By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 30: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has received international recognition for Sarawak’s sustainability leadership after being awarded the Forward Faster Sustainability Visionary Award at the UNGCMYB Members Celebration Night 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (Jan 29).
According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, the prestigious award, presented by the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB), recognises the Premier’s visionary leadership in driving comprehensive and high-impact sustainable development initiatives at the state level.
At the same ceremony, the Sarawak Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESty) was conferred the Forward Faster Sustainability Nexus Award for its key role in providing a strong policy framework and institutional support to strengthen the implementation of sustainability initiatives, particularly those involving the private sector.
In a statement, UNGCMYB said the dual recognition underscores the importance of leadership at the highest level, as well as the role of facilitating institutions, in accelerating the achievement of tangible and measurable sustainability outcomes.
According to the network, the awards also reflect Sarawak’s approach of moving beyond policy commitments towards consistent, coordinated and effective implementation of sustainable actions that encompass Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects.
UNGCMYB executive director Faroze Nadar said the recognition signals a shift in the sustainability landscape, where organisations and leaders are now assessed based on implementation effectiveness and real-world impact rather than commitments or aspirations alone.
“The Forward Faster approach demands swift, collaborative and integrity-based action to ensure that the sustainability agenda can be translated into outcomes that benefit society, the economy and the environment,” he said.
The ceremony brought together business leaders, policymakers and sustainability figures from across Malaysia and Brunei, honouring organisations and individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in governance, social, environmental and sustainable value chain development.
Besides the special awards presented to the Premier and MEESty, the Forward Faster Sustainability Awards 2026 were also conferred on various corporate organisations and individuals for their contributions to strengthening sustainability practices across sectors.
UNGCMYB is the official network of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) for Malaysia and Brunei, playing a leading role in business sustainability advocacy and supporting companies in aligning their operations with the UNGC Ten Principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). — DayakDaily
