Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental
• Economic
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced electricity consumption by 12.3% year-on-year to approximately 16,230,000 kWh.
• Reduced water usage by 1.6% to 66,200 m³.
• Reduced newsprint wastage by 35.1% to approximately 1,145,000 kg.
• Reduced CO2 emission from purchased electricity by 14.5% to approximately 11,200 tonnes.
• Reduced ink usage by 12.5% to 590,000 kg.

Social Achievements

• Organized various programs for knowledge building, education, humanitarian assistance, and medical assistance for the community.
• Maintained a balanced workforce in terms of gender (40% female representation at management level).
• Conducted training for 575 employees with a total of 4,306 training hours.

Governance Achievements

• Established an Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy and conducted five training sessions for directors and employees.
• Revised Whistle Blowing Policy to provide an avenue for reporting concerns.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• COVID-19 pandemic impacting operations and employee safety.
• Reduced training hours due to the pandemic.

Mitigation Strategies

• Implemented new preventive measures to ensure employee safety and business continuity.
• Transitioned to a remote working model where possible.
• Adjusted office spaces to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
• Conducted virtual training sessions.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Fair and impartial selection process focusing on pricing, quality, and services.
• Annual evaluation of suppliers.
• Due diligence on suppliers before securing contracts.
• Prioritizes sourcing from local suppliers.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI, FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• UNSDG 3
• UNSDG 5
• UNSDG 8
• UNSDG 4

Activities carried out to promote these UNSDGs are articulated in the report.

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Economic
• Environmental
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced CO2 emission from purchased electricity by 4% year-on-year to approximately 10,700 tonnes.
• Reduced electricity consumption by 6% year-on-year to approximately 15,337,000 kWh.
• Reduced water usage by 11% from approximately 66,200 m3 to approximately 59,000 m3.

Social Achievements

• Provided scholarships of RM4,300,000 to 73 students.
• Raised and approved approximately RM900,000 for 23 students through the Sin Chew Daily Readers Study Aid Project.
• Raised more than RM38,000,000 in cash and kind for a variety of charitable and community activities.

Governance Achievements

• Established a Sustainability Committee on 24 November 2021 to drive long-term value creation through good EESG practices.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• COVID-19 pandemic impact on business and investments.
• Global warming and the need to mitigate climate change risks.
• Transition to greener economies and potential new regulations.

Mitigation Strategies

• Established a Sustainability Committee.
• Implemented energy-saving measures to reduce GHG emissions.
• Adopted a remote working model where possible and strengthened sanitation of workplaces to mitigate COVID-19 risks.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Basic due diligence on prospective suppliers; fair and impartial selection process; environmental and social considerations embedded in procurement process; annual evaluation of suppliers; measures to prevent bribery and conflict of interest.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Adverse climate changes may impact the Group’s supply chain or the distribution and sales of its publications.

Transition Risks

• Changes to laws or policy may impose requirements to encourage the reduction of carbon emissions or the need to pay for greener energy.

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Main Market Listing Requirements (MMLR) of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, Environmental, Social and Governance Reporting Guide (Appendix 27 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited), Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad’s Sustainability Reporting Guide, GRI Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, ESG factors used by the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 1
• SDG 3
• SDG 4
• SDG 5
• SDG 6
• SDG 7
• SDG 8
• SDG 10
• SDG 11
• SDG 12
• SDG 13
• SDG 14
• SDG 15
• SDG 16

The Group’s material sustainability matters are linked to the UN SDGs as shown in the report.

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Economic Performance
• Procurement Practices/Supply Chain Management
• Product Responsibility
• Anti-Corruption
• Data Privacy and Security
• Emissions
• Water and Effluents
• Energy
• Effluents and Waste
• Materials
• Employment and Labour Practices/ Diversity and Equal Opportunity
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Development & Training
• Community Investment
• Governance Structure
• Corporate Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced GHG emissions from purchased electricity by 5% year-on-year to approximately 10,300 tCO2e.
• Reduced electricity consumption by 3% year-on-year to approximately 14,984,000 kWh.
• Reduced water consumption by 8% to approximately 54,000 cubic meters.
• Collected around 1,103 metric tons of newsprint waste for recycling.
• Reduced hazardous waste generated to 182.64 mt from 192.08 mt in the prior year (5% decrease).

