Kuala Lampur:The Malaysian government has unveiled the Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Guide for Businesses, aiming to help companies identify and manage potential human rights impacts. This initiative aligns with the country's National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights 2025-2030 (NAPBHR), which seeks to transform policy into practical action.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Azalina Othman Said emphasized a risk-based approach within the guide, acknowledging the varying resources and risk exposures among businesses. The guide encourages reflection of human rights respect in corporate policies and operations, urging businesses to view responsible practices as integral to their operations rather than a cost.

Azalina highlighted the guide's utility for businesses of all sizes as a tool for management and decision-making, rather than just for compliance. She acknowledged the complex environment businesses operate in, which includes various governance and sustainability requirements.

The government has engaged with regulators and industry representatives to understand existing practices and challenges. It has initiated the NAPBHR with 11 Immediate Actions and established a National Steering Committee, supported by three Technical Committees and a Multi-stakeholder Monitoring, Evaluation, Training, and Learning Committee.

The NAPBHR incorporates the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, focusing on Governance, Labour, and Environment, and involves 135 strategic actions. Azalina stressed the importance of shared responsibility among government and businesses for effective implementation.

She concluded that the NAPBHR is an evolving commitment, balancing economic growth with human dignity, and emphasized that future efforts should deliver tangible results while fostering responsible and sustainable growth.