SARAWAK has picked up the Best Sustainability Initiative (Destination) award at the 2026 M&C Asia Stella Awards, its second win in the category following its 2024 victory.
The award recognises the state’s efforts to ensure business events leave an impact beyond the events themselves, including through economic activity, social programmes and environmental initiatives.
The approach is tied to Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
This year’s award was decided through public nominations and voting, giving the recognition a wider community element beyond the business events industry.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the award showed why sustainability should not be viewed solely through the environmental lens.
“Winning this award for the second time demonstrates the importance of sustainability and legacy to Sarawak’s business events strategy and wider development,” he said.
Abdul Karim noted business events should also contribute to social and economic development, with their benefits continuing after participants had left.
Since its first win in 2024, Sarawak has continued efforts to bring the concept of legacy impact into the planning of business events, including through industry education and measuring outcomes.
Meanwhile, BESarawak chairman Datu Hii Chang Kee said the idea was gaining traction among industry players.
“What began with advocacy is gaining greater participation across the industry,” he said.
He said government, organisers, businesses and local communities all had a part to play in ensuring events produced benefits that lasted beyond the event itself.
BESarawak chief executive officer Jason Tan Chin Foo said the focus now was on getting more players in the industry to plan and measure those outcomes consistently.
“The next phase is to drive greater adoption across the ecosystem, ensuring that legacy outcomes are consistently planned, measured and demonstrated,” he said.
The latest award adds to Sarawak’s recognition in the business events sector, while the state continues to position legacy impact as part of its wider approach to sustainable development. - August 22, 2026
