KUALA LUMPUR: The engagement of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in sustainability requires a concerted effort to galvanise the corporate sector as a whole, through policies and regulations that prioritise transparency, accountability, and action, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johari emphasized the crucial role of SMEs in Malaysia’s economy, highlighting that the collective impact of these enterprises adopting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles could drive significant positive change across the nation. He pointed out that the engagement of SMEs in sustainability is not just beneficial but vital for ensuring that national progress is equitable, inclusive, and lasting.

In his keynote address at the GO ESG 2024 Symposium, Johari stressed that legislation alone is insufficient and that real transformation requires a cultural shift beyond regulatory frameworks, engaging stakeholders like employees, suppliers, investors, and customers in d
riving positive impact. He reiterated the critical need to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that only 16 percent of SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030, while a staggering 84 percent show little or no progress. These statistics highlight ongoing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and peace.

The symposium, organized by the UN Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei (UNGCMYB), marked its fifth edition with the theme ‘Empowering Talent in Achieving the SDGs’. It attracted over 300 high-level executives, sustainability practitioners, and business leaders. The event underscored the significant role of learning and development in equipping the workforce to meet today’s sustainability demands, fostering discussions and collaboration to address the sustainability talent gap, and offering strategies to build competencies in the workforce.