Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for 97% of all business establishments in Malaysia and employ around 48% of the country’s workforce. While the pressure to provide sustainability-related disclosures and adopt relevant practices has thus far been on bigger companies, SMEs are increasingly affected as well. A special feature in the recent Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) 2023 annual report, titled “Supporting SMEs transition to greener practices”, highlights the risks, opportunities, steps and toolkits for SMEs in this low-carbon transition.

Helping SMEs cope with climate change

It took only one meeting between Anish Mathew Samuel and Chakrapani Ruddraramker, who both went to the same business school in Manila, to quit their jobs and set up a company to trade eco-friendly products, thanks to their passion for sustainability.

This was 10 years ago. Soon, they be...

Agriculture: On a quest to make organic farming affordable

As it stands, all development projects seeking approval in Malaysia are subject to one regulatory process for assessing their environmental impact, known as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA 1974). EIAs are a planning tool. By laying out a formal...

Views: A rubber stamp on environmental degradation?

There were few positive headlines about ESG and sustainable funds in the last few years. In 2022, the returns of many of these funds were negatively impacted by their underexposure to energy counters and overexposure to technology stocks. In 2023, declining fund flows and a net outflow were recor...

Finance: Waiting for more maturity in ESG

East Ventures, a venture capital firm that focuses on Southeast Asia (SEA), has launched a free web-based greenhouse gas (GHG) calculator called Ecovisea for companies to measure their emissions. Ecovisea, which stands for emissions calculator and visualisation SEA, was developed in collaboration...

Toolkit: A new free carbon emissions calculator

A parallel is often drawn between sustainability reporting and financial reporting. Both are mandatory for Malaysian public-listed companies (PLCs) and must be published online annually. Yet, compared with financial reports, sustainability reports seem to engender less trust and the comparability...

Cover Story: How credible is sustainability reporting?

Concert tours generate a significant carbon footprint — from the travel of artistes and attendees to waste generated at venues and merchandise sales. Given the large audiences that popular concerts attract, these events also consume a lot of resources and energy.

After the crowd has lef...

Waste: Can concerts be green?

PUTRAJAYA (March 27): Datuk Abdul Razib Dawood, chief executive officer of the Energy Commission (ST), revealed that ST is currently in talks with the government to give condominium owners an exemption from having a distributor licence to install electric vehicle charging bays (EVCB).

Energy Commission to speed up EV charger licensing process

The Covid-19 pandemic and other geopolitical factors have caused disruptions in local, regional, national and global food supply chains, prompting us to focus on traditional farming systems. These are the products of ingenious combinations of knowledge, techniques and practices that contribute to...

Views: Preserving traditional farming in Malaysia

Hydrogen is touted as the next alternative green energy solution. There are several projects and plants being developed in Malaysia as envisioned in the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap, and even more are under development globally.

Exploring hydrogen as an energy source

In 2014, a live venomous viper, 12 toads and a variety of insects were found in a package with “happy birthday” markings during a routine check at a post office in Ipoh.

This story is a favourite for Renee Yee, who is TRAFFIC’s training and capacity building officer in Southeast Asia.

Biodiversity: TRAFFIC seeks to clamp down on illegal wildlife trade

Two years ago, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. By now, one would have heard similar pledges from many corporates. But how can one know whether this is enough to halt climate change, and whether it can be achieved?

As scrutiny on clai...

Q&A: Why Sime Darby Plantation had its climate targets validated

In the dynamic landscape of constant innovation and disruption, the maxim “women hold up half the sky” encapsulates the essence of diversity’s pivotal role in fostering innovation and driving success.

While companies may boast diverse workforces, it is the strategic harnessing of this d...

Views: Unleashing DEI: A catalyst in transforming Malaysian businesses

In a society that views differently abled individuals through a lens of pity or sympathy, the potential of such individuals to actively contribute to the workforce is often overlooked.

According to a study by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), 58% of persons with disabilities...

Cover Story: Enabling the differently abled

A Myanmar rebel group has withdrawn its troops from a town along the Thai border following a counteroffensive by soldiers of the ruling junta from whom the rebels had this month wrested the key trading post, an official said on Wednesday.

Myanmar rebel group withdraws from key town on Thai border

Haily Group Bhd shares continued their uptrend on Wednesday to a near all-time high, after the construction outfit won a RM109.5 million contract for terrace houses in Pontian, Johor.

Haily shares near all-time high after securing RM109.5m housing job

BERLIN (April 24): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Finance Minister Christian Lindner both expressed scepticism on Tuesday about reforming the country's 'debt brake', but Bundesbank president Joachim Nagel said he saw scope for adjustments.

A reform of the constitutionally enshri...

Scholz and Lindner sceptical about reforming German debt brake

Fisker may have to file for bankruptcy protection within 30 days if it does not get adequate relief from its creditors and enough liquidity to meet its current debt obligations, it disclosed in a regulatory filing on Tuesday.

Fisker may seek bankruptcy protection in 30 days if unable to meet debt obligations

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) ramped up its verbal pushback against the rally in long-term government bonds, warning of a reversal and hinting that a mismatch between market prices and the economic outlook will be corrected.

PBOC warns of rally in long-end government bonds

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted Tuesday to adopt a near-total ban on non-compete provisions that prohibit workers from switching jobs within an industry, a rule the Chamber of Commerce vowed to immediately challenge in court.

