NEWS & UPDATES

KUCHING
23 SEPTEMBER 2020

Sarawak Energy’s emerging leadership in sustainability and community development initiatives received double platinum at the 12th Annual Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards and Good Governance Awards 2020, announced online on 15 September.

Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer and Sarawak’s primary power utility, Sarawak Energy was awarded Platinum under the ‘Excellence in Provision for Literacy & Education’ category for its Belaga Penan Education Fund. Group Chief Executive Officer, Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili was also awarded Platinum under ‘The Best Chief Executive Officer’ category.

The Belaga Penan Education Fund was set up in 2015 in consultation and partnership with the Penan communities in Belaga to support the needs of the younger generation through education and skills training.

Datu Haji Sharbini received the top award under ‘The Best Chief Executive Officer’ category for his role in driving the Group’s sustainability agenda through initiatives aligned with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Commenting on the awards, Sharbini said, “This prestigious international level recognition was made possible with the support and guidance of Sarawak Government and the Ministry of Utilities and the dedication of our 5,200 employees.”

Sharbini continued, “Despite Sarawak’s steady economic development and an industry-driven increase in energy consumption, the development of renewable hydropower to power this growth has seen the decarbonisation of electricity supply, recording a decrease of about 77% in grid carbon intensity since 2010.”

“We will continue in our efforts to integrate sustainability in our decision making as well as how we manage and operate our business as a responsible renewable energy provider, to make sure we build a sustainable energy future for the next generation,” he concluded.

Sarawak Energy Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, Hajah Siti Aisah Adenan said when also commenting on the awards, “Education and young people is a vital area and pillar of our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. We recognise the importance of education in spurring the growth of the communities in the areas we operate in. We would like to thank the beneficiary communities for their support and cooperation, without whom these initiatives would not be able to run smoothly.”

“The Belaga Penan Education Fund is a revolving fund of RM200,000 which was developed with the Bakun Charitable Trust and the Penan community near our Murum HEP and Bakun HEP through early and proactive engagement in line with the International Hydropower Association Sustainability Protocols, as well as the UN SDGs,” she added.

In December 2019, Sarawak Energy together with Ministry of Utilities Sarawak organised the inaugural Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF) which served as a platform for greater discussion on sustainability and renewable energy and how different stakeholders can work together to deliver the United Nations SDGs by 2030. The two-day forum saw industry experts and champions of sustainability converging in Kuching to discuss how governments, energy developers, utilities and communities can work together to build a sustainable energy future.

At the 11th edition of the Global CSR Summit and Awards in 2019, Sarawak Energy received Platinum Awards for the “Telang Usan Sape Heritage Programme” and the “Baleh Skills Training Programme” under the ‘Best Community Programme; Empowerment of Women for Sarawak Energy Leading Women Network (SELWN), and for CSR Leadership for driving the company’s CSR and sustainability efforts. The corporation also received a Gold Award under the Best Environmental Excellence Award for its CSR Solar Project at Tanjung Datu National Park, Talang-Talang Kechil and Talang-Talang Besar.

The Pinnacle Group, who organise the yearly CSR thought-leadership summit and awards, plan to give out this year’s awards at the 13^th Global CSR Summit and Awards slated to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam in March 2021. This year, slightly over 300 entries were received from 120 companies all over the world and a final selection of 48 companies were awarded top honours in the 16 main award categories.

FILE PHOTO: Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili

FILE PHOTO: Graduates under the Belaga Penan Education Fund.

FILE PHOTO: Sarawak Energy’s General Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, Jiwari Abdullah (rear row, 8^th from left) posing for a photo with schoolchildren from SK Tegulang and SK Metalun in Murum.

FILE PHOTO: Sarawak Energy’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, and senior management team at the 11th edition of the Global CSR Summit and Awards in 2019.

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