• The Carey Heritage Run drew 1,141 runners to the lush landscapes of Carey Island

• Company’s collaboration with Malaysia Prisons Department has been giving another chance at life to parolees since 2019

• Eco Business Park 7 Sdn Bhd, the special purpose vehicle representing the three parties, completes acquisition of approximately 1,195 acres of freehold land located in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

 Petaling Jaya, 31 May 2023 - Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) is pleased to announce that the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) has concluded its Post-Verification Assessment Monitoring. 

This monitoring process serves as a follow up to the verification assessment that took place in stages between late 2021 and June 2022. The RSPO Secretariat initiated a verification assessment to confirm SDP’s compliance with RSPO’s Principles and Criteria (P&C) 6 – Respect Workers’ Rights and Conditions.

A Decision Letter dated 26 May 2023 has been published on RSPO’s website, affirming the absence of any indicators of forced labour in SDP’s Malaysia operations, where the verification assessment and monitoring were conducted. 

This reflects SDP’s commitment to ethical practices and our proactive efforts to safeguard the rights of our workers. Since the verification, RSPO has developed labour auditing guidance and is in the process of reviewing its P&C 2023 to focus on the indicators of the International Labour Organization. 

This is indeed a welcome development and will ensure the whole industry will eventually comply with international labour standards.
SDP is committed to ensure the sustainability of all the initiatives and enhancements implemented, and actively seeks opportunities for continuous improvement. 

As part of this commitment to ensure compliance, we have implemented significant governance and structural changes within the organisation. We also drive capacity and capability programmes to raise awareness on human rights policies and procedures.

“RSPO is one of the highest sustainability standards among all edible oils in the world. The conclusion of its monitoring affirms the tremendous efforts, initiatives and progress we have made. As we capitalise on the insights gained from this journey, we are determined to act as catalysts for positive change within the industry. 

Our aim is to inspire and encourage others to embrace responsible and ethical practices, fostering a more sustainable future for the palm oil sector. We eagerly anticipate the broader industry’s adoption of comparable sustainable practices,” said Rashyid Redza Anwarudin, SDP’s Chief Sustainability Officer.

“We would like to thank the RSPO for their thorough evaluation and constructive feedback. We would also like to express our appreciation to our partners for their unwavering support in our sustainability journey. 

As a founding member of the RSPO, SDP remains committed to advancing standards in the palm oil industry,” Rashyid added. 
 

Petaling Jaya, 25 August 2025 – SD Guthrie Berhad (Guthrie or Group) has appointed Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad, Deputy Group Managing Director (Deputy GMD), with effect from 1 September 2025.

Prior to this appointment, Mohd Haris, 53, was Guthrie's Group Chief Operating Officer. He joined the Group in 2014, as the Head of its Downstream Manufacturing unit before advancing through the ranks to Chief Operating Officer, Downstream segment in 2017. When the Group consolidated its downstream businesses under the then Sime Darby Oils in 2019, Mohd Haris was appointed its first Managing Director. He played a pivotal role in its growth, spearheading its transformation, growing the segment’s profits consistently, as well as leading numerous operational excellence, sustainability, governance, digitalisation, health & safety, and talent development initiatives.

As Group Chief Operating Officer, Mohd Haris has laid the foundations for the Group’s ‘OneStream’ business model. He has been a strong advocate for mechanisation, automation, and digitalisation efforts in the industry. He is the current Chairman of the Board of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) and also the Board of the Palm Oil Refiners Association of Malaysia (PORAM). He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).

Prior to joining Guthrie, Mohd Haris held leadership roles in global trading & marketing, commodity procurement and commodity risk management with Cargill, Nestle and Unilever. He graduated from the University of Arizona, USA, with a B.Sc. in Business Administration and is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Programme of Harvard Business School, USA.

Petaling Jaya, 20 August 2025 – SD Guthrie Berhad (Guthrie) and Gamuda Energy Sdn Bhd (Gamuda) have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop, own and operate solar power assets (including energy storage systems) with an accumulated target capacity of 1.2GW.

