Malaysia's recognition platform for verified ESG impact, quiet changemakers, member ESG transformation, and practical sustainability innovation.
ESG HONOURS is an annual recognition platform by the ESG Association of Malaysia to honour individuals, members and innovators who create verified environmental, social and governance impact.
It celebrates quiet leadership, measurable results, practical innovation, and ESG actions that inspire wider adoption across Malaysian business and society.
Claims are checked against evidence by our independent verification partner, Sunway University, before an independent panel judges merit. That separation is what the word verified is doing in the sentence above.
Each category has its own evidence threshold. Selecting the right one is the first thing our verification partner checks.
Judged in an individual capacity only — not societies, associations or corporate entities. For a person whose ESG contribution has not been publicly recognised before: grassroots leaders, community founders, educators, researchers, employees, volunteers.
For members who already have results under E, S or G — recognised for direct, delivered impact evidenced by a baseline and a target.
For members whose solution may not have delivered impact yet, but which has a proof of concept certified by an independent third party. Recognised for the innovation itself.
Verification and judging are deliberately separated. Sunway University confirms whether claims are supported by evidence; the independent panel then assesses merit.
Submit the form and supporting evidence. The secretariat checks that all required sections and documents are complete.
ESGAM SecretariatEligibility screening, evidence check against six verification points, and a clarification request if anything is unclear.
Sunway UniversityVerified submissions are scored against the published rubric, with online interviews for shortlisted nominees and a final deliberation.
Independent Judging PanelThe panel recommends recipients; the ESGAM Council gives final approval and recognition is conferred at the ceremony on 11 November 2026.
ESGAM CouncilVerification runs continuously through the nomination window rather than after it — submit early and you will have more time to respond to any clarification request from the verification partner.
The form takes about 20 minutes. You do not have to finish in one sitting — your answers and files are saved automatically in your browser, so you can close the page and continue later on the same computer.
Every nomination needs the signed self-declaration. The evidence required then depends on your category:
For all ESG HONOURS categories, nationality or foreign ownership does not in itself disqualify an applicant or nominee. The governing principle is:
The nominee may be global, but the impact recognised by ESG HONOURS must be created in Malaysia, for Malaysia, or deliver measurable ESG outcomes within Malaysia.
Nominees need not be Malaysian citizens or permanent residents. To be eligible:
Activities conducted primarily outside Malaysia do not qualify merely because the nominee lives, works or is associated with an organisation here.
The applicant must be an eligible ESGAM member operating through a Malaysian-registered entity. Where the applicant is part of an international or multinational group, the submission must be made through the Malaysian incorporated entity — a Sdn. Bhd. or Berhad — that holds or qualifies for membership. The initiative must:
Initiatives undertaken solely by an overseas parent, affiliate or related entity do not qualify unless materially implemented in Malaysia with measurable Malaysian outcomes.
All fields marked * are required. You will receive an acknowledgement email with your reference number immediately after submitting.
Please read before submitting. Accepting these terms is a condition of entry.
All decisions of the verification partner, the judging committee and the ESGAM Council — on eligibility, verification, scoring, shortlisting, recognition and the withholding of recognition — are final and binding. No appeal, correspondence or review of decisions will be entertained. Submission does not guarantee shortlisting, an interview, or recognition.
The ESG Association of Malaysia reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion and without giving reasons, to:
Recognition under ESG HONOURS is honorary. It does not constitute certification, accreditation, endorsement, assurance, or any warranty by ESGAM as to the accuracy or completeness of claims made by an applicant. Verification confirms whether a claim is supported by the evidence provided; it is not an audit of the applicant or its organisation, and it does not extend to matters outside the claim reviewed.
To the extent permitted by law, ESGAM, its Council, secretariat, verification partner, judges, sponsors and partners shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or claim arising from participation in the programme, from non-selection, from the withdrawal of a recognition, or from reliance by any party on information submitted by applicants or third parties. Applicants remain responsible for the accuracy of their own submissions and for obtaining any consent required from the people, organisations and beneficiaries named in them.
Submissions are shared with the ESGAM Secretariat, the verification partner and the appointed judging panel, all of whom are bound by confidentiality. Personal data is processed in accordance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010. Mark clearly any commercially confidential information; ESGAM will handle it accordingly but cannot accept liability for its disclosure by third parties outside its control.
Yes. Self-nomination is accepted for all categories. You will still need at least one independent referee who can confirm the contribution.
The secretariat completes a completeness check within five working days. Complete submissions are passed to Sunway University for eligibility screening and evidence checking. If anything is unclear, Sunway will send you a short clarification request — you will normally have seven working days to respond.
Verification runs continuously through the nomination window rather than after it closes. Submit in August or September and you will have a full seven working days to answer any clarification request. Submissions received on or after 1 October have a shortened three working day window, and nominations arriving in the final week may be assessed on the evidence as filed, with no clarification round, so that judging can conclude by 30 October.
Choose on the basis of what you can evidence today. An individual whose work has not been publicly recognised → Unsung Hero. An ESGAM member with results already delivered, with a baseline and a target → Impact Performance. An ESGAM member with a proof of concept certified by an independent third party, but no impact figures yet → Innovation. If you choose the wrong one, the secretariat will reassign the nomination and tell you.
No. Unsung Hero is judged in an individual capacity only. Nominate the person who did the work. Organisations should enter through the two member categories.
Sunway University reviews your main claim against six points: claim clarity, supporting evidence, results achieved, organisational contribution, accuracy and balance, and an overall conclusion. The conclusion is one of Proceed, Proceed with limitations, or Do not proceed. Verification confirms that evidence supports the claim; it does not assess merit and it is not an audit of your organisation.
The ESGAM secretariat, the verification team at Sunway University, and the judging panel. Judges sign confidentiality declarations. Mark any confidential business information clearly and it will be handled accordingly.
Not immediately. A past ESG HONOURS recipient may be nominated again only after three years — that is, three cycles must pass before they are eligible. This keeps the recognition open to new people and organisations each year. A nominee who was entered previously but did not receive a recognition may be nominated again in the very next cycle, and we encourage it where the evidence has since been strengthened.
No. Each nominee may be entered in one category only per cycle, and you are asked to confirm this before submitting. If duplicate entries are received, the secretariat will contact you to confirm which one should stand and withdraw the other. Choose the category you can evidence today: delivered results with a baseline and target go to Impact Performance; a certified proof of concept without results yet goes to Innovation; an individual whose work has not been publicly recognised goes to Unsung Hero.
No — it is optional. If your organisation publishes a sustainability or ESG report, you may attach the latest one and it gives the verification partner helpful context. Its absence does not count against a nomination, and individuals and small community groups are not expected to have one.
No. There is no fee to submit a nomination for ESG HONOURS.
Yes. Everything you type, and the files you attach, are saved automatically as you go — you'll see "Draft saved" next to the Continue button. Close the page whenever you like and return within 45 days; you will be offered the choice to continue where you stopped or start again.
Two things to know. The draft is stored in your own browser on that computer — nothing is sent to ESGAM until you press Submit — so you cannot start on one device and finish on another, and the draft is lost if you clear your browsing data or use private browsing. And if you are on a shared or public computer, choose Start again and clear your browsing data when you finish, so your answers are not left behind.
Not directly. Email the secretariat with your reference number and we will attach the corrected material to your submission folder before verification begins.