3/09/2025

ESG WEDNESDAY | SEP 3, 2025

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Affin renews commitment to Klang River rejuvenation

NCT Alliance recognised as Company of the Year

(Incorporated) owned companies can play, in advancing national climate agenda, including those outlined in the Madani Economy Framework, Capital Market Masterplan 3, and the National Energy Transition Roadmap. Funds from RHB ESG Deposits will support a wide range of eligible activities including solar farms, electric vehicle infrastructure, low-carbon buildings, inclusive healthcare and other socio-economic initiatives aligned with Malaysia’s net-zero ambitions by 2050. “RHB is proud to contribute meaningfully to Malaysia’s transition towards mainstream sustainable finance, ensuring responsible capital allocation, impact transparency, and long-term value creation,”Ahmad Badri said. PETALING JAYA: Affirming the positive impact of purposeful community development and social well-being, NCT Alliance Berhad was recently honoured at the Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards 2025 for its continuous contributions towards shaping an inclusive and sustainable nation. Receiving the “Company of the Year in the Property Developer” category for Outstanding Community Spirit Award, NCT was singled out for its multifaceted strategic, community centric ESG initiatives implemented across various states. The group in 2024 had invested over RM690,000 in corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavours underpinned by a robust ESG governance framework and supported with sincerity, consistency, and a deep commitment to helping local communities advance. NCT Alliance executive chairman and group managing director, Datuk Sri Yap Ngan Choy said: “This recognition is a clear reflection that our long-term investment in building communities has far-reaching impact and is aligned with progress that is grounded in responsibility, inclusivity, and value creation. “Guided by our 2025–2029 ESG Roadmap, we remain focused on uplifting families and individuals, and take pride in knowing that sustainability principles are also embedded in every aspect of how we design, develop and deliver products for the long term.” Organised by CSR Malaysia in collaboration with Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility Malaysia Welfare Society, the awards showcase how exemplary Malaysian corporations and NGOs are progressing meaningfully and serving as change agents to boost Malaysia’s socio economic development through CSR. The group is focused on delivering measurable impact in areas such as greenhouse gas emissions reduction, sustainable procurement, water and waste management, and green-certified developments.

river and its communities. As the master developer of the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) project, LLSB continues to drive tangible outcomes through its river rejuvenation and waste management efforts. Key milestones include more than 95,000 metric tonnes of solid waste (equivalent to about 5,500 fully loaded Rapid KL buses) removed from 2016 until now; 82% reduction of waste in 2024 where only 2,986 MT of waste removed from the Klang River as compared to 16,407 MT in 2016; improvement in the Water Quality Index from Class V to Class III where 69% number of days in year 2023 recorded water quality at Class 3 and above and river ecosystem restoration i.e. brings life back to the river which has seen the return of otters, crocodiles, migratory birds, nesting eagles, and various fish species.

resources and empowering future generations. “We believe that every action we take today shapes the world our children will inherit. “This initiative is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability and community empowerment. “We are proud to be part of this effort with Affin and LLSB. Together, we are not just cleaning a river; we are building a brighter, more resilient future for all.” LLSB managing director Syaiful Azmen Nordin said Affin Group and MUFG support reflects a growing recognition that the rejuvenation of Klang River requires not only government leadership but strong public-private collaboration. Through LLSB’s Corporate Empowerment initiative, he added they are bridging sectors to deliver impactful, inclusive solutions for the

CEO Datuk Wan Razly Abdullah said: “This river is more than just a waterway. It is an environmental lifeline and economic artery for the communities that depend on it. “We are proud to lead this initiative once again, and we welcome MUFG as a strategic partner who brings fresh perspectives and a shared commitment to sustainable impact.” At Affin, he added that whatever they touch, they aim to leave it better than when they found it. MUFG CEO and country head of Malaysia Motohide Okuda said: “At MUFG, a leading financial institution with a strong focus on the APAC region, we are deeply committed to building a sustainable future. “River rehabilitation and clean-up efforts are more than just environmental initiatives; they are powerful symbols of MUFG dedication to preserving natural

KUALA LUMPUR: Affin Group renewed its commitment to the Klang River Rejuvenation Initiative through continued sponsorship of Interceptor 002, a river-based waste interception system led globally by The Ocean Cleanup and operated locally by Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB), a subsidiary of Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated). In a move that underscores the growing role of Malaysia’s financial sector in advancing environmental sustainability, MUFG Bank (Malaysia) Bhd has joined the initiative as a new corporate partner. The collaboration represents a significant step forward in public-private efforts to curb riverine waste and rejuvenate one of Malaysia’s most iconic and historically significant waterways. Affin became the first bank in Malaysia to support the operations and maintenance of Interceptor 002 in 2024. With this renewal, the group extends its support through April 2028, reinforcing its long term commitment to ESG under its Responsible Banking With Impact agenda. This initiative also complements the broader collaboration formalised between Affin and MUFG on March 19,2025, aimed at fostering cross-border business cooperation in key sectors aligned with the industrial masterplans of Japan and Malaysia. Together, both institutions are advancing sustainable development while creating new opportunities for economic growth and ESG-led progress. Affin Group president and group o MUFG Bank joins as new partner in Interceptor 002 initiative

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin officiating the ceremony.

RHB and Malaysia Rail Link activate 360 Ž ESG finance ecosystem PUTRAJAYA: RHB Banking Group and Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) recently signed a Transition Completion Statement (TCS)

“We are placing our funds in RHB ESG deposits as part of a longer-term commitment to sustainable finance. This ensures that every ringgit we invest today delivers measurable environmental and social returns across our operations,” said chief secretary to the government and MRL chairman Tan Sri Shamsul Azri. “The ecosystem is transparent, accountable, and creates a virtuous cycle of positive impact, one we hope to see replicated across GLCs.” As the custodian of Malaysia’s largest sustainable infrastructure project, MRL is reinforcing the public sector’s credibility in sustainability. This initiative demonstrates the pivotal role that Minister of Finance

awaiting disbursement for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) construction. This ensures that idle funds are not only preserved, but also contribute to national decarbonisation through the use of capital, within a transparent circular sustainable financial model to support broader climate goals. RHB ESG deposits will be allocated to projects aligned with national priorities such as renewable energy, clean transportation, low-carbon infrastructure, and social inclusion. All financing activities are guided by RHB’s ESG Business Activity Guidelines, Bank Negara Malaysia’s Climate Change and Principle-based Taxonomy, as well as the Asean Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance.

Banking & Finance MRL is the first GLC in Malaysia to establish a sustainable financial value chain transition roadmap, placing proceeds from its Green Sukuk issuance into RHB ESG Deposits while manage surplus fund by integrating sustainability into financial operations, from end to end. RHB is the first Malaysian Bank to develop and introduce ESG deposits where placements are fully dedicated to verifiable climate and socio-economic activities. “With ESG Deposits, we are embedding sustainability into the core of banking, ensuring that financial flows, actively support climate resilience and inclusive economic growth,” said RHB chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir.

signifying the activation of RHB-MRL 360 ĥ ESG Finance Ecosystem, a bespoke sustainable financial value chain transition roadmap for MRL. The 360 ĥ ESG Finance Ecosystem applies circular sustainable finance, where funds placed by customers such as MRL’s Green Sukuk proceeds are channelled into ESG deposits to finance impactful Environmental and Social activities prior disbursement, for sustainable expenditure under MRL’s SDG Sukuk Framework. It redefines how government linked companies (GLCs) and private institutions

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