Bursa’s top 20 earners donated RM129mil in cash last year, who was the most charitable?

Have you ever wondered just how charitable the most profitable companies in Malaysia are?

Even if you haven’t, Wiki Impact, a Malaysia-based online platform, has published a report to answer that question.

The site, which reports on the impact industry, released its “Bursa Top 20: Who’s The Most Charitable?” report on September 26, 2023.

Did you know: The impact industry (or sector) can refer to any business or initiative that improves the life of a human being in a significant way.

In this report, they look at the charitable actions of the top 20 earners in Malaysia that are listed on the Bursa stock exchange.

Having released the same report last year, Wiki Impact reported that the Bursa Top 20 companies’ total donations in 2022 has decreased compared to in 2021.

In 2022, the companies donated a total of RM129.25 million in cash based on publicly available data, compared to the previous year’s RM159.59 million.

Wiki Impact reported that this may be reflective of evolving corporate giving patterns.

Other than cash donations, the site takes into consideration in-kind giving (non-cash gifts) and employee volunteer hours.  

To compile this report, Wiki Impact first identifies the top 20 companies via Bloomberg.com, researches their annual and/or sustainability reports, corroborates the data, reaches out to the companies for clarifications (however, only two of the 20 contacted companies replied this time), works with industry professionals to fact-check the data, then publishes the report.

Based on the findings from Wiki Impact, we’ve compiled a ranked list of the most charitable companies in Bursa’s Top 20 based on their total cash giving.

However, do keep in mind that although some of these companies made fewer cash donations, they may have made up for it through in-kind giving and employee volunteer hours.  

1. Malayan Banking Berhad

Maybank, Malaysia’s largest financial services group, is the most charitable when it comes to its total cash giving, having channelled over RM37.8 million into its community programmes in 2022, Wiki Impact reported.

Beyond that, Wiki Impact found that its various other programmes such as R.I.S.E Programme, Maybank Women EcoWeavers programme, eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN, and more, have also impacted many lives.

FY2022 net profit: RM8.23 billion
Total cash giving: RM37.8 million  
In-kind giving: Impacted 360,000 households
Employee volunteer hours: 14,709
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.46%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

2. CIMB Group Holdings Berhad

The fifth largest ASEAN bank by assets, CIMB Group reportedly disbursed RM34.4 million in 2022, which impacted around 300,000 lives across 80 or so projects.

FY2022 net profit: RM5.44 billion
Total cash giving: RM34.4 million  
In-kind giving: Impacted 300,000 lives
Employee volunteer hours: 142,914
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.63%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

3. Sime Darby Berhad

Global trading and logistics player Sime Darby ranks first when it comes to the percentage of cash giving to profit at 1.81%.

The cash was donated to Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), distributed across various pillars such as education, environment, community and health, sports, as well as arts and culture.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.1 billion
Total cash giving: RM20 million  
In-kind giving: Impacted 40,000 students
Employee volunteer hours: 800
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 1.81%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

4. Tenaga Nasional Berhad

The Malaysian utilities company’s total cash contributions amounting to RM12.2 million in 2022 were directed towards community development programmes, Wiki Impact reported.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad was the top in-kind giver, having contributed to numerous initiatives such as Rural Electrification (BELB) Programme, Village Street Lighting (LJK) Programme, Better Brighter Shelter, and more.

FY2022 net profit: RM3.46 billion
Total cash giving: RM12.2 million  
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM153.71 million
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.35%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 4.44%

5. Telekom Malaysia Berhad

Telecommunications company Telekom’s cash contributions were mainly made through community investments.

Its in-kind giving included activities such as tree-planting, grants, scholarships, and more.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.01 billion
Total cash giving: RM8.1 million
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM15.6 million
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.8%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 1.54%

6. Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd

One of three new companies on the list (the other two being IHH Healthcare Bhd and AMMB Holdings Bhd), Press Metal Aluminium is an integrated aluminium producer. It supported a diverse range of 136 activities across domains such as education, social initiatives, health-related efforts, and more.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.4 billion
Total cash giving: RM6.2 million
In-kind giving: Impacted 166,391 people
Employee volunteer hours: 3,407
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.44%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

7. Maxis Berhad

Telecommunications company Maxis’s majority focus area for its giving this year is education, including multiple training and educational programmes to help SMEs on their digitilisation journey.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.18 billion
Total cash giving: RM3.96 million
In-kind giving: Impacted 73,000 students
Employee volunteer hours: 1,355
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.34%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

8. RHB Bank Berhad

40% of RHB Bank’s initiatives were in the education category, which included financial literacy programmes and sponsorships.

