Abg Jo receives sustainability award at United Nations Global Compact Network do

KUCHING (Jan 30): The Premier received the Sustainability Visionary Award during the United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei (UNGCMYB) Members Celebration Night 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg dedicated the honour to the collective efforts of Sarawak’s institutions, civil servants, and partners.

During the celebration, he also delivered a keynote address, declaring the end of the era of gradual sustainability and calling for accelerated, tangible action from the private sector.

Themed ‘The Sarawak Narrative: Driving Leadership in Private Sector Sustainability’, the event brought together industry leaders and sustainability practitioners.

According to a post on his official Sarawakku Facebook account, Abang Johari positioned the evening as a signal of a fundamental shift in Malaysia’s approach to sustainable development.

The Premier emphasised that “low-hanging fruit” has been picked and the path to 2030 commitments now requires harder structural changes, capital investment and business model redesign.

He went on to highlight the critical importance of the awards, which honour execution over mere ambition.

The awards honour organisations that are moving beyond statements and frameworks into real, measurable action, sending a message that Malaysian companies are helping to drive the global sustainability transition, he said.

Illustrating Sarawak’s commitment, Abang Johari outlined the state’s integrated frameworks including the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, Sarawak Energy Transition Policy, Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint, and Sarawak Hydrogen Economy Roadmap.

Pointing out that energy will be Sarawak’s catalyst, he touched on plans to decarbonise production, transform oil and gas, and scale up renewables to position the state as a regional sustainable energy partner.

He also commended individuals driving change, namely sustainability managers, chief sustainability officers, and courageous chief executive officers.

“Strategies do not execute themselves. Policies do not reduce emissions. Roadmaps do not transform supply chains. People do,” he said.

Abang Johari also called on the private sector to build the engines of progress, powered by integrity and sustainability, on the highway built by government policy.