Author name: ypadmin

Lita Osman, CEO, Yayasan PETRONAS shares about how a simple backpack, can be an instrument to fuel greater potential and make a lasting difference. I remember my son’s first backpack. It was a bright Minion-yellow, often filled to the brim with his favourite things, making an appearance on weekend outings as well as he lugged extra clothes, toys and snacks – and of course, school necessities in it. The backpack was retired after almost two years, but boy did it hold memories of love letters, crinkled snack and candy wrappers, spilled lunches, and so much more! It is the one items that follows the child from home to school and sports practice, carrying all they need to get them through, day after day. Dusty and frayed at the edges, and certainly not as “bling” as a laptop, yet it was still an instrument for greater potential. But not all children have this seemingly simple pleasure and privilege.  Some months ago, I visited a village school where several kids turned up with books in plastic bags. For them, school backpacks had to be forgone by the need to have food on the table first by their families.  Today, the average cost of school supplies, a pair of shoes and uniforms for each child is estimated at RM200. With a household income of less than RM3,500 a month, the burden of supporting two or three school-going children can easily make up more than an entire month’s food bills. No surprise then, that most children from the Bottom 40 per cent (B40) income group would continue wearing the same uniform across several years – even if these no longer fit.  Unfortunately, kids are often judged by what they wear and bring to school. It’s not uncommon that the kid with tattered shoes and an undersized shirt gets bullied, shunned and left out in group projects, sports or extra-curricular activities.  Too often, too soon, the emotional stress and academic gap grow, and they find reasons to leave the cohort of students. Sadly, what happens next is the rhetoric of where the cycle of poverty continues. More Children At School, Staying Longer Through SchoolThe school dropout rates in Malaysia have declined slightly from 0.34% to 0.29% between 2014 and 2017, with the Ministry of Education aiming to further reduce this, especially amongst the B40 income group where school dropout is prevalent. One way to do this is to encourage and equip students with basic needs for back to school preparation. The backpack may pale in comparison to a laptop as a school supply starter, but it serves as one of the needed items that can help more children stay at school and stay longer through school.  One report points out that students from the B40 community are bright – with more than 70% of the country’s top students are from poor households. So, discounting these children from participating in school at a young age due to their family’s socio-economic status, could mean we’re missing out on a potential “Einstein”.  Admittedly, there are those amongst us who are late bloomers, and if these children are marginalised from an early age, the country could be missing out on some of our brightest talents yet. Rather, by corralling more students through the education process, Malaysia can have a larger labour supply, increase its productivity and reduce future economic burdens arising from social ills, including crime.  So, this year, Yayasan PETRONAS’ will be expanding its annual Back to School programme – going further to benefit more children.  With the help of volunteers, 21,000 children nationwide will be getting backpacks and stationery, school uniforms, socks and shoes to start another academic year.  By giving students one less reason to stay out from school, we hope more children will be able to access education and increase their chances for a brighter future. Every child should be given a chance to pursue quality education as it presents the best route out of poverty and better their future. These children can one day improve their lives and that of their communities, as they break away from the chains of poverty – to be effective contributors to our economy.  Education leads to inclusive social-economic progress – this is what keeps us going – in our mission to contribute to the well-being of society.  So, the next time you look at a backpack – remember that it can help someone alter their life course – and that, it can go a long way.

