Ethics and Social Responsibility

Ethics and Social Responsibility

e) Does the organisation undertake corporate social responsibility? If so, what kind of social responsibility has it made?

Sime Darby believes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the key for healthy business growth as the vision of Sime Darby is “To be a leading multinational corporation delivering sustainable value to all stakeholders”. The organization has undertake corporate social responsibility by implement some programms.

Sime Darby has launched a CSR programme that is Sime Darby Volunteers Programme (SDVP), whose activities fall into four parts which are to boost employees’ esprit de corps, strengthen teamwork, encourage friendships and enrich sense of belonging. For example, SDVP has launched Planting Knowledge Programme on 4 March 2015 at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Selangor. This activities has encouraged 95 students and volunteers from Sime Darby to work together and plant 50 young fruit trees. In addition, one of the biggest parts of CSR by Sime Darby is Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), which was established in 2009. This foundation has five big pillars which include education, environment, community and health, youths and sports, and arts and culture. (Annual report of Sime Darby 2014)
  In education pillar, YSD offers its scholarship programme especially for the underprivileged. For the last 30 years, this scholarship has profited more than 2500 students. In 2015, there are as many as 482 scholars through YSD not only in Malaysia but also in Indonesia, Liberia, Papua New Guinea. For example, Sime Darby Foundation has commenced scholarship in Papua New Guinea with an allocation of USD500,000 in October 07, 2015.  

In environment pillar, YSD devotes itself to conservation or preservation of ecosystem and biodiversity which especially to protect jeopardized species. YSD operates “Big 9” Programme, which is meant to preserve the nine endangered animals in Malaysia. Although it is extremely difficult to prevent the specific animals are on the verge of extinction from extermination, Sime Darby will not abandon it.  

In community and health pillar, YSD assists community-based plans and sustainable initiatives aimed to push forward the wellbeing and health of handicapped people, lessen socio-economic disproportion and enrich the welfare of neglected children and elderly citizens, brittle women, people with impediment and other marginalized groups. Also, YSD upholds those who promote national policy changes to protect basic rights of the handicapped, and encourages researchers to improve community health.

In youths and sports pillar, YSD makes efforts to get young people to be credible, honest and productive members of the society. YSD also provide an opportunity to the youths in order to help them explore their potential in sports. For example, RM4 million boosts has provided by YSD to Malaysian Hockey from 1 July, 2014 until 30 Jun, 2016.

In arts and culture, YSD helps to promote local artists and arts towards international stage. For example, The Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival, taglined “A Malaysian Community Project” is produced and will feature Malaysia’s variety of contemporary arts. The purpose of this activities is to highlighted that Malaysia are rich in diversity, arts, tradition and heritage.

f) Do you agree with the social responsibility of the organisation? Justify your answer.

Although undertaking CSR leads no economical profit, it makes profit in other ways. YSD offering an awards to OKU and low income families with good academic performance, which the awards called YSD Bursary Programmes. This has proves that offering a scholarship makes no economical profit but Sime Darby has no intent to stop it. However, that is not the case because the actual aim is to gain trust and credit in the society. It is true that companies are able to make profit without trust and credit in the short run but not in the long run because rust is one of the most important elements in running a business. People cannot borrow money without trust and in that case it is almost impossible to run a business well.