KPJ Healthcare Berhad

Govt to recognise ethical companies

The government will formulate a mechanism to recognise companies which are certified as ethical to attract more foreign investment into the country.

International Trade and Industry Minister II Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said besides being a testament to their professional practice, it will promote the companies and make them more appealing as possible partners for foreign companies.

"National Corporate Ethics Award (NCEA) is the first of its kind award ceremony in Malaysia and we want to encourage this. Presently, we don't have the mechanism but the government should look into it," he told reporters at the\ Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) NCEA15 in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Ong said the mechanism could incentivise companies with tax incentives to promote and market their products and services globally.

Meanwhile, MICCI president Datuk Wira Jalilah Baba said the winners of the NCEA awards enjoy a significant boost in marketing their products. Meanwhile, MICCI, along with founding partners, Ethical Alliance, and award sponsors, AIA Group Ltd and Exxon Mobil Corp, announced the recipients of the NCEA15.

A total of 21 companies, from manufacturing and services industries, were nominated for the three awards — Exceptional, Excellent and Notable — with the top performer in the small and medium enterprise (SME) and large enterprise categories being awarded a challenge trophy.

Kelana Stabil (M) Sdn Bhd, Linde Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Panasonic Industrial Devices Malaysia Sdn Bhd bagged the Exceptional awards. The Excellent award was presented to 10 companies including Intel Malaysia, Siemens Malaysia Sdn Bhd, MEMC Ipoh Sdn Bhd and Pastry Pro Sdn Bhd.

Eight Notable awards were bagged by Citibank Bhd, Ferucci Sdn Bhd, KPJ Healthcare Bhd, Nestle (M) Bhd and Texchem Resources Bhd.

MICCI said the criteria included the adoption of the Code of Business Ethics, clear support from top management for anticorruption
policies and staff awareness and training to ensure integrity and ethical conduct.

It said the NCEA Technical Committee selected recipients who demonstrated the necessary high standards of anticorruption and ethical policies.- Malaysian Reserve