Progress in promoting peace and justice – together with fostering effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions – is a decisive challenge across the globe. Violence cost 12.6 percent of world GDP in 2016. While homicides have declined and more citizens around the world have better access to justice, violent conflicts have increased in recent years. A few high-intensity armed conflicts are causing a large number of displaced persons and threatening rule of law. In 2016 the IMF estimated the annual cost of bribery alone at about $1.5 to $2 trillion.

Bribery and corruption impede business growth, raise transaction costs, and create an unlevel playing field. This ultimately creates social instability, fuels mistrust in public officials and institutions, and undermines the rule of law. Indeed, an estimated 4 billion people world-wide continue to live outside the protection of the law.

At The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL), we believe that our students are our future. As young people exposed to a range of cultures and international experiences, they are uniquely placed to be global leaders in sustainable development and social justice, now and in the future. ISKL prioritizes developing in our students, from their earliest years, an understanding of not only the challenges facing our world, but the part they can play to truly make a difference.

Since inception, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have been at the heart of Christopher & Lee Ong’s (“CLO”) approach, not only within the Firm but to doing business as well. With the push and call for action by both the public and private sectors in Malaysia and other countries on various sustainability issues, including global health and social well-being, tackling of climate change and environmental issues, and transparency in corporate governance, the assimilation of these factors into our operations have translated for better outcomes for our clients, our people, and the wider community.