In a bid to increase the adoption of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices among public-listed companies (PLCs), Bursa Malaysia Bhd announced last year that going forward, all PLCs will be automatically given an ESG score by FTSE Russell.

Editor’s note

Companies can no longer get away with a superficial embrace of environment, social and governance (ESG) without understanding or embodying what it means, given that scrutiny on greenwashing is on the rise, said Minister of Natural Res­ources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad at ...

Leaders in sustainability honoured at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023

George Kent (Malaysia) Bhd has won gold at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023 in the construction sector category, thanks to the integration of ESG principles into its corporate strategy. The focus, says its executive director Bernie C K Ooi, is on environmental stewardship, social responsibility and sound governance.

George Kent persists with sustainability efforts despite challenges

Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) won the gold award at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023 in the consumer products and services sector.

F&N takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability

Navigating the decarbonisation journey as an oil and gas company is tough due to the nature of the business, which is carbon-intensive. Energy services company Deleum Bhd, however, has invested efforts in this area. It bagged the gold award under the energy category at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023.

Deleum commits to sustainability

For the second year running, Hong Leong Bank Bhd won gold in the financial services sector at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023. Its group managing director and CEO Kevin Lam says this is a testament to its unwavering commitment to upholding ESG principles.

Hong Leong Bank’s commitment reflected in consecutive wins

Duopharma Biotech Bhd has emerged as the gold winner in the healthcare sector at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023, thanks in part to the meaningful commitment the company has made to adopt ESG practices.

Duopharma wants ESG to drive business innovation

Datuk Lee Yeow Chor, group managing director and CEO of IOI Corp Bhd, attributes the company’s gold award in The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023’s plantation category to the team’s dedication and early start on the ESG journey.

IOI Corp moving towards decarbonising its operations

Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd won gold at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023 in the industrial products and services category and in the green transition sector. This is thanks to the company’s efforts in integrating ESG principles into every aspect of its operations and ingraining these into the company’s DNA and strategy, says its head of group sustainability Ivan Gan.

Press Metal emphasises sustainability governance

Genting Plantations Bhd (GENP) won gold at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023 under the plantations category, thanks to its sustainability journey that it started nearly three decades ago, says Tan Wee Kok, president and chief operating officer of GENP.

Genting Plantations’ three-decade sustainability journey continues

IOI Properties Group (IOIPG) has embraced ESG as a core component of its business strategy, a move that helped it clinch the gold prize in the property sector at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023.

Charting a sustainable future: IOI Properties’ ESG journey

Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust emerged as the gold winner in  both the REIT sector and outstanding ESG and dividend return categories of The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023, thanks to its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint through energy initiatives, which allowed the company to reap both environmental and cost benefits.

ESG ensures sustainable growth of businesses, communities, says Hektar REIT

Malaysian Pacific Industries Bhd (MPI) won gold in the technology sector at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023. This marks the second year in a row it took home the trophy.

MPI repeats win but is not complacent

CelcomDigi Bhd took home the gold award in the telecommunications and media sector at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2023. Joachim Rajaram, its chief corporate affairs officer, attributes the success to the coming together of two established sustainability-minded entities.

CelcomDigi merges two sustainability strategies

The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) will continue to enforce compliance through audits and investigations to detect any non-compliance among taxpayers in Malaysia.

LHDN deputy chief executive officer (Compliance) Datuk Hisham Rusli said that all actions are carried out in accordance with the laws set forth.

IRB committed to improving tax compliance via  audits, probes

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza, adding to pressure on the country’s leadership over the conduct of its military campaign against Hamas.

ICC issues arrest warrant for Israel’s Netanyahu on Gaza ‘war crimes’

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Thursday.

