Kota Kinabalu: Sabah exemplifies the sustainable future many countries in the Asia-Pacific region aspire to achieve by combining rich natural capital, resilient communities and strong indigenous heritage, Securities Commission Malaysia Executive Chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi (pic) said.
He said sustainable development requires a whole-of-nation approach involving governments, the private sector, civil society, communities and investors, while impact investing provides a way to generate financial returns alongside measurable social and environmental benefits.
Speaking at the opening of the Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 here on Monday, Mohammad Faiz said demand for impact investing is growing across Asia, with Southeast Asia well-positioned despite the region's climate vulnerabilities, provided investments deliver both financial and social outcomes.
He said Malaysia has demonstrated the potential of sustainable finance through initiatives such as Sukuk Ihsan, which benefited more than 106,000 students nationwide, including those in five Sabah schools, and the country's first green Sustainable and Responsible Investment Sukuk, which raised RM250 million to finance a large-scale solar photovoltaic plant in Kudat.
Mohammad Faiz said the Securities Commission's Capital Market Masterplan 2026–2030 prioritises social finance and sustainability, while blended finance models, Islamic social finance instruments and regional cooperation on climate adaptation financing and voluntary carbon markets will help strengthen community resilience and support sustainable development across the region.
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