16 September 2019 (Monday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and AEON Co. (M) Bhd. conducted a tree planting programme on 14 September at the FRIM Research Station in Bidor (SPF Bidor), Perak.

This programme, held for the second time by FRIM-AEON there, was launched by the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, YB Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

From left: Hayashi, Tengku Zulpuri Shah and Saifuddin Nasution speaking at the opening ceremony.	KATS, FRIM and AEON representatives posing for a group picture as Saifuddin Nasution (middle) watering the tree planted.

Also present, the Deputy Minister of Water, Land and Natural Resources (KATS), YM Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji; FRIM Director General Datuk Dr Abd Latif Mohmod; KATS Biodiversity Management and Forestry (BPP) Deputy Under Secretary Ani Fazliana Dahri@Abdul Latif; SPF Bidor Coordinator Dr Ang Lai Hoe as well as AEON (M) Managing Director Shinobu Washizawa and AEON Environmental Foundation Executive Director Naoki Hayashi.

Saifuddin, Tengku Zulpuri and Abd Latif planted merbau (Intsia palembanica), the newly-announced National Tree. Following that, Abd Latif and Ang gave a briefing on the various species selected for planting at the site.

A total of 1,000 participants planted 10,000 trees of 35 species. These participants included 350 Japanese volunteers, school students, local authorities, business partners and AEON staff.

Abd Latif (middle) introducing some tree species selected for planting at the site to Saifuddin Nasution (in vest) while Ang (far left) and Tengku Zulpuri Shah (second from left) look on.	Participants busy planting trees.

This AEON Preservation & Biodiversity – Reforestation & Rehabilitation Project is an initiative to support reforestation effort at the ex-mining area (67.9 hectares) in the hope of providing nature recreational and green educational activities for future generations.

The first FRIM-AEON tree planting programme at SPF Bidor was held five years ago.