Petron, DRB-Hicom, Dayang Enterprise, AEON, 7-Eleven, MSM, Hap Seng Consolidated, SunCon, UEM Sunrise, Mega First, Oriental, Heitech Padu, Can-One, Atlan, Maxim, Thong Guan, Globetronics

Thailand is taking steps to attract more foreign investment to accelerate economic growth while preparing to adjust its policies to cope with potential changes to world trade under a Trump presidency, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said.

Thailand seeks foreign investment as PM plans for Trump era

Volkswagen AG faces a growing threat of widespread walkouts as executives and unionists dig in over how to restructure Europe’s biggest automaker.

Labour leaders are offering €1.5 billion (RM7.08 billion) in additional cost cuts — including foregoing some bonuses — to keep factories open, after management dangled the idea of closures.

VW lurches closer to walkouts after talks with union deadlocked

Baidu Inc recorded its biggest revenue drop in more than two years after China’s economic malaise undermined its push into generative AI.

Chinese AI pioneer Baidu posts biggest sales fall since 2022

Magnum Bhd (KL:MAGNUM) reported a slight dip in net profit in the July-Sept period as income tax and other expenses increased, but cushioned by better income generated by its gaming and investment holdings and other segments.

Magnum posts marginally lower net profit in 3Q, amid higher tax and other expenses, declares 1.5 sen dividend

UBS has seen weak European growth hit companies it lends to, CFO Todd Tuckner said on Thursday, with the bank facing a 2024 credit loss expense of some 150 million Swiss francs (US$170 million or RM757.72 million) in its personal and corporate banking business.

UBS flags 'sluggish' Europe growth as it takes US$170m credit hit

Emmanuel Macron’s ill-fated June gamble on snap elections has plunged French businesses into prolonged gloom, clouding the president’s seven-year effort to transform the country into a hub for investment.

French business’s election gloom casts long shadow over outlook

Sales of previously owned US homes rose in October by the most since earlier this year, as buyers took advantage of a dip in mortgage rates in the previous month.

Contract closings increased 3.4% from a month earlier — the most since February — to a 3.96 million annualised rate, according to data released on Thursday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

US existing-home sales rose in October after mortgage-rate drop

IOI Properties Group Bhd (KL:IOIPG) has officially relaunched the Putrajaya Marriott Hotel in IOI Resort City last week after completing a RM100 million renovation.

Sitting on 6.5 acres of land, the five-star Putrajaya Marriott Hotel is managed by IOI Properties and comprises 487 guest rooms, including 35 exclusive suites. The renovations took place from Feb 2023 till Nov 2024 and were carried out in phases. The massive undertaking focused on the refitting and renewal of its guest rooms, lobby, restaurants and private villa.

IOI Properties relaunches Putrajaya Marriott Hotel after RM100m renovation

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) is working urgently with authorities to help resolve the recurring flood incidents in Bandar Bukit Raja, said managing director Datuk Seri Azmir Merican.

Tackling floods in Bandar Bukit Raja a top priority, says Sime Darby Property

Globetronics Technology Bhd (KL:GTRONIC) has inked an agreement valued at RM145 million to provide integrated circuit (IC) product packaging, testing and backend services to Taiwan-based ChipMOS Technologies Inc.

Globetronics secures RM145 mil contract to provide assembly and test services to Taiwan’s ChipMOS

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Mah Sing Group Bhd (KL:MAHSING) has unveiled the sales gallery of its RM850-million M Aspira serviced-apartment project in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (Nov 20).&nbsp;

Mah Sing unveils M Aspira sales gallery in Taman Desa

China's Huawei plans to start mass-producing its most advanced artificial intelligence chip in the first quarter of 2025, even as it struggles to make enough chips due to US restrictions, said two people familiar with the matter.

Huawei aims to mass-produce newest AI chip in early 2025, despite US curbs

Starbucks Corp is exploring options for its Chinese operations including the possibility of selling a stake in the business, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Starbucks said to consider selling stake in Chinese business

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) on Thursday said that the company is seeking more assets that would generate recurring income for the real estate developer.