FTC issues worker non-compete ban as chamber lawsuit looms

In the third and fourth instalments of our four-part series on the economy, we are focusing on mission-based policy packages that Malaysia can embark on to realise our vision of Malaysia Madani. As a recap, the first article — “Taking a systems approach to fuel subsidies” (Issue 1515, March 18) —...

My Say: Mission Madani: Now is not the time to work in silos

E-government services provider MyEG Services Bhd has inked an agreement to collaborate on the launch of a virtual asset fund or Hong Kong virtual assets exchange-traded fund (ETF) products.

MyEG inks partnership to launch Hong Kong virtual assets

Sunway Putra Hotel Kuala Lumpur marked the commencement of its lobby area refurbishment with a ground-breaking ceremony.

Sunway Putra Hotel KL commences refurbishment of its lobby

Shares of DXN Holdings Bhd surged on Wednesday to its highest in more than a month as analysts continued to urge investors to buy the stock after the health supplement company’s fourth-quarter (4Q) results.

DXN climbs over one-month high, analysts see positive outlook

The Edge covers former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial live.

Najib's 1MDB-Tanore trial live reporting (April 24)

With Malaysia’s 5G outdoor coverage having reached the 80% target for coverage of populated areas (CoPA) at the end of 2023 and after the signing of the share subscription agreements (SSAs) by five mobile network operators (MNOs) on Dec 1, 2023, what’s next for the next stage of 5G deployment in Malaysia?

What’s next for 5G deployment in Malaysia?

Rakuten Trade said NationGate Holdings Bhd may extend its upward trajectory after breaking out from its one-month rectangular pattern on Tuesday.

NationGate may extend upward trajectory, says Rakuten Trade 

Tesla Inc is accelerating the launch of more affordable models in a bid to arrest a deterioration in its profit margins and sales.

Tesla to accelerate launch of cheaper cars after sales miss

US stocks closed higher on Tuesday following positive earnings from top-tier companies and as investors were focused on quarterly results from Magnificent Seven and other megacap growth stocks.

Wall Street closes higher as investors digest earnings, megacap outlook

Global shares rose on Tuesday, with investors on Wall Street focused on earnings reports from the US megacaps, and the yen tumbled to multi-year lows against the dollar and the euro.

Stocks gear up for Big Tech earnings; yen touches multi-year lows

Bursa Malaysia opened higher on Wednesday, tracking Wall Street's upbeat overnight performance, as confidence was buoyed by a spate of solid corporate earnings that many see as a precursor of those from the mega caps which will be reported over the next few days, said an analyst.

Bursa opens higher, tracking overnight Wall Street

E-government services provider MyEG Services Bhd has inked an agreement to collaborate on the launch of a virtual asset fund or Hong Kong virtual assets exchange-traded fund (ETF) products.

Shares of DXN Holdings Bhd surged on Wednesday to its highest in more than a month as analysts continued to urge investors to buy the stock after the health supplement company’s fourth-quarter (4Q) results.

RHB Retail Research said Censof Holdings Bhd is observing a technical breakout after climbing above the 26.5 sen immediate resistance on surging trading volume.

Censof observing technical breakout, says RHB Retail Research 

The ringgit rebounded in early trade on Wednesday as the US dollar retreated after S&amp;P Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data disappoint.

Ringgit rebounds on softer US dollar after PMI data

Meta Bright Group Bhd said its wholly owned subsidiary FBO Land (Serendah) Sdn Bhd and Doople Tech Sdn Bhd have entered a solar supply agreement with Cherengin Hills Sdn Bhd, following its recent collaboration with Doople to form a joint venture (JV) company to bid for renewable energy (RE) projects with a Bumiputera equity requirement.

Meta Bright lands solar supply deal after forming JV company with Doople

Mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) activities fell to the lowest in a decade in 2023. According to the “Global M&amp;A Report” published by Bain &amp; Co, the total M&amp;A market fell by 15% year on year last year to US$3.2 trillion, the lowest in a decade.

M&A activities hit a low in 2023, pickup expected this year

(April 24): JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said the U.S. economy was booming and consumer spending continued to be resilient.

The U.S. economic boom is "unbelievable," Dimon told the Economic Club of New York on Tuesday. "Even if we go into recession, the consumer's still in good shape,...

JPMorgan CEO Dimon says US economy is booming

Shares of construction and engineering contractor Crest Builder Holdings Bhd climbed on Wednesday after bagging a RM486 million condominium project in Mont Kiara.

Crest Builder rises 6% after bagging RM486m condominium project

RHB Retail Research said YBS International Bhd is set to resume its uptrend after climbing above the 80.5 sen immediate resistance, surpassing the 21-day simple moving average line.

YBS International set to resume uptrend, says RHB Retail Research 

Digital payments company Block Inc, formerly known as Square, has finished the development of its Bitcoin mining chip as chief executive Jack Dorsey continues to advocate for a more accessible and decentralised system — an effort he’s championed since 2021.

Jack Dorsey’s block finishes development of Bitcoin mining chip

Tesla&nbsp;said it will lay off 6,020 employees in Texas and California ahead of its quarterly results on Tuesday when CEO Elon Musk is expected to outline the electric-vehicle (EV) maker's strategy to combat slowing demand and falling margins.

Tesla to cut more than 6,000 jobs in Texas, California, notices show

This was supposed to be the year that Vietnam reaped the benefits from one of its largest natural gas discoveries.

Xi’s armada is winning the battle for energy in South China Sea

International Business Machines Corp (IBM) is in advanced talks to acquire software company HashiCorp Inc, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

ESG

‌‌

‌
‌