SUSTAINABILITY has become a fundamental pillar of Penang’s long-term economic and social development agenda, says state Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu.
Speaking at the Penang Green Summit 2026, themed “AI for Sustainability”, at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre today, Sundarajoo said environmental stewardship is at the heart of the state government’s vision of building a greener, more resilient and future-ready Penang for generations to come.
“Today, we are gathered here to explore how we can harness artificial intelligence to support our sustainability efforts, not just in Penang but nationwide.
“Penang’s journey has followed a clear evolution, from commitment to action and now to accountability,” said Sundarajoo, who is also the Penang Green Council (PGC) chairman.
He noted that artificial intelligence has advanced so rapidly that “it sometimes becomes very scary because it has overtaken natural intelligence”.
Organised by PGC in collaboration with the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP), the two-day summit brings together policymakers, industry leaders, technology innovators, businesses, academics and sustainability advocates to explore how AI can support environmental priorities and sustainable development.
Organising chairwoman Tan Soo Siang said the summit features 27 speakers and industry experts, with about 200 delegates, 48 exhibition booths and 40 participating companies. More than 2,000 participants are expected to attend the event, which includes panel discussions and four workshops.
“I hope participants will use these two days not just to talk about technology, but also to build partnerships and discover solutions that can create a real impact,” she said.
Soo Siang and Sundarajoo also expressed their gratitude to the sponsors and partners for supporting the event.
They include: Platinum Strategic Partner – Leader Energy Group Berhad; Silver Strategic Partners – PDC Telecommunications Services Sdn Bhd, IJM Perennial Development Sdn Bhd and Square Cloud (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd; Bronze Strategic Partners – Persada Mentari Sdn Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, B. Braun Medical Industries Sdn Bhd, Solar Voltech Sdn Bhd, GreenRE Sdn Bhd; Strategic Financial Partner – Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd; and Digital Networking Partner – Karuna (Sarawak) Enterprise Sdn Bhd.
In a video message, Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim said his ministry is committed to helping more micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adopt AI and benefit from the technology.
“We need to equip Malaysians with the right knowledge and skills to use AI, build the right infrastructure supported by quality data, and put in place proper laws and safeguards to ensure that AI is used responsibly,” he said.
The summit’s opening also marked three milestones.
The first was the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between PGC and the Global Environment Centre (GEC) in Osaka, Japan, to strengthen Penang-Japan cooperation in integrated waste management, environmental education and joint research to enhance urban resilience.
PGC was represented by its chief executive officer Josephine Tan, while GEC was represented by its executive director Takuya Kitatsuji.
The second milestone was the presentation of Penang’s state environmental, social and governance (ESG) report, developed by Alliance Bank, to Sundarajoo by the bank’s Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Dr Aaron Sum Wei Wern.
Titled “Navigating ESG in Penang: Insights from SMEs”, the report captures the experiences and perspectives of Penang’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as they respond to ESG expectations.
“This report provides a comprehensive snapshot of our business landscape, highlighting strong ESG awareness while addressing the practical hurdles companies face in taking action. Together, we are empowering businesses to benchmark their progress, optimise operations and accelerate this green transformation,” Sundarajoo said.
The third milestone was the launch of Discovering Trees in Penang, also known as Buku Pokok, by Gamuda. The book was presented to Sundarajoo by SRS LRT project director Datuk Adil Putra.
Explaining the inspiration behind the publication, Gamuda Bhd chief communications and ESG officer Ong Jee Lian said Josephine Tan had asked what would be done with the trees along the 30km LRT alignment.
“We knew infrastructure should not come at the expense of greenery. Hence, at the project level, we have three management protocols covering conservation, transplantation and planting. We are also using digital technology to monitor the trees,” Ong said.
She added that more than 3,000 trees in Penang are monitored every month using digital technology.
“That field experience inspired this pocket-sized book, which profiles 30 of the most popular tree species along the alignment. We have paired botanical signs with simple explanations so that students at schools along the LRT alignment can explore nature as part of sustainability education,” she said.
Also present at the opening were Japanese Deputy Consul-General in Penang Yazama Hideyuki, state Trade and National Unity Committee chairman Goh Choon Aik, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Joshua Woo, Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan, Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Syn Tze, and her father and former state Exco member Datuk Seri Phee Boon Poh, MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran, Leader Energy (C&I Segment) CEO Wilson Zhang, Leader Energy chief sustainability and strategy officer Evelyn Chee Siew Poh, Alliance Bank chief sustainability officer Roy Heong Beng Wai, InvestPenang head of digital economy & services Tun Qurratul Ain Yaacob, GEC senior programme officer Akiko Doi and UN Global Compact Malaysia, Brunei and Cambodia deputy executive director Angeline Seah.
The PGC Board of Directors present were its vice-chairman Datuk Lawrence Lim, Chief Minister Incorporated general manager Datin Bharathi Suppiah, Bylon Tham, Heng Yeh Shiun and Rose Kuan.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting