The Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) announces the return of the biennial prestigious 2024/2025 Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award (PMHA), Malaysia’s most prestigious private sector environmental award. Businesses of all sizes and industries are encouraged to apply to showcase and gain recognition for their commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.
Originally launched in 1996, PMHA recognises outstanding achievements in environmental management and sustainable development. This award serves as a benchmark for environmental excellence and highlights the critical role businesses play in safeguarding the environment for future generations.
It is one of the very few awards in Malaysia that is independent with judges and evaluators made up of thought leaders and environmental champions from a range of industries.
President of MICCI, Ms Christina Tee shared that in today’s evolving business landscape ESG is no longer a choice, but a necessity that has to be integrated as part of business strategy and operations, and a core part of company culture.
“The Environmental factor is especially crucial because in any business supply chain, companies are usually directly or indirectly involved in the use of natural resources or have an impact on the environment. At the same time, global environmental standards are becoming more stringent with an increasing emphasis placed on responsible investing as more companies look to invest in or partner with environmental champions.
“Having practices and frameworks that address environmental related issues such as carbon footprint and emissions, combating climate change, resource usage and waste management contribute towards the overall sustainability, resilience and ethical performance, as well as long-term success of a company, big or small.”
While not all companies release their annual and sustainability reports publicly, one way to demonstrate a company’s environmental excellence and stewardship is through recognition from prestigious awards like PMHA.
“For many years now, PMHA has served as a powerful motivator for companies to adopt sustainable practices. MICCI has always been a huge advocate in supporting businesses and programs that fuel national growth. As the secretariat of PMHA, we encourage all businesses to apply and join us in advancing environmental stewardship in Malaysia. And for those who win, we hope they set exemplary models for others to emulate, setting a high standard for corporate environmental responsibility.”
The PMHA award honours firms and sectors that demonstrate a dedication to environmental protection and good environmental management techniques.
Winning organisations will be offered a complimentary one-day seminar, briefing, or workshop on sustainable development by the award organisers, MICCI, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), and the Environmental Management & Research Association of Malaysia (ENSEARCH).
All Companies are eligible to participate, with a clean record from the Department of Environment (DOE). The evaluation process involves two stages – the Initial Questionnaire Assessment and a Site Assessment.
Applications are currently open with a deadline of 15 September 2024. Final assessments will be conducted in July 2025, with the prestigious awards ceremony following in October 2025.
Application fees vary based on company size: RM4,000 for Large Enterprises and RM700 for SMEs. Businesses can apply for the Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award and learn more about the program by visiting https://www.hibiscusaward.com/.
Editor’s Note on Eligibility Criteria
●Large Enterprises: Manufacturing (including Agro-Based) and Manufacturing-related service companies with over 200 full-time employees and exceeding RM50 million in annual sales turnover are eligible. For the Service Sector (including ICT), companies must have more than 75 full-time employees and surpass RM20 million in annual sales turnover to qualify.
●SMEs: Manufacturing (including Agro-Based) and Manufacturing-related service companies with 200 or fewer full-time employees OR a maximum of RM50 million in annual sales turnover are eligible. Similarly, Service Sector (including ICT) SMEs must have 75 or fewer full-time employees OR a maximum of RM20 million in annual sales turnover to participate.
