All submissions for the Awards will be carefully vetted by a distinguished panel of judges.

An official Awards Information Pack can be requested from the PM’s CSR Awards secretariat at 03-79547030, secretariat@anugerahcsrmalaysia.org

CATEGORIES

1. Best 2010 CSR Programme: Education

Education is the springboard from which individuals come closer to achieving their goals and the nation nears its vision of development and an improved quality of life for its people. This award recognises companies that have made serious efforts to improve the level of education and skills of their employees and members of the community.

2. Best 2010 CSR Programme: Environment

Malaysia is world renowned as a biodiversity hotspot because of its ancient forests and diverse ecosystems which support an abundance of species including iconic plants and animals that are found nowhere else. Our natural environment is also what sustains life and the forest-cloaked ranges which form the headwaters of our river catchments are some of the most cherished geological features and an important facet of our national identity.

The CSR Award for contributions in the Environment category recognises companies that have demonstrated leadership and commitment to the improvement, preservation and protection of the environment. Examples of impactful projects or programmes include those focusing on energy efficiency, climate change, waste reduction, promoting green spaces, protecting mangrove and peat swamps, reforestation, protecting lakes and rivers, to name a few.

3. Best 2010 CSR Programme: Culture & Heritage

Malaysia’s unique, diverse and vibrant national heritage is found in many different faces of the nation and expressed through customs, folklore, language and traditions. This category recognises companies that support the preservation of Malaysia’s heritage. By invigorating these fading traditions they have inspired new practitioners and found fresh audiences, thereby contributing to the survival of unique features of our shared national identity.

4. Best 2010 CSR Programme: Community & Social Welfare

Long before the emergence of CSR, providing for the needy and underprivileged has been a common practice in Malaysian society.  The Award given in this category recognises a company that has made a significant contribution to uplift and support disadvantaged and marginalised members of the community. This might include the care of orphans and the destitute, providing work and study opportunities for the poor and illiterate, and supporting social enterprises that empower these groups to be more independent and self-reliant.  The most exceptional CSR programmes are those that build relationships and provide a platform for both parties to be touched by participation in the programme.

5. Best 2010 CSR Programme: Best Workplace Practices

This category recognises a company that has policies and programmes in place that reflect its respect and regard for its employees. This would include policies that promote diversity in the workplace, family friendly policies, regard for work life balance of employees, dependence care, health and wellness, privacy, employee training and fostering lifelong learning.

6. Best 2010 CSR Programme: Empowerment of Women

The Award for the Empowerment of Women will be given to a company which is adjudged to have made a significant contribution to providing opportunities for women to improve their livelihoods and provide for their families.

Recognising that enhancing the ability of women to participate in the economy benefits whole communities, credit will be given to companies that provide training and education opportunities that enable women to continue to upgrade their capabilities and expand their experience.

Companies that have made serious inroads in nurturing an inclusive workplace environment that allows talented women to rise in the ranks to fulfill their potential will also be considered for this Award.

7. Best 2010 CSR Programme: Small Company CSR

This award is for the small or medium-sized company that does not have the resources of a large company but nevertheless has successfully implemented CSR projects or programmes and shown that it is a socially responsible member of the community it serves.

Small and medium-sized companies can be defined as companies that have between 5 – 150 employees, and annual sales turnover of between RM200,000 and RM25 million. They can cover a range of sectors from agriculture and manufacturing, to retail and services.

8.  Best 2010 CSR Media Coverage

Newspapers, television and online media have a tremendous impact on our society. They help to shape both our views and values. Coverage of corporate responsibility programmes has the potential to give us a foretaste of new technologies, new work cultures and fresh approaches to caring for our community. This award recognises the individual or organisation that has provided impactful and insightful coverage of corporate social responsibility programmes with the potential to inspire people to think and talk about CSR.

9. THE PRIME MINISTER’S CSR AWARD 2010 (for best overall CSR programme)

Eligibility

All business organisations operating in Malaysia are eligible to submit entries for these Awards. This includes proprietorships and public companies, partnerships and multi-national companies.

Categories

There are eight categories for these Awards. Entrants may participate in more than one award category, but separate entries are required for each category. There will be one main award per category and one overall award for the Best CSR Programme. Winners will receive trophies, while other outstanding programmes will also recognised at a Gala Awards Ceremony.

Overall Criteria

Entrants should be able to demonstrate a clear commitment to CSR that goes beyond their financial and legal obligations. Judges will be looking for companies that can provide strong evidence of a CSR strategy that integrates CSR concerns into policies, actions or projects that positively impact the community.

Judging

The entries will be evaluated by a panel of distinguished CSR professionals and public figures, and will be chaired by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

Entry Form

Each entry should be accompanied by an official entry form which can be downloaded from this link. Each entry must be accompanied by a completed form. Submissions to be delivered or posted to the Secretariat not later than Sept 1  2010.

1. Why is the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development running an award for corporate social responsibility (CSR)?Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is very much of interest to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, given the overlap between CSR efforts of corporations and the Ministry’s own initiatives to promote the well-being of marginalised and underprivileged communities. Experience, both locally and in other countries, shows that the most positive results in community development are obtained when the private sector partners the government in elevating levels of education, empowering those who have been left behind by development, improving health standards and awareness, eradicating poverty, and creating equal opportunities for women, among others.

