Parks Corporation’s anti-poaching efforts in the Royal Belum State Park since 2017. Through the partnership, YSD has supported 39 rangers from local communities since Phase 1, strengthening on-the-ground patrol and monitoring efforts to protect the park’s biodiversity, including the Malayan Tiger.

This approach is further strengthened through YSD’s partnership with Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia (RIMAU), where Orang Asli communities are directly involved in protecting the Royal Belum landscape through the Menraq patrol teams. The programme currently supports employment opportunities for 10 Orang Asli patrollers, alongside a dedicated community fund for Kampung Sungai Kejar and Menraq Muda activities that engage Orang Asli children in conservation and environmental education.

In marine conservation, YSD has worked with the Marine Research Foundation (MRF) to advance the conservation of marine megafauna through Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), electronic monitoring systems and sustainable fisheries management.

The programme has deployed 228 TEDs and is estimated to have saved a minimum of 1,172 sea turtles, while MRF’s research has also contributed to the approval of a six-month annual time-area closure from May to October in eastern Tun Mustapha Park, Sabah, to protect the breeding of hammerhead sharks, as well as the incorporation of sea turtle conservation measures into fishery licence conditions across four states - Pahang, Johor, Kelantan, and Terengganu.

Concurrently, YSD collaborates with the Global Environment Centre (GEC) on a community-based mangrove conservation and sustainable livelihood programme. To date, 60,450 mangrove trees have been planted across more than 29 hectares of degraded areas in Perak, Johor, Selangor and Kedah, supported by 1,827 volunteers and community members. Complementing these conservation efforts, the programme has also focused on sustainable livelihoods of the local communities through economic capacity-building, including the development of four mangrove-based beverage products, generating more than RM80,000 in cumulative sales.

YSD’s multi-pillar strategy continues to scale measurable social return on investment nationwide. By integrating corporate resources, government co-funding and ground-level execution, YSD demonstrates how cross-sector partnerships serve as a critical multiplier for sustainable development. As national priorities evolve, YSD and its corporate backers remain committed to leveraging this collaborative model to strengthen human capital, build environmental resilience and accelerate inclusive socio-economic mobility under the GEAR-uP framework.