Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Written by: Mohammad Al Amin Mohd Jahaya, Journalist, AOPG.

In response to the 2023 IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, which emphasises the urgent need for governments and corporate sectors to take immediate action in the next 7 years to keep the global temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius, Schneider Electric organised a media briefing at WIP@Marc Residences. The briefing was moderated by Freda Liu, (Broadcast Presenter at The Shift/Her Vantage), and featured distinguished guests: Eugene Quah (Country President for Malaysia of Schneider Electric), Kamarul Ariffin Abdul Samad (CEO of Cyberview), Dr Mohamad Rizal Baharum (Senior Lecturer in Department of Building Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment), and Ts Zulkiflee Umar (Deputy Director of Energy Efficiency & Conservation, Department of Industry Operation, Energy Commission Malaysia).

L-R: Freda Liu (Broadcast Presenter of The Shift/Her Vantage), Eugene Quah (Country President for Malaysia of Schneider Electric), Ts Zulkiflee Umar (Deputy Director of Energy Efficiency & Conservation, Department of Industry Operation, Energy Commission Malaysia), Kamarul Ariffin Abdul Samad (CEO of Cyberview), Dr Mohamad Rizal Baharum (Senior Lecturer in the Department of Building Surveying at the University of Malaya)

The event aimed to address efforts in combatting climate change and bridging the gap between intention and action among companies in Malaysia.

Eugene Quah, Country President for Malaysia of Schneider Electric, elaborated further on the matter:

“95% of the companies in Malaysia have established sustainability strategies, which is good news. However, only 49% have implemented comprehensive sustainability strategies. We call this the Green Action Gap; a gap between intention and action that have been place.”

“This gap stands at approximately 46%. It is crucial for companies in Malaysia to translate their sustainability aspirations into tangible actions, addressing implementation challenges and embracing long-term strategies.”

The delay in implementing sustainability strategies could be attributed to various factors, including social considerations, investments, Return on Investment (ROI), environmental challenges, security, and transparency.

Addressing these factors effectively requires a considerable investment in time and resources for resolution. However, amidst the current volatile economic state, such investment manoeuvres pose significant risks for most companies in Malaysia.

Other Key Highlights From the Schneider Electric 2023 Survey

Current Ecosystem State

• 74% of these goals [ established corporate sustainability strategies] are short-term, spanning the next four years or less.
• 93% of business leaders feel that their company views sustainability as a ‘high priority.’
• 57% have a dedicated sustainability department in their organisation.

However, according to Ts Zulkiflee Umar, Deputy Director of Energy Efficiency & Conservation, Department of Industry Operation, Energy Commission Malaysia, to translate the existing aspirations into tangible action, the Malaysian government has provided options for the corporate sector to implement energy sustainability strategies, such as the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and Corporate Green Power Programme to support companies financially to implement and execute sustainability strategies.

Meanwhile, Kamarul Ariffin Abdul Samad, CEO of Cyberview, advised company leaders to shift their perspective regarding the implantation of sustainability will enable them to grasp the end benefits. Understanding the end benefits their company can gain from implementing sustainability strategies will prompt leaders to allocate resources and translate their sustainability aspirations into actionable strategies.

The Importance of Investing in Sustainability Efforts

Investing in sustainable efforts encourages the preservation of natural resources and the reduction of pollution. In addition to preserving the world for future generations, investing in sustainability initiatives will generate new job opportunities, and foster economic growth and a sustainable lifestyle.

Echoing this idea, Kamarul Ariffin Abdul Samad, used Cyberjaya as an example to elucidate the tangible benefits of investing in sustainability initiatives:

“Cyberjaya has been working with green energy transportation companies such as Kumpool and Tryke to promote Green Mobility, which has helped reduce carbon emissions level and improve traffic flow in Cyberjaya.”

“Besides Kumpool and Tryke, Cyberjaya is also currently investing in autonomous electric vehicles to not only further improve connectivity but also sustainability efforts. However, it is within a testing phase and yet to have official regulations to police its operation. So, it will take a few more years before we can officially launch it.”

“And in terms of energy efficiency, we [have an] energy sequence system in place, so that most office buildings in Cyberjaya have better cooling systems.”

Standardisation in Executing Corporate Sustainable Strategies

Sustainability standards act as a set of rules or specifications providing guidance on effectively addressing environmental, social, and economic concerns. Companies can use these standards as a reference point for integrating sustainability strategies into their corporate frameworks.

Dr Mohamad Rizal Baharum, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Building Surveying at the University of Malaya, provided additional insights on the matter through his brief sharing during the media briefing:

“Yes, I was fortunate able to work with the Department of Standards Malaysia in developing one of the key standards for tackling environmental concerns, which is ISO 41000. This standard has been around for 5 years, so it is currently under review to align it with current sustainability strategies.”

“The updated standards are designed to suit industries, government, and consumers to achieve and innovate sustainability goals. We hope that with these updated standards, everyone will have a harmonised and synced approach to sustainability actions.”

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