Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 97% of all business establishments in Malaysia and employ around 48% of the country’s workforce. While the pressure to provide sustainability-related disclosures and adopt relevant practices has thus far been on bigger companies, SMEs are increasingly affected as well. A special feature in the recent Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) 2023 annual report, titled “Supporting SMEs transition to greener practices”, highlights the risks, opportunities, steps and toolkits for SMEs in this low-carbon transition.

Helping SMEs cope with climate change

It took only one meeting between Anish Mathew Samuel and Chakrapani Ruddraramker, who both went to the same business school in Manila, to quit their jobs and set up a company to trade eco-friendly products, thanks to their passion for sustainability.

This was 10 years ago. Soon, they be...

Agriculture: On a quest to make organic farming affordable

As it stands, all development projects seeking approval in Malaysia are subject to one regulatory process for assessing their environmental impact, known as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA 1974). EIAs are a planning tool. By laying out a formal...

Views: A rubber stamp on environmental degradation?

There were few positive headlines about ESG and sustainable funds in the last few years. In 2022, the returns of many of these funds were negatively impacted by their underexposure to energy counters and overexposure to technology stocks. In 2023, declining fund flows and a net outflow were recor...

Finance: Waiting for more maturity in ESG

East Ventures, a venture capital firm that focuses on Southeast Asia (SEA), has launched a free web-based greenhouse gas (GHG) calculator called Ecovisea for companies to measure their emissions. Ecovisea, which stands for emissions calculator and visualisation SEA, was developed in collaboration...

Toolkit: A new free carbon emissions calculator

A parallel is often drawn between sustainability reporting and financial reporting. Both are mandatory for Malaysian public-listed companies (PLCs) and must be published online annually. Yet, compared with financial reports, sustainability reports seem to engender less trust and the comparability...

Cover Story: How credible is sustainability reporting?

Concert tours generate a significant carbon footprint — from the travel of artistes and attendees to waste generated at venues and merchandise sales. Given the large audiences that popular concerts attract, these events also consume a lot of resources and energy.

After the crowd has lef...

Waste: Can concerts be green?

PUTRAJAYA (March 27): Datuk Abdul Razib Dawood, chief executive officer of the Energy Commission (ST), revealed that ST is currently in talks with the government to give condominium owners an exemption from having a distributor licence to install electric vehicle charging bays (EVCB).

Energy Commission to speed up EV charger licensing process

The Covid-19 pandemic and other geopolitical factors have caused disruptions in local, regional, national and global food supply chains, prompting us to focus on traditional farming systems. These are the products of ingenious combinations of knowledge, techniques and practices that contribute to...

Views: Preserving traditional farming in Malaysia

Hydrogen is touted as the next alternative green energy solution. There are several projects and plants being developed in Malaysia as envisioned in the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap, and even more are under development globally.

Exploring hydrogen as an energy source

In 2014, a live venomous viper, 12 toads and a variety of insects were found in a package with “happy birthday” markings during a routine check at a post office in Ipoh.

This story is a favourite for Renee Yee, who is TRAFFIC’s training and capacity building officer in Southeast Asia.

Biodiversity: TRAFFIC seeks to clamp down on illegal wildlife trade

Two years ago, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. By now, one would have heard similar pledges from many corporates. But how can one know whether this is enough to halt climate change, and whether it can be achieved?

As scrutiny on clai...

Q&A: Why Sime Darby Plantation had its climate targets validated

In the dynamic landscape of constant innovation and disruption, the maxim “women hold up half the sky” encapsulates the essence of diversity’s pivotal role in fostering innovation and driving success.

While companies may boast diverse workforces, it is the strategic harnessing of this d...

Views: Unleashing DEI: A catalyst in transforming Malaysian businesses

In a society that views differently abled individuals through a lens of pity or sympathy, the potential of such individuals to actively contribute to the workforce is often overlooked.

According to a study by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), 58% of persons with disabilities...

Cover Story: Enabling the differently abled

(May 19): Liverpool's outgoing manager Juergen Klopp has never been one for social media but he took the plunge on Saturday ahead of his final game in charge, instantly becoming an Instagram hit when he racked up a million followers.

Klopp announced in January that he would leave Liverp...

Klopp earns a million Instagram followers within hours

KHARKIV, Ukraine (May 19): Ukraine said Russian shelling targeted civilians in two cities in the northeastern region of Kharkiv on Saturday while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported successes by troops fighting a renewed Russian assault there.

Ukrainian prosecutors said they were inv...

Ukraine says Russian shelling targets civilians in Kharkiv region

(May 19): After guiding Chelsea to the Women's Super League title for the seventh time, Emma Hayes is a woman with just one job.

Hayes can fully concentrate on being coach of the United States Women's National Team after Chelsea's 6-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday. It marked the fifth st...

After one last Chelsea title, Emma Hayes now focused on USWNT

Police have identified the male suspect who attacked the Ulu Tiram police station on Friday and confirmed that he has no links to any terrorist groups.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain clarified that the initial statement of the suspect being a member of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) was based on his father's involvement with the terrorist group.

IGP: Suspect in Ulu Tiram police station attack not linked to terrorist group

From New York to London to Tokyo, if there’s one similarity among the world’s equity markets it’s this: record highs.

Of the world’s 20 largest stock markets, 14 have hit all-time highs recently.

From Tokyo to New York, stock markets are on a record-hitting spree around the world

All the suspects remanded on Saturday following the attack at the Ulu Tiram police station early on Friday morning are local citizens, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.

Ulu Tiram attack: Seven suspects remanded are locals, says IGP

The Communist Party of Vietnam has nominated police minister To Lam to be state president, the government said on Saturday.

Vietnam nominates top police official To Lam as state president

Maybank and English Premier League club Manchester United have launched their latest co-branded credit card in Indonesia.

In 2023, Maybank and Manchester United announced the extension of their 13-year partnership into Indonesia — adding a fourth Asean country to their existing co-branded products available to customers in Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Maybank, Manchester United launch new co-branded credit card in Indonesia

China's agriculture minister is being investigated for suspected violations of law and discipline, the country's anti-graft watchdog said on Saturday.

China probes agriculture minister for suspected disciplinary violations

Sarawak is optimistic that its state revenue will continue to grow over the next two to three years, driven by the state's strong economic performance this year, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Abang Johari optimistic Sarawak's revenue will grow in next two to three years

From New York to London to Tokyo, if there’s one similarity among the world’s equity markets it’s this: record highs.

Of the world’s 20 largest stock markets, 14 have hit all-time highs recently.

Police have identified the male suspect who attacked the Ulu Tiram police station on Friday and confirmed that he has no links to any terrorist groups.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain clarified that the initial statement of the suspect being a member of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) was based on his father's involvement with the terrorist group.

All the suspects remanded on Saturday following the attack at the Ulu Tiram police station early on Friday morning are local citizens, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.

(May 19): Liverpool's outgoing manager Juergen Klopp has never been one for social media but he took the plunge on Saturday ahead of his final game in charge, instantly becoming an Instagram hit when he racked up a million followers.

Klopp announced in January that he would leave Liverp...

KHARKIV, Ukraine (May 19): Ukraine said Russian shelling targeted civilians in two cities in the northeastern region of Kharkiv on Saturday while President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported successes by troops fighting a renewed Russian assault there.

Ukrainian prosecutors said they were inv...

(May 19): After guiding Chelsea to the Women's Super League title for the seventh time, Emma Hayes is a woman with just one job.

Hayes can fully concentrate on being coach of the United States Women's National Team after Chelsea's 6-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday. It marked the fifth st...

ESG

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