Social Achievements

• 5 workplace accidents (down from 10 the previous year), all non-fatal.
• 52.9% of staff engaged in external and internal training programs.
• Over US$3,540,000 worth of pagination contributed to support charity appeals.
• Various community investment initiatives raised over US$14,695,000 in cash and in-kind donations.

Governance Achievements

• 1,369 employees (52.4% of the workforce) participated in anti-corruption training.
• Approximately 77% of the Group’s operating companies assessed for corruption-related risks.
• No penalties, fines, or legal cases related to corruption incurred during the reporting period.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Potential shift in public opinion towards digital news consumption due to concerns over the carbon footprint of physical newspapers.
• Increased costs of production and distribution of physical newspapers in certain regions due to climate change.
• Impact of bad weather on physical distribution of newspapers.

Mitigation Strategies

• Set a goal to reduce carbon emissions and adopt energy-efficient practices.
• Looking for opportunities to use low-carbon and regionally sourced materials.
• Prepared to manage physical impacts resulting from adverse weather conditions or changes in regulations and policies related to climate change.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Annual evaluation of suppliers

Responsible Procurement

• Basic due diligence
• Fair and impartial supplier selection process
• Measures to prevent bribery and conflicts of interest
• Consideration of environmental and social risks
• Support for local procurement

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Bad weather impacting physical distribution of newspapers

Transition Risks

• Increased costs of production and distribution of physical newspapers

Opportunities

• Accelerated migration to digital versions of products, potentially leading to higher profits.

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad’s Sustainability Reporting Guide, Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index’s ESG factors, United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Material sustainability matters are linked to the UN SDGs as shown in the report.

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Economic
• Environmental
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Achieved a 4% reduction in GHG emissions versus the financial year 2022/23.
• Achieved a 4% reduction in electricity usage in the financial year 2023/24.
• Achieved a 10% reduction in both its water consumption and intensity compared to the previous year.

Social Achievements

• Zero confirmed incidences of discrimination.
• The Board comprises 25% female directors, women hold 44% of managerial positions and 51% of executive positions across our global operations.
• Approximately 67.5% of the Group’s employees participated in training activities, with an average training hours of approximately 4.3 hours per employee.
• Zero fatality rate.

Governance Achievements

• Zero confirmed incident of corruption.
• Zero substantiated complaints concerning human rights violations annually
• No penalties or fines related to corruption were imposed and no legal cases related to corruption were instituted against the Group during the reporting period, and there were no instances of non-compliance with the Group’s ABC Policy.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Fluctuations in economic conditions could impact the Group’s financial stability and performance
• Structural changes in the traditional print industry have led to an ongoing decline in print revenues
• Disruptions or failures in the supply chain could affect the Group’s production and/or delivery of its products and services on time
• When suppliers and contractors fail to adhere to the Group’s ethical principles and safety culture, it exposes the Group’s business to potential operational disruptions
• Failure to meet customers’ expectations could lead to loss of revenue and reputation damage
• Risks associated with content integrity, such as dissemination of misinformation, biased reporting, or lack of impartiality, could result in reputational harm or legal repercussions for the Group
• Involvement in corrupt practices could result in legal consequences and reputational harm
• Breaches in cybersecurity could compromise sensitive data, leading to financial losses and loss of trust
• Inadequate waste management practices could lead to environmental fines and reputational damage
• The use of sustainable materials might incur higher costs, potentially affecting production costs and profitability
• Failing to meet stakeholders’ demand for sustainable materials usage could lead to a loss of market share
• Lack of diversity and inclusion could lead to legal risks, employee dissatisfaction, higher turnover rates, and reputational harm
• When employees feel disconnected and lack opportunities to grow, it drags down productivity and overall performance
• If the benefits and pay are not attractive, it can demotivate employees
• Failure to maintain proper health and safety standards could lead to accidents, lawsuits, and reputational damage
• Insufficient investment in community initiatives could result in negative community relations and reputational harm
• Weak corporate governance practices could lead to regulatory non-compliance and loss of investor confidence
• Climate change, particularly the escalation in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heavy rain or typhoons, may adversely affect the Group.
• The development of international policies and regulations on climate change, along with evolving commitments from the Hong Kong and Malaysia Governments to reduce carbon emissions, may pose operational risks and increase compliance costs for the Group.

