Working towards a sustainable future: SMG group CEO Alex Yeow (fourth from left), OCBC Bank (M) CEO Datuk Ong Eng Bin (fifth from left) and OCBC Al-Amin Bank Bhd CEO Syed Abdull Aziz Jailani (second from left) with (from left) SMG chief business officer Lydia Wang, Ministry of Environment and Water deputy secretary-general Noor Afifah Abdul Razak, Ministry of International Trade and Industry deputy secretary-general (investment) Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil, SMG chief content officer Esther Ng and The Star managing editor Brian Martin, along with the working partners at the recent launch of the ESG Positive Impact Awards at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The recent launch of Star Media Group Bhd’s (SMG) latest environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiative, the ESG Positive Impact Awards, will play an important role in boosting the adoption of sustainable practices among companies, say key industry players from the business community.
With OCBC Bank (M) Bhd as main sponsor, the awards programme aims to put a spotlight on the laudable ESG practices of Malaysian companies, from small and medium enterprises to large corporations.
In doing so, it seeks to inspire the business community to fully embrace the tenets behind ESG and together, achieve positive impact for a better future.
There are a total of 15 categories, which will be split across the environmental, social and governance aspects.
Eco World Development Group Bhd executive director and deputy chief executive officer Liew Tian Xiong said the award initiative would encourage more companies to give importance to ESG practices and support the nation’s ESG agenda.
Noting that any initiative to protect the environment would also allow the people to be aware of climate impact in their daily lives, Liew stressed that the move would also help businesses by attracting a more diverse workforce and extending to talent retention, therefore contributing to improved productivity for the economic growth of the country.
He added that any plan to give opportunities for more women to participate in the companies would also further improve their quality of life and enhance the government’s plans on social aspects.
Meanwhile, Hartalega stated that ESG is gaining traction in the current marketplace and is no longer a want, but a need.
Businesses need to adopt ESG practices to be sustainable in the long run. Having the ESG Positive Impact Awards is a step towards the right direction in promoting and encouraging businesses to put more focus in the ESG space, it said in a statement.
It added that organisations will be able to learn from one another and drive continuous improvement towards the nation’s ESG agenda.
Inspiring progress: The awards could inspire companies to ensure a better tomorrow, says Kerina.
For Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd corporate development senior general manager Lily Ling, the ESG Positive Impact Awards will showcase the best of corporate Malaysia’s ESG efforts, which will hopefully spur more companies to engage positively with their own ESG initiatives.
She explained, “The recognition gained will lead to a positive feedback loop where companies will attempt to better themselves year on year, thereby lifting Malaysia’s own ESG accomplishments.”
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) Awards and Accreditation head Kerina Fauzi, on the other hand, focused on the impact that the ESG Positive Impact Awards could bring in inspiring companies to ensure “a better tomorrow for future generations”.
“It will inspire more companies to come together for a cleaner and greener environment,” she said.
Kerina said the effort would motivate more companies to contribute to social impacts for the benefit of the communities and nation.
“For instance, we also want to contribute to net-zero carbon emission by 2050. We do a lot of programmes.
“We are strengthening our sustainability agenda focusing on four lenses – positive social impact, safeguarding the environment, continued value creation and responsible governance,” she added.
In addition, Sunway Group chairman’s office executive director Ong Pang Yen said that the awards initiative is a “very commendable effort.”
Worthwhile initiative: Sunway’s Ong says that the awards initiative is a “very commendable effort.”
He said, “Such recognition plays a very important role in the ESG agenda. It will contribute towards companies playing their part in various aspects and for nation building.
“Everybody has a role to play in pushing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda. ESG is one of the tools or mechanisms that we have to achieve SDGs – a plan of action for people, planet and shared prosperity.”
While regulatory bodies push forth ESG through compliance requirements, a language that all corporations understand, he lauded SMG and OCBC for their initiative in helping to drive the agenda by recognising and acknowledging the efforts of SMEs.
“By affirming their actions and initiatives, it gives them encouragement to carry on and do even more. Sometimes the mechanism can be imperfect, but we work towards achieving it as an effective tool.
“It can also create awareness to educate the people to understand more and to be part of the nation’s ESG agenda,” he added.
Additionally, Ong said the awards could also help businesses to get attention from the stakeholders on their ESG initiatives.
The ESG Positive Impact Awards 2022 is organised by Star Media Group Bhd, with OCBC Bank (M) Bhd as main sponsor.
Ernst & Young is the adviser of the awards programme, while working partners include ABAC Centre of Excellence, Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia, Climate Governance Malaysia, Earthworm Foundation, Green Growth Asia Foundation, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Malaysia Green Building Council, Malaysian Green Tech and Climate Change Centre, Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance, Jeffrey Sachs Centre, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, as well as Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation.
To register your interest to participate in the awards programme, visit https://staresgawards.com.my/.
