KUALA LUMPUR: Cross-sector collaboration for regional sustainability culminated in a major celebration at the Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards (PIA) 2026, as 40 top-performing companies from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines walked away with 52 awards honouring their environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts.
The regional accolades were organised by the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC), a meaningful collaboration between Star Media Group (SMG), Indonesia’s Media Group of Kompas Gramedia (KG Media) and the Philippines’ Inquirer Group of Companies (IGC) to raise sustainability standards across South-East Asia.
Across 12 distinct assessment tracks, the awards evaluated how effectively businesses have tackled operational challenges.
Winners in the environmental and structural fields were chosen based on their strategies in biodiversity conservation, waste management, renewable energy, energy efficiency, supply chain management, innovative partnerships and operational transformation.
Equally weighted were the human and social dimensions of sustainability.
Companies were highly commended for their benchmarks in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), community relations, human rights and labour standards, talent management, and good health and well-being.
To qualify for this regional stage, every finalist had to first secure a Gold distinction in their respective national chapters: ESG Positive Impact Awards by SMG, Lestari Awards by KG Media, or the Inquirer ESG Edge Impact Awards by IGC.
Guest of honour, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, commended the Asia ESG PIA as “a true testament to the power of regional synergy and cooperation”.
“As our environments are closely interconnected, the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation do not stop at national borders.
“Our rainforests and marine ecosystems, which form part of our shared natural heritage, connect not only our countries but also our communities and livelihoods.
“Protecting these valuable resources is therefore a shared regional responsibility that requires stronger policy coordination and meaningful cross-border collaboration,” he said in his speech at the awards ceremony yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club Convention Centre.
He added that bridging Asean markets through shared ESG standards, cross-border advocacy, and knowledge exchange demonstrates that the region is proactively driving sustainability, rather than just reacting to global mandates.
Arthur highlighted that driving sustainability goes beyond policy formulation to building an ecosystem that empowers businesses to tackle ESG challenges.
He added that the ministry is building robust frameworks to drive this transition, citing the rollout of the National Carbon Market Policy and the upcoming National Climate Change Bill.
These initiatives establish the rules of engagement for a low-carbon economy, aligning with Malaysia’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Extending his heartiest congratulations to the evening’s winners, Arthur noted that their achievements serve as definitive proof that environmental stewardship and economic strength do not merely coexist, but actively reinforce each other as two parts of a whole.
However, he reminded the audience that the true metric of success lies in collective progress and urged for true sustainability to remain inclusive.
Arthur encouraged the award recipients to leverage their industry leadership to uplift their respective supply chains, ensuring that no enterprise is left behind in the transition toward a greener future.
SMG Group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt said the awards recognise businesses turning sustainability commitments into meaningful action.
He shared that globally, the International Sustainability Standards Board’s standards are providing a common baseline for sustainability-related financial disclosures, with jurisdictions, including those in South-East Asia, moving towards their adoption or use.
“This greater alignment is welcome, but implementation pathways differ, leaving businesses operating across borders with the practical challenge of navigating varying requirements.
“Our economies are connected through trade, investment and supply chains, while businesses operate with different levels of resources and readiness.
“Through this collaboration, we aim to connect businesses across our three markets and create space for practical conversations that lead to better decisions and stronger partnerships,” he said.
KG Media chief executive officer Andy Budiman spoke of how the partnership between SMG, KG Media and Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) goes beyond corporate collaboration to evolve into a shared commitment to building a more resilient, agile media landscape across South-East Asia.
“By pooling our journalistic strengths, influences and reach, we can amplify the stories that truly matter, from climate action to social equity and good governance.
“For KG Media, driving the regional ESG agenda means using our platforms not just to report on change, but to actively champion sustainable practices, hold industries accountable, and empower our communities to shape a more responsible future,” he added.
PDI chief operating officer Rudyard S. Arbolado said the awards would serve not only as a milestone, but as a challenge.
“Recognition is important because it validates the ESG initiatives that the winners invested in and the cultural shift that companies put into genuine sustainability. The true value of the awards – anchored by A-EPIC – is that it sets a higher regional benchmark.
“When winners see how their peers in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are innovating in renewable energy, circular economy, talent management and community empowerment, we hope it inspires them to ask the question: ‘What more can we do to sustain sustainability?’
“We want these recognitions to push organisations to treat ESG not as a compliance checklist or a CSR (corporate social responsibility) project, but as a core driver of long-term business resilience and social equity.”
Also present at the event were Philippine ambassador to Malaysia Maria Angela A. Ponce, Indonesian trade commissioner Aziza Rahmaniar – who represented Indonesia’s ambassador to Malaysia, Datuk Raden Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo – as well as SMG chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, SMG chief operating officer Lydia Wang and SMG managing editor Brian Martin.
The Asia ESG PIA 2026 was the culmination of the consortium’s year-long efforts, including the Asia ESG Summit 2026, which took place on July 21 and 22 at Sunway Resort Hotel in Bandar Sunway, Selangor.
It is a platform for companies to engage with thought leaders and decision-makers in shaping the region’s sustainable future.