Mitigation Strategies

• Implementing environmentally and socially responsible practices in procurement activities
• Strengthened relationships with suppliers to manage supply chain challenges, addressed cost impacts from raw material price increases and ensured supplier compliance with the Sustainable Procurement Policy.
• Consistent customer engagement enables ongoing improvements to meet and exceed customer expectations
• Crafting credible and equitable content across multiple media platforms enables the Group to solidify trust with the Group’s audience and expand its reach
• Implementing robust anti-corruption policies and practices to enhance trust and integrity
• Investing in advanced cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and enhance customer trust
• Implementing sustainable waste management practices to reduce environmental impact and enhance brand reputation
• Reducing waste and enhancing the Group’s resource efficiency can lead to cost savings in operations
• Exploring alternative materials and suppliers to mitigate risks associated with high sustainable material cost
• Choosing sustainable materials improves the Group’s brand image and draws in more environmentally conscious customers and investors
• Fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace to enhance creativity, innovation, and employee satisfaction
• Implementing effective talent development and upskilling programs, along with attractive benefits packages, helps to retain and attract top-quality industry talent while fostering a high-performance culture
• Prioritising employee health and safety to improve productivity, morale, and reputation
• Investing in community development projects to build positive relationships and enhance brand reputation
• Strengthening corporate governance practices to improve transparency, accountability, and investor confidence
• maintaining insurance coverage for our employees and assets to mitigate property losses during extreme weather events
• proactively monitoring weather warnings from the Hong Kong Observatory and government emergency departments, adjusting relevant business activities accordingly
• enhancing building design and infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, as well as implementing emergency plans, such as flexible working hours and locations during extreme weather conditions, to ensure the continuity of our operations and reduce the risk of staff injuries during commuting
• setting goals to reduce carbon emissions and adopt energy-efficient practices in our operations
• exploring opportunities to procure low-carbon and locally sourced materials
• exploring opportunities to expand the use of renewable energy at our Sin Chew building and encourage the use of low-carbon, energy-efficient, and regionally produced materials in our procurement processes
• closely monitoring existing and emerging climate-related trends, policies, and regulations, regularly assessing their impacts and risks on operations and establishing mitigation measures accordingly.

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: 64% coverage

Responsible Procurement

• Sustainable Procurement Policy
• Code of Conduct and Ethics
• Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• electricity shortages, asset damage, increased maintenance costs, and threats to the health and safety of employees

Transition Risks

• shifting public opinion towards digital news consumption due to concerns over the carbon footprint of physical newspapers, potentially leading to reduced revenue
• the production and distribution of physical newspapers may become more costly or unsustainable in certain regions due to increased expenses and adverse weather conditions impacting distribution
• development of international policies and regulations on climate change, along with evolving commitments from the Hong Kong and Malaysia Governments to reduce carbon emissions, may pose operational risks and increase compliance costs for the Group

Opportunities

• it could accelerate the transition to digital versions of our products and potentially increase profits over time
• exploring opportunities to expand the use of renewable energy at our Sin Chew building and encourage the use of low-carbon, energy-efficient, and regionally produced materials in our procurement processes

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI, Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad’s Sustainability Reporting Guide, FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index, UN SDGs

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Limited assurance by the Group’s Internal Audit Function

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

The Group’s material sustainability matters are linked to the UN SDGs

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Not disclosed

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed