George Kent (Malaysia) Bhd won gold at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2022 in the construction sector category, thanks to its efforts in integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into its operations, says its executive director Bernie Ooi.

He credits the company’s employees for their awareness, commitment and passion in embodying sustainable business practices wholeheartedly. 

“At George Kent, good governance and sustainability are deeply embedded in our business culture. ESG is a vital factor in how we do business, develop our products and services, serve our customers and stakeholders, support our employees, uplift communities and protect the environment,” says Ooi. 

ESG regulations are rapidly evolving globally. Companies are expected to play their role in improving and keeping pace with the changes, while also protecting the company’s interests. This can be challenging for companies, Ooi says. 

ESG is a vital factor in how we do business, develop our products and services, serve our customers and stakeholders, support our employees, uplift communities and protect the environment. - Ooi

Furthermore, there is a lack of understanding about the cost and returns of ESG compliance, and a lack of clarity around ESG terminology. 

“For George Kent, our biggest challenge arises when aligning ESG strategies with the entirety of the organisation. While the rate of alignment is high among the management team and in the manufacturing division, adoption of ESG practices is slower at construction sites,” says Ooi. 

“The sites belong to clients or third parties. In this regard, communication is key to achieving integration [of ESG practices].”

To do so, George Kent focuses on educating its employees on and exposing them to ESG topics. As a result, employees are able to gain insight and understanding on sustainability. 

Collaboration between all stakeholders — the government, policymakers, consumers and investors — is crucial, says Ooi. Small and medium enterprises also have to be part of the conversation.

“While we welcome the government’s ESG-related initiatives that have been introduced in recent budgets, we hope to see more green and SDG-related tax allowances and exemptions,” he says. 

“The public and private sectors must collaborate on data [sharing and collection] to create more insightful measurements and metrics to support the nation’s ESG agenda.”

George Kent’s sustainability pipeline includes efforts to reduce greenhouse gases through the use of renewable and green energy resources. 

“George Kent’s board of directors recognises the potential threat of climate change not just to global economies but, most importantly, to global food security. The board is thus mindful of its role in taking a long-term view on managing climate change, understanding future risks and opportunities, and ensuring our present strategies address the impact that our operations have on climate change,” says Ooi.