People, Planet, Profit

Budget 2027 commits billions to flood mitigation, water infrastructure and grid upgrades, but does it add up to a coherent ESG strategy or just a collection of well-meaning measures? And can Malaysia pursue growth through data centres and major investments without leaving households and workers behind?

Richard Bradbury speaks with Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz, President and Climate Advocate at MUDA, about whether the budget puts enough capital behind renewable energy, how fuel subsidies clash with emission targets, and whether minimum wage increases reach the workers who need them most. They examine gig worker protections, water security in Johor's data centre boom, and the structural gaps that remain when investments are approved without accounting for public safety and resource capacity.

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Malaysia faces a significant funding gap in protecting its forests, wildlife and ecosystems, raising questions over whether private capital can play a larger role. On People, Planet, Profit, we explore the potential of nature-based solutions and blended finance, the safeguards needed to prevent greenwashing, and a fundamental tension at the heart of nature finance: can putting a financial value on biodiversity help protect it without turning nature into just another asset?

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Malaysia may be rich in water resources, but a new study suggests that abundance alone does not guarantee water security, with Selangor ranking close to the bottom despite its economic importance. On People, Planet, Profit, we examine what conventional measures may be missing, why governance and infrastructure matter, and how Malaysia needs to rethink water security as demand rises and climate pressures intensify.

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Malaysia is preparing for Budget 2027, with climate resilience, clean energy and sustainability expected to remain important priorities. But beyond how much money is allocated, the bigger question is whether ESG spending is delivering measurable results. Where should public funding be targeted, how can government spending attract more private capital, and what stronger accountability is needed to ensure Malaysia gets meaningful environmental and social returns from its investments?

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Knight Frank Malaysia says it made measurable ESG progress in 2025, from cutting energy consumption and improving recycling to strengthening emissions tracking and investing in its workforce. But as the business grows, some of the hardest challenges increasingly lie beyond its direct control. How can property firms turn ESG commitments into measurable results, influence suppliers and clients, and continue reducing their environmental footprint as their operations expand?

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On People, Planet, Profit this week, we examine the growing problem of climate anxiety, particularly among young Malaysians worried about the future they will inherit. We speak to Dr Ooi Wee Liam, Lecturer in Environmental Humanities and Social Science at Monash University Malaysia, about where rational concern becomes harmful anxiety, the limits of individual action, and whether businesses and governments must recognise the psychological consequences of climate change as part of the “S” in ESG.

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Haze has returned to parts of Malaysia, reviving a problem that has persisted for decades despite repeated promises of action. But the bigger concern may be how easily societies learn to tolerate recurring problems once they become familiar, from environmental pollution and weak corporate accountability to the growing influence of artificial intelligence. As AI increasingly makes decisions on our behalf, are we at risk of gradually accepting the erosion of human agency in much the same way we have learned to live with the haze?

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Sustainability and climate change reporting has become a mainstream element of doing business, but how prepared is our workforce to carry out these responsibilities? We discuss the skills and expertise required to ensure businesses are prepared for ESG monitoring with Reenie Koh of KPMG.

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The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched in 2015 as a master blueprint of shared ambition for the international community covering 17 broad themes. However global progress on the SDGs has fallen woefully short of targets with only 4 years left to the deadline. What needs to be done to build momentum for the SDGs beyond 2030? We discuss this with Guillaume LaFortune, Vice President and Head of Asia at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Read the Sustainable Development Report 2026 here.

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Malaysia is blessed with abundant rainfall, but this could change amid shifting weather patterns induced by a warming climate. How prepared are businesses and households to deal with potential water scarcity? We explore rainwater harvesting as a preemptive strategy for water security with Dr. Chee Chung Yee, Technical Director, BACFREE.

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