The Prime Minister called on the people to take participate in the campaign and ensure the success of the agenda to make Malaysia green.

“To all Malaysians, let’s come together to ensure the success of the Greening Malaysia agenda by planting 100 million trees across the country by 2025,” he said when launching the campaign, as well as its mobile app and special website www.100jutapokok.gov.my.

Also present were Energy and Natural Resources Minister (Ketsa) Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, deputy minister Ali Biju, chief secretary to the government Zuki Ali and Ketsa secretary-general Zurinah Pawanteh.

The campaign was also launched simultaneously at the state level with the theme “Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life”.

Muhyiddin said the programme would preserve the country’s biological diversity while improving the quality of the environment and rivers.

The campaign, organised by Ketsa with cooperation from the forestry department, state forest departments, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia and state governments is aimed at having 100 million trees planted across the country over the next five years.

“The campaign is expected to contribute to the absorption of carbon by plants by between 30 million tonnes in urban areas and 85 million tonnes in the forest and other areas a year,” he said.

The prime minister said it was also aimed at protecting the country’s natural resources in all socio-economic development activities and maintaining the global recognition of Malaysia as one of the 12 mega-diverse countries.

So far, he said, Malaysia has managed to record forest cover of 55.3% in line with the pledge made at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to maintain at least 50% of the country’s land mass under forest cover.

Calling on the people, companies and corporate bodies to support the national agenda, Muhyiddin said: “Let’s start our New Year 2021 resolution by greening Malaysia! Our Trees, Our Life!”