ESG

KUALA LUMPUR : Building on the success of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme in Bidor, Perak, AEON is proud to launch a new three-year reforestation initiative in Segamat, Johor. The project is part of the ongoing legacy of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme, in collaboration with the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). It marks the next chapter in AEON’s long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and community development. The event also signified the official completion of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme in Bidor, which took place from 2014 to 2023. In this 3-phase project, AEON successfully planted 30,000 trees of rainforest species on a 22.75-hectare site that was once a tin mining area. The initiative also contributed to the 100 million tree planting campaign by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. The Segamat Reforestation Project was officially announced during a ceremony held at FRIM in Kuala Lumpur last Friday. During the event, Naoya Okada, Managing Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD and Dato’ Dr. Ismail Parlan, Director General of FRIM exchanged a Letter of Intent (LOI), symbolising the joint commitment to the initiative. The exchange was witnessed by Dr. Norwati Muhammad, Deputy Director General (Research) of FRIM, and Tsugutoshi Seko, Deputy Managing Director of AEON. As a symbolic gesture to mark the Segamat initiative, a tree planting session was also held at Padang 44, FRIM Kepong. Among the species planted were meranti temak nipis (Anthoshorea roxburghii), meranti tembaga (Rubroshorea leprosula), and sesenduk (Endospermum diadenum). The initiative in Segamat will see 30,000 trees planted over 36 hectares of land in three phases, with 10,000 trees planted per phase. The project, which will run from 2025 to 2027, aims to replicate the environmental success of Bidor, which transformed a former tin mining site into a vibrant ecosystem. Naoya Okada expressed his appreciation for the continued partnership, saying, “The Bidor project is a testament to what can be achieved when corporate responsibility is combined with scientific expertise. We are proud to carry this legacy forward in Segamat. AEON has long prioritised caring for the environment as a core part of our sustainability strategy. Since we started the tree planting initiatives in 1991, we have planted over 557,000 trees nationwide through a range of green initiatives.” Meanwhile, Dr. Ismail said that FRIM appreciates AEON’s continuous commitment towards environmental sustainability. “This planting site in Bidor will be maintained as a research and educational plot, as well as a future seed production area. The reforestation efforts on this former mining land have also successfully attracted various species of fauna, including migratory birds, to the area. FRIM welcomes collaboration with AEON in conserving and protecting the environment. We are also open and ready to explore other areas of collaboration in the future,” he said. This ongoing initiative reflects AEON’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), supporting environmental restoration, community engagement and sustainable growth for future generations.

KUALA LUMPUR : Maybank has extended its first green loan in Malaysia to Altervim, the renewable energy arm of Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group, marking a significant step in the bank’s regional sustainable finance strategy. Serving as the sole bilateral lender, Maybank is financing Altervim’s rooftop solar initiative as the company enters the Malaysian market. This collaboration underscores Maybank’s commitment to supporting the energy transition and advancing the sustainability agenda throughout ASEAN. In its initial rollout, the project will see solar photovoltaic systems installed across 28 Lotus’s Malaysia retail outlets, with a targeted installed capacity of up to 20 megawatts (MW). The initiative is projected to generate approximately 24.65 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy annually and reduce an estimated 433,958 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the course of its operational life. Datuk John Chong, Group Chief Executive Officer of Global Banking at Maybank, reaffirmed the bank’s longstanding relationship with CP Group and its aligned vision for a low-carbon economy. “We are proud to support Altervim’s market entry into Malaysia while also contributing to the national energy transition agenda to enhance the renewable energy mix,” he said. “The financing facility, structured under Maybank’s Sustainable Product Framework, represents a strategic addition to our growing sustainable finance portfolio.” As of the first quarter of 2025, Maybank has mobilised RM125.46 billion in sustainable finance across the region, exceeding its original RM80 billion target set for the full year of 2025. Borvorn Pienpongpanich, Chief Financial Officer of Altervim, described the green loan as a strategic milestone in the company’s regional expansion. “This partnership with Maybank strengthens our ability to scale clean energy deployment in Malaysia, one of our key growth markets,” he said. “It enables us to deliver measurable carbon reductions and support businesses in managing energy costs sustainably. We value Maybank’s support and are committed to building a resilient and sustainable future together.” The project is emblematic of both organisations’ shared commitment to accelerating decarbonisation and fostering sustainable development throughout Southeast Asia. -NST

