While our expedition team was conquering the rugged heights of Mount Kinabalu, another team was making a different kind of climb – towards a greener future. Their destination: Kampung Darau in Menggatal, Sabah, for our latest “Save The Earth” mission.
Partnering with Kota Kinabalu City Hall, the team set out for the tree-planting drive at the lush Darau Wetland Eco-Tourism site early on Saturday morning, 13 September. The programme kicked off with an inspiring launch by Mr Robert Lipon, the City Hall’s Deputy Director-General (Operations Sector).
Leading our team was our President/Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Izanee Awang, together with our Executive Management Committee. They were also joined by dedicated representatives from the Department of Tourism and Community Wellbeing, the Department of Landscape, and the Lintas Fire and Rescue Station.
Beneath Sabah’s brilliant blue sky, spades flashed and mud splashed as staff, students, alumni, and villagers planted 200 sturdy mangrove saplings and 100 tender seedlings along the Darau coastline. “This initiative is part of our 25th anniversary celebration. It reflects our ongoing commitment to the environment,” Prof Izanee shared.
This single day added fresh momentum to the Sabah State Government’s “1 million trees by 2025” campaign. With 2,100 trees now rooted across Sabah and Sarawak – from Miri to Tawau, Sandakan to Kuching – OUM is also on course to hit its 2,500-tree target by year’s end.
But the day wasn’t only about digging and planting. The people of Kampung Darau held a vibrant “Citra Kasih & Cultural Traditions” exhibition, highlighting their Bajau Samah heritage. They showcased their delicate timung kerang shell handicrafts and artistry in ketupat weaving.
Since 2012, OUM’s CSR projects have championed environmental stewardship, education, and local well-being. Each tree planted is more than a seedling – it’s a promise: to protect the planet and to stand alongside the people who call it home.
