Sungai choh: The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) today hosted an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Awareness Session aimed at local automotive vendors at Perodua's headquarters.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the session was attended by approximately 50 vendors who gathered to enhance their understanding of ESG practices. This initiative is part of a broader effort to support local vendors in meeting the increasing global sustainability demands.
MIDA's chief executive officer, Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, emphasized the growing importance of ESG in investment and sourcing decisions. He highlighted the need for Malaysian companies, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to bolster their sustainability capabilities to maintain global competitiveness. The collaboration with Perodua is designed to equip these vendors with essential knowledge, facilitation, and financial support through initiatives like the Domestic Investment Accelerator Fund (DIAF) - ESG Adoption.
The DIAF - ESG Adoption is a matching grant introduced by MIDA to aid Malaysian-owned SMEs and mid-tier companies in transitioning towards ESG practices in the manufacturing and selected services sectors.
Perodua president and CEO Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Ahmad reiterated the importance of strong sustainability capabilities, which would enable local vendors to play a more significant role in the automotive supply chain. He acknowledged MIDA's support in pushing ESG adoption, particularly among SMEs, and affirmed Perodua's commitment to ESG initiatives and sustainable practices.
The session builds on the existing MIDA-Perodua Digital Transformation Ecosystem (DTE) Programme, expanding collaboration beyond digitalisation to strengthen ESG capabilities among local vendors.
An industry sharing session was conducted by Emerging EPC Sdn Bhd CEO Dr John Loh, who discussed the company's ESG transformation journey and the benefits of ESG adoption. Participants also attended a presentation by Genashtim Sdn Bhd head of ESG services Ee Beng, who introduced practical approaches for integrating ESG into business operations and the B Impact Assessment (BIA) framework.
The event concluded with a briefing from MIDA on the DIAF - ESG Adoption, detailing the financial assistance available to Malaysian companies and the eligibility criteria and application process.