KUALA LUMPUR: RHB Islamic Bank Berhad has entered into a strategic three-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with AsiaEvents Exsic Sdn Bhd, the organiser of the Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE), formalising its role as the exclusive banking partner of the event through to 2027. The signing ceremony was held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in conjunction with the opening of MIDE 2025. This agreement reinforces RHB Islamic Bank’s sustained commitment to marine conservation under its flagship Ocean Harmony programme. Datuk Adissadikin Ali, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of RHB Islamic Bank, said the collaboration underscores the bank’s environmental focus within its broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda. “We are not attempting to be everything to everyone. As a bank with finite resources, we have chosen to prioritise one critical aspect of the environment – the ocean,” he stated. “We are not promoting diving as a sport; rather, diving offers a means of understanding and communicating what lies beneath the surface. That is the essence of Ocean Harmony.” Established in 2019, Ocean Harmony is a value-based intermediation initiative aimed at supporting awareness, research, and preservation of Malaysia’s marine ecosystems. It is also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. In 2025, the bank has collaborated with six Malaysian entities to further this cause. These include Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Ocean Ranger, One Heart Environment, and University Malaya Medical Centre. During the event, RHB Islamic Bank also introduced the Limited Edition RHB Visa Ocean Harmony Multi-Currency Debit Card-i. The card is designed to simplify international transactions, particularly for frequent travellers. “Travellers often encounter similar challenges – managing leftover foreign currency or locating exchange facilities. This card addresses those issues by eliminating the need for physical cash and enabling seamless transactions in 34 currencies at competitive rates,” said Adissadikin. MIDE 2025 attracted more than 200 exhibitors over the weekend, representing a diverse cross-section of the industry including dive operators, equipment suppliers, tourism boards, and non-governmental organisations. -Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has received international recognition for aligning its sustainability reporting practices with global standards, according to the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). The acknowledgement comes via the latest Jurisdictional Profile released by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation, positioning Malaysia as the sole ASEAN nation recognised for adopting the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Standards under a limited transition framework. This distinction reinforces the credibility of Malaysia’s National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF), launched in September 2024. Developed by the Advisory Committee on Sustainability Reporting (ACSR), the NSRF represents a significant milestone in the nation’s corporate sustainability agenda. Malaysia’s adoption of the ISSB’s IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 standards incorporates transitional provisions, including a ‘climate-first’ reporting approach and deferred disclosure of Scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These measures aim to ease the transition for companies at different stages of sustainability maturity. “This approach facilitates a smooth transition to full adoption of the ISSB Standards, while recognising the varying levels and maturity in sustainability practices among companies,” the SC stated. SC Chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi noted that the ISSB’s endorsement affirms the nation’s strategic direction in sustainability reporting. “The ACSR welcomes the ISSB’s endorsement, which represents an important recognition of our efforts in using the ISSB Standards as the baseline for sustainability disclosures in Malaysia,” he said. He further acknowledged the challenges entities may face in meeting the rigorous standards set by the ISSB, emphasising the importance of targeted support. To aid organisations in fulfilling the new requirements, the NSRF has rolled out the Policy, Assumptions, Calculators, and Education (PACE) initiative, which provides training, tools, and technical resources. Earlier this year, PACE conducted sessions on interoperability between the ISSB and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. Ongoing efforts under PACE include the creation of illustrative sustainability reports and the launch of the NSRF Preparers’ Programme, designed to enhance disclosure competencies. The ACSR also intends to continue sector-specific engagement to support broader and more effective adoption. -Business Times