The simultaneous planting of 150,000 trees today is symbolic of the people's special gift for the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail in conjunction with his 80th birthday on May 17, says Perlis Regent Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail.

He said the feat which was completed within an hour has been recorded in the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest simultaneous tree planting.

"This is a special gift from the people for Tuanku Raja Perlis in conjunction with Tuanku's 80th birthday because it is symbolic of the preservation of Perlis treasures for future generations," he said at the Perlis Green Hour ceremony at the Sungai Batu Pahat ecotourism complex today.

Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil was also in attendance.

Also present were Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department deputy director-general (Operations and Technical) Datuk Mohd Rahim Rani, state Forestry Department director Ag Shaffie Ag Ahmadni and the state government exco line-up.

Tuanku Syed Faizuddin said the initiative could encourage continued participation of the government machinery as well as all parties including private companies and corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations, higher education institutions and the public as part of the efforts to improve the country's ecosystem and biodiversity.

Meanwhile, Mohd Rahim said between 2021 and 2022, Perlis had planted 696,294 trees exceeding the target of 400,000 trees, adding as of May 31, the state had planted 87,037 trees, equivalent to 43.5 per cent of the annual target of 200,000 trees.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency