KUCHING, Feb 1: Sarawak Energy Berhad’s effort to embed sustainability into its business was recognised at the Sustainable Business Awards 2018, where it bagged three awards, including Best Strategy and Sustainability Management.
The state-owned energy developer and utility group also won Best UN Sustainable Development Goals and special recognition for Sustainability in the Community.
Held for the first time in Malaysia this year, the event on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur was organised by Global Initiatives, an organisation with programmes conducted across 30 countries seeking to advance partnerships in driving change for a better future.
The Sustainable Business Awards were held in Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore over the past seven years.
Sarawak Energy was nominated for the awards, and the result was assured by a third party following stringent assessment by the award’s assessment partner PwC Malaysia (PricewaterhouseCoopers).
The results were then shared with the award’s National Advisory Panel for deliberation. Sitting on the panel were key representatives from ACCA Malaysia, UN Global Compact Network Malaysia, Jeffrey Sachs Centre for Sustainable Development, Control Union, Nova Fusion and Global Initiatives.
Sarawak Energy Executive vice president (Corporate Services) Aisah Eden received the awards from Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change and Environment Yeo Bee Yin.
Aisah was accompanied by Jiwari Abdullah, general manager (Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability) and Mohamad Irwan Aman, senior manager (Sustainability).
“This provides additional assurance that we are on the right path following confirmation in 2016 that our initiatives are aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Our 2016 Sustainability Report has been endorsed by the Global Reporting Initiative on the accuracy of the SDGs linkages to our relevant indicators,” said Aisah, who represents Sarawak Energy as the vice president of the UN Global Compact Network (Malaysia).
Commenting on the win, Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer Datu Sharbini Suhaili said: “These awards serve as recognition for Sarawak Energy in our role as a renewable energy provider and as a leader in championing sustainability practices.”
The Sustainable Business Awards recognises businesses that strive to excel in their sustainable practices. The awards also help build a global knowledge network of best practices, enabling businesses to benchmark and improve their performances.
Sarawak Energy is owner and operator of the Bakun, Murum and Batang Ai Hydroelectric Power Plants. It is currently developing the Baleh Hydroelectric Plant.
Sarawak Energy voluntarily adopted the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and in 2011, forming a sustainability partnership with the International Hydropower Association to ensure best practice in hydropower development.
This began Sarawak Energy’s journey in sustainability in 2012, underpinned by the understanding that continuous improvement and strategic sustainability management from different business functions, government, and communities are key to sustainable growth. — DayakDaily
