KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has called on all leaders, including the corporate sector to lead with conscience, especially in executing corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.
Speaking at the CSR Malaysia Awards 2018 today, Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister said it is important to grow leaders who are guided by their moral compass in their personal actions as well as their business endeavors.
"The ministry's objective is to grow leaders who lead with conscience. We would also like to encourage the CSR environment to lead with this objective.
"These are leaders who conduct themselves and their businesses with integrity, ethics, and respect for one another.
"As you may know, governments and political leaders do not always lead in this area. There are some who breach the trust of the people, deny facts and lie on the world stage," she said.
Dr Wan Azizah said this should be reason enough to create environments for conscientious individuals to thrive, where there is commitment towards creating contributions with values to nation and society.
She added that there are also corporations that merely aim to achieve the best key performance index (KPI) and in the end, become 'cold leaders'.
"These corporations that just focus in getting the best KPI will end up producing more cold leaders in the country.
"Even if we look at 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), when this company cannot achieve certain KPIs, they chose to hide the losses made," she said at the award giving ceremony, here, today.
Meanwhile, CSR Malaysia's chairman Datuk R.Rajendran said CSR initiatives go beyond dollars and cents.
"CSR takes great pleasure in recognising the outstanding achievers and corporations," he said.
Themed 'Beyond Profits, Making Our World a Better Place', oustanding Malaysian corporations that have excelled tremendously in the socio-economic transformation of the country are honoured today.
At the luncheon event, 34 Malaysian companies; listed and private received awards for going the extra mile to reach out to needy communities and to engage in sustainability endeavours in efforts to create a better Malaysia.
Among the companies which received awards at the event are RHB Bank, Axiata Group, Berjaya Starbucks, Bank Rakyat and Airasia Bhd.
Also present at the event is CSR Malaysia and co-chairman Lee Seng Chee.