13/05/2026

ESG WEDNESDAY | MAY 13, 2026

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Financial inclusion is a responsibility

o TNG Digital does not evaluate ESG initiatives based on revenue or return on investment

Programmes such as Device2Cash and Phone2Cash aim to extend the lifecycle of electronic devices. Partnerships such as its collaboration with Arus Oil encourage recycling of used cooking oil through incentives. The group reported a 41% reduction in Scope 1 emissions and has set a long-term goal of phasing out plastic Touch ‘n Go cards by 2035. Its social initiatives include allocating RM2 million to community programmes since 2021 and contributing 6,200 volunteering hours. Women make up 52% of its workforce. It is working towards increasing representation of differently-abled individuals to 1% by 2030. The approach raises a broader question for the industry. As fintech players expand into underserved segments, balancing inclusion with profitability, risk management and regulatory demands will remain a challenge.

payments and digital financial services. Its footprint includes more than 35 million Touch ‘n Go cards, over four million RFID tags and more than 2.2 million merchant touchpoints, with over 24 million verified eWallet users. This scale allows ESG priorities, particularly inclusion, to be delivered at reach. The group’s operations also highlight the importance of governance in an increasingly digital economy. Touch ‘n Go processes about 2.4 billion transactions annually across toll, parking and transit. These are supported by system controls, monitoring processes and cybersecurity frameworks. It recorded an “Above Average” rating in Bank Negara Malaysia’s RE4CT 2024 cyber resilience exercise. Features such as SOS Balance have supported more than 8.8 million toll transactions by allowing users to pass through even with insufficient balance. As a digital platform, its environmental initiatives focus on enabling more sustainable behaviour among users.

This reflects how sustainability initiatives are integrated into its services rather than treated as standalone efforts. More than 20,000 refugees are

able to transact using the platform, while over RM2.5 billion in payroll has been disbursed to migrant workers. The group is progressing towards its target of enabling seven million individuals, including first-time investors, the underinsured and the unbanked, to access financial services, with 6.7

Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

He said the group sees financial inclusion as a responsibility tied to its scale and user base regardless of immediate commercial returns. “So no matter if its payroll for foreigners, refugee

KUALA LUMPUR: While businesses are increasingly tying environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts to measurable returns such as cost savings, risk mitigation or long-term value creation, TNG Digital Sdn Bhd does not see sustainability as needing to translate directly into profit. TNG Digital Sdn Bhd CEO Alan Ni ( pic ) said the group does not evaluate its ESG initiatives based on revenue or return on investment, but on its responsibility to expand financial access. “I honestly don’t think ESG can be measured on the revenue or profit. For example, the programme we did with UNHCR Refugees. Are we making any profit or revenue from it? Versus the efforts we put in. We never calculate ROI for this programme.” sustainability platform supporting the Madani Government’s biodiversity and climate resilience priorities, continues to expand youth outreach through its Be-Leaf programme. Recently in Pulau Redang, Terengganu, ALAM and Sports and Youth Ministry (KBS) mobilised 350 volunteers under its Be-Leaf initiative in conjunction with Program Rakan Bumi – Projek Planet Rakan Muda Peringkat Kebangsaan 2026. The programme encompassed a range of ecosystem-based activities, including the planting of mangrove, rhu and merbau trees, coral planting, as well as conservation and rehabilitation efforts, alongside beach clean-ups across Marine Park and kampung areas. It also included ocean clean-ups targeting ghost nets and plastic debris, together with community based upcycling and environmental advocacy initiatives, all in support of KBS’ project and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) 100 million Trees Programme under Program Penghijauan Malaysia. Spearheaded by Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad (BPMB), ALAM operates as an independent, tax-exempt not-for profit company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act 2016, guided by an autonomous Board of Trustees and supported by a governance framework aligned with BPMB’s standards. BPMB Group chief sustainability officer Zakiah Mat Esa said: “The ALAM Be-Leaf initiative demonstrates how collective action delivers measurable environmental outcomes. “In Pulau Redang, we mobilised 350 volunteers and planted 150 mangrove seedlings to strengthen

programme, also for the B40 etc. It’s part of our duty to do so. We do not calculate from the ROI, return to threshold perspective.” According to the Touch ‘n Go Group Impact Report 2021–2025, the group’s ESG strategy focuses on expanding access to financial services alongside its environmental and operational initiatives. Through its eWallet platform, the group has onboarded refugees, enabled payroll for migrant workers and extended financial tools to underserved communities.

million users onboarded. This positions the platform as more than a payments tool. It functions as an entry point into the financial system for underserved segments. The approach is supported by the group’s scale. Comprising Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd and TNG Digital, the group has evolved from a toll payment provider into a broader mobility and financial ecosystem spanning transport,

For TNG Digital, the strategy is to leverage its scale to drive access, with the expectation that long-term value will follow. ALAM, ministry mobilise 350 volunteers to advance marine conservation KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM), a nationwide

The volunteers at Pulau Redang.

commitment towards advancing the sustainability agenda within the blue economy. The event was attended KBS Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari. In 2025, ALAM Be-Leaf delivered a total project value of more than RM365,000, with over 4,000 trees planted and more than 1,000 participants engaged across five states - Terengganu, Perak, Selangor, Malacca and Labuan.

biodiversity and empower communities, particularly youth, to play an active role in shaping a more sustainable future.” Delivered in collaboration with the KBS and the NRES Sustainability, with support from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Reef Check Malaysia, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, ECOSWED and The Taaras Redang Island Resort, among others, the initiative reflects a strong conservation,

collaboration in advancing tangible environmental outcomes, building on our recent mangrove planting efforts in Labuan. “As a long-term partner to Malaysia, MUFG is committed to working closely with ALAM and like-minded partners to protect natural ecosystems while fostering inclusive community engagement. “Initiatives such as this strengthen coastal resilience, support

Banking & Finance MUFG CEO and country head Motohide Okuda said: “The ALAM Be-Leaf initiative reflects the strength of cross-sector coastal resilience, alongside coral conservation and beach restoration. “By bringing together partners across sectors, we are restoring critical habitats while strengthening environmental stewardship within communities to drive lasting, whole-of-society impact.”

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