Editor's Note
The Seventh Issue of the Fourth Leap Magazine Explores Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance and Sustainability
"Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict." - William Ellery Channing
The year 2021 has certainly not been easy. As we fight to remain afloat during the pandemic, troubling news from the UN climate report cautioned disastrous climate effects would follow if world carbon emissions remain as it is. Though business recovery may be the theme of 2021 for many, the topic of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has shifted into focus, and businesses may also have to look into transparent ESG reporting.
Malaysia and its SEA neighbours are facing increasing pressure to address global supply-chain shortages and avoid diminishing foreign investors’ appetite in this dynamic region. Malaysia’s endemic shift may have primarily been fueled by social angst - whereby prolonged lockdown measures failed to see a reduction in cases. Additionally, business owners were rocking the boat, citing difficulties in long term planning due to confusing policies.
Businesses everywhere certainly have their work cut out for them. Yet, dire as it may seem, the tenacity of the human spirit shines brightest. Borders are opening, and Malaysia, with its Budget 2021 themed “Stand United, We Shall Prevail”, and an allocation of RM322.5 billion expenditure serves to revive the economy and help Malaysians live with the pandemic. The Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP), encompassing three dimensions, namely economic empowerment, environmental sustainability and social re-engineering, is also intended to set us on the right path.
Hence, with this edition of the Fourth Leap, we delve into ESG, specifically the “S” and “G” aspects. None of the issues of ESG is mutually exclusive, as mentioned by one of our columnists. Therefore, it is imperative that we focus not solely on the environmental aspects, but also the safety and good governance policies to better protect our people during troubling times.
Stay tuned as we share the world's progress with you, dear reader, from the keen minds of leaders, scholars, and independent thinkers. We are certain that our contributors will pique your interests and perhaps spark a need to connect and have a conversation. So feel free to reach out to us and here’s to a better tomorrow, and a hopeful 2022.
Sritharan Vellasamy