The collaboration leverages Guthrie's vast and strategically located land bank across Malaysia, and Gamuda's proven experience and technical expertise in delivering 3GW pipeline of renewable energy (RE) projects across the Asia Pacific. With this synergy, the partners aim to capitalise on the surging demand for RE from high-quality offtakers, offering fast-tracked scalable RE supply, which will be critical to meet the sustainability objectives of industrial and data centre players in Malaysia. 

“Renewable Energy is one of two new business verticals that we have identified as a growing pillar of Guthrie’s future. It is critical, both as a new and sustainable revenue stream and for our net-zero target. At a national scale, it will help to advance Malaysia's efforts to decarbonise its electricity sector," said Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, Guthrie’s Group Managing Director. "With Gamuda, we are continuing our strategy of partnering with established and experienced players to provide a strategic pathway for Guthrie to accelerate our expansion into these new verticals.” 

With Guthrie's first 15MW Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP) solar plant in Bukit Selarong, Kedah, targeted to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2025, Datuk Mohamad Helmy said this latest partnership is an opportunity to create value by meeting renewable energy demand from both public and private sector users under frameworks such as the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS). The solar assets will further enhance the long-term value of Guthrie’s land portfolio. 

“Gamuda is focused on growing our renewable energy infrastructure portfolio, particularly in Malaysia and Australia, across different renewable asset classes including solar, wind, hydro (including pumped hydro), battery energy storage systems and transmission projects with collectively over 3GW of renewables in various stages of deployment.

Our expertise in delivering utility-scale solar farms – ranging from over 100MW projects in Malaysia to significantly larger projects abroad – combined with our exclusive partnership with Guthrie, who hold the largest nationwide landbank for RE deployment, uniquely positions our JV to provide renewable energy solutions at scale for our multinational partners. Our end-to-end delivery will be supplemented by our strategic stake in ERS Energy with their strong solar EPCC track record across the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia and of course, in our home country, Malaysia.”

In the first phase of the collaboration, both partners will identify Guthrie’s unproductive or under-utilised land assets nationwide to assess their potential for solar power development. The parties will make further announcements on the collaboration in the future. 

• Contribution made through Yayasan Sime Darby under the "SD Guthrie MADANI Adopt-a-School" programme, involving 15 schools nationwide.
• Launch of the "Jack-to-School" sports initiative in collaboration with the Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation to introduce lawn bowls to students and teachers.

Kuala Selangor, 19 August 2025 – SD Guthrie Berhad (Guthrie) has donated eight (8) interactive classroom smartboards to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jeram (SMK Jeram). This contribution forms part of Guthrie’s commitment under the ‘SD Guthrie MADANI Adopt-a-School’ programme, in which SMK Jeram is one of 15 adopted schools nationwide. 

At the same event, Guthrie also launched the “Jack-to-School” programme, an initiative spearheaded by the Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF), which is a project supported by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), Guthrie’s philanthropic arm. The initiative aims to introduce the sport of lawn bowls to students and teachers at SMK Jeram, as well as nine (9) other selected Guthrie adopted schools.

Speaking on the programme, Guthrie’s Group Managing Director, Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha, said that Guthrie aims to deliver various corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to worthy beneficiaries, while aligning with the Government’s call for greater participation from the private sector to advance the well-being of communities, particularly in schools around the country.

“Guthrie supports efforts that will create positive impact in improving the well-being of communities within and surrounding our operations. In Malaysia, we have worked on numerous philanthropic activities through YSD for many years in its focus areas of education, environment, community & health, arts & culture, and sports development. This commitment is again reflected through the ‘SD Guthrie MADANI Adopt-a-School’ programme, through which the identified 15 schools are to be provided with better infrastructure. This is a vital investment towards empowering the next generation,” said Datuk Mohamad Helmy.

Speaking on MBLF’s involvement in the programme, President, Datuk Awalan Abdul Aziz said, “We are pleased to partner with SD Guthrie Berhad and YSD through the ‘Jack-to-School’ programme, which serves as a meaningful platform to introduce lawn bowls to both students and teachers. By providing training for teachers alongside student engagement, MLBF seeks to build sustainable grassroots development for the sport within schools. This initiative not only promotes active and healthy lifestyles, but also strengthens the ecosystem required to nurture future talent in lawn bowls across Malaysia.”

