Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations are increasingly shaping the way businesses operate, invest and manage risk. What began as a framework for voluntary corporate responsibility is now embedded into regulatory regimes, investment criteria, and stakeholder expectations. Contracts are emerging as a critical mechanism for companies to implement ESG commitments – whether in supply chains, joint ventures, service arrangements, or transactions. In fact, ESG-r

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria have emerged as essential metrics to assess the ethical impact of businesses and organisations on society. ESG factors are no longer solely the realm of corporate responsibility but have expanded to influence numerous sectors, including the legal system. The increasing importance of ESG in business practices has direct implications for the judicial system, particularly regarding judicial independence — the principle that jud

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2024 (EECA), which came into force on 1 January 2025, was enacted to regulate energy consumption and promote conservation practices across Malaysia. This landmark legislation aligns with the country’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, addressing the urgent need for sustainable energy management. The EECA provides a structured framework for improving energy efficiency, reducing waste and ensuring compliance with establish

On 15 February 2025, our Senior Partner, Datuk DP Naban, was on a panel discussion on “Family Office: Mega Trend Of Intergenerational Wealth Transfer” at the 10th Dealing & Governance Conference 2025 hosted by Maybank. Together with him on the panel were Bernard Yap (Partner, Tax, Ernst & Young) and Ramesh Manimekalanandan (Head, Product & Investment, Group Wealth Management, Maybank).   The panel discussion, featuring insights from tax and wealth management experts, highligh

In the Budget 2025 speech, the Prime Minister announced Malaysia’s plan to introduce a carbon tax on the iron, steel and energy industries by 2026 towards encouraging the use of low-carbon technology. This initiate coincides with the commencement of the European Union’s (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism definitive regime – a carbon tariff imposed on carbon-intensive products imported into the EU to equalise discrepancies in carbon prices globally. While this is a promis

As the global focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability investments intensifies, by leveraging on the Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG), Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia would be able adapt to these evolving market demands. Rather than merely addressing existing gaps, the SEDG serves to assist SMEs  to align their operations with international standards and expectations. This alignment with international best practices can provide

The Forest City Special Financial Zone (Forest City SFZ), which was recently launched by the Government of Malaysia, is a mixed-development project built on four man-made islands in the Straits of Johor situated between Malaysia and Singapore.   The Forest City SFZ is also designated as a duty-free zone. This recent initiative marks a pivotal moment in Malaysia’s economic landscape, driving foreign investment and boosting the Johor region’s appeal to international investors.

On 24 September 2024, the Ministry of Finance Malaysia and Securities Commission Malaysia launched the National Sustainability Reporting Framework (NSRF). This framework aims to ensure that Malaysian corporations deliver reliable sustainability information, enhancing the country's competitiveness and appeal to investors.   Introduction   The NSRF establishes the framework for sustainability disclosures in Malaysia, referencing the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards issu

ESG encapsulates a powerful trinity of principles that have evolved from being a mere corporate buzzword into a business framework which is implemented by various businesses all over the world.   “E” for Environmental   The “E” in ESG champions for environmental protection. From combatting climate change to the reduction of pollution, greenhouse emissions, wastes and carbon footprint – the environmental pillar of ESG encapsulates a spectrum of environmental factors. Reference

On 5 October 2022, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Bill 2022 (2022 Bill) which, increases  the penalties for offences under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act). However, the 2022 Bill was not tabled before the Dewan Negara  due to the dissolution of the 14th Parliament on 10 October 2022.   On 16 November 2023, the Environmental Quality (Amendment) Bill 2023 (Bill) was tabled before the Dewan Rakyat for its first reading. The second reading

Launching Of Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG) For Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) In October 2023, Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), an affiliate of the Securities Commission (SC) launched the SEDG for SMEs. The design of the SEDG involved extensive benchmarking exercises against various other global and local standards and frameworks including the Global Reporting Initiative, International Finance Reporting Standard by the International Sustainability Standards Board

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill 2023 (EECB) was recently passed by the Dewan Rakyat on 11.10.2023. The bill aims to regulate the efficient consumption of energy and conservation of energy with the aim of improving and increasing energy efficiency and to avoid the wastage of energy in Malaysia. The EECB is in line with the energy transition initiative towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by energy-related sectors by 2050. Further, the EECB is o

In September 2022, Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Bursa) amended the Main Market Listing Requirements and the ACE Market Listing Requirements to introduce enhanced sustainability reporting requirements. Bursa also concurrently launched the Sustainability Reporting Guide and Toolkits (3rd Edition) (Sustainability Toolkits). The amendments and launching of the Sustainability Toolkits were to encourage listed issuers to adopt international standards when it comes to sustainab