BYD Malaysia plants trees and helps communities in need

Quick look

• BYD Malaysia converted 1,200 digital pledges into physical action by planting native trees at The Waterfront @ ParkCity as part of its ‘Light the Change‘ CSR initiative.

• Besides green initiatives, the company and its partner BYD Sime Motors provided critical aid to 1,000 fire victims in Sandakan, Sabah by mobilizing dealer networks to distribute food and essential supplies to those affected.

BYD Malaysia continues to drive its BYD Light the Change CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative forward by translating over 1,200 public pledges into on-ground environmental action through a tree-planting initiative.

Unified effort
Originally introduced as a platform to encourage collective action towards a more sustainable future, BYD Light the Change brings together environmental responsibility and community engagement under one unified effort.

Following the festival held towards the end of 2025, pledges, collected through a digital tree initiative are now being brought to life through real action at The Waterfront @ ParkCity outside Kuala Lumpur.

From pledges to real trees
In support of BYD’s global mission to ‘Cool the Earth by 1°C’, BYD Malaysia has begun fulfilling these pledges through the planting of trees in phases, marking a key milestone in the programme’s ongoing efforts to create meaningful environmental impact.

Held in conjunction with Earth Day, the initiative brought together teams from BYD Sime Motors, BYD and DENZA dealer partners, BYD Malaysia employees, members of the media, alongside representatives from The Waterfront @ ParkCity and students from The International School of ParkCity.

Each of the 120 participants planted one tree of 10 different native species, carefully selected to enhance biodiversity and support the restoration of the urban green space.

Miyawaki method
The trees were planted using the Miyawaki method, a proven urban reforestation approach that enables forests to grow up to 10 times faster and be 30 times denser, forming self-sustaining ecosystems within just 2 to 3 years, requiring no pruning or chemical fertilizers.

As the programme progresses, BYD Light the Change will expand beyond urban tree planting into broader ecosystem restoration efforts, including mangrove conservation.

“This initiative reflects our commitment to turning intention into action. Through BYD Light the Change, we are creating opportunities for our partners, communities, and the younger generation to be part of something meaningful,” said Jacob Ma, Managing Director of BYD Malaysia.

“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,” he added.

Supporting communities in times of need
Besides environmental action, Light the Change also reflects BYD Malaysia’s commitment to community support. In response to the recent fire in Kampung Bahagia, Sandakan, Sabah which displaced thousands of families, BYD Malaysia extended its support through coordinated relief efforts on the ground.

Working together with BYD Sime Motors and BYD Regas in Kota Kinabalu, BYD Malaysia mobilised its network by setting up collection points at dealerships and delivering essential aid directly to affected communities.

The team visited PPS Gelanggang Futsal Sim-Sim, which is currently housing many of the most affected families, followed by PPS Dewan Serbaguna Warga Tua and PPS Sibuga, reaching a total of 1,000 victims. At these locations, at least 250 provisions such as bottled water, food supplies and other essential items were distributed.

“Through Light the Change, we remain committed not only to environmental responsibility, but also to supporting communities when it matters most,” said Mr. Ma.

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