November-December. 2025 | @ green

The achievement, delivered through rigorous training, pre-assessment, and the implementation of a comprehensive sustainability action plan, marked a significant step forward for the country’ s hospitality sector.

Launched last year, the certification is a collaboration between MAH, SGS( Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and Saimatrix Integrated, and is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The milestone aligned closely with the National Tourism Policy 2020 – 2030 and further strengthened WEIL Hotel’ s reputation as a sustainability leader. It had already been Ipoh’ s first five-star hotel, Perak’ s first hotel with its own food composting system, and the first in the state to attain the LEED

O + M Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council.

According to the statement, the hotel incorporated a suite of intelligent energy systems, including motion-sensor light-

ESG CERTIFIED: WEIL Hotel in Perak ing, optimised air-conditioning controls and energy-efficient chillers.

Water-saving fixtures and in-room water filtration reduced reliance on single-use plastic bottles. Its in-house composting system converted all food waste into soil enhancers for landscaping and green spaces, while green procurement and eco-friendly housekeeping further minimised its environmental footprint.

WEIL Hotel chief engineer Wong Yow Seng said the hotel relied on smart engineering and proactive monitoring via its building management system to optimise energy usage based on occupancy.

“ This ensured power conservation without compromising comfort,” he said.“ Sustainability isn’ t a trade-off— it’ s a continuous improvement process.”

MAH chief executive officer Isaac Mohan Raj said WEIL Hotel now serves as a national case study, demonstrating how ESG could be embedded into daily operations.

SGS business assurance sub-regional manager Kenny Looi added that the certification, built on global standards adapted for Malaysian hotels, sent a strong signal ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 that the industry was ready to welcome conscious travellers.

THE Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards( PIA) 2025 underscored the growing influence of both public and private sectors in driving sustainability across the region.

A total of 39 winners from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines received 52 awards, marking the first regional accolades presented by the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium( A-EPIC), established in 2024 by Star Media Group( SMG), KG Media and the Inquirer Group of Companies.

Winners were selected by an international panel across 12 categories, ranging from biodiversity conservation and waste management to renewable energy, energy efficiency and innovative partnerships.

Social-focused achievements were also recognised through categories such as diversity, equity and inclusion; human rights; community relations; and good health and well-being. All recipients had previously won in their respective national ESG award programmes.

Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, the guest of honour, praised the companies for setting new standards in regional ESG leadership.

He said government action alone was insufficient, emphasising the need for private-sector commitment, civil society engagement, and media collaboration to drive long-term behavioural change. He added that the awards served as a platform to encourage shared sustainability values across Southeast Asia.

SMG group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt described the awards as a movement that connected businesses, policymakers and communities to accelerate ESG adoption.

Leaders from the Philippine Daily Inquirer and KG Media echoed the sentiment, noting that the awards highlighted practical, scalable models that can shape a more responsible regional economy.

The awards ceremony capped off the consortium’ s year-long initiatives, including the Asia ESG Summit 2025, which brought together delegates from across Asia, Europe and Africa to shape the region’ s sustainable future.

THE UK Government introduced its finalised law to regulate ESG ratings providers, bringing them under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority( FCA).

The move followed IOSCO’ s 2021 call for regulators to increase transparency in the ESG ratings and data space, including identifying conflicts of interest and clarifying underlying methodologies.

A consultation launched in 2023 and expanded in 2024 with draft legislation, which laid the groundwork for the new framework. Under the law, ESG ratings providers operating in the UK— including foreign firms offering services in the market— must obtain FCA authorisation.

Welcoming the legislation, the FCA said it had already begun developing its regulatory regime, with proposed rules expected by the end of the year.

The framework will be shaped by IOSCO’ s recommendations, focusing on transparency, governance, systems and controls, and conflicts of interest. The FCA will also issue guidance to help companies determine whether their activities require authorisation.- @ green