KUALA LUMPUR, Straits Energy Resources Bhd, through its subsidiary Benua Hijau Sdn Bhd, has set a new entry in the Malaysia Book of Records by planting 12,275 Melaleuca cajuputi (Pokok Gelam) saplings in a single day — the largest tree-planting event of its kind in the country.
The effort is part of Benua Hijau’s long-term reforestation programme to restore degraded areas in the Setiu Wetlands State Park, one of Peninsular Malaysia’s largest natural wetlands. The project aims to plant 100,000 Pokok Gelam trees over five years, rehabilitating about 200 acres of forest with this native species.
From left: Yayasan DiRaja Sultan Mizan board of trustees member Datuk Dr. Che Ab Rahim Nik, Majlis Pengurusan Taman Negeri Terengganu director Datuk Tengku Mohd Arifin Tengku A. Rahman, The Malaysia Book of Records official representative Megat Faris Hussein Megat Muzaffar Shah, Terengganu State Committee on Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change chairman Datuk Razali Idris, Straits Energy Resources Bhd chairman Datuk’ Seri Tengku Baharuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud and Benua Hijau Sdn Bhd project director Dr. Paul Yap Poh Onn.
The record-breaking initiative took place during the Festival Setiu Wetlands 2025, organised by the Terengganu State Parks Management Council with support from Straits Energy and its NYSE American-listed unit, TMD Energy Ltd. The event was designed to raise awareness about the importance of conserving wetlands.
Close to 500 volunteers — including local residents, students, NGOs and government agencies — joined the planting activities, covering 20 acres of degraded wetland, an area roughly the size of 11 football fields.
Since the launch of the Gelam Research Centre & Nursery in October 2024, more than 7,800 trees have been planted with help from students and community groups.
“With today’s achievement of 12,275 saplings planted, Benua Hijau is on track to meet its goal of 20,000 Gelam trees annually,” said chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Baharuddin Ibni Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah. 
He added that the milestone marks an important step forward in the company’s large-scale reforestation vision, demonstrating how collaboration between government agencies, corporations and communities can deliver lasting environmental and social benefits.
