KUCHING: Sarawak Energy’s leadership in community development initiatives has been recognised with two Gold Awards at the 14th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit & Awards 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam earlier this month.
In its press statement here Monday, Sesco said Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer and Sarawak’s primary power utility, Sarawak Energy were awarded Gold under the ‘Best Community Programme Award’ category for its ‘Empowering Safe and Resilient Indigenous Communities’ in Bakun Programme, and Gold under the ‘Empowerment of Women Award’ for its ‘Empowering Indigenous Women Communities Programme’.
Sesco added that its initiatives were focused on capacity building and sustainable livelihood to empower women in its project-affected areas.
“Sarawak Energy’s social performance programmes include Sarawak Energy’s Penan Adult Literacy Programme which covers Murum and Baram; Handicraft Development Programme for socio-economic growth and heritage preservation mainly on indigenous crafts; and Entrepreneurship and Capacity Development focusing on
Women Entrepreneurship Programme and Upskilling,” it said.
Under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) community investment initiatives, the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) resettled communities of Asap Koyan Belaga, comprising 15 longhouses with over 15,600 residents are target beneficiaries of a fire safety awareness and prevention programme.
It added that implemented in partnership with the Sungai Asap Volunteer Fire Association (Persatuan BOMBA Sukarela Sungai Asap), volunteers have been trained and acted as first responders to seven fire incidents within the Bakun Resettlement and its neighbouring communities.
“The partnership was set up with the aim to ensure early action and availability of first responders in the event of a fire before the arrival of Bomba; to provide advisory services to the local community on fire hazards and prevention measures; to strengthen coordination with Bomba and other agencies related to fire safety and to support the maintenance of fire hydrants by the association in their respective areas,” Sesco said.
Commenting on the awards, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said the international recognition was made possible with the support and guidance of the Sarawak government, the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication and the dedication of 5,400 employees.
“Most importantly, we thank our partner communities who have been affected by our hydropower projects and operations and continue to work with us on sustainable livelihood programmes – these programmes and these awards would not be possible if not for their support and cooperation and willingness to work with us.”
“As we progress and learn, we will continue to build on our commitment to embed sustainable practices into our business and operations as a responsible renewable energy provider, to advance our ambition of building a sustainable energy future for Sarawak and the region,” he added.
Sarawak Energy Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, Siti Aisah Adenan added that through their social investment initiatives, Sarawak Energy is committed to support the community development and entrepreneurship where they strive to invest and drive progress among the communities in the areas they operate in.
She added that the Empowerment of Women Award validates the group’s numerous initiatives undertaken since 2012 and Sesco look forward to seeing effective volunteer firefighters from its firefighting programme in the Bakun Resettlement Scheme.
Meanwhile, representing Sarawak Energy to receive the awards was General Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility, Jiwari Abdullah.
Accompanying him were Manager for Social Investment and Community Development, Jacklyn Dominic Merickan; Manager for Community Relations and Consultation, Augustine Supen Taja; Station Manager for Murum HEP, Encharang Ngtingih; Senior Executive for Community Relations, Irwan Borhan; Zoee Hillson, Senior Executive for Social Investment & Planning and Engineer for Bakun HEP, Gloria Justin, who
represented Jonny Wong Kwei Ji, Station Manager for Bakun HEP.
