39 firms honored in 1st Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards
PETALING JAYA—Malaysia’s Star Media Group (SMG) marked a milestone in its regional sustainability journey with the inaugural Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards (Asia ESG PIA) 2025 Gala Night at Sunway Resort Hotel.
The prestigious event celebrated 39 outstanding companies from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines that have set a new benchmark for excellence in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices across Southeast Asia.
Underscoring the significance of this initiative, the gala was graced by Yang Berhormat Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd Nasir, deputy minister of energy transition and water transformation, alongside Her Excellency Maria Angela Abrera Ponce, ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to Malaysia, and His Excellency Danang Waskito, deputy chief of mission of the Republic of Indonesia to Malaysia.
With the theme “Recognising ESG Excellence Across Asia,” the Awards spotlighted organizations that exemplify leadership, commitment and measurable impact in advancing sustainable and responsible business growth.
Founding members
The Asia ESG Positive Impact Awards is the first regional recognition platform of its kind, serving as the capstone for Gold winners from the national ESG awards organized by the founding members of the Asia ESG Positive Impact Consortium (A-EPIC): Star Media Group (Malaysia), KG Media (Indonesia) and the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines).
Founded in 2024, A-EPIC is built on the belief that regional media alignment is essential to accelerate and amplify ESG adoption across Asia.
In his keynote address, YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah emphasized that the Awards reflect Asia’s shared commitment to sustainable progress.
He affirmed Malaysia’s ambition to achieve 70 percent renewable energy capacity by 2050 under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), supported by enabling legislation such as the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act and the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap.
Chan Seng Fatt, group chief executive officer of Star Media Group, underscored the shift of ESG from compliance to strategy for long-term regional prosperity.
“Sustainability is no longer an aspiration. It is already shaping how businesses operate, how markets evolve and how communities live. Across Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, we see shared challenges but also shared opportunity. The need to act is collective and so is the impact we strive to create. ESG is not a separate agenda, it is the blueprint for inclusive, resilient and future-ready growth in Asia,” Chan said.
Andy Budiman, chief executive officer of KG Media, said, “As Southeast Asia continues to grow, the responsibility to ensure that growth is sustainable has never been clearer. Through A-EPIC, we are leveraging the power of media to influence mindsets, connect changemakers and scale ideas that work. Tonight’s awardees have shown that ESG is not merely an obligation, it is a source of innovation, value creation and national competitiveness.”
Rudyard Arbolado, chief operating officer for print of Inquirer Interactive Inc., said, “What we celebrate tonight is not just achievement, but leadership. These organizations are proving that ESG can move from statements to action, from pilots to scale. Through A-EPIC, we are committed to amplifying these stories so they inspire more companies, more sectors and more communities to act.”
Transformative initiatives
Nearly 300 companies across the three countries submitted entries, with a combined audience reach of 123 million through national awareness campaigns led by A-EPIC media partners.
The rigorous three-tier selection process ensured that only the most transformative and scalable initiatives made it to the regional stage.
The Awards Gala marks the conclusion of the Asia ESG Summit 2025, which was held on Nov. 5 and 6 and convened policymakers, investors and business leaders to accelerate Asia’s transition towards a net-zero, nature-positive and socially inclusive future.
Together, the Summit and Awards move the ESG agenda “From Dialogue to Action” by connecting policy direction with demonstrated corporate execution.
