Championing
the ESG Agenda

I would like to commend the Star Media Group and its partners for initiating the ESG Positive Impact Awards. This is a step in the right direction to not only encourage corporate Malaysia to embrace ESG principles in their operations, but also help raise public awareness on the criticality of achieving our short, medium and long-term sustainability objectives for a better, more resilient and more prosperous Malaysia.

Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz

Minister of Finance

(August 2022)

Initiatives such as the ESG Positive Impact Awards by Star Media Group supported by OCBC Bank Malaysia not only encourages corporate Malaysia to consider how businesses are carried out from the inside out, but also promotes a platform that allows for knowledge sharing. This ultimately contributes to the larger sustainable development of the nation. My ministry and I are fully supportive of endeavours such as this in achieving our common goal of making Malaysia a leading nation in sustainability.

Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

(August 2022)

KASA is committed to ensuring the well-being of the people through medium-term and long-term measures including the development of protective infrastructure especially for water-related disasters. Efforts to achieve long-term commitments and aspirations for the country's climate change agenda will not succeed without the involvement and cooperation of various parties locally and globally. I look forward to the ESG Positive Impact Awards serving as a platform for all parties to come together to learn and contribute to the climate change and sustainability challenges in Malaysia.

YB Dato' Sri Tuan Ibrahim Bin Tuan Man

Minister of Environment and Water (Kasa)

(August 2022)

ESG components are central to the evolution and transformation of businesses today. Within this context, the launch of the ESG Positive Impact Awards is indeed a timely and laudable initiative. I congratulate the Star Media Group, OCBC Bank and their working partners on their commendable efforts in taking this key step to steer corporate Malaysia towards embracing meaningful ESG frameworks that resonate with businesses.

Datuk Seri Lokman Hakim Ali

Secretary General, Ministry of International Trade and Industry

(August 2022)

The journey ahead is long and will be met with numerous challenges. But we believe that together, we will be able to ride the tailwinds of sustainable transformation and ultimately create a future-ready nation. SMG will remain purposeful in setting forth a sustainability agenda that will expand and grow in tandem with our ambitions, while keeping true to our mission to inform, inspire and innovate.

Tan Sri Chor Chee Heung

Chairman, The Star Media Group

(August 2022)

As a bank that is deeply rooted in the country, we are committed to providing innovative sustainable financing solutions that can be tailored to support the achievements of any business’s unique ESG goals while also addressing their financial needs. With 90 years of giving to our communities, OCBC Bank is enabling individuals, SMEs and businesses to build a more sustainable future..

Datuk Ong Eng Bin

Chief Executive Officer, OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd

(August 2022)

When we come together as a nation with a shared vision in mind, collectively, we can deliver bigger impact and play a substantial part in leaving behind a lasting legacy for future generations. As a Malaysian telecommunications company, we are going the extra mile, adopting innovative solutions to succeed in our ESG journey - setting an example for other homegrown companies to embark on theirs. The first few steps are wobbly and the hardest, however, protecting the environment and improving social well-being will allow and enable future generations to enjoy sustainable, healthier lives.

Mohamad Mohamad Zain

Chief Risk Officer, Telekom Malaysia Berhad

(October 2022)

Companies must take proactive measures and invest in meaningful initiatives to manage natural resources, mitigate climate change, build workforce resilience and invest in community projects. Such efforts enable companies to become ESG leaders and attract more capital from investors while also making significant contributions to the betterment of our society, economic development and environmental protection. Aside from raising awareness, the Awards will help create a forum for Malaysian businesses to support one another in improving their ESG practices

Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar

Chairman, Bursa Malaysia

(August 2022)

It is obvious that banks have a crucial role in supporting the green transition. Banks are playing an important role in enabling clients and businesses to adapt to and accelerate the transition through their lending, underwriting and investment decisions.

Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus

Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia

(Bernama, June 3, 2022)

The ESG Positive Impact Awards recognise the successes and cement the credibility of Malaysian businesses. It will encourage businesses to do better and learn from each other. It will play a key role in this journey; they will become a catalyst for leadership and set trends for wider adoption of the ESG among industry leaders and professionals in the ecosystem.

Zafar I. Anjum

Group Chief Executive Officer, ABAC Center of Excellence

(August 2022)

Putting ESG at the centre of decision-making and developing an ESG-driven culture is a pivotal step in transitioning to a more sustainable world. Business decision makers must factor ESG fundamentals into the company’s strategy and own up to the fact that they are accountable for facilitating the shift towards more ecologically and socially responsible practices.

Roberto Benetello

Executive Director, Business Council for Sustainable Development Malaysia

(August 2022)

Malaysian businesses need to recognise that comparisons are increasingly easily made – with peers (competitors), with best practices – and the conversation has evolved beyond metrics to embedding ESG into the DNA and culture of the business.

Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar

Chairperson , Climate Governance Malaysia

(August 2022)

To transition towards a “Prosperous, Inclusive, Sustainable Malaysia” in line with the vision of the Twelfth Malaysian Plan, the private sector must accelerate the implementation of ESG strategy and measures. ESG can play an instrumental role in Malaysia’s goal of being a carbon-neutral country by 2050.

Dr Mahadi Mohamad

Executive Director, Green Growth Asia Foundation

(August 2022)

Many studies in corporate finance have shown that ESG investments will lead to higher company values in the long-run. This is because high ESG companies have been found to accumulate valuable intangible capital such as better branding and reputation, higher levels of employee satisfaction and lower levels of regulatory risk.

Jeffrey Sachs Centre on Sustainable Development, Sunway University & United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network

(August 2022)

Congratulations to Star Media Group (SMG) for taking the initiative to expand the ESG ecosystem. ‘Governance in Action’ is our watchword at the Malaysian institute of Corporate Governance (MiCG), so we applaud the decision to explore and recognise the results of actual ESG experience in Malaysian companies. It moves the understanding of ESG from the theoretical and academic to one based on real-world experience in a local context.

David W Berry

Chairman, Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance

Marina Yong

Governor, Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance

(August 2022)