BIBD CSR would like to extend its greatest appreciation to those involved in this project such as YAM Pg Anak Khairul Khalil bin Pg Syed Hj Ja’afari (as Guest of Honour), Chairman and Board members of BIBD, Acting Managing Director of BIBD, International School of Brunei (ISB), Maktab Duli Pg Muda Al Muhtadee Billah, Serikandi Group of Companies, Brunei Association of Hotels, Bengkel Kereta Berakas, dearest tree buyers, clients and employees of BIBD for making this into a successful event.

BIBD CSR also wish to apologise for any inconvenience that have caused during the ceremony.

Thank you for your support in this Green project!

18th October 2009 - Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Berhad (BIBD) through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives exceeded its target of collecting funds from the public to plant 4,000 saplings for International School Brunei’s (ISB) Million Trees Project.

According to a press release from BIBD, as many as 5,500 trees were contributed by the public where the bank pledged to match up to 4,000 trees. In total, BIBD successfully raised BND 47,500 for the project.

A ceremony to plant 9,500 Agathis Bornensis saplinggs was held yesterday at the Badas Forest Reserve in Seria.

The guest of honour at the event was Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil bin Pengiran Syed Haji Jaafari who planted the 30,000th tree in the 50,000 Trees Project.

Also in attendance were the Chairman of BIBD, Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar; Director of BIBD, Hj Bahrin Abdullah; and Acting Managing Director of BIBD, Mr Javed Ahmad.

BIBD invited the public, particularly the tree buyers, to attend the planting ceremony. Around 150 people including the public and bank staff were provided transportation from BIBD headquarters to the Badas Forest Reserve in Seria, which was sponsored by Bengkel Kereta Berakas.

BIBD started its campaign at end of July as the facilitator for the public to buy trees. The bank reached its target of 4,000 trees at the end of September.

The bank also gave away special badges that said “Proud Owner of A Tree” for people who bought trees through BIBD. Students from various schools, corporate clients comprising Serikandi Group of Companies and Brunei Association of Hotels also played a major role in supporting the bank’s initiatives in raising funds for the Badas Trees Project.

According to Hjh Nurul Akmar Hj Md Jaafar, the head of BIBD CSR, “The main objective of the bank’s commitment in the Badas Trees Project and its pledge to match up to 4,000 trees was to encourage bank employees and the public to support conservation.”

She added that the efforts are in line with the teaching of Islam, which encourages people to plant trees. When done intentionally for the sake of Allah, the action will be considered and rewarded as acts of worship.

Hjh Nurul Akmar further praised the efforts by individuals and institutions for their generous contributions towards the success of the project.

She hopes that more people will come forward to conserve the environment for the benefit of today’s generation and the generations to come.

The Badas 50,000 Trees Project is an initiative of the International School Brunei’s Million Trees Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources to replant trees at the Badas Forest Reserve in Seria.

The project is also in support of the Heart of Borneo initiative, where the target is to plant 50,000 Agathis Bornensis trees by October 31.

- News extracted from Borneo Bulletin by Aziz Idris