We’re in the final quarter of the year and we’re not slowing down anytime soon. We’ve got two Signature programs coming up in October and November which is our Annual MITI Dialogue with the new MITI Minister and Thanksgiving Luncheon where we’ll be recognising companies through our MY AMCHAM CARES survey, completed earlier this year.

AMCHAM is proud of how far we’ve come in the past couple of years.  The reason for that is because of our members’ support and contribution. We’re always looking at new and effective ways of delivering our programs, member engagement and most importantly building a Chamber that matters to our members.  We count on your membership renewals and sponsorship – your support goes a long way. For more about 2019 Corporate Sponsorship, please contact [email protected]

We’d like to thank all those who took time to fill in the Membership Satisfaction survey and we’ll be taking your suggestions when we plan for 2019. If you missed out on the survey or just thought of something that you think AMCHAM should be doing, drop us a note at [email protected] and we’ll be more than happy to get in touch with you to speak further.

Last but not least, AMCHAM is running a short program on 20 September to showcase how business goals and CSR choices can align with global initiatives, and make a difference. Please REGISTER TODAY and join us for a substantive discussion about how you are already making a difference and better align to take it further.  

Speakers lined up for this program are: Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia and UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, Professor Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, Co-Chair, Malaysian CSO-SDG Alliance at National University of Malaysia, Brian Davis, Vice President of Asia Pacific Airlines of Honeywell Aerospace as well as Aerospace Leader for HISB (Honeywell International Sdn. Bhd), Chin Keat Chyuan, Managing Director of Johnson & Johnson Malaysia followed by Lunch keynote by H.E. Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia.

Please also do encourage your staff or colleagues who oversee this sector and need to connect with stakeholders to participate.  

In September 2017, the Firm contributed to the Hands of Hope fundraising concert, for their ‘Sponsor-A-Child’ Project which enabled refugee children receiving quality education. As the Firm believes in the transformational power of education, we decided to sponsor a full year’s education for two children from the Chin ethnic group of Myanmar. Hands of Hope were kind enough to provide us with 10 free concert passes to the “Behind My Smile” musical. The musical depicted the harsh reality of refugees who are cheated by gangsters in an attempt to keep their faith, while escaping prosecution. The musical served as an impactful reminder of the everyday hardships and helplessness suffered by marginalised communities, especially refugees and victims of war.

Furthermore, in July 2017, the firm donated 10 desktop units to the Methodist Girls’ School Kuala Lumpur (MGSKL) to replace their ageing computers. Our general manager Rizal Abdul Azis presented them to the school principal, Madam Rosemand A. Lawrence together with the school’s PTA chairperson and PTA members. Prior to the handover ceremony, the team was given a school tour and we visited their classroom, science laboratory, computer room and the library. MGSKL is one of the oldest schools in Malaysia, and was established in 1896. The principal shared with us the challenges they faced throughout the years and also some of the recent work that they have successfully carried out.

McDonald’s Malaysia underscored its commitment to long term sustainability efforts with the unveiling of several initiatives to reduce carbon footprint, as part of the company’s global Scale for Good strategy.

In Malaysia, up to 124 McDonald’s restaurants have already implemented at least one of the green initiatives that the company has committed to, bringing it well on the way to helping the nation meet the commitment to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Under Malaysia’s Green Technology Master Plan for 2017-2030, the government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement 2015 was to achieve up to 45 per cent reduction in GHG emission intensity of GDP by 2030 relative to 2005 levels.

The Setia Alam restaurant is one of McDonald’s latest restaurants that is fitted with green technology solutions such as solar photovoltaic roofing, indoor LED lights, thermal solar water heater, rain water harvesting system, smart thermostat and hybrid air-conditioning system. McDonald’s Malaysia has also taken a major step forward in fuel consumption with the use of biodiesel as an alternative fuel in the fleet of dispatch trucks operated by its appointed logistics services provider, Martin Brower. For this, Smart Tanks have been installed at its restaurants for collection of used cooking oil which will be processed into biodiesel by FatHopes Energy.

The annual Fast2Feed programme organized by Yayasan Kemanusian Muslim Aid Malaysia, brings some happiness to the underprivileged community and gives them something to look forward to during the fasting month and Hari Raya. Throughout Ramadan, the Muslim Aid Malaysia team travel tirelessly across Peninsula Malaysia to bring a nourishing meal, thirst quenching drinks and seasonal cheer to deserving communities. 

With the continued support of Coca-Cola Malaysia, orphans, children from underprivileged families, residents of aged care homes, Orang Asli and refugees received break fast meals, food baskets, duit Raya and new clothes celebrate the festivities. Last year, Muslim Aid Malaysia travelled to 26 locations across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak, Penang, Pahang, Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor and touched the lives of over 4,000 people. 

As they look forward to the breaking of fast, the children were entertained with fun trivia games and art and craft activities such as colouring and ketupat weaving while Coca-Cola staff from nationwide branches joined in to help serve the break fast meals and participate in the activities. Fast2Feed is one of Muslim Aid Malaysia’s key activities that is solely dependent on donations and charity by generous individuals and corporations. 

Each year, a team or two comprising Accenture “rats” together with “cheerleaders” and supporters brave the rush-hour traffic, rain or shine, to show true Accenture spirit at the Kuala Lumpur Rat Race—Corporate Malaysia’s unique charity event. The nation’s largest corporate organizations enthusiastically send their CEOs to make a dash for the finishing line in the CEO 1km race. All other employees compete in a 4.5km run while dressed in corporate attire and costumes depicting the theme of the race, i.e., Going Green. The event continues to be a huge success. All proceeds from the race go to selected charitable organizations.

On another note, Accenture also supports MERCY Malaysia in bringing relief to disaster zones around the world. MERCY Malaysia is a nonprofit organization focused on providing medical relief and sustainable health-related development for vulnerable communities. Accenture has in recent years donated RM100,000 to help with its operations and administration, as well as organized its first Accenture Charity Hunt and raised a total of RM97,110.92 for the MERCY Humanitarian Fund. In 2009, Accenture employees joined their efforts to raise funds for MERCY Malaysia’s Gaza Humanitarian Fund. In 2010, RM24,000 was collected from Accenture employees and channeled to MERCY Malaysia to help Pakistani flood victims rebuild their lives and recover.

Improvement of rural healthcare in Malaysia has always remained a priority for the government with a simple reason that, regardless of socioeconomic background or geographic locations all Malaysians should have access to basic healthcare.

To complement the government’s public health service, Pfizer Malaysia Health Fellows program has been carrying out missions to Sabah and Sarawak since 2007 to help improve access to healthcare and health literacy in local communities through health education talk and free basic screening program. Working with non-government organisations, Pfizer employees volunteer under the Health Fellows program to offer medical services to communities in semi-urban and rural areas around Malaysia, usually spending 5 – 8 days in remote locations.

 In the recent Pfizer Malaysia Health Fellows Appreciation Ceremony, Works Minister and Sarawak State Assembly for Ba’kelalan, YB Baru Bian attended the occasion to recognize the contributions of the Health Fellows volunteers for their 12th health mission in the remote communities of Ba’kelalan – Lawas. Throughout the 12th Pfizer Malaysia Health Fellows mission, the volunteers travelled to Long Semadoh Rayeh, Long Tanid, Buduk Bui & Long Langai to screen a total of 165 children and 338 adults. The mission was carried out by 10 volunteers from Pfizer Malaysia in partnership with local non-profit organisation – Barefoot Mercy who helped identify the communities for the mission and coordinated the dental team which complemented the outreach.