Sarawak Energy Wins COVID Management Initiative of the Year

Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer puts people firmly first in dealing with the challenges presented by the pandemic, committing to care and compassion for its workforce and the community in its decisions, policies and communication. 

Sarawak Energy has been awarded the COVID Management Initiative of the Year in the utilities category at the recently concluded Malaysia Management Excellence Awards 2021. 

The inaugural awards lauds top-level executives, innovative individuals, and dynamic teams who launched successful and notable new projects or innovations, as well as employee engagement initiatives that boost employees' motivation and drive at work.

Recognising the evolving work environment and epidemiological landscape, Sarawak Energy initiated a New Working Arrangement (NWA), which mandated remote working for all non-essential staff (non-frontliners) – making the company one of the first corporate bodies to do so at the height of the pandemic. This initiative was introduced on 16 March 2020, before the implementation of the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO).

The NWA is supplemented by its Group Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), which provided  personnel with guidelines on how to safely discharge their duties on-site while minimising the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Though initially challenged with supply chain and logistical considerations, Sarawak Energy’s early investment in transitioning to digitalisation through cloud-based productivity and collaborative tools enabled most employees to continue working effectively and efficiently on remote working arrangements, therefore cushioning the impact of the pandemic. Sarawak Energy has also enhanced its business continuity management (BCM) plans by building up capabilities for its emergency response teams to ensure safe, continuous and sustainable operations.

While many organisations have had to resort to changing compensation and benefits during the pandemic, Sarawak Energy continues to uphold its belief in recognising its employees for their role in advancing the company’s continuous business growth.

By putting people first, the company has continued to pay competitive performance bonuses, awarded salary increments, and recognised those who go above and beyond the call of duty via the Sarawak Energy Hall of Fame (SEHoF) despite the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19.

Guided by its People Strategy – ‘Let’s ADD our talent’ (Acquire, Develop, Deploy) – the company did not put a pause on its people-development programmes but instead continued to equip its employees with skills and capabilities making them present- and future-ready by quickly adapting to online and virtual learning platforms. As at end October 2021, 72% of its employees’ learning activities were made possible via virtual delivery.

Sarawak Energy’s commitment to making the community a better place through education remains resolute. They continue to power young minds by investing in the future of outstanding Sarawakian students through scholarships as well as boosting opportunities to rural communities in project-affected areas. 

Recognising the ongoing uncertainties and potential hardships faced by the scholars especially in the new learning-from-home environment brought about by the pandemic, the company increased their monthly allowances and provided a once-off digital allowance to facilitate their online learning needs. The Company will also double its annual scholarship fund from 2022 onwards. Additionally, Sarawak Energy continues to allocate its funds for its bursary programme to nurture and develop secondary school students in underserved communities. 

Celebrating its 100th year of powering Sarawak this year, the company is enhancing its investment in people and communities towards making Sarawak Energy a great place to work and the employer and corporate neighbour of choice