Chairman Message
The Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award has been introduced, and been running in Malaysia, in the last ten years. However, for the first time ever, this very prestigious Award is presented virtually. This goes to show, regardless all the challenges we have been facing, prior to, and since 18 March 2020, all the three Committees of The Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award: Organizing, Steering, and Technical, are committed, in making sure, this annual event for the environment, must take place. This event, would not have been possible, without the support of one and all,
especially those 72 participating companies, the highest number of participation to date, and our dedicated assessors, [20 of them]. They have had numerous challenges, especially when, they had to conduct their assessments, largely through the virtual platforms; it is yet another first, in the history of The Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award programme, due to the ongoing pandemic at national and global scale.
To be a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award, essentially means receiving a national recognition by both the public and the private sectors of the economy. The expectations of all of us, from both sectors of the economy, are high for the participating companies. Whichever category of Award that a recipient receives, does not really matter, as what matters most, is that each one of us has uniquely owned capability and capacity, and together, to move forward toward a sustainable future of our country, our region, and our Only One-Earth.
As reflected in the famous 1987 Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, that is Our Common Future, by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway, is that the concept of “Sustainable Development”, is simply that of “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This concept carries the three essential pillars: The Environment, Economy, and Society. These three pillars have to co-exist; one could not afford to go ahead, without another. Otherwise, it would be caught off-balance, and would not be sustainable, as much for the present nor for the future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This prestigious Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award has been introduced and convened at a national level. The support from all the 11 States and the three Federal Territories has been overwhelming. This current cycle has received the support of five States: Selangor, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, and Pulau Pinang. The organizers of this Award are looking forward to the participation of other States and Territories and for their support in the next cycle.
The Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award is self-financing, and this event would not have been possible, without the generous donations and sponsorship of many organizations that believe and support the sustainability of this Award. May I take this opportunity to acknowledge the following organizations, in alphabetical order, that have donated generously to ensure the success of this 2019-2020 cycle:
Ancom Berhad
Rubberex (M)Sdn Bhd
Tenaga Nasional Berhad
Yamaha Electronics Manufacturing Sdn Bhd
Many individuals have also made tonight’s event possible. I would like to thank them all, in particular the members of the Organizing Committee made up of all the 3 Presidents of the Co-Organizers: Datuk Tan Cheng Kiat of The Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MICCI), Dato’ Mizanur Rahman Ghani of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Mr. Gobinathan Kumaran Nair of Environmental Management & Research Association of Malaysia (ENSEARCH), and last but not least, the Advisor of our Organising Committee, none other than, Dato’ Kok Wee Kiat.
I would also like to thank the other individuals who have made their respective contributions, namely, the Steering Committee headed by Miss Jenny Tan of ENSEARCH, and Technical Committee by Mr. Chan Tein Kee of FMM.
The Secretariat of this Award has always been attached to the MICCI all these years and for its untiring and continuing efforts, they deserve special mention.
The continuing success of the Award is also, in no small part, due to the support and co-operation of the Ministry of Environment & Water, in particular, the Department of Environment under the leadership of its Director-General, YBrs Puan Norlin Jaafar.
(Yang Amat Berhormat Prime Minister of Malaysia, Sir, may l, on behalf of the Organizers, thank you again for having spent your invaluable time to join us at this auspicious event, virtually, of course. It is our earnest desire, hope, and wish that you will be present again in the Year 2022 to give away the Awards for the next cycle of the Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Awards.)
Thank you one and all for watching. We truly appreciate your support, and hope you continue giving your support toward a sustainable future.
Stay Home, Stay Safe, and Stay Healthy!
Prof. Ir Dato’ Dr. Abu Bakar Jaafar, FASc
Chairman, Organizing Committee
The Prime Minister’s Hibiscus Award, 2019/2020