“Malaysia Green Employment Opportunities” Forum 2024 by Nan Yang Siang Pau

Insights from the “Malaysia Green Employment Opportunities” Forum

On the 10th of May 2024, the “Malaysia Green Employment Opportunities” forum, organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and hosted exclusively by the “Nanyang Business Daily,” attracted enthusiastic support from a diverse audience. Business leaders, local university students, and dedicated readers of the publication gathered to explore the critical topic of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in business and its impact on sustainable practices. We would like to extend our gratitude to Nanyang Business Daily for inviting our founder and CEO, Jess Low, to be one of the panel speakers at the Malaysia Green Employment Opportunities forum.

From left to right : Jess Low, Evie Loh

The forum underscored the importance of incorporating ESG principles into business strategies to foster long-term growth and resilience in today’s evolving economic landscape. Attendees engaged in insightful discussions on sustainable development, emphasizing the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in adopting eco-friendly practices and integrating ESG considerations into their operations.

The forum featured distinguished speakers offering a panoramic view of the green landscape from an enterprise perspective. Dr. Tan Sri Teong Khay Leong, President of the Malaysian Entrepreneurs’ Promotion Association (PUMM), Lee Heng Yew, Executive Director of the Sin Chew Socio-Economic Research Centre, and Jeff Cheah, Founder and CEO of Kakitangan.com, shared valuable insights on corporate green transformation.

Discussions ranged from opportunity creation and retraining initiatives to potential stumbling blocks on the road to sustainability. These insights provided invaluable guidance to enterprises navigating the complexities of the green transition.

From left to right: Teh Kim Teh, Evie Loh, YBhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai, Jess Low, and Cheah Kok Hoong.

Empowering Job Seekers in the Green Economy

The latter half of the forum shifted focus to job seekers entering the “green job search journey.” Speakers such as Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai, President of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Dr. Cheah Kok Soon, President of the Malaysian Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Association, and Jess Low, Founder and CEO of JEV Management and Job Majestic, offered empowering insights for professionals aligning their careers with the burgeoning green economy.

Attendees expressed optimism about the future prospects of sustainable entrepreneurship and recognized the pivotal role of education and awareness in driving meaningful change within organizations. The forum served as a platform for networking and knowledge-sharing, fostering collaborations among stakeholders committed to sustainability and ESG integration. Events like this forum are important for educating students and the public about ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and why it’s important for businesses and individuals to practice it. In the forum, the panel speakers discussed questions about the future of ESG in Malaysia and worldwide. Many people still don’t know much about ESG, including what ‘Green Jobs’ really mean.

As the business landscape evolves, forums like these play a crucial role in guiding not just SMEs but also MNCs toward sustainable growth. By embracing ESG principles and green practices, enterprises can contribute positively to environmental stewardship while securing their positions in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Read Chinese Version Here.