Yayasan PETRONAS’ CEO, Lita Osman, shares her thoughts on how biodiversity affects our daily lives and can help us flourish, in conjunction with World Environment Day, celebrated each year. The search for a better and healthier life has been the pursuit of princes, paupers and philosophers alike – as each, over generations, have tried to unlock the secrets to what could better the days in our lives. Over time our search for a better life has led us to the far reaches of the world and various remedies, but more often than not, the search leads us back to nature, to the forests, oceans and rivers, where we forage for food and other resources. The earth and all its abundance is key to our well-being,  especially for food and medicines.  According to the World Health Organisation, human beings depend on biodiversity daily, even though it is not always noticeable. Our health and well-being rely heavily on elements such as fresh water and sources for food. This is the ultimate culmination of how the environment works together. It is an ecosystem operating in harmony.  The interactions between different elements in an ecosystem are intricate. However, some of these connections are under intense pressure. The ecosystem needs time to rebalance and rediscover its equilibrium. If one chain is broke,  another one does not always form so quickly. Time is not often on our side as well, and the effects in the wake of development have started to take a heavy toll on the biodiversity and ecosystems around us. A lot of thought and efforts are required to ensure the environment can continue to flourish, for our own sake. Saving the Environment to Save Ourselves As we surge ahead in progress, making advancement in technology, it is essential for us to take stock of the impact of our decisions on the environment. It cannot be emphasised enough that there has to be a conscious effort on our part to preserve nature for our survival.  The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has said that many key components of biodiversity for food and agriculture at gene, species and ecosystem levels are in decline. The proportion of livestock breeds facing the risk of extinction is increasing. The diversity of crops in farmers’ fields also has declined, and threats to crop diversity are proliferating. Just take a look at the humble bee and the dire consequences when its population drop. Bees are pollinators, supporting the growth of trees, flowers, and other plants, which serve as food and shelter for a variety of creatures. As bees move from flower to flower in search of nectar, they leave behind grains of pollen which allow plants to grow and produce food. This process happens to billions of plants each year, including agriculture crops. Pollinators like bees play a crucial role; without them, many plants we rely on for a source of food would disappear. In short, without bees, our plates would be empty.  One life depends on the life of others – be it creatures great or small, plants or other living things. The abundant life in nature is what could save us, from starvation and other forms of threat to our daily existence. Now, within this perspective, respect for biodiversity is about saving ourselves by protecting biodiversity. And the key to saving ourselves is sustaining the biodiversity and ecosystem which we depend on. The Case for Imbak: Doing Our Part for the Good of Conservation At PETRONAS, sustainability is a business philosophy, which also includes environmental conservation and protecting the biodiversity of the forest.  The company has been consistently contributing to the well-being of our environment through various conservation initiatives. This includes research, volunteer training, community and public awareness programmes and much more.   In preserving the pristine rainforest’s flora and fauna, PETRONAS has, since 2010, invested RM83 million towards the conservation of Imbak Canyon. It is now a gazetted forest protection area which is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Recently, PETRONAS launched the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre (ICSC), a 27-hectare facility that sits within the 27,599-hectare core zone in the heart of Sabah, which is now open for world-class research. The research and documentation of the rich biodiversity within the area is vital as it holds secrets to our heritage for thousands of years and helps us to harness it responsibly for thousands of more years to come.For this reason, an environment research grant has been designed to spur researches related to biodiversity, carbon sink as well as in renewable energy to help us uncover the mysteries of the forest and its richness. This is just one of the many efforts by PETRONAS to ensure the conservation of biodiversity. For 45 years, PETRONAS is involved in various conservation efforts from marine to mangroves, forests and rivers as part of its commitment towards biodiversity conservation. Building An Appetite For Change Human activity is said to be the number-one cause of climate change, which puts mother nature under threat. Conversely, human activity can also be the number one factor that can return nature to equilibrium.  When we take care of nature, it will take care of us. Nature is our heritage, the treasure which makes up our world, our home, and therefore, without doubt, our responsibility.  PETRONAS is mindful of operating sustainably, given our responsibility as an energy producer. We hope to join hands with more organisations and individuals in this effort so we can flourish together.  On a personal front, I believe that every little thing would add to the bigger scheme of things. Nothing is too small an effort when it comes to protecting nature. If we do it together, it will all add up. I plant trees in my back garden instead of laying the area with cement. It’s a small effort which not only helps beautify the landscape but also forms a natural filter against pollution and provides shade. The trees in the compound are part of a complex, interconnected

