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Asset Publisher

Environment, Social and Governance for SMEs Resilience

Case Insights for a Sustainable Future

This report offers a panoramic view of the sustainability journey of various Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), from traditional enterprises to innovative digital start-ups, in Malaysia that have reimagined their operations with a sustainable lens. These case studies provide a comprehensive perspective on the integration of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) practices into different business models and their pivotal role in enhancing business resilience and competitiveness.

Inclusion in the Education Sector

A Look into Malaysia

According to the World Health Organisation and the World Bank, an estimate of one billion people around the world experience some form of disability. Of those, approximately 93 to 150 million of them are children. Over the decades, there have been numerous studies that indicate these children are less likely to go to school than other children and when they do attend school, it is likely to be in a segregated setting. In Malaysia, there have been government initiatives to improve the state of education for learners with disabilities. However, Malaysian advocates of disability rights continue to lament the mismatch between existing policies and practice, and the needs and requirements of the learners with disabilities.

Challenges for Women in Political Parties in Malaysia and Acceleration Strategies to Leadership in Politics

by Ummu Atiyah Ahmad Zakuan

The findings presented in this comprehensive study illustrate that the challenges faced by women in the political parties reflect similar challenges to those faced by women in the past. The reality of women in the political parties have not changed much over time, which shed light on why the political domain appears as the biggest gender gap compared to other domains. Despite educational advancement in the country, women continue to lag behind men in politics.

Malaysia’s Public Institutional Architecture, Rural Agriculture - SMEs and Food Security

Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies - University of Malaya investigates the structural impediments that have hindered the growth of the agricultural sector in Malaysia.

This report addresses issues in Malaysia’s public institutional architecture pertaining to agriculture and agro-based SMEs. It investigates the inability of numerous policies to increase Malaysia’s agricultural production and food security. This project thoroughly scrutinizes the roadblocks in delivering policies effectively to farmers and livestock owners as current and past agricultural policies lack effective implementation due to structural issues.

SME Sustainability Action Guide

This guide has been designed specifically to provide guidance to SMEs looking to embed ESG into their business strategies and processes.

In the SME Sustainability Action Guide developed by UN Global Compact Network Malaysia & Brunei (UNGCMYB), you will find compelling reasons for SMEs to adopt sustainability as well as the direct and indirect benefits that will keep your business going and protect the planet at the same time. This guide is tailored specifically for SMEs, and is supported with real life examples of sustainability initiatives taken by some Malaysian SMEs and how they have gained from this venture.

Substantive Representation of Women in Asian Parliaments

Combining data from nearly 100 interviews with national parliamentarians from ten Asian countries, the contributors to this book analyze and evaluate the advancement of gender equality in Asia.

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The Smiling Dragon – China’s Soft Power in Southeast Asia

China’s Soft Power in Southeast Asia – Implications for Germany and the EU

This country report is only available in german. Please change the language to german.

Perception of the Implementation of a Hydrogen Economy in Asia-Pacific

An Expert Survey

The survey maps the perceptions of Asian energy experts from nine different countries (Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore) on the state of the hydrogen economy in the region.

The Smiling Dragon

China’s Soft Power in Southeast Asia – Implications for Germany and the EU

This KAS regional study on China’s soft power projection in Southeast Asia aims to identify and quantify the PRC’s engagement in selected ASEAN countries and evaluate its success. The authors conclude with a few policy recommendations for the EU and for Germany specifically to encourage European soft power gains in Southeast Asia.

Public Health in Asia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Global Health Governance, Migrant Labour, and International Health Crises

Every nation in Asia has dealt with COVID-19 differently and with varying levels of success in the absence of clear and effective leadership from the World Health Organization (WHO). As a result, WHO’s role in Asia as a global health organization is coming under increasing pressure. As its credibility is slowly being eroded by public displays of incompetence and negligence, it has also become an arena of contestation. Moreover, while the pandemic continues to undermine the future of global health governance as a whole, the highly interdependent economies in Asia have exposed the speed with which pandemics can spread, as intensive regional travel and business connections have caused every area in the region to be hit hard. The migrant labour necessary to sustain globalized economies has been strained and the security of international workers is now more precarious than ever, as millions have been left stranded, seen their entry blocked, or have limited access to health services. This volume by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung's (KAS) Regional Economic Programme Asia (SOPAS), Leiden Asia Centre, and the International Academic Forum provides an accessible framework for understanding the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, with a specific emphasis on global governance in health and labour.