KUCHING, Nov 28: Sarawak Energy Berhad’s leadership in community development initiatives has been recognised with two Gold Awards at the 14th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam earlier this month.
According to a press release, Sarawak Energy which is Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer and Sarawak’s primary power utility, was awarded Gold under the ‘Best Community Programme Award’ category for its ‘Empowering Safe and Resilient Indigenous Communities in Bakun Programme’, and Gold under the ‘Empowerment of Women Award’ for its ‘Empowering Indigenous Women Communities Programme’.
Focused on capacity building and sustainable livelihood to empower women in Sarawak Energy’s project-affected areas, Sarawak Energy’s social performance programmes include Sarawak Energy’s Penan Adult Literacy Programme which covers Murum and Baram; Handicraft Development Programme for socio-economic growth and heritage preservation mainly on indigenous crafts; and Entrepreneurship and Capacity Development focusing on Women Entrepreneurship Programme and Upskilling.
Under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) community investment initiatives, the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) resettled communities of Asap Koyan Belaga, comprising 15 longhouses with over 15,600 residents are target beneficiaries of a fire safety awareness and prevention programme.
Implemented in partnership with the Sungai Asap Volunteer Fire Association (Persatuan BOMBA Sukarela Sungai Asap), volunteers have been trained and acted as first responders to seven fire incidents within the Bakun Resettlement and its neighbouring communities.
The partnership was set up with the aim to ensure early action and availability of first responders in the event of a fire before the arrival of the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba); to provide advisory services to the local community on fire hazards and prevention measures; to strengthen coordination with Bomba and other agencies related to fire safety and to support the maintenance of fire hydrants by the association in their respective areas.
Commenting on the awards, Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer (CEO) Datu Sharbini Suhaili said: “This international recognition was made possible with the support and guidance of the Sarawak government, the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication and the dedication of our 5,400 employees.
“Most importantly, we thank our partner communities who have been affected by our hydropower projects and operations and continue to work with us on sustainable livelihood programmes – these programmes and these awards would not be possible if not for their support and cooperation and willingness to work with us.”
“As we progress and learn, we will continue to build on our commitment to embed sustainable practices into our business and operations as a responsible renewable energy provider, to advance our ambition of building a sustainable energy future for Sarawak and the region,” he added.
Sarawak Energy senior vice president for Corporate Services, Hajah Siti Aisah Adenan highlighted: “Through our social investment initiatives, Sarawak Energy is committed to support community development and entrepreneurship where we strive to invest and drive progress amongst the communities in the areas we operate in.”
“The Empowerment of Women Award validates the group’s numerous initiatives undertaken since 2012 and we look forward to seeing effective volunteer firefighters from our firefighting programme in the Bakun Resettlement Scheme.”
Representing Sarawak Energy to receive the awards was its general manager for CSR, Jiwari Abdullah.
Accompanying Jiwari were manager for Social Investment and Community Development, Jacklyn Dominic Merickan; manager for Community Relations and Consultation, Augustine Supen Taja; station manager for Murum HEP, Encharang Ngtingih; senior executive for Community Relations, Irwan Borhan; senior executive for Social Investment and Planning, Zoee Hillson; and Engineer for Bakun HEP, Gloria Justin, who represented Jonny Wong Kwei Ji, station manager for Bakun HEP.
Themed ‘Beyond Net Zero & ESG’, the event aimed to inspire participants to discuss and go beyond the ‘tick box’ issues of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and CSR.
Besides encouraging participants to incorporate broader and better workable strategies to address the current global condition, the conference also examined unique topics such as Integrating ESG Into Business Strategy, Circular Business Models Pathways for Net-Zero Emissions and Sustainable Development, and The Sustainability of ESG In the Investment World, to name a few.
Sarawak Energy, a member of UN Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei, is committed to pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and embedding sustainability principles at all levels of its operations, including its CSR community investment initiatives.
The Best Community Programme Award is the attestation to the group’s dedication towards community investment, focusing on the four areas of education and young people, community development and entrepreneurship, culture and heritage and environmental management and conservation. — DayakDaily