The Ministry feels that, by rewarding corporations that make a real and meaningful effort towards improving the social, environmental and economic impact of their businesses on communities, it can promote a healthier, better and more just society for all Malaysians.

2. Why are the awards called the PM’s CSR Awards? What is the link with the Prime Minister?
At the 60th anniversary celebration of the Department of Social Welfare in 2006, the Prime Minister announced a special award to recognise the philanthropic role corporate Malaysia has played in national efforts to establish equity and justice. These Awards are a realisation of that announcement, and reflect the Prime Minister’s genuine desire to see corporate Malaysia play a stronger role in community development. It also reflects the prestige inherent in the Awards. Companies that are given the Prime Minister’s CSR Awards truly deserve the recognition afforded, because their CSR initiatives have achieved real and positive change in local communities.

3. What makes the PM’s CSR Awards different from other CSR awards in Malaysia?
Most CSR Awards adopt a holistic approach and take into consideration a company’s efforts to be responsible to all its stakeholders - including customers, business partners, media and regulatory bodies. Going by this approach, factors such as openness, transparency and corporate governance become important. The ACCA Mesra Awards, for example, are based on the quality of the reporting, and particularly on the levels of disclosure and transparency contained.

The PM’s CSR Awards takes a more community-based approach. The aim is to reward companies that act to enhance the well-being of Malaysians - to create a level playing field where it does not exist; to eliminate discrimination, injustice, ignorance, neglect and any other impediment to the overall socio-economic development of the country. The focus here, therefore, is the impact of CSR initiatives on communities - whether it be through education, protecting the environment, providing better healthcare/service, or through the creation of a healthy, conducive work environment for employees.

4. What are the criteria used in judging entries?
Three main criteria are used to determine how effective a CSR initiative is, namely:
• The positive impact the CSR initiative has on the communities at which it is targeted.
• The sustainability of the project.
• The level of commitment and involvement displayed by the companies in these projects.

5. How many categories are there in the Awards?
There are seven main categories:
• Community & Social Welfare
• Culture & Heritage
• Empowerment of Women
• Education
• Environment
• Small Company CSR
• Best Workplace Practices

In addition, there is a special category for Media Reporting. The most outstanding CSR initiative from these eight categories is awarded the prestigious Anugerah CSR Perdana Menteri.

6. How do you define Small Company?
A small company is one which employs fewer than 150 employees or has a sales turnover of RM25 million or less.

7. What CSR programme timeframe will these Awards take into consideration?
The Prime Minister’s CSR Awards 2010 will take into consideration programmes run between early 2009 and June 2010.

8. What if our CSR programme qualifies for more than one category?
If you have a single CSR programme that covers more than one category, you will need to decide which aspects of your programme are strongest and submit the programme under the relevant category.

If your company runs more than one CSR project, for example you have a health project and an environment project, you can submit each under a different category (health under the Community & Social Welfare Category; and environment, under the Environment category).

9. How can we obtain an entry form for the PM’s CSR Awards?
You can download an entry form from the website, www.anugerahcsrmalaysia.org. The Prime Minister’s CSR Awards Secretariat will also be sending out info packs (containing entry forms) to the CEOs of all major companies.

10. What is required for submission to the Awards?
In addition to filling up the entry form, in which you will be asked to describe the CSR project(s) your company carries out, you will need to submit supporting material in the form of:
1) Either a short video (3-4 minutes) or a powerpoint presentation about your CSR project(s); and
2) High-resolution photos of your CSR project(s)

11. How do you ascertain the authenticity of the information provided?
As these are CSR awards, the assumption is that companies will be open and honest about their activities. However, if the judges feel the need to verify certain points, they may ask to make site visits; or they may request the companies concerned to provide additional information to substantiate specific claims.

12. Who are the judges?
The judges have been carefully selected to represent various sectors of public and corporate life. Each judge is a respected, distinguished professional or public figures with many years’ experience in areas relevant to community/social/ health/education/environment work. To maintain complete objectivity and preserve the integrity of the judging process, however, the names of the judges will be disclosed only at the Presentation Ceremony.

13. How do we submit our entries?
You will need to submit your entry to:
The Prime Minister’s CSR Awards Secretariat
c/o Capital Corporate Communications
No 9, Jalan 11/14
Petaling Jaya 46200
Tel: 03-7954 7030 / 7031

14. If we need more information on how to fill up the form, who can we approach?
You can contact the Secretariat.

15. What is the deadline for submissions for the 2010 PM’s CSR Awards?
September 1, 2010.

16. How will we be informed whether we have won?
The Secretariat will not be informing winners prior to the actual Awards Presentation Ceremony. Invitations to the Awards Presentation Ceremony will be sent to all companies that submit entries, so your presence at the Ceremony is important.

17. When will the Awards Presentation Ceremony be held?
The exact date will be given closer to the time.

18. Will the Prime Minister be presenting the Awards?
Yes.

Today, more companies than ever before are recognising the significance and value of integrating CSR into all aspects of their business operations and decision-making processes. Communities are seen as more than just a market for the roll-out of products and services.

The long-term growth and profitability of companies are inextricably linked to the sustainability and well-being of the community.

The Awards are the nation’s highest recognition of corporate organisations that have had a significant and positive impact on the lives of people around them.  CSR programmes considered for the Awards should therefore demonstrate the company’s commitment to and respect for communities and the environment.