I bid you a warm welcome to the 2023 chapter of The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) Awards. This once-a-year gala dinner started in 2010 as an initiative by The Edge Malaysia to recognise, honour and celebrate the biggest and best of Corporate Malaysia — we believe this is possibly the only time in the year that top executives of companies across all sectors listed on Bursa Malaysia are gathered together for an evening like this.

Building value that lasts beyond quarterly performances

The evening shower and Kuala Lumpur traffic faded away as old friends and business associates caught up at The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (The Edge BRC) Awards 2023, Corporate Malaysia’s biggest and most anticipated awards night, on Oct 23.

Celebrating Corporate Malaysia

Keynote Speech by Yang Berhormat Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur, Oct 23, 2023)

Championing a mission-oriented approach to innovation

Reflecting the heightened market volatility, it has been a sea of red in terms of the share price performance and total returns of the 14 companies named as The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) Company of the Year over the years.

Saluting sustainable excellence for the 14th year

Mega First Corp Bhd (MFCB), a member of The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) since 2017 and placed on its winners’ list every year since 2018, has secured a spot in its Hall of Fame with the highly-coveted BRC Company of the Year award for 2023.

Company Of The Year: Mega First Corp Bhd - Powering growth with renewable energy and more

Companies that were scored highly on corporate responsibility (CR) initiatives continue to be those that not only create lasting impact for multi-stakeholders but know how to measure and communicate them well, say The Edge Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) panel of CR judges.

Creating lasting impact for multi-stakeholders and measuring them well

Financial education is the basis for wealth accumulation, retirement planning and stock investing

It all starts with financial literacy

It came as no surprise when Malaysia’s largest financial services group, Malayan Banking Bhd, again took home the Best CR Initiatives award for the Super Big Cap (above RM40 billion market capitalisation) category of The Edge Billion Ringgit Club Awards 2023 — marking the third time it has won the award after first bagging it in 2015 and 2019.

BEST CR INITIATIVES: SUPER BIG CAP — ABOVE RM40 BILLION MARKET CAPITALISATION: Malayan Banking Bhd - Mobilising change with thoughtful sustainability agenda

With fleets of aeroplanes almost completely grounded and international air travel curbed as governments around the world imposed various degrees of movement controls to combat the spread of Covid-19, shares of airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) naturally nosedived.

HIGHEST RETURNS TO SHAREHOLDERS OVER THREE YEARS: TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd - Resuming its ascent post-pandemic

United Plantations Bhd (UP), the world’s first producer of sustainable palm oil certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil in 2008, has always taken pride in taking a sustainable, responsible and ethical approach to all aspects of its operations — a commitment that it oft said can be traced back to its founder, Danish engineer and entrepreneur Aage Westenholz, who established the group in 1906.

BEST CR INITIATIVES: BELOW RM10 BILLION MARKET CAPITALISATION: United Plantations Bhd - Facilitating the journey towards a more sustainable society

Westports Holdings Bhd has clearly weathered the global supply chain disruption, continuing the legacy of its late founder Tan Sri Gnanalingam Gunanath Lingam.

HIGHEST RETURN ON EQUITY OVER THREE YEARS, HIGHEST GROWTH IN PROFIT AFTER TAX OVER THREE YEARS: TRANSPORTATION & LOGISTICS: Westports Holdings Bhd - Weathering supply chain headwinds on strong foundation

In the face of natural disasters occurring in all corners of the world, IOI Corp Bhd recognised that the concept of “do no further harm” is increasingly insufficient in addressing the loss of natural capital and the onset of climate tipping points.

BEST CR INITIATIVES: BIG CAP COMPANIES — RM10 BILLION TO RM40 BILLION MARKET CAPITALISATION — JOINT WINNER: IOI Corp Bhd - Taking it further than ‘do no further harm’

It is a constant balancing act for Telekom Malaysia Bhd, which supports nation building and advances the country’s digital transformation agenda as a government-linked corporation (GLC) while also needing to deliver good returns as a public-listed company (PLC).

HIGHEST GROWTH IN PROFIT AFTER TAX OVER THREE YEARS: TELECOMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA: Telekom Malaysia Bhd - Delivering profits while accelerating the Digital Malaysia aspiration

RHB Bank Bhd seems well on track to achieve its aim to mobilise RM20 billion in sustainable financial services by 2026, having already hit RM12 billion in sustainable financial services as at December 2022, exceeding its year-to-date target by more than 40%.

BEST CR INITIATIVES: BIG CAP COMPANIES — RM10 BILLION TO RM40 BILLION MARKET CAPITALISATION — JOINT WINNER: RHB Bank Bhd - Building a sustainable future with responsible financing

Russia and Ukraine exchanged fire on energy facilities overnight, with an oil refinery damaged in Russia’s Krasnodar region, while Ukraine sustained a missile barrage on gas infrastructure and other targets.

Russia, Ukraine exchange strikes on refinery and gas targets

Deutsche Bank AG is putting aside as much as €1.3 billion (US$1.4 billion or RM6.6 billion) in legal provisions, warning this will hit profits.

The bank will book the potential payment in the current quarter, it said in a statement late on Friday. That will impact “second quarter and full-year profitability”, it said, while adding that the ultimate amount of the provisions is not clear yet.

Deutsche Bank earmarks US$1.4b provision in hit to profit

Genting Malaysia Bhd has dismissed reports linking the group and its deputy chairman and chief executive Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay to supposed discussions relating to the opening of a second casino for Malaysia in Forest City, Johor, to revive the US$100 billion (RM477.60 billion) development.

Genting Malaysia denies involvement in talks for Forest City casino

The Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750) remains valid and applicable throughout Malaysia, including in Terengganu, unless declared otherwise by the court, says the Prime Minister’s Office, despite the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly's decision to reject its use.

Territorial Sea Act 2012 still valid, including in Terengganu, says PMO

The Malaysian government is serious about resolving issues surrounding the palm oil industry in the country, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Govt serious about resolving palm oil industry issues, says Johari Ghani

Three new semiconductor companies are keen to invest in Penang with total investments of US$100 million (RM477 million), said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Three semiconductor firms keen to invest US$100m in Penang

Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and his brother Mirzan Mahathir, who have been asked to declare their assets by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), have both denied being investigated by the agency.

Mahathir's sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani, deny being under MACC probe

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government had no plans to temporarily suspend the service of Fennec and HOM helicopters.

Govt not suspending service of Fennec and HOM helicopters, says minister

It will be a four-way fight in the upcoming Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election between Pakatan Harapan’s pick Pang Sock Tao, Hulu Selangor Bersatu action division head Khairul Azhari, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin and independent Nyau Ke Xin.

NEWS: Four-cornered fight in KKB by-election

Parti Rakyar Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin says that if elected, PRM will stand on a platform of increased transparency in government.

NEWS: Parti Rakyat Malaysia will run on more transparency

Russia and Ukraine exchanged fire on energy facilities overnight, with an oil refinery damaged in Russia’s Krasnodar region, while Ukraine sustained a missile barrage on gas infrastructure and other targets.

Deutsche Bank AG is putting aside as much as €1.3 billion (US$1.4 billion or RM6.6 billion) in legal provisions, warning this will hit profits.

The bank will book the potential payment in the current quarter, it said in a statement late on Friday. That will impact “second quarter and full-year profitability”, it said, while adding that the ultimate amount of the provisions is not clear yet.

The Edge Billion Ringgit Club

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