EduCity Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (EduCity Iskandar) together with UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei’s (UNGCMYB) Johor and PwC Malaysia organised their first Johor CEO Roundtable on IFRS Sustainability Standard that was recorded on the 18 July 2022.
The forum was organised to gather information and finalise the required feedback issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), for the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The IFRS Foundation Trustees formed the ISSB back on 3rd November 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow to ensure that the ISSB’s standards encapsulate crucial sustainability topics such as environmental, social, governance (ESG) and serve as the ‘one standard for all’.
The roundtable was moderated by Faroze Nadar, Executive Director, UNGCMYB and was supported by and Manohar Johnson, PwC, Sage Advisory & Solutions and Edey Suresh, Johor State Director, United Nations Global Compact.
Edey Suresh highlighted the importance of the forum during his welcome remarks by stating, “The intention is for the ISSB’s standards to cover important sustainability topics encompassing environmental, social, governance or ESG, on which investors want information. When the ISSB issues the final requirements, they will form a comprehensive global baseline of sustainability disclosures designed to meet the information needs of investors in assessing enterprise value. The ISSB is seeking feedback on the proposals over a 120-day consultation period closing on the 29th of July 2022. It will review feedback on the proposals in the second half of 2022 and aims to issue the new Standards by the end of the year, subject to the feedback. The feedback to the exposure drafts on climate and general sustainability disclosures will be compiled and submitted to the IFRS Foundation by UNGCMYB and PwC Malaysia. This is why we have gathered here today and I thank you again for supporting this engagement.”
Supporting Edey Suresh’s statement, EduCity Iskandar’s Managing Director, Wan Ahmad Saifuddin Wan Ahmad Radzi shared his appreciation as co-organiser of the roundtable session. “We have been active in rolling out EduCity Iskandar SDG’s efforts that we categorise into Learn.Live.Lead. Under the theme of Learn (Knowledge), we will support initiatives for SDG pillars number 4, 10 and 13 (Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities and Climate Action). Under the theme Live (Ecosystem) will be SDG pillars number 3,11 and 12 (Good Health & Wellbeing, Sustainable Cities & Communities Inequalities and Responsible Consumption & Production). Last, under the theme of Lead (Culture) will be SDG pillars number 8,9 and 16 (Decent Work & Economic Growth, Industry Innovation & Infrastructure and Peace Justice & Strong Institutions).”
“In an overview, the first essential education programmes that were rolled out since 2021 are our PERANTIShip talent development programmes that benefit youth on the national and, soon, on the ASEAN level. Currently funded with RM5mil, we target more than 300 trainees and 90% are employed post their training session. For schools, we offer key intervention and development programmes such as Baca Lab, Kira Lab, Coding Lab and Xcell Lab for primary and secondary schools. Plus points as job opportunities to unemployed youth to work as Tutor and part of EduCity’s intervention programme for the ‘Lost Generation’, he said.
“We also work engage with corporate talent development programmes and ecosystem-building services tailored for the industries. For example, current projects include leadership programmes and developing a competency framework for Johor State. Today’s partnership with PwC will also be one of our education offerings to develop PwC programmes into micro-credential for Johor’s corporate sectors and government officers,” added Wan Ahmad Saifuddin.
Other SDG efforts that are in the pipeline in 2022 for EduCity Iskandar include:
- Launch of Electric Vehicle (EV) Zone a partnership with NanoMalaysia Bhd (an agency under MOSTI) where EduCity Iskandar is one of the selected locations to introduce the EV Zone including battery change stations and access for 2-wheeler drivers such as electric scooters to improve EduCity’s infra and shared facilities. This supports EduCity Iskandar’s goal of being a Research Living Lab where the 305 acres will be dedicated as a testing ground for start-ups and innovators and position EduCity us as an education city that supports green technology initiatives.
- Partnership with several agencies and NGOs that includes recycling initiatives and KLOTH for fabric/textile waste recycling campaign.
- Collaborating with students from the University of Reading Malaysia to setup a centre for recycling e-waste items at EduCity Hub and EduCity Village.
- Introducing E-Book Beacon (App), which offers instant access to electronic books (paperless efforts) for FREE via Bluetooth at EduCity Hub, EduCity Complex 1 and EduCity Village.
- Investing in a Power Purchase agreement with Skye Renewables Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and exploring other future collaborations for other renewable energy projects.
Among the attendees of the forum was Datuk Ir. Khairil Anwar Ahmad, Iskandar Investment Berhad, Lindy Tan, BCB Berhad 龙城集团, Dr Kamal, Gleneagles Hospital Medini Johor, Wan Ahmad Saifuddin, Educity Iskandar, Edwin Loh, Express Train, Khairul Hasanain Abdul Hamid, Kpj Kluang, Muhammad Abdullah Hatta, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Professor Chris Baldwin, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia, Khairudin Hasan, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd, Nazib Suliman, TalentCorp Malaysia, Nor Hisham Yusof, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), representatives from Idemitsu and Ross Coull, and Skye Renewables Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Virtual participants included M East, Champion, Lyreco Malaysia, Tiger Balm (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Centurion, Mewah Group, Yinson Group, Samsung, CI Medini, FGV Fertilisers, STO SEA, Regency Specialist Hospital, Ditrolic Energy, Alcon Malaysia, Synapse and OCBC Bank.
The forum session may be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0UdM_W9Q-s&t=6s
 and PwC Malaysia, the event was attended by more than fifty (50) C-Suite and Senior Management Officers representing multiple business segments in Johor){kind=link}