Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
(as appeared in Annual Report 2010)
MBSB has always recognised that Corporate Responsibility is a key and continuing part of its business and that our commercial duties go hand in hand with our broader obligations to society as a whole. We conduct our business with integrity and high standards of professionalism and will continue to play our part in the life of the communities we serve. Our responsibility to our customers is to look at their financial aff airs with professionalism, fairness and transparency. Our duty to staff is to provide a safe and pleasant workplace, opportunities for career advancement and competitive salary packages. We also believe that it is our social obligation to share our success with the less fortunate members of society.The workplace
Employees are the most valuable asset in MBSB and their welfare has always been of the Company's prime concern. As at December 2010, the Group had 954 employees spread over 33 sales and service centres and 3 representative offices across the country. Our workforce reflects our support for local employment of multiracial Malaysians. This is our duty to provide opportunities to local communities where we operate. In addition, the Company does not practice discrimination in recruitment. All employees, male or female, are entitled to the same remunerations and benefits as we maintained the highest standards of recruitment, development and retention of employees.
During the year 2010, MBSB initiated two awards for staff and family members which were the MBSB High Achievement Award 2010 and the MBSB Excellence Education Award 2010. The MBSB High Achievement Award 2010 is an award given to the children of MBSB's staff who achieve excellent results in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR), Pernilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) results. The recipients are rewarded in the form of cash incentives while MBSB Excellence Education Award is an award given to reward MBSB's staff who complete their education for career enhancement and development i.e. Diploma, Degree or Masters.
Career development is one of the main priorities in providing development opportunities for employees, which in turn creates the succession planning in each and every organisation. MBSB continuously provides its employees with skills' development and training programmes that encourage progression and self-enrichment. These include team building activities and also internal and external training programmes.
MBSB provides benefits to show its unwavering commitment to eligible employees e.g. Employee Share Option Scheme. Besides that, MBSB also organizes fun and recreational activities to strengthen the bond among MBSB's staff, such as Treasure Hunt, "Majlis Berbuka Puasa" with MBSB staff, "Majlis Ramah Mesra Aidilfitri with staff and family members, Annual Dinner and other recreational activities.
During the year, MBSB carried out several activities in fulfilling its responsibility towards the health of its employees and communities. Among the programmes initiated were the Blood Donation Campaign, Cancer Awareness Campaign and free blood sugar test and eye test which received overwhelming response from MBSB's employees.
The Occupational Safety and Health Committee (OSHA) was formed in May 2007, based on the OSA Manual approved by ARMCO. The Committee's primary objectives are to provide an organisational structure in the planning and implementation of occupational safety and health. It supports initiatives to promote employees' health and well being, and formulates, reviews, and recommends the adoption of environmental safety and health policies. The Committee is also to advise the CEO on the company's safety and health initiatives vis-a-vis established goals. In 2010, training programmes were conducted for the OSHA committee members to equip themselves with knowledge and skills.
The Committee will continue to monitor, involve staff and provide trainings in all matters pertaining to environmental and occupational safety and health as well as ensuring all areas under the company's management are in compliance with company's safety and health policies, practices and programmes.
The community
As a corporate entity, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been part and parcel of our business. MBSB recognises that our commercial duties go hand in hand with our broader obligations to the society. Under the CSR programme, MBSB has four major platforms i.e. education, home safety awareness, sponsorship and donations.
In the education area, we continued to monitor the progress of our two adopted schools in Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang i.e Sekolah Kebangsaan Machang Bubok and Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Teh under the PINTAR School Adoption Programme. Overall UPSR results for both schools have shown an improvement in the passing rates as compared to the previous year. Sekolah Kebangsaan Machang Bubok UPSR results increased by 15.7% from 60.97% in 2009 to 76.67% in 2010, while for Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Teh, the results improved by 24.41% from 49.3% in 2009 to 73.71% in 2010.
MBSB also organized an Educational Trip to Kuala Lumpur for Standard 6 students from both adopted schools which aimed to provide exposure and nurture the students' interests in science and technology. This trip also promoted the students social interaction with both the teachers and MBSB's staff . The students visited several places in Kuala Lumpur including Petrosains, Pusat Sains Negara, Planetarium Negara, Menara Kuala Lumpur and also Putrajaya.
At the same time, we continued to sponsor the New Straits Times newspapers for both schools throughout the whole year and rewarded those students who obtained 5As in their UPSR results.
Under the Home Safety Programme, MBSB conducted the third phase of the Home Safety Awareness Campaign. MBSB collaborated with the Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia, the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, TV3 and TV9 in educating the public on fire prevention measures at home and first aid techniques. The programmes were aired in "Malaysia Hari Ini" on TV3 and "Nasi Lemak Kopi O" on TV9 for about 2 months.
In terms of alleviating the suffering and financial burden of the unfortunate members of the society, MBSB has also utilized the zakat fund to make contributions to the underprivileged, orphanages, single mothers, the disabled and flood relief centres. The recipients include Malaysians from all walks of life. MBSB has continuously sponsored selected corporate clients' programmes to strengthen ties and relationships. During the Aidiladha celebration, Regional Offices throughout Malaysia participated in Qurban Programmes in their regions.
Marketplace
The promotion of good customer relations has always been our priority and a vital part of our business strategy. The establishment of a Customer Services Committee in MBSB reflects our commitment towards customer satisfaction and provision of equitable solutions to any problems that might arise.
We continue to identify key areas that need to be improved and also continue to create internal programmes to enhance our level of customer service. As a financial provider MBSB has always been responsible to its customers in providing financial assistance. We off er lower rates and attractive packages to the customers, which has encouraged other financial institutions to push down their rates and this have significantly benefit the customers.
We believe that each and every member of our work force can contribute something, however small, to the protection of the environment. To this end, we have continued to promote awareness among our staff to minimise the use of electricity, water and paper. These efforts, although they may appear small, have contributed to our overall profit margins as well as to the environment.
As we strive to improve our business we will remain as a committed socially responsible company both to our customers and shareholders, to the less fortunate in our society and also we will endeavour to improve our environmental responsibilities.