Corporate Responsibility Awards in their 2nd year continue to drive CR as a business investment

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 July 2009 - The Star and Institute of Corporate Responsibility (ICR) Malaysia announced the Starbiz-ICR Malaysia Corporate Responsibility Awards today for the second year running.

The aim of this year’s Awards is to encourage companies and the public to consider Corporate Responsibility (CR) as an investment and a business strategy, not a liability. Therefore, the awards highlight the significance of responsible business practices by recognising and honouring companies which demonstrate outstanding CR practices that go beyond community and philanthropic activities.

Y Bhg Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairman of Securities Commission Malaysia and also Chief Judge of the Awards, officiated the announcement of the Awards. Also present at the event were Group Managing Director and CEO of Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd, Datin Linda Ngiam, and Dato’ Johan Raslan, Chairman of ICR Malaysia.

As in the inaugural Awards in 2008, there will be four categories of Awards given out in the Marketplace, Workplace, Environment and Community dimensions; and for two market capitalisation segments (RM1billion and above, and below RM1billion).

Public listed companies will be assessed by an independent third party organisation. The winners will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges, comprising:

• Y Bhg Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairman of the Securities Commission (Chief Judge)

• Y Bhg Dato’ Yusli Mohamed Yusoff, CEO of Bursa Malaysia Berhad

• Y Bhg Datuk Peter Wentworth, Chairman of British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce

• Y Bhg Dato’ Kok Wee Kiat, Honorary President of Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia

The patron of the Awards is HRH Raja Nazrin Shah, The Crown Prince of Perak Darul Ridzuan. The Awards are supported by the Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia Berhad. The working partners are ACCA, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC).

With these Awards, the organisers hope to encourage Malaysian companies to assimilate CR values in their business strategies and goals, so as to raise the business standards of companies for the benefit of all stakeholders.

The winners are expected to be announced in January 2010.