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• ESG COVER

@ green | July-August. 2026

UNITED FOR CHANGE: The Summit gets underway with its opening ceremony.

� Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof urges ESG to be part of Malaysia ' s culture, not just a compliance task.

�The MAPAN ESG Industry & Academic Summit 2026 spotlighted financing, disclosure, innovation, supply chains, and the circular economy.

�UKM is helping develop knowledge, skills, and tools for Malaysia’ s ESG transition.

That was the central message at the opening of the MAPAN ESG Industry & Academic Summit 2026, which brought together industry and academia to discuss how sustainability commitments can be translated into action.

MAPAN founder and chairman Dr Ben Ong said the summit was intended to demonstrate that decarbonisation could create economic, social and environmental value rather than merely fulfil compliance requirements.

He also highlighted MAPAN’ s push for“ ESG 2.0”, drawing on the“ Carbon is a Currency” principle introduced by MAPAN patron Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, which places greater emphasis on human values, integrity and social responsibility alongside conventional ESG criteria.

The summit, where @ Green was the official media partner, was presented as an example of that approach, with MAPAN stating that the event’ s carbon emissions would be offset via the Bursa Carbon Exchange, thereby serving as a practical demonstration of its net-zero commitment.

TURNING COMMITMENTS INTO ACTION

Opening the summit, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the transition could not be driven by the government alone, particularly because micro, small and medium enterprises make up about 97 per cent of businesses in Malaysia.

“ The green transition had to be fair, orderly and realistic, ensuring that businesses, especially smaller firms, had the capacity to adapt without undermining economic opportunities.”

Fadillah also stressed that ESG should not be viewed merely as a reporting requirement, but as part of broader human development, linking environmental protection with public health, safety, food security and the wellbeing of future generations.

“ ESG should be a national culture,”

Fadillah reiterated, calling for sustainability considerations to shape decision-making and organisational practices, rather than being adopted solely because of regulation or market pressure.

Meanwhile, UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Sufian Jusoh said universities had a responsibility to make their expertise more accessible to industry and to society.

He said UKM was committed to supporting national and international sustainability efforts through research, policy development, innovation, capacity building and cross-sector collaboration.

The summit’ s focus on implementation also extended to its Gala Night and Decarbonisation Award Ceremony, where six recipients were recognised for their efforts to advance decarbonisation and climate action.

With green financing, climate disclosure, ESG innovation, supply chain integration and the circular economy as the summit’ s five key themes, the opening emphasised one issue: translating commitments into changes that can be implemented across Malaysia’ s economy and felt by society.

The green transition had to be fair, orderly and realistic, ensuring that businesses, especially smaller firms, had the capacity to adapt without undermining economic opportunities.

TOP RECOGNITION: Recipients receive their Decarbonisation Awards during the Gala Night marking the close of the MAPAN ESG- Ready Industry & Academic Summit 2026

UNIVERSITI Kebangsaan Malaysia( UKM) is strengthening its role in developing ESG talent, with plans to introduce a Master’ s programme via Open and Distance Learning( ODL) at its Institute for Environment and Development( LESTARI).

UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Sufian Jusoh said the programme would enable working professionals in Malaysia and abroad

Growing education in UKM

to pursue postgraduate studies without leaving the workforce.

The initiative was highlighted alongside UKM’ s participation as a co-organiser of the MAPAN ESG Industry & Academic Summit 2026, during which the university also launched an AI-powered ESG Advisory platform to help organisations conduct comprehensive assessments and strengthen their sustainability strategies.

Sufian said the university’ s efforts build on its Professional ESG Certificate, developed with APEC and the OECD, as UKM expands ESG education, research and practical support for organisations. – @ green