The roads around the iconic Petronas Twin Towers may have been chock-a-block with traffic on the evening of Dec 11, but clearly, there was no stopping the crème de la crème of Corporate Malaysia from gathering to celebrate the country’s top listed companies and outstanding corporate performers at The Edge Billion Ringgit Club Corporate Awards 2018 (The Edge BRC).

Many ordered their drivers to stop the car and they walked the last mile or so towards Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur. Other industry captains, resplendent in the finest tuxedos or elegant evening gowns with bespoke accessories, probably turned heads as they took the light rail transit.

In its ninth instalment this year, The Edge BRC is easily the biggest awards night on Malaysia’s corporate calendar, recognising not only companies with the best financial performances but also those with the best corporate responsibility (CR) initiatives.

Guests began arriving as early as 6pm. After pausing to have their pictures taken at the photo wall, they mingled and caught up over champagne, single malt whiskey or pre-dinner mocktail in the foyer. For some, the conversation veered to the first leg of the Malaysia vs Vietnam AFF Suzuki Cup final that was being played at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

OCBC Bank Malaysia returned as the main sponsor for the ninth consecutive year while Mercedes-Benz Malaysia provided the official car. A number of guests, admiring the newly launched Mercedes S450 on display in the ballroom, wondered aloud if there would be a lucky person driving away the gorgeous black sedan that night.

Augmented reality allowed some guests to virtually wear a selection of timepieces that were courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre, supporting sponsor for the fourth year running. Value Creator: Outstanding CEO of Malaysia Tan Sri Dr Ngau Boon Keat, executive chairman of Dialog Group Bhd, took home the white-gold Master Ultra Thin Perpetual.

Guests also took a moment to congratulate Westports Holdings Bhd founder and executive chairman Tan Sri G Gnanalingam, last year’s Outstanding CEO. He had been unable to attend the event last year and was represented by his son Ruben and wife Puan Sri Siew Yong.

The Edge Media Group publisher and group CEO Datuk Ho Kay Tat presented highlights of the overall performance of The Edge BRC members as guests started their five-course meal with an appetiser of blue swimmer crab meat tian.

Among other things, Ho pointed out that The Edge-BRC members’ total market value of RM1.69 trillion was higher than the previous year’s RM1.59 trillion although the number of members was smaller at 170 compared with 184 previously.

Sharizan Borhan was the evening’s master of ceremonies while young and soulful diva Evelyn Feroza serenaded guests with classics such as Frank Sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon and the more contemporary Diamonds by Rihanna.

The awards ceremony commenced as guests started on their dessert of chocolate mousse.

Alongside OCBC Bank Malaysia CEO Datuk Ong Eng Bin, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia president and CEO Dr Claus Weidner, Jaeger-LeCoultre managing director of Southeast Asia and

Oceania Maxence Kinget and The Edge Malaysia editor-in-chief Azam Aris, Ho presented 55 corporate awards to 40 companies. There were four joint winners, which meant 59 trophies were given out.

The evening’s top corporate award — Company of the Year 2018 — went to Petronas Dagangan Bhd, which was represented by its managing director and CEO Datuk Seri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

OCBC’s Ong said it was heartening to see how Corporate Malaysia has shown steady improvement in its respective environmental, social and governance (ESG) endeavours, with sustainability clearly on the agenda.

“Our heartiest congratulations to this year’s The Edge BRC winners for going the distance and improving significantly on all counts, including the important area of ESG. As we move further into the era of a new Malaysia, we trust businesses will always remember that our reason for existence is not purely to make profit, but to provide a meaningful service to humanity and the communities we serve. Ultimately, we ensure our sustainability by always placing stakeholders’ interests at the heart of our business agenda. Let’s never lose focus of this,” Ong said.

With all the awards given out, the night drew to a close, though many stayed on to congratulate the winners and have their photos taken.