Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has always been part of Sunway’s DNA. We are committed to empowering communities we serve nationwide through #SunwayforGood, our pledge to do good and stand alongside Malaysians, for good.

Whether it is building school libraries for indigenous communities, meal packings for food banks or providing aid to victims of natural disasters, our #SunwayHeroes have rose to the occasion, time and again, across racial and religious lines to help those in their hour of need.

These selfless efforts are shining examples that reflect the true spirit of Sunway and reaffirm our belief that no corporation can live apart from the communities it serves.

Sunway’s CSR Strategy

At Sunway, our CSR initiatives under the #SunwayforGood umbrella champion long-term partnerships and staff volunteer-driven initiatives in three areas of focus, namely education, healthcare and community enrichment.

These three pillars are aligned with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs), which were adopted by all member states of the United Nations in 2015. The UN-SDGs provide a shared blueprint to address 17 interconnected global challenges for peace and prosperity for people and the planet by 2030.

In this context, our CSR outreach programmes adopt a Values-based Development Philosophy that is designed to drive greater Return on Value (ROV), because the traditional economic development model that prioritises the maximisation of profits for corporate shareholders is no longer sustainable.

Pioneered by Professor Mahendhiran Nair, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Engagement and Impact at Sunway University, an ROV approach across the full value chain of any CSR initiative ensures that value is gained by all stakeholders within a community’s ecosystem – from a social-economic, environmental and political perspective.

Staff volunteerism

Alongside volunteers from Rise Against Hunger Malaysia, the Sunway community come together each year in a mission to pack two million meals for undernourished communities nationwide.

One of the major attributes of a purpose-driven organisation is the concerted effort displayed, and reinforced, by senior management to inculcate a culture of volunteerism and the spirit of giving back to society among all staff through community volunteer programmes.

From an ROV standpoint, research suggests that high rates of volunteerism in the workplace will not only directly benefit surrounding communities, but also boost productivity, increase staff retention, improve engagement, engender loyalty, as well as foster a sense of purpose and satisfaction among staff, contributing towards a stronger organisational culture.

By engaging in hands-on volunteer work, our #SunwayHeroes gain a deeper appreciation of the hardships faced by the less fortunate and marginalised sectors of society while experiencing personal growth and forming lasting connections with like-minded individuals.

Beyond Sunway’s staff, we also regularly invite residents, students and people who work around Sunway’s townships to join us in our CSR initiatives.

For instance, staff from Merck Malaysia, a tenant of Menara Sunway, participated in our food distribution efforts during Raya Cheer upon learning about this community outreach programme through lift posters around the premises.

Our Impact

Taking home Gold for “Employer of the Year” and “Excellence in Employee Volunteerism” at the HR Excellence Awards 2023.

Sunway’s commitment to inculcating a work environment that fosters staff volunteerism was recognised with a GOLD award in the categories of “Excellence in Employee Volunteerism” and “Employer of the Year” at the HR Excellence Awards 2023, a regional platform honouring best-in-class HR practices through a rigorous peer-reviewed process by a jury of HR practitioners across Asia.

Our efforts to establish a culture that prioritises the value of community engagement was also recognised with a BRONZE award under the category of “Excellence in CSR Strategy.”

In addition, Sunway also won Conglomerate of the Year for Community Well-being Leadership at the Sustainability and CSR Awards 2023, endorsed by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development of Malaysia. Sunway stands tall as a six-time winner of this coveted CSR award.

These accolades would not have been possible without the time and dedication of our #SunwayHeroes. This spirit of volunteerism reflects our commitment towards nation-building and CSR mission to leave no one behind.

We are constantly ideating strategies to encourage greater involvement across all business divisions at Sunway. We also have programmes in the pipeline that include volunteer onboarding, training and education that will further elevate our volunteers’ experience.

What’s next?

Since its inception, our flagship CSR initiative #SunwayforGood has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries. Underscored by Sunway’s core values and purpose-driven commitment, we aim to positively impact millions more across the country in the years ahead.

As we celebrate Sunway’s 50^th anniversary in 2024, our #SunwayHeroes will continue to be an integral part of our corporate identity as a caring organisation that does well by doing good.

With three overarching goals guiding us along our CSR journey, it is our aspiration to make a lasting impact on the lives we touch.

Towards that end, Sunway is embarking on the final phase of a mission to fulfil three pledges to mark our 50^th anniversary: building and refurbishing 50 libraries through the Sunway READ (Reading Enhances Aspiration and Drive) programme; packing two million meals for undernourished communities; and providing basic health screening in partnership with the National Kidney Foundation for 50 Orang Asal communities.