Although volunteerism and CSR have always been part of the company’s culture, it is only this year that Yayasan PETRONAS, the CSR arm of PETRONAS, was launched. Learn more at: yp.fishermenstaging.com/ Lita Osman, Acting Chief Executive Officer, explains that now as the central body, Yayasan PETRONAS manages all of the CSR activities for better governance. It’s all about doing better philanthropy, delivering programmes that are designed on our four guiding principles – creating value, sustainable impact, innovative solutions, and effective partnerships or shared success.” Ensuring that all programmes remain sustainable, Yayasan PETRONAS will continue to make broader impact through three focus areas: Sentuhan Ilmu (Education), Sentuhan Harapan (Community Well-being and Development), and Sentuhan Alam (Environment). Yayasan PETRONAS believes that social progress is inclusive and everyone can enjoy a better life. Reaching out to underprivileged communities and youth, the Foundation’s Community Well-being and Development focus area creates avenues for these groups to be exposed to social entrepreneurship programmes, promoting a more sustainable livelihood and better health. Flood relief and food aid programmes are also implemented during periods of natural disaster to allow affected communities to resume their daily activities sooner. Planting Tomorrow, for instance, allows Yayasan PETRONAS to work with Yayasan Sejahtera to help villagers in rural and remote areas of Sabah. “In Sabah, there are many villages with no water supply. So, we provided water through our gravity-fed system. Villagers no longer need to go to the river, as this would have taken them four or five hours on foot. The time they save can be used to work on the good soil. “We even teach them about entrepreneurship, financial understanding, design, marketing and branding, so they know how to market their products. We talk to them about new ways of planting and give them the necessary equipment,“explains Lita.

Yayasan PETRONAS is determined to run programmes that are sustainable, scalable and with shared success. This year, the foundation will be launching two new programmes – the Teacher Ambassador Programme and the Environment Grants. Five other ongoing programmes will be revisited, refocused and repackaged for greater impact. The enhanced programmes are Planting Tomorrow, Program Sentuhan Ilmu PETRONAS (PSIP), Cancer Research, Disaster Relief Efforts, and the Youth Programme. “We can only do so much as a company, hence we look forward to partnerships. Each partner can bring their own strength to the table, and together, if we are united as one kampung, we definitely can make a difference,” said Lita. PETRONAS has done amazing CSR work in the past 45 years, rolling out more than 500 programmes. Yayasan PETRONAS will ensure this legacy is continued. Yayasan PETRONAS will carry on doing all this good work – to better it, sustain it, and scale it. We want to take it further for the Malaysian society and the environment. We aim to take the good that PETRONAS has done and allow it to flourish,” said Lita.

Before PETRONAS engaged the communities living near Imbak Canyon, the villagers had a tough time trying to make ends meet. The future looked bleak for their youngsters; they knew they would have to go to the city to earn a living. Ranger David Francis, 32, lives in Kampung Imbak. “I used to work as a part-time porter in Imbak before I became a ranger in 2007. I thought I might have to work in a faraway place but, thanks to PETRONAS, I have not had to move to another state or to the city to find work. There is now the gravity-fed water system, homestays by villagers, and more job opportunities in Imbak. “Previously, there also wasn’t much jungle monitoring to protect the animals from poachers. Now there is better protection of wildlife. Initially, I felt a bit out of place working in the jungle but now I have become very comfortable and I enjoy being there. I like being a ranger because there’s a lot we can learn from the new species and subspecies found. I am happy with the new discoveries. I also get to regularly see deer, roe deer, mouse deer and gibbons. It is our job to protect nature and the wildlife so the younger ones know what a jungle is,” says the father of two. Part-time porter Ronny Mi, 25, also lives in Kampung Imbak. With a small shop and a vegetable garden, he only helps visitors when his services are required. “After PETRONAS came in, there were many programmes to upgrade the community such as the porters association. I am a member and it informs me whenever someone needs a porter. My hope is that the people of Imbak can remain there and work in that area rather than leave their families to go to the city,” he says.

