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

(May 14): The US ordered a Chinese crypto mining company to vacate and sell a property it bought near a Wyoming Air Force base that houses intercontinental ballistic missiles, calling the firm a national security threat.

MineOne Partners Ltd. and its affiliated units and companies “migh...

US kicks Chinese crypto miner off land near air force base

(May 14): Michael Cohen, the star witness in Donald Trump’s hush money case, directly connected his former boss to the payoff to keep adult film actress Stormy Daniels from going public about their alleged dalliance to save his 2016 presidential campaign.

Taking the witness stand in the...

Michael Cohen testimony ties Trump to hush money payment

(May 14): Using Facebook in the lead-up to the US 2020 presidential election might have increased the chances of someone voting for Donald Trump, university researchers said in a study published Monday in the academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

As part of t...

Facebook use may have helped Trump with some voters, report says

(May 14): As President Joe Biden prepares a new wave of tariffs against China, a US soybean trade group is pushing for higher levies on Chinese used cooking oil that it says is undercutting American crops used for biofuels.

A group that represents the biggest US soybean processors, incl...

Flood of Chinese used cooking oil spurs call to boost US tariffs

(May 14): Rishi Sunak will announce a doubling of government funding for the UK’s fruit and vegetable sector and urge retailers to back British produce to bolster food security.

The funding of £80 million (US$100 million) a year will be announced by the prime minister at the second Farm...

UK government to double funds for fruit and vegetable businesses

(May 14): The S&P 500 closed very slightly lower on Monday as investors took a breather after three weekly gains while they awaited key inflation readings and earnings reports due this week while a survey showed consumers concerned about inflation.

A Federal Reserve Bank of New York...

S&P 500 barely changes as investors hold tight ahead of inflation data

BIRMINGHAM, England (May 14): Substitute Jhon Duran scored two late goals as Aston Villa fought back to salvage a 3-3 home draw with Liverpool on Monday and take a significant step towards a place in the Champions League next season.

A match that started with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano M...

Villa put on a thriller with late goals to draw 3-3 with Liverpool

NEW YORK (May 14): Global stock indexes were little changed on Monday while the U.S. dollar index eased as investors awaited this week's U.S. inflation data that is expected to be key for the outlook for U.S interest rates.

While the U.S. consumer prices report will likely take center s...

Stocks near flat, dollar dips as focus shifts to US inflation data

KYIV (May 14): Britain's opposition Labour Party affirmed its "ironclad" commitment to Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv on Monday by the party's foreign and defence chiefs.

David Lammy and John Healey met Ukraine's defence minister and President Volodmyr Zelenskiy's top aide on the visit,...

UK's Labour pledges 'ironclad' commitment to Ukraine during Kyiv visit

Melinda French Gates is stepping down as co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world's biggest private charitable foundations that she co-founded with her former spouse more than 20 years ago, she said on Monday.

Melinda Gates to step down as co-chair of Gates Foundation

GuocoLand (Malaysia) Bhd (KL:GUOCO) — controlled by tycoon Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan — saw its net profit tumble 66.3% for the third quarter ended March 31, 2024 (3QFY2024), due to lower revenue from its property development division.&nbsp;

Nonetheless, this was partially offset by a better performance of the hospitality division, thanks to higher occupancy and better average room rates.

GuocoLand’s 3Q net profit falls 66%, warns about property oversupply

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (KL:AIRPORT) has announced the appointment of Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi as its chairman effective from Monday, replacing Tan Sri Zainun Ali, who will take on the role of a director.

MAHB appoints Nungsari as chairman, Zainun redesignated as director

YNH Property Bhd’s (KL: YNHPROP) proposed sale of a 5.098-acre freehold land in Desa Sri Hartamas to Sunway Bhd (KL:SUNWAY) for RM170 million has been extended for a fifth time, stretching the deadline by another year to May 12, 2025, as more conditions are being added to the deal following the discovery of a registered caveat lodged over the property.

YNH extends deadline for RM170 mil land sale to Sunway by a year after caveat found

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Monday:

PTT Synergy, Sime Darby Property, Telekom Malaysia, Aurelius Technologies, AME Elite, Mulpha International, Uzma, Dialog, GuocoLand, Swift Haulage, PA Resources

Telekom Malaysia Bhd (KL:TM) said on Monday that it had signed deals with the Home Ministry relating to two contracts worth RM120.5 million, at the recent Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition and Conference 2024 and National Security (Natsec) Asia 2024.

