Speech delivered by Dato' Mohammad Faiz Azmi, Chair of the Securities Commission Malaysia, during the event Unlocking Capital for Sustainability Malaysia 2025
In the heart of Malaysia, a significant gathering took place, bringing together government, finance, industry, and academic leaders for the annual flagship event, Unlocking Capital for Sustainability. Organised by Eco-Business in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative, this conference aimed to find solutions for unlocking capital for sustainability, focusing on adaptation technologies and blended finance models.
One of the central pillars of the event was the ASEAN Common Carbon Framework, an initiative led by Malaysia to establish a unified, transparent regional carbon market. This framework underscores the need for robust capital markets and financial systems capable of supporting sustainable development, innovation, and business resilience through strong corporate governance, attracting investor confidence.
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), a key regulator promoting sustainability disclosures, played a pivotal role in this event. The SC supports the Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG), developed by Capital Markets Malaysia (an affiliate of SC), to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) implement practical ESG disclosures aligned with global standards. Furthermore, the SC has launched initiatives such as the Coastal Flooding Adaptation Resilience (COFAR) to strengthen capital markets' role in climate adaptation and resilience.
The SC's commitment to sustainability is further evident in its upcoming Capital Market Masterplan 4 (CMP4), where sustainability is one of the central pillars. The conference discussions aimed to generate interesting solutions for facilitating sustainable financing, with the ultimate goal of facilitating sustainable financing where it is most urgent and provides the greatest impact.
The conference was graced by the presence of YAB Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, underscoring the government's dedication to this cause. The event also highlighted the responsibility we all share to ensure the resources and capital we use today results in a sustainable tomorrow.
Indigenous populations like the Orang Asli and the Mah Mari in Selangor, who believe in maintaining a harmonious relationship with their surroundings and not being wasteful of resources, serve as reminders of the importance of sustainability. Their traditional wisdom emphasises the need for a balanced approach to resource management, a lesson we can all learn from.
For more information about Malaysia's efforts to unlock capital for sustainability and the role of the Securities Commission Malaysia in promoting sustainability disclosures and data for long-term resilience, consider reviewing the Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG) published by Capital Markets Malaysia, updates and announcements on the Securities Commission Malaysia website, and the materials and reports from the Unlocking Capital for Sustainability event. These resources collectively illustrate Malaysia's active government-led push to leverage capital markets for sustainability, with the Securities Commission playing a central role in promoting ESG disclosures and long-term market resilience.
[1] Eco-Business. (2025). Unlocking Capital for Sustainability in Malaysia. Retrieved from https://www.eco-business.com/events/unlocking-capital-for-sustainability-malaysia/ [2] Securities Commission Malaysia. (2025). Sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.sc.com.my/industry-development/sustainability [3] Government of Malaysia. (2024). National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). Retrieved from https://www.energymalaysia.gov.my/content/dam/energymalaysia/documents/NETR/NETR%20English%20Version.pdf [4] Securities Commission Malaysia. (2025). ASEAN Investment Conference 2025. Retrieved from https://www.sc.com.my/industry-development/asean-investment-conference-2025 [5] Capital Markets Malaysia. (2024). Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG). Retrieved from https://www.capitalmarketsmalaysia.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SEDG-Final-2024.pdf
- The ASEAN Common Carbon Framework, fronted by Malaysia, aims to establish a unified regional carbon market for supporting sustainable development, innovation, and business resilience.
- The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has championed sustainability disclosures through initiatives such as the Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG), designed to help SMEs implement practical ESG disclosures.
- The SC has also launched the Coastal Flooding Adaptation Resilience (COFAR) initiative to strengthen capital markets' role in climate adaptation and resilience.
- Unlocking Capital for Sustainability, an annual event in Malaysia, brings together leaders from government, finance, industry, and environmental science to find solutions for unlocking capital for sustainability.
- The event emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to resource management, drawing parallels from indigenous populations like the Orang Asli and the Mah Mari who hold traditional wisdom on sustainability.
- By adopting net zero emissions, energy transition, and climate adaptation strategies, Malaysia is working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
- The growth of carbon markets is crucial for investing in sustainability, with the finance industry playing a key role in facilitating sustainable financing and promoting environmental-science projects.
- The business and real-estate sectors can also contribute significantly to sustainability by incorporating energy efficiency measures and reducing carbon emissions.
