ESG: Seminar For Sabah's MSMEs Attended By 150 Participants

28 June 2025

KOTA KINBALU: SME Corp. Malaysia, an agency under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Co-operatives (MEDC), in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), organised the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Awareness Seminar for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), today.

The seminar which was launched by Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Co-operatives (MEDC) was attended by 150 participants.

Under the theme "Sabah Sustainable: Empowering MSMEs with ESG," the seminar aimed to raise awareness and understanding among MSMEs of the importance of ESG practices in business to ensure sustainability and competitive resilience.

The programme brought together various stakeholders, including government officials, ESG experts, MSME entrepreneurs, financial institutions, academics, and students.

Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, Chairman of SME Corp. Malaysia, explained that the collaboration with UMS also includes initiatives in the field of carbon credits, which can benefit micro-entrepreneurs in Sabah through green technology solutions and the development of ESG reporting systems for businesses.

He said, he has proposed that SME Corp collaborate with UMS in implementing ESG initiatives, including exploring opportunities in government credits that could benefit micro-entrepreneurs in Sabah. UMS and SME Corp Malaysia will jointly develop ESG training programmes, green technology solutions, and an ESG reporting system for businesses.

“I also foresee this collaboration expanding into new areas in the near future. I believe the role of the government is vital in driving the sustainability transition in Sabah. Through SME Corp Malaysia, an approach suitable for Sabah can be adopted, ensuring that sustainability principles are embedded within financing instruments, capacity-building programmes, and industrial development plans. "

"The PKS Lestari Programme, introduced by SME Corp Malaysia, will be expanded in Sabah to raise awareness of sustainability and encourage ESG adoption among SMEs in the state."

He said as the central coordinating agency for SME development, SME Corp Malaysia is committed to supporting SMEs. One of its primary functions is to coordinate the implementation of SME development programmes across various agencies, act as a reference centre for research and data on SMEs, and provide business services for SMEs.

“My hope, is that we can elevate the profile of SMEs throughout Sabah. This requires policies tailored to Sabah’s unique natural context. I am pleased that the Minister has introduced a ‘Look East’ policy—not the ‘Look East’ of Vision 2020, which referred to Japan, but a policy that looks at Malaysia itself. This involves looking eastward, beyond Kuala Lumpur’s centre of gravity, towards our eastern borders, which are far from the capital but ready to be developed and utilised for the nation’s benefit.”

He said the agency must formulate policies that unite the nation and enable SMEs to thrive in Malaysia’s eastern regions.

“I have requested that Sabah and Sarawak be given special attention within SME Corp Malaysia, with a dedicated committee to address these issues, fostering SME growth and ensuring they occupy their rightful place in Malaysia’s business landscape.”

This seminar is one of the initiatives under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SME Corp. Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sabah, supporting the Triple Helix concept of collaboration between government, private sector, and higher education institutions in MSME development. In addition to panel discussions and knowledge sharing sessions, participants had the opportunity to visit exhibitions showcasing various innovative products and services produced by local MSMEs.

The official opening was also attended by Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sabah; and Rizal Dato' Nainy, CEO of SME Corp. Malaysia.