Yayasan Hasanah Trustee and Managing Director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki said the organisation’s understanding of impact has evolved significantly over the years.
KUALA LUMPUR: After supporting more than 1,100 projects across Malaysia over the past decade, Yayasan Hasanah says it has arrived at a simple but important conclusion; funding may help initiate change, but lasting progress depends on much more than financial support alone.
The impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad unveiled The Hasanah Report 2025, titled The Long Harvest, highlighting lessons learned from 1,134 projects implemented nationwide and the factors that have enabled positive outcomes to endure beyond project timelines.
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Drawing on a decade of experience working alongside communities, civil society organisations, government agencies, academic institutions and private sector partners, Yayasan Hasanah said sustainable impact is often built on less visible foundations such as trust, strong partnerships, local leadership and adaptability.
Supported by funding from the Finance Ministry, the foundation’s initiatives have reached more than 4.01 million people across Malaysia. In 2025 alone, Hasanah supported 172 new projects and welcomed 102 new partners.
Speaking at the report’s launch, Yayasan Hasanah Trustee and Managing Director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki said the organisation’s understanding of impact has evolved significantly over the years.
“Early on, we focused on the support being provided, the projects launched, the programmes delivered and the people reached. Those things remain important. But over time, we found ourselves asking a different question: what helps progress continue after a project begins?” she said.
According to the report, meaningful progress is not always reflected through conventional performance indicators. Instead, some of the strongest signs of long-term success emerge when communities take ownership of initiatives, local leaders step forward and partnerships continue independently after formal project support has ended.
Hasanah stressed that these developments often signal growing confidence, stronger community leadership and greater capacity for self-determination.
“Funding can help start something. But what helps it endure is often much less visible; trust, relationships, local leadership and the confidence people build over time.
“Those things rarely appear as a line item in a budget. Yet they are often what determine whether progress continues,” said Siti Kamariah.
She added that the foundation’s role extends beyond funding programmes to creating the conditions that allow solutions to grow organically and remain relevant as circumstances change.
“The work is not just about supporting programmes. It is about creating the conditions for progress, building trust, learning alongside communities and partners and shaping solutions together that can adapt and grow over time. Ultimately, success is not measured by how long communities rely on us, but by how confidently they are able to move forward on their own,” she said.
The report features seven stories that illustrate the realities, challenges and aspirations shaping communities across the country.
Among them are initiatives focused on restoring coastal ecosystems in Perak, improving school engagement through football programmes in Sabah, enhancing healthcare, education and livelihoods on Pulau Omadal and preserving cultural heritage while creating new pathways for rehabilitation and opportunity in Sarawak.
While each initiative addresses different challenges, Hasanah said they collectively demonstrate that sustainable development depends not only on resources but also on meaningful participation, collaboration and shared ownership.
Looking ahead, the foundation plans to continue investing in programmes, partnerships and emerging ideas that strengthen long-term resilience in communities, while remaining responsive to evolving issues such as environmental pressures, changing livelihoods and Malaysia’s ageing population.
“As communities evolve, the way we support them must evolve too.
“Over the years, we have learned that progress rarely follows a single blueprint. Our role is to stay curious, keep learning alongside communities and partners, and help create the conditions for good ideas to evolve and grow,” Siti Kamariah said.
Alongside the report, Yayasan Hasanah has also released a series of documentary-style short films featuring the individuals, communities and organisations behind the featured initiatives.
The films showcase efforts ranging from mangrove restoration and environmental conservation to education, cultural preservation and community-led development.
The foundation hopes the report will contribute to a broader national conversation on how sustainable progress can be achieved and maintained in an increasingly complex and changing environment.
