People, Planet, Profit

Financial stress can affect employees' mental health, productivity and workplace relationships. Mala Davi, Vice President of the Malaysian Mental Health Association, discusses when employers have a responsibility to step in, how managers can recognise financial distress and whether workplace wellbeing programmes are doing enough to address the problem. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

As COP31 gets underway in Antalya, Malaysia is pushing for progress on climate adaptation, financing, carbon markets and stronger accountability. But beyond international negotiations, how much progress is Malaysia making towards its own climate commitments? Ahmad Farid Mohamed, Undersecretary of the Climate Change Division at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRE...

Malaysia is tightening its sustainability reporting requirements, placing growing pressure on businesses to produce credible and transparent ESG disclosures. While the new framework aims to improve accountability and investor confidence, companies face rising compliance costs, data collection challenges and increasing demands from customers and supply chains. On People, Planet, Profit, we examine...

More than half of Malaysia's commercial bank lending goes to sectors highly dependent on nature, making biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation increasingly important financial risks. As businesses face growing exposure to water shortages, deforestation and disrupted supply chains, traditional climate reporting may no longer be enough. On People, Planet, Profit, we explore how Malaysian compan...

Budget 2027 commits billions to flood mitigation, water infrastructure and grid upgrades, but does it add up to a coherent ESG strategy or just a collection of well-meaning measures? And can Malaysia pursue growth through data centres and major investments without leaving households and workers behind? Richard Bradbury speaks with Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, President and Climate Advocate at MUDA, abo...

Malaysia faces a significant funding gap in protecting its forests, wildlife and ecosystems, raising questions over whether private capital can play a larger role. On People, Planet, Profit, we explore the potential of nature-based solutions and blended finance, the safeguards needed to prevent greenwashing, and a fundamental tension at the heart of nature finance: can putting a financial value on...

Malaysia may be rich in water resources, but a new study suggests that abundance alone does not guarantee water security, with Selangor ranking close to the bottom despite its economic importance. On People, Planet, Profit, we examine what conventional measures may be missing, why governance and infrastructure matter, and how Malaysia needs to rethink water security as demand rises and climate pre...

Malaysia is preparing for Budget 2027, with climate resilience, clean energy and sustainability expected to remain important priorities. But beyond how much money is allocated, the bigger question is whether ESG spending is delivering measurable results. Where should public funding be targeted, how can government spending attract more private capital, and what stronger accountability is needed to...

Knight Frank Malaysia says it made measurable ESG progress in 2025, from cutting energy consumption and improving recycling to strengthening emissions tracking and investing in its workforce. But as the business grows, some of the hardest challenges increasingly lie beyond its direct control. How can property firms turn ESG commitments into measurable results, influence suppliers and clients, and...

On People, Planet, Profit this week, we examine the growing problem of climate anxiety, particularly among young Malaysians worried about the future they will inherit. We speak to Dr Ooi Wee Liam, Lecturer in Environmental Humanities and Social Science at Monash University Malaysia, about where rational concern becomes harmful anxiety, the limits of individual action, and whether businesses and go...

Haze has returned to parts of Malaysia, reviving a problem that has persisted for decades despite repeated promises of action. But the bigger concern may be how easily societies learn to tolerate recurring problems once they become familiar, from environmental pollution and weak corporate accountability to the growing influence of artificial intelligence. As AI increasingly makes decisions on our...

Sustainability and climate change reporting has become a mainstream element of doing business, but how prepared is our workforce to carry out these responsibilities? We discuss the skills and expertise required to ensure businesses are prepared for ESG monitoring with Reenie Koh of KPMG. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched in 2015 as a master blueprint of shared ambition for the international community covering 17 broad themes. However global progress on the SDGs has fallen woefully short of targets with only 4 years left to the deadline. What needs to be done to build momentum for the SDGs beyond 2030? We discuss this with Guillaume LaFortune, Vice...

