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Sarawak Energy's CSR Efforts Recognised at Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards
SHAH ALAM, 27 September 2014, Saturday: Sarawak Energy has been recognized for its dedicated efforts in corporate social responsibility, picking up the coveted ‘CSR Excellence Award’ at the Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards (SCBEA) last night.
Winning the accolade is a testament of Sarawak Energy’s commitment towards providing tangible and sustainable support through its corporate social responsible initiatives to benefit the communities in Sarawak.
Whilst most of Sarawak Energy's CSR efforts are aimed towards project affected communities, the company's CSR thrusts, nevertheless, focuses on the following four strategic areas, education and young people, culture and heritage, environment management & conservation and community development & entrepreneurship. It supports the company towards a sustainable development for the community in Sarawak, focusing on learning, training, education and conservation.
Receiving the award on behalf of Sarawak Energy Chief Executive Officer Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit at a ceremony held at Setia City Convention Centre here, was Sarawak Energy's Chief of Corporate Services, Aisah Eden. She was accompanied by Senior Manager II for CSR, Jiwari Abdullah, Manager for Corporate Communications Ahadiah Zamhari, Social Investment Manager Joanne Tan（陈楚燕）along with officers from the CSR and Project Execution teams of Sarawak Energy.
The award was presented by Finance Minister II YB Dato’ Seri Haji Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah. Accompanying him were Executive Chairman of Media Chinese International Limited (MCIL) and Sin Chew Media Corporation Berhad Tan Sri Datuk Sir Tiong Hiew King, General Manager (Marketing) MCIL Multimedia Sdn Bhd Lenny Chiah and CIMB Group Acting Group Chief Executive Officer Tengku Dato’ Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz
Commenting on this accomplishment, Aisah said, as Sarawak’s growth catalyst, Sarawak Energy had the responsibility to work hand in glove with the community and contribute towards a sustainable socio-economic development in the state.
“We are honored that our efforts have been recognised and this is certainly a testament to the activities that we have been doing all this while. This recognition will motivate the team to want to do more and I am proud to receive this award on behalf of Sarawak Energy.
“One of the major CSR initiatives that were highlighted in the award submission was our flagship Murum Penan Literacy Programme, which has provided basic reading, writing and numeracy skills for some 350 Penan in Murum. We are moving to Stage III of the programme, where the participants will be taught simple accounting, home economy and they will also attend a parenting workshop,” she said.
She explained that the programme also emphasize to the parents the importance of education for their children’s future development and since the implementation of the program, it is noted that the enrolment into two primary schools at the resettlement areas set up by Sarawak Energy at Murum had also risen progressively.
Another initiative carried out by the company involves supporting the preservation of culture and heritage. Activities in regards to this include collaborating with the Sarawak Museum to preserve the culture and heritage of the indigenous people of Sarawak.
The company’s latest initiative in respect to culture and heritage involves building the potential of handicraft making among the community in Murum. While production is still on a small scale, Sarawak Energy had recently started purchasing a number of fine handicrafts and offering them as exclusive gifts to the company’s corporate guests for a start.
Aisah said this initiative gave the resettled community, particularly the Penans, a chance at earning extra income and at the same time help preserve their culture and traditions.
These are some of the CSR programmes that Sarawak Energy has put in place for the betterment of the community in Murum.
“Sustainable development requires us to continually engage with the local community. This is the new approach of CSR that we are embarking at Sarawak Energy which differs from philanthropy or short-term assistance practised in the past,” added Aisah.
Launched in 2013, the SCBEA aims to set the benchmark for corporate excellence in Malaysia. Every year, SCBEA honours businesses for their efforts in exemplifying strategic management approaches. The award also serves as the highest accolades for the enterprises which have achieved utmost excellence in all key business management disciplines which form the strategic parts of organizational growth and sustainability.
Aside from the CSR Excellence, the award has seven other categories namely Lifetime Excellence Achievement, Business Excellence Person of the Year, Business Sustainability Excellence, Retail Excellence, Product and Service Quality Excellence, Property Excellence and Young/ Emerging Business Excellence Award.
