KUALA LUMPUR: Businesses that commit to excellence in reporting play a pivotal role in transforming Malaysia into a dynamic, future-ready economy, according to Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
The minister praised businesses that embrace the challenge of enhancing corporate disclosures, especially as reporting grows more sophisticated and comes under greater scrutiny from diverse stakeholders.
"High-quality corporate reporting can play a role within the Madani Economy framework, where we aim to 'raise the ceiling' by expanding the economic pie, fostering broader participation, and increasing the complexity of our economy.
"Transparent and robust disclosures build trust, which in turn attracts high-quality investments, and strengthens the linkages across industries, ultimately driving innovation, competitiveness, and inclusivity," he said at the National Annual Corporate Report Awards (NACRA) 2024 awards presentation dinner tonight.
Amir Hamzah added that corporate reporting is more than a business exercise and serves as a powerful tool for nation-building.
He said as the country work towards Madani Economy, businesses must play an active role in driving competitiveness, innovation, and inclusivity.
"By raising the standards in corporate reporting, you contribute to a business environment that attracts investment, creates high-value jobs and drives sustainable growth.
"Your efforts in adopting sustainability reporting directly support Malaysia's transition to a greener, high-income economy."
By aligning with frameworks like National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the National Supply-Chain Resilience Framework (NSRF), businesses are helping Malaysia achieve its climate targets and build a future-ready economy, he added.
Amir Hamzah also said sustainability reporting will be pivotal in aligning businesses with the country's decarbonisation and green energy goals.
He noted that Malaysia is projected to require RM1.3 trillion by 2050 to meet these targets, covering renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green mobility.
Therefore, he said high-quality sustainability data will play a key role in securing green funding and investment.
"Starting in 2025, large-cap listed companies on Bursa Malaysia will be required to adopt the NSRF.
"By 2027, ACE Market issuers and even large non-listed companies will follow suit.
"This framework, aligned with international standards such as the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards, ensures Malaysian businesses remain competitive and relevant in the global investment landscape," he said.