SEB receives Platinum, Gold awards for CSR initiatives
KUCHING: Sarawak Energy’s efforts in community development and women empowerment for communities affected by the Baleh and Murum hydropower projects received international recognition at the recent 10th Annual Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards 2018 held in Lombok, Indonesia.
The state- owned energy developer and power utility’s ‘ Handicraft Programme for Sustainable Livelihood Development of Murum Artisans’ was awarded Platinum under the Empowerment of Women category while its ‘CSR Eye Vision Programme for Better Living in the Rural Community’ was awarded Gold under Best Community Programme category.
SEB’s executive vice president for Corporate Services Aisah Eden received the award from Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism assistant deputy for Industry and Regulation Kurleni Ukar.
Aisah said the awards validated the company’s strategic and longterm commitment to improving lives through sustainable initiatives that meet real community needs.
The programmes were developed with the communities through early and proactive engagement in line with the IHA Sustainability Protocols, as well as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“The handicraft programme has successfully increased the number of artisans in the Murum resettled community from about 30 in 2014 to about 170 today. We aim to help them to generate more income, which subsequently leads to an improved standard of living for the community,” Aisah said in a statement issued by Sarawak Energy yesterday.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Energy CSR Eye Vision Programme community outreach programme was carried out in collaboration with the 1Malaysia Cataract Clinic - an initiative under the Malaysian Health Ministry to address cataract disease, one of the main causes of blindness and visual impairment in the country.
The programme provides free eye screening and operations for cataract and pterygium patients.
“OurCSREyeVisionProgramme has managed to improve the quality of life and productivity within the community as they are able to resume work with restored eyesight,” elaborated Aisah.
Sarawak Energy’s CSR and Sustainability initiatives have received numerous awards in recent years.
Also present at the ceremony were Sarawak Energy assistant general manager for Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Jiwari Abdullah, senior manager for Social Investment and Community Development Joanne Tan Cho Yian, community relations executive Alis Ekan and assistant community relations executive Florida Havit.