The Originality of Malaysia-specific ESG

I embarked on the journey of ESG when I read this. I am a firm believer in tracing the originality - always focus on the original initiative, let's go through it to interpret the intention:

1. It's concluded that "Sustainability" is no longer an option, action should be taken NOW.....why? Because social inequities and climate disasters have been occurring right here on our home ground in our backyard.

Remark: It's about social inequities and climate disasters

2. It's believed that all dramatic happenings, such as covid or climate-induced, should be taken as signs for urgency and top alert on building "sustainability" based on ESG principles" to gain long-term climate and socio-economic resilience.

Remark: It's about gaining long term climate and socio-economic resillience by building sustainability based on ESG principles.

3. It's the calling for implementing development projects and programmes on the basis of ESG principles aligned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). - by empowering SMEs ESG, boosting sustainability-related funding/ investment, and facilitating the execution of ESG-focused programmes, as outlined in the Twelfth Malaysia Plan.

Remark: It's about revealing what's in the Twelfth Malaysia Plan - confirming the implementation (how) and the adoption of UNSDG specifically, not something else.

4. It's the recommendation to establish a governance structure for the oversight of ESG elements in future investment strategies. There is a wealth of data that shows that companies focusing on ESG issues have managed to reduce costs, increase employee productivity, reduce risks and create more business opportunities.

Remark: It's about "investment strategies" - as it is now, ESG is the investment decision mindset, and this mindset helps companies reduce costs, increase employee productivity, reduce risk and create more business opportunities.

5. It's the action plan for sustainable finance - The Government-linked investment companies (GLIC) collectively manage RM1.7 trillion of assets, which yield considerable influence in the context of guiding and empowering the SMEs in the GLIC ecosystem to embrace ESG principles.

?Remark: It's about the power of sustainable finance to influence the adoption of ESG principles, both in GLICs and MOF Inc companies, and the Government’s Green Procurement.

6. It's revealed that businesses are perceived as the partners in ESG leadership, whether it is in adapting to climate change, addressing social inequalities or conserving our natural environment, etc. The private sector and other segments are encouraged to be more aware of both the short and long-term impact of their operational decisions

Remark: It's about recognising the leadership in ESG in operations (esp. operational decisions), on top of investment decisions.

7. It's the appreciation of proactive measures for re-evaluating business performance and incorporating ESG standards and sustainability indicators as the guiding principles.

Remark: It's about acknowledging the efforts in adopting ESG principles and practising proactive ESG measures in business operations.

8. Last but not least, it's reinforcing that the collective public-private sector collaboration is the fastest way for us to realise our national vision for a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable Malaysia. And, for our companies to remain competitive regionally and globally, ESG considerations are no longer a choice, but a profit-oriented imperative.

Remark: it's the declaration of Malaysia-specifc slogan for ESG movement: Shape up on ESG or lose out!

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The questions are:

1. How could the experts in sustainable development instantly become ESG experts without legitimate and orthodox education?
2. How could people interpret ESG acronyms as the meaning of ESG, without finding out the originality?
3. How could a company claim to be an ESG company just by doing sustainable development projects?
4. While everyone emphasizes on ESG principles aligned to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), why ESG considerations are discussed in so many different ways, what is the legitimate knowledge? ************************************************************************ These are the key questions I can't find answers to, but I choose to continue promoting ESG clarity to clear the confusion. I believe I need to stick to the original intention of Malaysia-specific ESG, on top of UN-ESG.