Malaysia has experienced numerous "lock downs" due to COVID19 in the year 2020. However, this could not stop the enthusiasm and affection of the volunteers of Bank of China (Malaysia) Berhad (“BOCM”). Following the excellent feedbacks and responses of the "520 Series 2: Full of Love" held by Bank of China Malaysia in 2019, the BOCM CSR Team continues to uphold their spirit to support poverty alleviation of the public. As a result, "520 Series 4: Blissful Package" was launched in 2021. 

2021 is the 20th year that Bank of China (Malaysia) Berhad has resumed its’ operations in Malaysia since 2001. Over the past 20 years, BOCM has walked with Malaysians through sun and rain, especially during the current COVID19 epidemic. The Bank deeply feels the pressure of life faced by the poor in society. Therefore, the Bank has been actively cooperating with the government for poverty alleviation program as well as the Central Bank of Malaysia's bailout scheme to provide deferred loan repayments for businesses and individuals. 

Therefore, during the 20th Anniversary of the Bank’s resumption of business in Malaysia, BOCM chose not hold any celebrations, and instead decided to devote itself into rolling out the "520 Series 3: Blissful Package " as a public welfare activity. This public welfare activity aims to assist low-income earners i.e. B40 groups with the tagline "20 Years Always With You".

Through this public welfare activity, BOCM distributed 800 packages of the "520 Blissful Package" to the B40 low-income group in Malaysia. Each set of the "520 Blissful Package" contains a Touch&Go card worth RM100 for the beneficiaries to purchase basic necessities. The Bank hopes that through this act of kindness, more B40 groups will be helped, and more companies will join in action to help the poor.

At the beginning of 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia became more severe. In efforts to reduce the risk of contracting the virus among BOCM employees, the CSR team promotes plant-based diet to HQ staff. In addition to providing convenience to employees, the plant based diet is also an act of supporting the ESG effort.

The plant-based diets initiative aimed to encourage healthy and sustainable eating habits among the staff of BOCM. Plant Based Diet contain vegetables, nuts, legumes, fruits, and whole grains, and are effective in reducing the risk of heart diseases, diabetes and cancers.

In addition, the initiative is also supporting the BOC Group's ESG low-carbon strategy. According to the thevegancalculator.com, since August 2021, BOCM staff has successfully consumed 200 plant based meals, which saved 410,000 liters of water, 1,700 tons of cereals, 276 square meters of forest, reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 890 kilograms, and saved the lives of 99 animals.

Similarly in 2022, employees also consumed about 200 plant-based meals.

Plant based diet is a good choice for better health and kinder towards mother nature.  Therefore, the promotion of plant-based diets is the first step in correspondence to the ESG action plan. The CSR team commits to shaping a more friendly environment for all of earth’s inhabitants.

520 represents “I Love You” in the Chinese internet language! In 2018, BOCM has conducted its’ flagship CSR event namely “520 bring home love, filial piety and financial freedom” in three schools, which has benefited closed to 300 families or almost 1,000 individuals, including both school children and their parents.

Therefore, in efforts to continuously promote “Humanities Education, Cultural Literacy and Financial Education” BOCM has conducted additional three enhanced 520 programs with the new title 520 Series II, Full of Love. The enhanced 520 program was conducted in SMK YuHua, SRJK(C) Taman Connaught and Foon Yew High School. These events estimated to have benefited 150 families and an estimated 500 individuals including school children and their parents.

The newly enhanced 520 program consists of three main segments:-

1. Family Games that strengthen the communication skills between parents and children;

2. Financial Education that provides Money Management knowledge to both parents and students on how to manage their money, followed by investment and risk management;

3. Tea Ceremony as a token of appreciation by children to parents which represent an act of filial piety.  

The CSR activities conducted by the Bank also includes Disaster Relief, Poverty Alleviation, Public Welfare and Education. With the sincerity of the Bank in conducting the CSR events, BOCM has been awarded “Global Business Outlook 2019 ; The Best CSR Bank in Malaysia during The 5th Annual Global Business Awards (Source：https://www.globalbusinessoutlook.com/award-winners-2019-banking/ ）

The Bank will continue its efforts to conduct more CSR activities to benefit more people.