

Beyond Short-
Term Profits
Nurturing People
Process Excellence
& Governance
Planet & Society
Our Associates
INTRODUCTION
Axiata Group Berhad | Sustainability & National Contribution Report 2016
13
INTRODUCTION
National
Contribution Report
efforts and we have seen its multiplier
effect on economies. We work together
with our vendors to develop process and
operational excellence based on our Group
Procurement Policy. Through our Group
Procurement Assessment, three suppliers
were recognised at the inaugural Axiata
Supplier Awards 2016 for their outstanding
performance.
Digitising Everything
In becoming a New Generation Digital
Champion, Axiata is committed to the
digitisation of its internal processes to
optimise efficiencies within the Group
and, on a larger scale, to implement digital
tools in the management of our network
infrastructure. On this journey we are also
introducing digitisation in our products
to improve customer experience through
innovations such as Dialog’s pioneering
Smart Home offering which leverages on
the Internet-of-Things (IoT).
As a Group, we are mindful of the
environmental impact of our industry. We
are also cognisant of the social role we
play in our operating countries and are
committed to community development in
our markets, especially in times of adversity.
Ambitious Emissions Targets
The Group has identified an ambitious
target of reducing the carbon footprint
of our passive infrastructure by 40% from
2013 levels by 2018. Our commitment to
greener operations is being spearheaded
by the edotco Group, our infrastructure and
tower company. By the end of 2016, edotco
had 480 solar sites and remote monitoring
systems deployed on approximately 7,000
of the 25,000 towers managed by edotco.
These initiatives, together with improved
tower designs, remote surveillance
technology and the use of alternative power
sources - also known as our GOOD (Get
Out of Diesel) programme - have reduced
our carbon emissions by 29% and 25% in
Malaysia and Bangladesh respectively.
Investing in Disaster Response
A major focus for the Group is investing
our resources and technology in disaster
response, as many of the countries we
operate in are prone to natural disasters such
as tsunamis, earthquakes and floods. The
Group-wide Disaster Readiness Programme
(DRP) identifies processes, procedures and
roles of OpCos in responding to natural
disasters in these countries. In 2016,
Ncell signed a landmark Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) to provide SMS
disaster warning alerts in Nepal.
Recognition
Axiata’s sustainability performance has
been acknowledged at both local and
international levels. Ncell received the Global
Mobile Award for “Mobile in Emergency or
Humanitarian Situations” in 2016 from the
GSMA. Robi also received the “Best Mobile
Innovation for Education and Learning”
from the GSMA for its 10-Minute School
Programme.
At Group level, we received the Procurement
Leaders Award: External Collaboration in
2016 which recognises our collaboration
with suppliers and vendors. Our corporate
governance practice was acknowledged
at the Minority Shareholder Watchdog
Group’s
(MSWG)
Malaysia-ASEAN
Corporate Governance Awards 2016 where
we received the Excellence Award for ESG
Practices for the fourth consecutive year.
Our sustainability disclosures continued
to receive recognition at ACCA’s Malaysia
Sustainability Reporting Awards (MaSRA)
2016 with a Commendation Award for
Innovation.
PRESIDENT & GROUP CEO’S
STATEMENT
Moving Forward
Axiata is intent on making a long-term
positive difference in the markets where
we operate - from the macro level in terms
of contributing to GDP and jobs creation
to the micro level where we develop local
capabilities and provide assistance to
targeted communities. We leverage on
our role as a tech innovator and a leading
mobile innovator to empower and enrich
stakeholders, and use our expertise to steer
mobile development towards areas that will
best enrich and empower the less fortunate
in our societies. However, we also recognise
that there is much more that we can do.
Sustainability is the responsibility of all. As one
of the first companies in Malaysia producing
a sustainability report, we welcome the new
guidelines introduced by the Malaysian stock
exchange regulator requiring companies
to manage and disclose their sustainability
impacts. As for Axiata, we remain committed
to our sustainability goals and will continue
to acknowledge that the way we integrate
and measure our deliverables will become
increasingly important as we transition to
become a New Generation Digital Champion.
I would like to thank all our stakeholders
- regulators, governments, investors,
employees,
management
and
the
Board - for their support, guidance and
contributions in helping us to this point. I
look forward to another productive year
in delivering on our sustainability promises
and as we continue on to the next phase of
our sustainability journey.
TAN SRI JAMALUDIN IBRAHIM
President & Group Chief Executive Officer
Commitment to Planet and Society
Pillar 4