Sarawak Energy receives two gold awards at Global CSR & ESG Summit
Sarawak Energy’s leadership in community development initiatives has been recognised with two Gold Awards at the 14th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam earlier this month.
Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer and Sarawak’s primary power utility company, Sarawak Energy received the Gold Award for ‘Best Community Programme Award’ category for its ‘Empowering Safe and Resilient Indigenous Communities’ in Bakun Programme, and another Gold Award for ‘Empowerment of Women Award’ for its ‘Empowering Indigenous Women Communities Programme’.
Focused on capacity building and sustainable livelihood to empower women in Sarawak Energy’s project-affected areas, Sarawak Energy’s social performance programmes include Sarawak Energy’s Penan Adult Literacy Programme which covers Murum and Baram; Handicraft Development Programme for socio-economic growth and heritage preservation mainly on indigenous crafts; and Entrepreneurship and Capacity Development focusing on Women Entrepreneurship Programme and Upskilling.
In its press release, Sarawak Energy said under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) community investment initiatives, the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) resettled communities of Asap Koyan Belaga, comprising 15 longhouses with over 15,600 residents are target beneficiaries of the fire safety awareness and prevention programme.
Implemented in partnership with the Sungai Asap Volunteer Fire Association, volunteers have been trained and acted as first responders to seven fire incidents within the Bakun Resettlement and its neighbouring communities.
The partnership was set up with the aim to ensure early action and availability of first responders in the event of a fire before the arrival of Bomba; to provide advisory services to the local community on fire hazards and prevention measures; to strengthen coordination with Bomba and other agencies related to fire safety and to support the maintenance of fire hydrants by the association in their respective areas.
“This international recognition was made possible with the support and guidance of the Sarawak government, the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication and the dedication of our 5,400 employees.
“Most importantly, we thank our partner communities who have been affected by our hydropower projects and operations and continue to work with us on sustainable livelihood programmes – these programmes and these awards would not be possible if not for their support and cooperation and willingness to work with us,” said Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer Datu Sharbini Suhaili when commenting on the award.
“As we progress and learn, we will continue to build on our commitment to embed sustainable practices into our business and operations as a responsible renewable energy provider, to advance our ambition of building a sustainable energy future for Sarawak and the region,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Energy senior vice president for Corporate Services Siti Aisah Adenan highlighted that through the social investment initiatives, Sarawak Energy is committed to support the community development and entrepreneurship where it strives to invest and drive progress amongst the communities in the areas it operate in.
“The Empowerment of Women Award validates the group’s numerous initiatives undertaken since 2012 and we look forward to seeing effective volunteer firefighters from our firefighting programme in the Bakun Resettlement Scheme,” she said.
Representing Sarawak Energy at the awards was general manager for Corporate Social Responsibility Jiwari Abdullah; manager for Social Investment and Community Development Jacklyn Dominic Merickan; manager for Community Relations and Consultation Augustine Supen Taja; station manager for Murum HEP Encharang Ngtingih; senior executive for Community Relations Irwan Borhan; senior executive for Social Investment & Planning and Engineer for Bakun HEP Zoee Hillson,; and Gloria Justin, who represented station manager for Bakun HEP Jonny Wong Kwei Ji.
Themed ‘Beyond Net Zero & ESG’, the event aimed to inspire participants to discuss and go beyond the ‘tick box’ issues of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Besides encouraging participants to incorporate broader and better workable strategies to address the current global condition, the conference also examined unique topics such as Integrating ESG Into Business Strategy, Circular Business Models Pathways for Net-Zero Emissions and Sustainable Development and The Sustainability of ESG In the Investment World, to name a few.
Sarawak Energy, a member of UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei, is committed to pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and embedding sustainability principles at all levels of its operations, including its CSR community investment initiatives.
The Best Community Programme Award is an attestation to the group’s dedication towards community investment, focusing on the four areas of education and young people, community development and entrepreneurship, culture and heritage and environmental management and conservation.