Understanding ESG rating frameworks to enable Sustainable Investing in Malaysia

Globally there is an increasing focus on environment, social and governance (ESG) factors, driven by investor engagement, regulation and societal expectations. Awareness around ESG is also on the rise in Malaysia. For example, Bank Negara Malaysia recently published the Climate Change and Principle based Taxonomy, demonstrating their commitment to addressing climate risk and supporting the transition to net zero, and work is being done to define a "green taxonomy" to offer more clarity around what is considered sustainable. These trends impact companies, where disclosures are expected to extend beyond traditional financial reporting to include ESG factors and climate-related risks, as well as investment managers who must build sustainability in to their strategies. But what exactly do investment managers need to do in order to integrate ESG in to their investment management processes? In this session, we will explore: • The ESG landscape in Malaysia - regulations, requirements, and responsibilities for different players in the financial industry • The challenge faced by investors in Malaysia with regards to lack of ESG data • How to understand the ESG status of the underlying companies in your portfolios and other products • Ratings framework and methodology - the key companies considered for index construction and ESG assessment in Malaysia • What information can be used to identify sustainable companies and investment opportunities Speakers: • Kaleon Leong bin Rahan, CEO, Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia • Wong Chiun Chiek, Senior EVP, Bursa Data Business, Bursa Malaysia • Nurisham Hussein, Chief Strategy Officer, Employees Provident Fund • Raymond Tang, CEO, Eastspring Investment • Ismitz Matthew, CEO, Kenanga Investors • Robin Yeoh, Regional Chief Investment Officer, Maybank Asset Management • Deepak Khurana, Director, Index & Analytics, ASEAN & South Asia, LSEG