Orang Asli community and UPSI students learn to protect nature together; supported by CIMB Islamic
Released on: Monday, 18 May 2026 4:44PM
Datin Azlina Mahmad, Chairperson of CIMB Islamic (middle) signing a commemorative memento to mark the collaboration with UPSI and Forest House for the CIMB Islamic EcoSave-i: Conservation of UPSI Edu-Forest initiative. Pictured together are Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, CEO of CIMB Islamic (third from right), Professor Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff, Vice Chancellor of UPSI (second from right) and Rayman Ariff Soh, Managing Director of Forest House.
TANJUNG MALIM, May 18 (Bernama) -- Deep within the Behrang Forest Reserve, the UPSI Edu-Forest has become more than a conservation site – it is a living classroom where students, researchers and the Orang Asli Semai community of Kampung Tibang are learning how to co-exist with the forest – not from textbooks but from generations of lived knowledge. In collaboration with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (“UPSI”) and Forest House Sdn. Bhd. (“Forest House”), the conservation of UPSI Edu-Forest initiative is supported by CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad (“CIMB Islamic” or “the Bank”) through a RM500,000 contribution through the Bank’s flagship EcoSave-i savings account ("EcoSave-i").
At the heart of this collaboration is the UPSI Edu-Forest, a 25-acre protected site located within the Behrang Forest Reserve and carries a unique triple gazetted protection status, underscoring its ecological significance as part of Central Forest Spine ecological network, Malaysia’s Permanent Reserved Forest, Water Catchment Forest and High-Altitude Conservation Zone. Led by UPSI, the site is redefining how conservation, education and the community can grow sustainably together.
A key focus of the Programme is the empowerment of Orang Asli Semai community of Kampung Tibang, Slim River through meaningful participation in conservation and environmental management activities. Here, conservation is not taught through textbooks alone. Students catalogue biodiversity alongside Orang Asli trackers. Researchers study forest health while community members help design learning trails, and environmental facilities that support conservation, research and public engagement.
Professor Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff, Vice Chancellor of UPSI said the Edu-Forest reflects the university’s belief that education must extend beyond lecture halls. “This collaboration reflects a shared commitment between academia, private sector, government agencies and the community in promoting environmental sustainability and nature-based education. The Programme supports the implementation of impactful programmes at UPSI Edu-Forest through the Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation with support from the University Community Transformation Centre. The site now serves as an immersive learning environment for students and researchers, providing hands-on learning experiences that nurture environmental awareness, scientific curiosity and a stronger sense of responsibility towards sustainability among future generations. We hope this initiative will continue to strengthen UPSI’s role in environmental education and conservation in Malaysia, contributing to the broader Sustainable Development Goals.”
The Programme creates opportunities for members of the Orang Asli Semai community to participate in biodiversity surveys, tree and seed inventories, and the restoration of forest trails – activities which generate income while strengthening the community’s role as guardian of the forest.
Tok Batin Yok Chicher A/L Sadai shared, “We are learning about trees differently, not only in modern ways but also through traditional values. This has been especially meaningful for the younger generations, helping them reconnect with their root. Activities such as tree and seed inventory have opened our eyes to how our ancestral wisdom can work alongside science. What used to be a forest we lived in has now become a forest we learn within, from a different perspective.”
Meanwhile, Yok Balan, the leader of Orang Asli Semai ground team at UPSI Edu-Forest added, “We are really grateful for programmes like this, as they have given us the opportunity to learn and polish new skills, especially in building and using tools we are not usually familiar with. Hands-on work like building the Pelantar Alam platform and restoring trails has given us practical skills while still drawing on our traditional knowledge. The work has not always been easy, but working side by side and learning from one another has made the process far more meaningful. It has strengthened our role in caring for the forest and given our community skills we can use and carry forward.”
While UPSI leads the initiative, partners play a supporting role in scaling its impact. The conservation of UPSI Edu-Forest is one of the initiatives under the CIMB Islamic’s EcoSave-i that showcases a meaningful example of how Islamic finance is able to mobilise capital for environmental sustainability. Anchored in principles of social and ecological value creation, CIMB continues to deliver lasting environmental impact while ensuring underserved communities are included in the transition towards a greener economy.
Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Islamic said, “We believe sustainability must go beyond environmental preservation to include empowering communities and creating opportunities for future generations. Through this programme with UPSI and Forest House, we are supporting biodiversity conservation and enabling the Orang Asli community to participate meaningfully in conservation and environmental management activities that supports skills development and income generation. At the same time, the Programme provides students and researchers with valuable real-world exposure that expands environmental awareness, encourages experiential learning and nurtures a deeper appreciation for sustainable living. In line with CIMB’s purpose of Advancing Customers and Society, we remain committed to delivering inclusive and sustainable solutions that create meaningful long-term impact for communities and the environment.”
Rayman Ariff Soh, Managing Director of Forest House said, “The UPSI Edu-Forest initiative demonstrates how conservation can create meaningful impact beyond environmental preservation. Through close collaboration with the Orang Asli community, researchers and Forestry Department, we are able to develop a more inclusive and sustainable conservation ecosystem that combines traditional knowledge from the local community and scientific research by the academia to strengthen long-term conservation efforts. The Programme also provides participants with practical skills, livelihood opportunities and greater environmental awareness among local communities and future generations.”
The conservation effort forms part of CIMB Islamic’s EcoSave-i initiative, Malaysia’s first environmentally focused Islamic savings account, where contributions from the bank’s own funds help finance environmental projects nationwide. By connecting the public participation with conservation outcomes, the Programme illustrates how finance can quickly enable education, biodiversity protection and community development to progress together.
About CIMB
CIMB is one of ASEAN’s leading banking groups and Malaysia’s second largest financial services provider, by assets. Listed on Bursa Malaysia via CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, it had a market capitalisation of approximately RM89.0 billion as at 31 December 2025. It offers consumer banking, commercial banking, wholesale banking, transaction banking, Islamic banking and asset management products and services. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the Group is present across ASEAN in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Beyond ASEAN, the Group has market presence in China, Hong Kong and UK. CIMB has one of the most extensive retail branch networks in ASEAN with 542 branches and over 33,000 employees as at 31 March 2026. CIMB’s investment banking arm is one of the largest Asia Pacific-based investment banks, which together with its award-winning treasury & markets and corporate banking units comprise the Group’s leading wholesale banking franchise. CIMB is also the 91.45% shareholder of Bank CIMB Niaga in Indonesia, and 94.83% shareholder of CIMB Thai in Thailand.
SOURCE: CIMB Group
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--BERNAMA