BYD ‘Light the Change’ programme enters Phase 2 at Carey Island, Selangor

BYD Malaysia has entered the second phase of its ‘Light the Change’ corporate social responsibility programme, shifting its focus from urban reforestation to coastal ecosystem restoration.

The latest initiative involved a collaborative effort with the Mah Meri Cultural Village on Carey Island, Selangor to plant 380 mangrove trees, expanding the automaker’s broader environmental strategy aimed at reducing global temperatures which is vital to addressing climate change.

Representatives from BYD Malaysia, DENZA Malaysia, Sime Motors, local dealership partners, and student volunteers from SMK Telok Panglima Garang participated in the planting effort which took place recently.

Working alongside members of the indigenous Mah Meri community, the volunteers planted native mangrove species including Bakau Kurap, Nyireh, and Nipah.

The project focuses on strengthening natural coastal defences, supporting marine biodiversity, and preserving the local ecosystem that remains deeply tied to the Mah Meri cultural heritage.

Continuing the initiative
This second phase builds directly upon the 1,200 digital tree pledges collected from the public during the BYD ‘Light the Change’ Festival held late last year. Phase 1 was executed earlier this year at The Waterfront @ ParkCity, outside Kuala Lumpur, where BYD Malaysia planted 120 trees spanning 10 native species in partnership with Desa ParkCity and the International School of ParkCity.

With the completion of the Carey Island event, the programme has successfully converted 500 of those pledges into physical plantings across two distinct environments.

Inclusive community outreach
According to BYD Malaysia Managing Director Jacob Ma, the initiative reflects an effort to combine environmental stewardship with inclusive community outreach ahead of National Day.

“At BYD, we believe that creating a better future starts with action,” said Mr. Ma. “With National Day just around the corner, this initiative is a timely reminder that a stronger Malaysia is built when we come together and leave no community behind.”

“Working alongside the Mah Meri Cultural Village community has allowed us to take a more inclusive approach to building a stronger and more sustainable ecosystem, while learning from a community that has lived closely with and cared for the environment for generations. For us, this is not simply about planting trees. It is about bringing people together, building meaningful partnerships and taking collective action towards a future that we can all be proud of,” he said.

In addition to the planting exercise, the participants also took part in traditional Mah Meri cultural activities such as mask dance performances, wood carving, atap weaving, and traditional skill demonstrations.

“What makes today meaningful is that we didn’t just come together to talk about sustainability. We came here, got our hands dirty and actually did something together,” said Adeline Lew, Managing Director of BYD Sime Motors. “For BYD and DENZA, this is also a way for us to give back to the communities around us and to the people who have supported our brands. We hope initiatives like this give us an opportunity to bring our community together for something beyond the cars themselves.”

Ongoing conservation effort
The newly planted mangroves will be monitored and maintained as part of the ongoing conservation effort, reinforcing BYD Malaysia’s commitment to environmental action beyond a single planting day.

Through the programme, BYD Malaysia will continue to explore further opportunities to support biodiversity, ecosystem restoration and community initiatives in support of its commitment to Cool the Earth by 1°C.

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BYD Malaysia plants trees and helps communities in need