KIWACERT and TAR UMT Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance ESG and Sustainability Education in Malaysia
MoA signing ceremony signals a bold step forward for ESG capacity building.
KIWA International Certifications (M) Sdn Bhd (KIWACERT) and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) have officially signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to collaborate on advancing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability education in Malaysia.
The MoA, signed at TAR UMT’s main campus, signifies a strategic partnership that combines academic excellence with industry leadership. This collaboration aims to equip professionals, students, and business leaders with the knowledge and certification needed to implement responsible and sustainable practices across industries.
Through this partnership, KIWACERT and TAR UMT will co-develop and deliver the Exemplar Global Certified ESG & Sustainability Practitioner (CESP) Programme, designed to elevate Malaysia’s ESG literacy and professional standards. This certification programme—endorsed by industry experts and aligned with international frameworks—will be open to working professionals, graduates, and corporate teams looking to strengthen their ESG competencies.
“We believe this collaboration is a timely response to the rising demand for ESG-integrated decision-making. With TAR UMT’s academic strength and KIWACERT’s certification expertise, we aim to nurture a new generation of ESG practitioners who will lead the way in responsible business transformation,” said Dr Kenny Chan Teik Ken, Managing Director of KIWACERT.
Echoing this sentiment, President of TAR UMT, Prof. Datuk Indera Ir. Dr. Lee Sze Wei and Vice president Prof. Dr. Loke Chui Fong expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. “TAR UMT is proud to play a role in building national ESG capacity. Our goal is to empower our students and professionals with the tools and knowledge to drive long-term sustainability in both the public and private sectors.”
The collaboration also includes industry engagement sessions, public ESG webinars, and a pathway for students and professionals to pursue certifications that enhance career readiness and corporate governance alignment.
This MoA aligns with Malaysia’s broader national sustainability goals, including the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (12MP) and commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It further supports government and industry efforts to embed ESG principles into everyday operations, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
The ceremony was witnessed by senior leaders from both organisations, faculty members, and invited guests from various sectors. The event concluded with a joint commitment to expand future initiatives under the ESG banner—ensuring that Malaysian institutions remain competitive and values-driven in a global landscape.
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AEON LAUNCHES REFORESTATION PROJECT IN SEGAMAT TO CONTINUE LEGACY OF MALAYSIA-JAPAN FRIENDSHIP FOREST
Building on the success of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme in Bidor, Perak, AEON is proud to launch a new three-year reforestation initiative in Segamat, Johor. The project is part of the ongoing legacy of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme, in collaboration with the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). It marks the next chapter in AEON’s long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and community development.
The event also signified the official completion of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme in Bidor, which took place from 2014 to 2023. In this 3-phase project, AEON successfully planted 30,000 trees of rainforest species on a 22.75-hectare site that was once a tin mining area. The initiative also contributed to the 100 million tree planting campaign by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.
The Segamat Reforestation Project was officially announced during a ceremony held at FRIM in Kuala Lumpur last Friday. During the event, Naoya Okada, Managing Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD and Dato’ Dr. Ismail Parlan, Director General of FRIM exchanged a Letter of Intent (LOI), symbolising the joint commitment to the initiative. The exchange was witnessed by Dr. Norwati Muhammad, Deputy Director General (Research) of FRIM, and Tsugutoshi Seko, Deputy Managing Director of AEON.
As a symbolic gesture to mark the Segamat initiative, a tree planting session was also held at Padang 44, FRIM Kepong. Among the species planted were meranti temak nipis (Anthoshorea roxburghii), meranti tembaga (Rubroshorea leprosula), and sesenduk (Endospermum diadenum).
The initiative in Segamat will see 30,000 trees planted over 36 hectares of land in three phases, with 10,000 trees planted per phase. The project, which will run from 2025 to 2027, aims to replicate the environmental success of Bidor, which transformed a former tin mining site into a vibrant ecosystem.
Naoya Okada expressed his appreciation for the continued partnership, saying, “The Bidor project is a testament to what can be achieved when corporate responsibility is combined with scientific expertise. We are proud to carry this legacy forward in Segamat. AEON has long prioritised caring for the environment as a core part of our sustainability strategy. Since we started the tree planting initiatives in 1991, we have planted over 557,000 trees nationwide through a range of green initiatives.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Ismail said that FRIM appreciates AEON’s continuous commitment towards environmental sustainability.
“This planting site in Bidor will be maintained as a research and educational plot, as well as a future seed production area. The reforestation efforts on this former mining land have also successfully attracted various species of fauna, including migratory birds, to the area. FRIM welcomes collaboration with AEON in conserving and protecting the environment. We are also open and ready to explore other areas of collaboration in the future,” he said.
This ongoing initiative reflects AEON’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), supporting environmental restoration, community engagement and sustainable growth for future generations.
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The new Rhenus Airport Gateway in Singapore will strengthen the company’s global network, offering multi-modal connectivity via air, ocean and cross-border trucking. It will provide a more comprehensive suite of services to meet customer demands.
