KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – The landscape of Asian corporate excellence shifted this week as the 13th annual Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards highlighted a new mandate for regional enterprises: the marriage of high-level innovation with deep-rooted social responsibility. At the ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2026, a cohort of Malaysian leaders and organizations emerged as the benchmark for this “Beyond Business” philosophy, proving that technological advancement is most effective when paired with ethical stewardship.
## Bridging Tech Innovation and Corporate Responsibility
The 2026 ACES Awards, which processed a massive pool of 1,238 nominations from 35 countries, underscored a critical trend: the tech and manufacturing sectors are no longer operating in silos. Instead, these industries are increasingly leveraging green innovation and community-driven data to solve complex social challenges.
A prime example of this synergy was seen in the recognition of Keysight Technologies, which was named among the Top Sustainability Advocates in Asia. By integrating sophisticated manufacturing and supply chain metrics with environmental targets, the company demonstrated how data-driven organizations can effectively lower their carbon footprint. This award, coupled with the recognition of Dato’ Noorashidah Ahmad as one of Asia’s Most Inspiring Executives, highlights a shift in the tech industry where leadership success is now measured equally by quarterly growth and long-term ecological impact.
Similarly, Haleon (Sterling Drug Malaya Sdn Bhd) received the Green Innovation Award. By applying rigorous R&D processes to the consumer healthcare sector, the company has proven that modern healthcare advancements must account for environmental longevity, setting a new standard for how pharmaceutical firms should approach product life cycles.
## Digital Empowerment and Community Connectivity
As the digital economy matures, the role of telecommunications and service-based enterprises in social development has never been more critical. Telekom Malaysia Berhad was honored with the Community Initiative Award, showcasing how large-scale digital infrastructure can be a vessel for social empowerment. By extending the reach of corporate responsibility into the communities they serve, telecommunications giants are increasingly acting as essential service partners rather than just providers.
This ethos of connectivity was echoed in the public sector as well. Julinus Jeffery Jimit, CEO of the Sabah Tourism Board, was lauded as one of Asia’s Most Inspiring Executives. His leadership emphasizes that even within the tourism sector, technology and strategic planning can be used to preserve regional identity while fostering economic opportunities that serve the local community rather than displacing it.
## The Future of Agile and Responsible Enterprise
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were also at the forefront of this year’s narrative, representing the agility required to pivot toward sustainable business models. Maha Sawit Sdn Bhd was recognized for its responsible practices, signaling that size is no barrier to excellence. Furthermore, the dual recognition of Commerce Access Sdn Bhd—earning the Asia’s Most Promising SMEs title—and CEO Afidah Kamaruddin, who was honored as an Emerging Leader in Asia, serves as a testament to the fact that future-proofing a business requires both visionary leadership and scalable operational ethics.
Dr. Shanggari Balakrishnan, CEO of MORS Group and President of the ACES Awards, summarized the spirit of the event: “These Malaysian honourees show that responsible leadership belongs at every level of business. Their achievements connect ambition with accountability, reminding us that progress becomes more meaningful when it benefits people, communities and the environment.”
As industries move further into the digital age, the 2026 ACES Awards provide a clear roadmap for organizations of all sizes. The message from Kuala Lumpur is unequivocal: in an era of rapid technological change and environmental uncertainty, the most successful companies are those that prioritize “Beyond Business” objectives, ensuring their growth is both technologically sophisticated and socially inclusive.
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