SALUTATION
1. Yang Berbahagia Tuan Fabian Bigar
Secretary General, Ministry of Digital
2. Adjunct Practice Professor Cheah Kok Hoong
President, ESG Association of Malaysia (ESGAM)
3. Mr Eric Chong
Vice President, ESG Association of Malaysia (ESGAM)
4. Mr Ng Chin Keong
Chief Executive Officer, iForte Group
5. Ms Catherine Lian
General Manager, IBM ASEAN
6. Mr Dickson Woo Country
General Manager, IBM Malaysia
Distinguished Guests,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Salam Perpaduan, Salam Malaysia MADANI and a very good Morning.
1. I would like to thank the ESG Association of Malaysia for inviting me to this event.
2. Environment, Social and Governance, or ESG in short, is not just a reporting standard. They are no longer “nice-to-have” ideals. ESG is becoming a business necessity. This is because investors care for our environment, our social responsibility and the need for good governance. Regulators care. And so do consumers.
3. ESG is beyond a buzzword. With the right intention and goals, ESG is a powerful framework that navigates the complex intersection of business, ethics, and the future of Mother Earth.
4. As such, I am glad the ESG Association of Malaysia is playing an active role by assisting our business community to uphold the spirit of ESG.
EMBRACING THE ESG, AI ERA
Ladies and Gentlemen,
5. We are living in an exciting era — one that is conscious of good practices and our future, while being exposed to rapidly evolving technology.
6. Widely dubbed as the Intelligent Age, this is an era where the global push for ESG and AI is converging. Together, they offer a roadmap to a smarter, cleaner, and more inclusive way of life.
7. I was at the London Tech Week two weeks ago, and last week I was in Bangkok for the 3 rd UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of AI. It is at such events one is able to better understand the challenges and best practices concerning digital technology, and how it can help create a better world. There were many key lessons that I am keen to share and explore with industry players.
8. Malaysia will be hosting the ASEAN AI Summit in August, followed by the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 in September. These events will give all of you here a glimpse of what is happening around the world, and how best we can marry AI and ESG to further improve our daily lives.
9. As such, embracing digital technology, especially AI, is simply essential for Malaysian businesses, especially small- and medium enterprises (SMEs), to meet ESG expectations, and thrive in the future economy.
10. If you are a furniture manufacturer in Hulu Langat exporting to Europe, your buyers will ask where your wood comes from, how you conserve energy, and how you treat your workers.
11. If you're in the food and beverage industry in Penang, sustainability is no longer a marketing slogan — it is part of your license to operate.
12. And yet, many businesses, including SMEs, will ask: “Where do we even begin?”
13. This is where AI and digital tools come in. AI can help you track and reduce your carbon footprint using smart energy and logistics management.
14. AI can help monitor water and waste usage with sensors and analytics. AI can also manage your HR practices and workplace safety through predictive modeling. Such technology can produce automated ESG reports for banks, investors, and clients — in days, not months.
15. The benefits of using such tools are real. Malaysia is aligning with international ESG standards through various initiatives like the Bursa Malaysia’s Sustainability Reporting Guide and the upcoming carbon pricing mechanisms. Early adopters among SMEs will surely be more competitive and future-proof.
CELEBRATING ESGAMCONNECT
Ladies and Gentlemen,
16. There’s another great initiative that will help businesses achieve ESG compliance. And I am extremely delighted to be part of this historic moment — to launch the ESGAMConnect.
17. I have been told that the ESGAMConnect is a platform that serves as a One-Window Solution, integrating various essential functions powered by AI. It features an ESG assistance system capable of delivering sector-specific solutions encompassing accreditation, carbon credit management, and access to green financing.
18. I have also been informed that the platform has a digital learning centre offering training modules, professional certifications, and self-assessment tools. This will certainly better equip users to understand and implement ESG principles effectively.
19. I believe such an initiative will help level the playing field. With the right mindset and tools, a small logistics company in Klang or a family-run business in Semporna can achieve ESG transparency and efficiency, on par with larger players.
20. This is about empowering Malaysian businesses of all shapes and sizes. This is not about replacing people with machines, but giving people insights and agility to make better decisions, faster.
CONCLUSION – ACT NOW, EMBRACE DIGITAL TECH
Ladies and Gentlemen,
21. So, what can you do today? Start by digitising your operations. Explore the training programmes provided by the Ministry of Digital, and its agencies. 22. Most importantly, have open and meaningful conversations about ESG and digital technology among your teams. Sustainability begins with awareness. For change to be effective, it must happen from the ground up.
23. No one is too big or small. No one is too late in this digital race. Malaysia has attracted RM310.7 billion in digital investments from 2021 to March 2025 – and this is a clear indicator that there’s plenty of opportunity and room for more Malaysians to be part of the digital sector.
24. Let’s embrace AI not just as a technology — but as a tool for transparency, trust, and transformation. Use AI to advance your ESG goals.
25. I hereby launch ESGAMConnect.
Thank you.
#END#
