TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY: ANALYSIS OF CONVICTIONS AMONG MALAYSIAN AGRICULTURE ENTERPRISES

Abstract

This study explores Malaysia’s regulatory landscape on corporate sustainability commitments. Using data from the Department of Environment (DOE) and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) from 2018 to 2023, this study reviews the environmental, safety, and health convictions involving Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the agricultural sector. The documented convictions are proxies for corporate sustainability gaps that allow for compliance-based analysis such as of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (EQA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA). Descriptive analyses outline the characteristics of the frequently committed transgressions, and the penalties imposed on the misconducts. The DOE and DOSH data, which were crosschecked, reveal 46 violations by 33 agricultural SMEs from 469 violations across all sectors. Section 16(1) of the EQA was the most frequently violated with a total of 31 cases, which represent 67.4% of total violations. This was succeeded by Section 15(1) of the OSHA with 10.9% (5 cases) of the violations. This study highlights concerns on regulatory convictions towards positive changes among SMEs through sustainable approaches to conserve the environment and promote safe and healthy workplace. The findings offer input for the policymakers in improving sustainability regulatory instruments in the Malaysian agricultural sector.