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 23 June 2025 - Leading global logistics service provider the Rhenus Group announced its latest investment in the Southeast Asian market with the opening of a new airport gateway in Singapore, one of the region's most significant trade hubs.
The new facility, located at Changi Airport, offers a full range of cargo-handling services to support multi-modal shipments globally, including strong trans-pacific linkages from Asia onward to US & LATAM markets and cross-border connection with the Intra-Asia markets with immediate proximity to seaport as well.
With close to 500 sqm of warehousing space currently and plans to grow based on demand, the facility offers full door-to-door service with a fleet, in-house customs, a consolidation service for import and export handling, for guaranteed capacity and schedule reliability.
Some of the key highlights of the new facility are:
"Our new Singapore gateway reinforces our long-term vision to grow our presence in Southeast Asia, by offering a smarter, scalable platform that integrates seamlessly into our global air freight network. Coupled with our Intra-Asia experience, this move will enable us to respond faster to evolving customer needs, while unlocking greater value through service flexibility, enhanced transit options and synergies with other regional hubs," said Serdar Onur, Head of Air Freight, Southeast Asia and Oceania, Rhenus Air & Ocean.
"The inclusion of the new gateway in Singapore signifies Rhenus' commitment to our customers in Singapore, as well as Southeast Asia. The Singapore gateway will complement our existing network in Malaysia, to bring the best of our comprehensive logistics solutions to support varied industries' evolving needs and navigate trade shifts with speed and resilience," said Dominique De Smet, Managing Director of Rhenus Singapore and Malaysia, Air & Ocean.
Rhenus had also further extended its investment in Malaysia, its existing gateway in Kuala Lumpur focuses on serving West bound shipments from Europe to Oceania. A new 180 feet barge service and a private jetty at Lukut, Negeri Sembilan were also recently added, to enhance cargo shipping reliability and speed between Peninsular and East Malaysia. The jetty, a customs-approved facility, will offer seamless loading and unloading of cargo, and ensure faster clearance and smoother operations.
About Rhenus
The Rhenus Group is one of the leading logistics specialists with global business operations and annual turnover amounting to EUR 8.2 billion. 41,000 employees work at 1,330 business sites in more than 70 countries and develop innovative solutions along the complete supply chain. Whether providing transport, warehousing, customs clearance or value-added services, the family-owned business pools its operations in various business units where the needs of customers are the major focus at all times.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Source: Rhenus
Driven by Innovation Taiwan Excellence Showcases Future Lifestyle
Taiwan Excellence has long served as the internationally recognized mark of exquisite quality for Taiwanese products and it has set up a special pavilion at the Taiwan Expo 2025 from the 23rd to 25th of June. The Taiwan Excellence Pavilion features more than 40 selected products from 27 award-winning companies. The showcase exemplifies the charms of Made in Taiwan (MIT) products across a range of sectors such as healthy living, smart and green technology, and has attracted the interest of major Malaysian businesses, including IOI Group, one of the top ten business conglomerates in Malaysia, as well as SP Setia, one of the top three real estate developers in the country.
The Taiwan Excellence Pavilion is headlining this year’s event with the theme “Innovative Solutions for a Better Life” which is further broken down into three themed exhibition areas of Health & Wellness, Smart Living and Innovative Solutions, that were designed with the Malaysian market in mind. Highlight exhibits include the SOLE Fitness’s SC200 Stepper; Pocket Air’s LoyalCare Nebulizer System with integrated smart monitoring with personalized fitness data analysis; AVer’s Medical Grade PTZ Camera, BeanGo Cube’s X Smart Coffee Roaster; WebComm Technology’s OETH SaaS, and more. The products have garnered much attention from buyers and received numerous inquiries from highly interested parties.
The Taiwan Excellence Pavilion saw a confluence of stars on the opening day with famous Malaysian actor Dynas Mokhtar and tower running world champion Soh Wai Ching making surprise appearances. They joined hundreds of key opinion leaders (KOLs) active in the fields of information and communications, sports, healthcare and lifestyle to experience the innovative charms of MIT. The Wow 100: MY Kols Unbox TW Excellence turned out to be a sensational hit with hundreds of KOLs casting simultaneously across various social media platforms which quickly created a buzz in the various communities.
Many activities have been lined up for the duration of the expo. On the first day, 23rd of June, a joint launch event featuring products by Hydrolight, GHG, HEPTY, SYSTEX and MCM was attended by more than 40 members of the media.
On the 24th of June, an industry exchange will be held with more than 30 Malaysian business representatives across different industries to deepen bilateral cooperation opportunities. AI generation technology is introduced in the exhibition zone to simulate various application scenarios of the products on display. Visitors only need to take photos with the product to see the photos being animated and experience the infinite possibilities of integrating smart technologies into their daily lives.
On the afternoon of the final day, 25th of June, FuBear, the Taiwan Pavilion mascot, will be challenging the Malaysian Book of Records by attempting to achieve the most high-fives in a minute to spread love and end the three-day event on a high note!
For more information, kindly visit the official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TaiwanExcellence.MY/
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