Amidst lush greenery and the beautiful Imbak falls, the opening of the Imbak Canyon Studies Centre (ICSC) marked a historic milestone for the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA), a pristine rainforest in the heart of Sabah and home to a wide variety of flora, fauna and unique landscapes. The launch of the ICSC is an important step in the Sabah State Government’s move to protect the State’s rainforest heritage and the environment. This world-class biodiversity and environmental research centre, is a 27-hectare facility that sits within the 270,000- hectare core zone of the ICCA. Since 2010, PETRONAS has committed a total of RM83 million towards the conservation of Imbak Canyon – making it the first and largest ever local partnership by Yayasan Sabah Group in conserving a gazetted forest area in the State. Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Mohd Shafie bin Haji Apdal, Chief Minister of Sabah says, “The ICCA has the potential to become the destination of choice for rainforest research, attracting both local and international researchers.” The Chairman of Yayasan PETRONAS, Datuk Ahmad Nizam Salleh concurs: “In order to promote research activities here, we plan to introduce an environment research grant to spur research related to carbon sequestration, new energy as well as in biodiversity.” Director of Yayasan Sabah, Datuk Haji Jamalul Kiram bin Datuk Haji Mohd Zakaria continues, “The construction of ICSC will create more jobs for communities living nearby in the Imbak area, especially young people, in hospitality and tourism related activities. Through these we hope they can better their standard of living in a sustainable way.” There are about 15 villages around Imbak. “Before ICSC was established, the people depended on the jungle to sell or use its natural resources, such as Tongkat Ali. “When we work with Yayasan Sabah, we also have to work with the community in that area. We give them the opportunity to gain better employment and start their own business,” Lita Osman explains.

Yayasan PETRONAS’ Sentuhan Ilmu supports underprivileged students to better their STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. Aligned with the government’s 60:40 target ratio of STEM- ARTS enrolment, Yayasan PETRONAS hopes that Sentuhan Ilmu will provide students with the right exposure needed for the 21st century workforce. Yayasan PETRONAS also runs All About Youth (AAY) competition which began in 2014. In the past five years, about 3,000 students and 150 schools have benefited from its programmes, empowering the students to create impactful ideas for communities. Muhd Anis Firdausi Hazmi and Phesagan Ravi, both 18, were part of the winning team in AAY 2017 from SMK Tinggi Melaka. They were 16 at that time. With a PETRONAS mentor to guide their group of 20 students for three months, they came up with the HistoMap, a history lesson app in the form of mind maps. “We tried to build the app from scratch but it was challenging. So, we had to ask the well-known publisher Appy Pie to help provide us with the base on which to build our content. Next, Phesagan had to email Google and Apple to get their permission to publish the app. It was really tough convincing them,” informs Muhd Anis. In fact, their app application was rejected twice by Apple, which has very strict policies. It took many calls from Phesagan to convince Apple that HistoMap was a real app and not a hacking tool. Through the experience, he learned the importance of good communication skills. The group then visited selected schools to promote HistoMap by handing out flyers and talking to students about their app. According to Muhd Anis, one of their goals was to help students in rural schools. “They don’t have libraries to do their research in, but they can use their phones. So, we thought we would let them know there is this app to help them study better,” he said. HistoMap, which is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store, now has more than 1,500 downloads. Collaboration and teamwork were key for Muhd Anis. “Distributing the workload was a challenge because everyone had to study for exams at the same time. But we also really wanted to win for our school. That was our motivation – to do our best. It was mind-blowing to find out that even though PETRONAS is a very large company, it still takes time to give back to society. It taught us that no matter how successful you are, you have to give back to the country,” said Muhd Anis of his experience.

