PETALING JAYA: The CEO Action Network (CAN) unveiled its DEI Implementation Guide for Malaysia earlier this month at Bursa Malaysia, making a significant step forward in promoting diversity, equity and Inclusion (DEI) across Corporate Malaysia.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are organisational frameworks that seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination on the basis of identity or disability.
Given the guide’s wide applicability and potentially transformative impact across the corporate scene and the business community, CAN extended the event to a broader audience beyond its corporate members to include among others, public-sector entities, other corporations, non-governmental organisations, think tanks and the media.
During the opening address, Yayasan MySDG chief executive officer Anita Ahmad said the spirit of DEI permeates all of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This is as they collectively aim to bridge social inequalities and gaps across various issues, she said, emphasising the guide’s alignment with global goals.
IMPACTO Sdn Bhd DEI workstream lead and chief impact officer Emeera Hashim said the guide was developed in extensive collaboration with several CAN-member companies and refined with input from subject-matter experts to ensure its relevance and robustness in the Malaysian context.
“Most DEI resources are international and do not fully address Malaysia’s unique challenges, making this localised guide crucial for Malaysian organisations at various stages of DEI maturity.
“To simplify the adoption process of DEI, we structured the guide to support a phased implementation approach, catering to a range of organisations,” she explained.
The event also featured a panel discussion with subject-matter experts who reviewed the guide, including Liza Liew from LeadWomen, Jason Wee of Architects of Diversity, Rashaad Ali of Social and Economic Research Initiative, and Cheah Tuck Wing from The Malaysian Coalition on Ageing.
Moderated by Helen Selvanathan of SAP Asia Pacific and Japan, the panellists explored the guide’s practical application and the importance of incorporating DEI in the workforce.
