IT solutions and satellite services company PRIVASIA Technology Bhd (KL:PRIVA) is one of the top performers in the ACE Market at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2025. Its executive deputy chairman Datuk Puvanesan Subenthiran says ESG is not three separate boxes to tick, but an integrated framework for creating resilience, trust and long-term value.
He adds that he is proud of the company’s ability to strengthen trust, not only in the way it does its ESG reporting but also in how it supports its people.
The company has raised its carbon disclosures to international standards, setting a higher bar for transparency, says Puvanesan, and also invested in its workforce through flexible policies, skills development and well-being initiatives.
“This was made possible through the collective effort of our people, from our sustainability committee to every team that embraced change. It reminds us that meaningful progress is always a shared journey.”
Every ESG journey comes with a set of challenges, however, and Puvanesan says its greatest challenge was alignment, specifically in making sure its rapid business growth did not outpace its ESG commitments.
“Balancing usage, wastage, safeguarding employee well-being and ensuring strong governance demanded equal attention,” he says.
“We overcame this challenge by strengthening our internal controls, embedding sustainability KPIs (key performance indicators) into management reviews and fostering a culture where people felt responsible for more than just profit. In that sense, governance and culture became our compass.”
Looking ahead, Puvanesan says Privasia will embed circular economy principles into the way it operates, ensuring resources are used wisely and waste is minimised. Technology will play a role, but it is people, purpose and good governance that will drive how the company uses it to create lasting positive change.
“Most importantly, we will continue empowering communities through skills development, inclusivity and meaningful engagement. Strong governance will remain the backbone of this journey, ensuring transparency, accountability and ethical decision-making guide every step we take,” he says.
“The future of business is sustainable, but sustainability is also about trust, responsibility and integrity. We believe Malaysia can lead in this transformation and we want to play our part in helping the nation get there faster, together.”
He hopes to see ESG adoption in Malaysia move beyond compliance into conviction. Government agencies can accelerate this with clearer frameworks and stronger incentives.
Puvanesan adds that investors can recognise not only environmental progress, but also companies that uphold strong governance and put people first, while consumers can value businesses that care for communities.
“ESG responsibilities create lasting equity when all three dimensions — environmental, social and governance — move forward together,” he says.
“Our compass is set towards carbon neutrality by 2035, but our journey is about far more than numbers on a balance sheet or tonnes of carbon reduced. It is about shaping a future where business and sustainability are inseparable, where growth does not come at the expense of people or the planet.”
____________________________________
The Edge Malaysia
By Vanessa Gomes Oct 20, 2025 @ 12:00am