TM says contracts awarded by Home Ministry not material to group  

PA Resources Bhd's (KL:PA) net profit for the third financial quarter ended March 31, 2024 (3QFY2024) leaped by more than 51 times year-on-year, mostly contributed by its main extrusion and fabrication segment.

Aluminium extruder PA Resources wants to double production capacity as 3Q profit jumps 51 times on higher sales

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EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

Eversendai Corp Bhd (KL:SENDAI) said it is not aware of any corporate development that caused the unusual market activity (UMA) in its shares which climbed to a five-year high on Monday.

Eversendai says unaware of reason for UMA after share price jumps to five-year high

Teo Seng Capital Bhd (KL:TEOSENG) said on Monday it is buying eight parcels of land measuring 104.87 acres in Batu Pahat district in Johor for RM23.6 million.

Teo Seng buys Johor land to build new layer farm to boost egg supply

Estithmar Holding and Baladna are among Qatar's largest companies by market capitalisation that attended a roundtable meeting hosted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti).

Qatar 'big guns' of industries attend roundtable meeting with PM 

Construction group Southern Score Builders Bhd is acquiring a 51% equity stake in electrical contractor SJEE Engineering Sdn Bhd for RM22.95 million cash as the group looks to tap into new market segments within the construction value chain and to expand its income stream.

Southern Score Builders to buy 51% stake in electrical contractor to broaden presence in construction value chain

Life and general insurance provider Allianz Malaysia Bhd (KL:ALLIANZ) has declared a first interim dividend of 26.5 sen per share for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024).

Allianz Malaysia declares interim dividend of 26.5 sen

A police patrol car escorting Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusof's convoy was among 10 vehicles damaged by trees which fell in various parts of the city during a heavy downpour on Monday.

Melaka CM's escort car among 10 vehicles hit by falling trees in KL

The government has agreed to extend the runway at the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport (LTSIP) from 2,400 metres (m) to 2,800m for it to become an international airport.

Sultan Ismail Petra Airport runway extension to go ahead for it to become international airport, says Loke

MISC Bhd (KL:MISC), which is 51%-owned by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), is going to jointly develop specialised ships with Japanese multi-modal transportation company Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, as well as Petronas, to transport liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) for storage in Malaysia.

MISC to jointly develop LCO2 carriers with Petronas, Mitsui OSK Lines

Telecommunication services provider Silver Ridge Holdings Bhd (KL:SRIDGE) on Monday said its 80%-owned subsidiary, Centropia Technologies One Sdn Bhd (CTO), had secured a RM17 million contract to provide recruitment services for two years.

Silver Ridge unit bags recruitment services contract

GameStop Corp&nbsp;shares surged as speculation swirled around a return to social media by Keith Gill, who drove the meme-stock mania of 2021 under the moniker 'Roaring Kitty'.

The account’s post on X showed a man leaning forward with what looked like a gaming controller, which some traders interpreted to mean that Gill is coming back into action. Gill, whose account has long been dormant, shot to fame in 2021 by rallying day traders on Reddit in an effort to squeeze GameStop short sellers.

GameStop surges as ‘Roaring Kitty’ return adds fuel to rally

The result of the Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election indicates that Malaysians are becoming more mature in political decisions and are no longer interested in the game of sentiments and perceptions, according to an expert.

Political analyst from Universiti Malaya (UM) Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said that this political maturity was evident when voters made their choices based on the achievements of initiatives by the unity government at both the federal and state levels, effectively countering provocative sentiments attempted during the campaign period.

KKB by-election: Voters more mature now, political sentiments no longer the choice — analyst

The claims that Islam is threatened and Pahang is a secular state are statements that create bad perceptions and can disrupt the harmony of the people in this state.

Allegation of Islam being threatened causing bad perception, says Wan Rosdy

Five individuals were appointed&nbsp;as members of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly&nbsp;here&nbsp;on Monday.

They are Maahad Tahfiz Tengku Ampuan Afzan Pekan founder Datuk Ahmad Irshad Abdullah Al-Qardi, Temerloh MCA division chief&nbsp;Datuk Wong Tat Chee, Jerantut Umno division chief&nbsp;Haris Salleh Hamzah, Pahang Amanah chairman Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly, and Pahang PKR deputy chairman Rizal Jamin.

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