After supporting more than 1,100 projects across Malaysia over the past decade, Yayasan Hasanah has arrived at a significant realisation: meaningful and lasting progress requires far more than financial assistance alone.
This reflection forms the foundation of The Hasanah Report 2025, launched under the theme “The Long Harvest”, which chronicles the organisation’s journey and lessons learned from working alongside communities, civil society organisations, government agencies, academic institutions and private sector partners throughout the country.
As the impact-based foundation of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Yayasan Hasanah has played a pivotal role in supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening communities and improving lives. Backed by funding from the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the foundation has supported 1,134 projects nationwide, positively impacting more than 4.01 million Malaysians. In 2025 alone, Hasanah funded 172 new projects and welcomed 102 new partners into its growing ecosystem.
While funding remains an important catalyst for development, the report highlights that long-term success often depends on less tangible factors such as trust, strong partnerships, local leadership and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
According to Puan Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki, Trustee and Managing Director of Yayasan Hasanah, the organisation’s understanding of impact has evolved considerably 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 during the report’s launch.
Rather than presenting a single formula for success, The Hasanah Report 2025 reflects on recurring patterns observed through years of engagement with diverse communities across Malaysia. These experiences have shown that some of the most meaningful indicators of progress are not always captured by traditional metrics.
The foundation observed communities independently organising initiatives, local leaders stepping forward to champion causes and partnerships continuing well beyond a project’s official completion. Such developments often signal growing confidence, stronger community ownership and the emergence of sustainable local leadership.
“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,” said Puan Siti Kamariah.
“Those things rarely appear as a line item in a budget. Yet they are often what determine whether progress continues.”
She added that Hasanah’s role extends beyond supporting programmes and initiatives.
“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.”
The report features seven stories that illustrate Hasanah’s evolving understanding of sustainable progress. These include efforts to restore coastal ecosystems in Perak, initiatives that use football to improve school engagement among children in Sabah, programmes focused on health, education and livelihoods on Pulau Omadal, as well as projects aimed at preserving cultural heritage while creating rehabilitation and economic opportunities in Sarawak.
Although each story highlights a unique challenge and solution, together they underscore a common lesson: lasting change is shaped not only by resources, but also by the relationships, participation and partnerships that surround them.
Looking ahead, Yayasan Hasanah intends to continue investing in programmes and collaborations that strengthen the foundations for long-term social progress. The organisation also remains committed to responding to emerging challenges facing communities across Malaysia, including changing economic realities, environmental pressures and the needs of an ageing population.
“As communities evolve, the way we support them must evolve too,” said Puan Siti Kamariah. “Over the years, we’ve 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.”
Complementing the report is a series of short documentary-style films that showcase the people, communities and organisations behind the featured initiatives. From mangrove restoration projects protecting vulnerable coastlines to programmes that create opportunities through education, culture and community leadership, the films offer an intimate look at the individuals driving change across Malaysia.
Through The Hasanah Report 2025, the foundation hopes to spark a wider conversation about what it takes to create progress that is both meaningful and sustainable. The full report, accompanying films and additional information are available at thr2025.yayasanhasanah.org.