FY2022 net profit: RM2.7 billion
Total cash giving: RM3.92 million
In-kind giving: Impacted 13,000 lives
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.14%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

9. AMMB Holdings Berhad

The Ambank Group contributed RM1.35 million in community investment in FY2022, with its giving initiatives contributed towards education.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.5 billion
Total cash giving: RM1.35 million
In-kind giving: Impacted 550,286 lives
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.09%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

10. Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad

As a plantations company that works to cultivate oil palm and rubber, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad has contributed to organisations such as Konservasi Hutan Desa and save our earth initiatives.  

FY2022 net profit: RM2.16 billion
Total cash giving: RM640,000
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM6.2 million
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.03%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 0.29%

11. Public Bank Berhad

Wiki Impact reported that in FY2022, Public Bank Berhad observed a decrease in both cash giving to profit ratio and in-kind giving to profit ratio.

The group did sponsor several noteworthy events, such as the Bankers’ Cycling 2022, Malaysian Journalism Award 2022, and the 5th International Sustainable Energy Summit 2022.

FY2022 net profit: RM6.11 billion
Total cash giving: RM320,000
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM210,000
Employee volunteer hours: 732
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.01%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 0.00%

12. PPB Group Berhad

PPB Group is an investment and property investment firm that owns GSC. It donated things such as meal vouchers, school items, oven and baking utensils, sponsorships, and more.

FY2022 net profit: RM2.19 billion
Total cash giving: RM220,000
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM2.96 million
Employee volunteer hours: 421
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.01%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 0.13%

13. Hong Leong Bank Berhad

50% of Hong Leong Bank’s giving was directed towards education, namely educational and training initiatives aimed at providing job skills and employment opportunities.

FY2022 net profit: RM3.29 billion
Total cash giving: RM120,000
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM300,000
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.00%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 0.01%

14. Petronas Gas Berhad

Petronas Gas observed a decrease in both cash giving to profit ratio and in-kind giving to profit ratio, Wiki Impact reported.

The top focus area was education. The natural gas company had hosted multiple training programmes such as oil spill response training and sustainability awareness education.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.64 billion
Total cash giving: RM20,000
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM100,000
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: 0.00%
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 0.01%

15. MISC Berhad

MISC is a provider of international energy-related maritime solutions and services.

A bulk of its giving initiatives were contributed towards the environment, to things such as the Heart of the Ocean programme, UMT-MMS Sea Turtle Conservation initiative, and MMS conservation programmes.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.82 billion
Total cash giving: RM3.1K  
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM24.43 million
Employee volunteer hours: 474
Percentage of cash giving to profit: N/A
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 1.34%

16. Petronas Chemical Group Berhad

The chemical division of Petronas implemented various educational programmes, such as SL1M-GEES-PETRONAS, soft skills training, and sustainability awareness education.

FY2022 net profit: RM6.32 billion
Total cash giving: N/A
In-kind giving: Impacted more than 213,000 beneficiaries
Employee volunteer hours: 1,683
Percentage of cash giving to profit: N/A
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

17. IHH Healthcare Bhd

An integrated healthcare provider, IHH held multiple health awareness campaigns to educate the public such as the Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programme, AMR Awareness activities, and more.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.54 billion
Total cash giving: N/A
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM2.69 million
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: N/A
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 0.17%

18. IOI Corp Berhad

An integrated palm oil player, IOI Corp focused on giving in the welfare sector. It ranks second when it comes to the percentage of in-kind giving to net profit.

FY2022 net profit: RM1.73 billion
Total cash giving: N/A
In-kind giving: Contributions worth RM60.92 million
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: N/A
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: 3.48%

19. Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad

No information was provided on Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad except for its net profit.

FY2022 net profit: RM2.62 billion
Total cash giving: N/A
In-kind giving: N/A
Employee volunteer hours: N/A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: N/A
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

20. Sime Darby Plantation Berhad

No information was provided on Sime Darby Plantation Berhad except for its net profit.

FY2022 net profit: RM2.86 billion
Total cash giving: N/A
In-kind giving: N/A
Employee volunteer hours: N /A
Percentage of cash giving to profit: N/A
Percentage of in-kind giving to profit: N/A

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While all this information may just be intriguing to some, it’s important to remember that these figures and actions actually have very real impact to the beneficiaries.

Hopefully, with reports like these, it will not only encourage corporates to be more charitable but also more transparent and consistent with how they report their giving.

Featured Image Credit: Petronas / Maybank / Telekom / Sime Darby / Tenaga Nasional / CIMB Bank