This is as transformation cannot be done through isolated initiatives

by ANIS HAZIM / Pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

THE government is committed to nurturing development projects and programmes that prioritise environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (picture) said.

He said the focus is to underscore the 12th Malaysia Plan’s (12MP) goal of revitalising the country’s socio-economic development, with long-term sustainability and prosperity to improve the nation’s wellbeing.

“In our effort to lay strong foundations in ESG, we remain cognisant that transformation cannot be done through isolated initiatives.

“Lasting and sustainable progress can only be achieved when the whole nation, comprising both the public and private sectors, rally behind a common sustainability vision,” Tengku Zafrul said in his keynote speech at the launch of the edotco Group Sdn Bhd’s Sustainability Blueprint and Report 2021 today.

In regards to this, he was pleased that Malaysian companies not only embrace the sustainability agenda but also incorporate ESG into their core strategies, operations and corporate social responsibilities initiatives.

“Therein, I am glad that edotco’s management has been collaborating with various stakeholders throughout its sustainability journey.

“This includes strong support from the board which has allowed edotco to halve its carbon footprint by as much as 58%,” he said.

Established in 2012, edotco, the 63%-owned subsidiary of Axiata Group Bhd, is the first regional and integrated telecommunications infrastructure services company in Asia to provide end-to-end solutions in the tower services sector from tower leasing, collocations, build-to-suit, energy, transmission and operations and maintenance.

edotco CEO Mohamed Adlan Ahmad Tajudin said the group’s sustainability report has outlined its pledge to foster connectivity to power sustainable and responsible growth nationwide and regionally.

“In our quest towards providing greater access connectivity, telecommunication tower companies (TowerCos) must take up the crucial task of building the infrastructures needed to bridge digital divides,” Mohamed Adlan said.

edotco is currently one of the world’s six largest TowerCos based on the number of owned and managed sites in its portfolio.

“We are now moving into the next phase of powering equitable digital transformation and realising a 5G future, doing so by working closely and transparently with our stakeholders to meet our shared aspirations,” he said.

Notably, TowerCos are the entities crucial for building the infrastructure to enable the delivery of communications networks which are poised make their operations sustainable to help multiply sustainability efforts across various dimensions for society and business.