In addition to SMK Jeram, the 14 other schools adopted by Guthrie under this initiative are:

1. SK Sri Simalajau, Bintulu, Sarawak
2. SK Desa Lavang, Bintulu, Sarawak
3. SK Ladang Dublin, Kulim, Kedah
4. SK Seri Pinang, Kerian, Perak
5. SK Jubli Intan, Layang-layang, Johor
6. SJK (T) Ladang Mentakab, Temerloh, Pahang
7. SK Abaka, Tawau, Sabah
8. SK Ladang Sapong, Tenom, Sabah
9. SK Kemendor, Jasin, Melaka
10. SMK Pulau Carey, Kuala Langat, Selangor
11. SJK (C) Ladang Siliau, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
12. SJK (T) Pulau Carey Timur, Kuala Langat, Selangor
13. SMK Setia Wangsa, Lipis, Pahang
14. SMK Seri Bali, Segamat, Johor
     

The implementation of the programme for each school is led and supported by a senior member of Guthrie’s management team, who will ensure that the specific needs of the schools are identified and channeled through YSD and its project partners. According to Datuk Mohamad Helmy, this hands-on approach reflects Guthrie’s commitment to live up to its purpose: ‘Care to Nourish, Dare to Flourish’.

SMK Jeram is the fifth school engaged by Guthrie under the programme, following earlier engagements which began in July involving two schools (SK Sri Simalajau and SK Desa Lavang) in Sarawak, as well as one each in Kedah (SK Ladang Dublin) and Perak (SK Seri Pinang). Guthrie is targeting to engage all its 15 adopted schools before the end of year.

For many of us, Carey Island is, well, just “there” — it’s a place many people have heard of but have not visited. On the map, it is but a tiny dot off the coast of Selangor. And for perspective, it’s one fifth the size of Singapore.

But for those who live and work in Carey Island and for those who have visited and seen what’s there, it is one-of-a-kind, unique and unparalleled. Hence this special pullout, comprising many stories that will give readers a better insight into Carey Island and why it is without peer.

Why is Carey Island one of a kind?

For more than a hundred years, ever since English planter Edward Valentine John Carey bought the idyllic island in the early 1900s and developed it from mangrove swamps into a thriving oil palm plantation, Carey Island has stayed relatively untouched by the rapid development that has taken place on the mainland. And this is a good thing. The island, which is 79%-owned by SD Guthrie Bhd, is developing at its own pace, where heritage and sustainability are prioritised.

For an island just one fifth the size of Singapore, Carey Island boasts many things that make it unique. In the words of Datuk Helmy Othman Basha, Guthrie’s group managing director: “This is where we produce everything that is sustainable, and everything that means plantations. And this, I would say, is the last bastion of plantation activity in the Klang Valley.” Its rich heritage offers a glimpse into its colonial past. It is home to the Mah Meri, the indigenous Orang Asli tribe who now live in five villages. Known as the Masked Men of Malaysia, the Mah Meri are famous for their craftsmanship, which is recognised by the Unesco Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts. Its geography is another distinct feature. Carey Island is below sea level and is protected by a 120km stretch of man-made bunds. Out of necessity, the island today has one of the best water management systems in the country to prevent flooding. It also has long stretches of mangrove forests along its coastline, which are vital for ecological resilience and erosion prevention.

Carey Island is also a “living museum” of Malaysia’s plantation industry. It highlights the past, present and future of the palm oil industry. For Guthrie, the island is its innovation and R&D powerhouse. Its B30 pilot project, for example, is touted as the launchpad for green tech and agriculture innovation.
    
For an island that is so strategically located and in close proximity to Port Klang, it is inevitable that development will come knocking one day. Already, there are plans to transform Carey Island into a leading industrial and logistics hub in addition to an Edu-Technology Park plus food security centre. You cannot stop the tide, but responsible development is key.  

Click to see the full pullout.