Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo
KUALA LUMPUR: MyDIGITAL Corporation (MyDIGITAL Corp) and Bursa Malaysia Bhd
have entered into a memorandum of collaboration (MoC) to empower public listed companies (PLCs) in Malaysia to achieve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals through the adoption of digital technologies.
Under the MoC, MyDIGITAL Corp and Bursa Malaysia will explore a range of initiatives, including co-authoring thought leadership publications, exchange of best practices, and hosting the Malaysia Centre4IR ESG Innovation Challenge.
The MoC aligns with the government’s efforts via the Digital Ministry to support companies in accelerating their ESG journey through digital transformation.
In particular, there is emphasis on the need for Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to be at the forefront of this transformation, enabling corporations to address pressing challenges.
In his keynote address at the MOC signing ceremony today, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said this occasion is a testament to the nation’s ongoing digital transformation journey.
He said the collaboration also represents the government’s strong commitment to embed sustainability at the very core of our development strategies.
Gobind pointed out that according to an article by the World Economic Forum, Malaysia is taking bold steps to establish itself as a leader in the ESG space.
"I was pleased to read that Bursa Malaysia’s requirement for PLCs to disclose their sustainability practices in their annual reports was reflected in the article.
"In fact, the article also highlighted the Malaysia Centre4IR ESG Innovation Challenge.
"It added that the initiative exemplifies how innovation and partnerships can drive significant progress towards sustainability,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Bursa Malaysia chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift said the MYCentre4IR ESG Innovation Challenge aims to build on this momentum by developing partnerships between corporations and start-ups that yield mutually beneficial outcomes.
"It aims to promote the adoption of 4IR technologies that support ESG adoption, generating practical use cases that enhance operational efficiency and process automation capabilities while simultaneously contributing to net-zero targets,” he said in his welcoming remarks at the signing ceremony.
Muhamad Umar said the challenge invites innovators from around the world to submit projects or solutions that leverage digital technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to solve specific problem statements of companies.
Five PLCs have stepped up to be part of the challenge: CJ Century Logistics, Globetronics, Maybank, REDtone Digital, and Sunway Innovation Labs.
The Bursa Malaysia CEO said their participation exemplifies a shared commitment to advancing sustainability objectives and demonstrates how businesses can work together to drive change.
The culmination of the MYCentre4IR ESG Innovation Challenge will take place on Nov 7, 2024, during a Demo Day at Bursa Malaysia, where five of the most promising ideas will receive pilot project funding opportunities and access to a network of industry leaders and investors. - Bernama