Sime Darby Property seeks more assets generating recurring income

The extended six-year contract signed between the government and Bestinet Sdn Bhd for the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS) could cost the government a minimum of RM3.2 billion, according to a report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Bestinet's contract extension for foreign worker system could cost govt at least RM3.2b — PAC

Northern Solar Holdings Bhd has signed an underwriting agreement with M&amp;A Securities Sdn Bhd for its proposed initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia.

The solar energy firm said its IPO scheduled to take place in February 2025, entails a public issue of 67.3 million new shares and the sale of 35.6 million existing shares.

All in all, the listing would offer investors up to a 26% stake in the company.

Northern Solar Holdings signs underwriting agreement with M&A Securities

EIGHTEEN months after its decision to abandon the single wholesale network (SWN) structure and transition to a dual 5G network, Malaysia sprang yet another surprise by selecting U Mobile Sdn Bhd, the third and smallest of the three bidders that qualified, for the coveted second 5G spectrum bid on...

Cover Story: Untangling the second 5G network puzzler 

China has found gold reserves worth 600 billion yuan (US$82.9 billion or RM370.9 billion) in central Hunan province, state outlet Xinhua news said on Thursday.

China finds US$83b worth of gold reserves in Hunan 

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): E-services provider MyEG Services Bhd’s (KL:MYEG) earnings are expected to continue to be boosted by contributions from its Zetrix-related applications, prompting an earnings upgrade from at least one analyst.&nbsp;

Zetrix-related services to continue to boost MyEG’s earnings — analysts

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday that about 70% to 80% of the costs of his official trips to five countries over the past two weeks were paid by private companies.

Private firms paid up to 80% of costs for recent official trips abroad, Anwar tells Dewan Rakyat

THE award of the second 5G network to U Mobile on Nov 1 has kicked up a storm. Four bids were submitted, from CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and TM. Maxis, for instance, once widely seen as the frontrunner, is seeking to talk to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on what e...

Cover Story: Will the second 5G network benefit Malaysians with lower prices and better service?

Atlan Holdings Bhd's (KL:ATLAN) Singapore-listed subsidiary Duty Free International Ltd (DFIL), which plans to challenge the compulsory acquisition of two plots of land in Kedah by the Malaysian government, announced on Thursday that it had received RM69.6 million as compensation for the land.

The sum was received from the Home Affairs Ministry, which is force-buying the plot from DFIL's wholly-owned Cergasjaya Sdn Bhd and Cergasjaya Properties Sdn Bhd, on Monday (Nov 18).&nbsp; DFIL itself is 75.53% owned by Atlan.

Home Affairs Ministry pays Atlan RM69.6 mil for compulsory purchase of its Kedah plot

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Analysts have raised their earnings forecasts and target prices on Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Bhd (KL:HSPLANT), after the plantation group outperformed market expectations in its latest quarterly results.

Analysts raise forecasts after Hap Seng Plantations’ quarterly results beat expectations

Sugar producer MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd (KL:MSM) continued to record losses for the second consecutive quarter, after the group reported a RM49.75 million net loss for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024).

MSM Malaysia continues to bleed for the second consecutive quarter

In his first global meetings since Donald Trump was reelected to lead the US, Chinese President Xi Jinping went on a diplomatic offensive, hedging against expected new tariffs and preparing to exploit potential future rifts between Washington and its allies.

Bracing for Trump tariffs, China's Xi makes diplomatic push at global summits

The High Court here has ordered the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to complete investigations on the death of Teoh Beng Hock within six months from Thursday.

Police given six months to complete probe into Beng Hock’s death

Oil company Petron Malaysia Refining &amp; Marketing Bhd (KL:PETRONM) suffered a 94.3% drop in its third-quarter net profit, on lower sales volume due to a correction in domestic fuel demand following the implementation of the retail diesel targeted subsidy in June this year.

The Edge ESG Awards 2023

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The Edge ESG Awards 2023

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