The delegation from SME Malaysia was led by Dr Chin Chee Seong, National President, and included Anpananthan K, Vice President; Dennix Yeow Wah Fuong, Secretary General; Adj. Prof. Cheah Kok Hoong, President of the ESG Association of Malaysia and SME Malaysia Council Member and Bureau Chair (Sustainability, ESG & Green Technology), as well as Koh Kok Soo, General Manager.
Discussions focused on three strategic priorities, namely enhancing SME capabilities in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices to support integration into global supply chains, advocating for practical SME-centric policy frameworks and improved access to financing to facilitate sustainable transformation, and expanding initiatives to equip SMEs with the knowledge, tools, and partnerships required for the green transition.
A key highlight of the engagement was Malaysia’s potential carbon tax framework. Arthur Joseph Kurup emphasised that policy considerations should not be limited to targeted sectors or large corporations alone, but must also incorporate the perspectives of SMEs. The Minister also expressed support for enabling SMEs to provide input to the Ministry actively, ensuring that policy development remains consultative, inclusive, and reflective of the broader business ecosystem.
SME Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Government through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to advance Malaysia’s sustainability agenda and alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The Association looks forward to contributing meaningfully to the growth of a resilient and competitive green economy, while ensuring that policy formulation remains inclusive and representative of SMEs across all sectors.”