Yayasan PETRONAS is cognisant of its responsibilities, not just to communities, but also the environment. Through Sentuhan Alam, Yayasan PETRONAS seeks to better the environment through biodiversity conservation and carbon neutral programmes. The foundation’s initiatives include rehabilitation and conservation of coral reefs and mangrove swamps. In Kerteh, Terengganu, PETRONAS Chemicals Group works with the Malaysian Nature Society on the ecoCare mangrove learning centre, which has been in operation for the past 14 years. PETRONAS’ involvement in regenerating marine biodiversity in Bintulu, Sarawak, started in 2013 with the Biodiversity, Environment & Conservation (BEACON) project where thousands of reef balls were embedded in the seabed for corals to amalgamate. In addition, BEACON also conducts diving lessons, and beach and coral cleaning. MLNG operations technician Jong Churh Fang is one of the many PETRONAS employees who volunteers his time for this project. In fact, Jong learned to dive just so he could participate in BEACON. The programme’s agenda to conserve reefs and prevent illegal trawling resonates deep with the 33 year-old from Kuching, Sarawak.“I think this programme is good because we help promote coral growth, so that more fish can live there. It helps conserve our marine and raises awareness of the importance of conservation,” says Jong. An avid fishing enthusiast, Jong obtained a new level of appreciation for nature after going underwater. “I never really thought about learning to dive. I took it up to volunteer for the BEACON project. We now dive three to four times a year at the Patricia Reef in Bintulu to monitor the area. Within two years, I have seen the difference. There is more marine life now. I remember the second time I went underwater and saw cuttlefish breeding near our reef balls – I was elated. I felt like I had accomplished something.”

According to Lita, farming on their ancestral land is what these women do best. Although they knew the soil was good, they had not been doing so well because they didn’t know which crops were best to plant, nor how to maximise their harvest. “They were surprised that we were willing to go the extra mile to help and give them gainful work where they could derive more value for their effort. As we put in a lot of effort, they too felt compelled to work with us and make the programme a success,” says Lita. She stressed that Yayasan PETRONAS does not believe in “parachute initiatives” where you drop in, do a one-off charitable work and leave. The Foundation aims to have sustainable programmes that provide the necessary tools for the communities to grow so that in the long run, these communities can improve their lives and enjoy a steady income stream. With many senior PETRONAS staff coming from similar backgrounds and communities, some being beneficiaries of the company’s scholarships, the motivation to help is stronger. “Naturally, they have that passion to give back to their own communities. It’s part of our DNA at PETRONAS,” Lita adds.

Community work has long been part of the PETRONAS culture for the last 45 years. With the recent launch of Yayasan PETRONAS, we look at the company’s evolving sustainable strategies and the centralisation of their philanthropic efforts in delivering a broader impact. Che Noorfaezah Mat Nasir shifted nervously in her seat, unsure of what she was doing in a class with 99 other Teluk Ketapang women. Earlier when she had been asked to sign up, Faezah didn’t even know what to write for her telephone number. As the instructor asked her what her talent was, Faezah just shook her head and sighed. A housewife and mother of six, she felt small and out of place. Other women in class had, at least, experience in selling food or sewing clothes. They were all participants of PETRONAS’ Planting Tomorrow programme which sought to upgrade the lives of single mothers and wives of fishermen who live below the poverty line. “I didn’t have the confidence. At that time, most of the others in class had some small business. They all had something they were good at,” explains Faezah, 36. It was only after much encouragement from the trainer that she remembered friends and relatives’ remarks about how good she was at giving massages. From that point, Faezah flourished in class. She met the targets set by the trainer, did her homework and even printed business cards. Within a month, her income increased from RM100 to RM700, and is currently at RM2700. In a room full of people, she no longer sits awkwardly in a corner. Faezah reveals that she has many clients now and has even started selling massage oil – a product she makes with her father. “I used to be very negative and didn’t believe I could do much. But this programme taught me to think out of the box to achieve different results,“ says Faezah.