Malaysia is blessed with abundant rainfall, but this could change amid shifting weather patterns induced by a warming climate. How prepared are businesses and households to deal with potential water scarcity? We explore rainwater harvesting as a preemptive strategy for water security with Dr. Chee Chung Yee, Technical Director, BACFREE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Social Enterprise Education Lab (SEED.Lab) was set up in 2020 by Petronas and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to build foundational skills for social entrepreneurship in Malaysia. We discuss the recipe for thriving social enterprises with Mahen Balakrishnan of  SEED.Lab   and a succesful graduate of the programme, Nadzrul Hanif Ahmad Nazer, co-founder of the social enterprise  S...

How prepared are boards to deal with the hotter, dryer weather from the Super El Nino this year? We discuss climate governance in corporate Malaysia and get a preview of the National Climate Governance Summit (NCGS) 2026 with Dr. Gary Theseira, Chair of the Council at Climate Governance Malaysia. For more information on NCGS 2026, visit  cgmalaysia.com . Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystu...

The Singapore Institute of International Affairs has issued a red alert in its 2026 Haze Outlook report, indicating a high risk of transboundary haze this year exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon. How prepared are ASEAN countries for the haze stress test? I discuss the findings of the report with Khor Yu Leng, Senior Fellow at the SIIA. Read the full report  here . Image Credit: Shutterstoc...

Malaysia is bracing for a period of dryer, hotter weather as the El Nino cycle kicks in, but this doesn’t negate the annual flood risks that the country faces. What can be done to improve the country’s flood mitigation and adaptation responses in the face of climate uncertainty? We discuss this with Dr. Hezri Adnan, Fellow with the Academy of Sciences Malaysia. Read more of his work at  hezri...

The world is bracing for a super cycle of the El Nino climate phenomenon this year that will bring hotter, dryer weather to Southeast Asia. What are the implications of El Nino conditions for Malaysia’s water systems, and what can be done to mitigate the negative effects that could ensue? We discuss this with S. Piarapakaran, President of the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia and C...

Do the sky-high prices of jet fuel strengthen the economic case for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which has long been touted as one of the main keys to decarbonizing air travel? We discuss the state of play with Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Principal Consultant at Frost and Sullivan. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How prepared are Malaysian businesses to take on the obligation of carbon emissions reporting and reduction? I’ll be getting insights from Prof. Dr. Dominic Foo of University of Nottingham Malaysia on what businesses can do to get started and also how useful Carbon Emissions Pinch Analysis is as a tool for decarbonisation. This episode of People, Planet, Profit is brought to you by Bacfree. Shapin...

The Strait of Hormuz blockade and the ensuing supply shortages of fossil fuels have renewed interest in electric vehicles, especially in Southeast Asia. But is the EV agenda truly green and what structural economic changes are needed to reap the full benefits of decarbonisation through electrification? We discuss this with Akshay Prasad, Principal at the consultancy firm Arthur D. Little Southeast...

Malaysia aims to reach high income status by 2030, but the development pathway needs to take into account the mitigation and adaptation needs of climate change. We speak to Muthukumara S. Mani, Lead Environmental Economist with the World Bank about how Malaysia can balance these interests in the short and long term. Read the World Bank's Country Climate and Development Report for Malaysia here . T...

In response to soaring petroleum diesel prices, Southeast Asian governments including Malaysia are looking to increase biofuel blends. We discuss the economics of biodiesel production and its link to energy security with economist Khor Yu Leng of Segi Enam Advisors. This episode of People, Planet, Profit is brought to you by Bacfree. Shaping tomorrow's water. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystu...

The oil supply disruptions resulting from blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sent the cost of electricity soaring in Southeast Asia. Even Malaysia’s Energy Commission has warned that consumers should be prepared for higher electricity tariffs this year. How can businesses mitigate the impact of future higher costs? We discuss this with Darren Tan, CEO of EFS Group, a renewable energy and energy...