The Green Chronicles

Source: DiGi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd.

Google has been touted as “the most desirable place to work in the United States”. All the way across the globe however, I have discovered that based on aesthetics alone, in my own personal experience, DiGi Telecommunications’ head office, aptly named Digi D’house, is undoubtedly the most desirable place to work in in Malaysia.

It was a good while ago but I significantly recalled reading the newspaper write-up on DiGi’s head office in Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park. I remember seeing the pictures of the head office and thinking to myself “this can’t be in the country!” but yet I continued ogling at such a marvel of an office place. Needless to say I leaped at the opportunity to see first-hand the place DiGi calls home. I certainly went with my own set of expectations in mind and I must admit that right from the moment I set foot in the lobby, keeping my cool was quite a task in itself.

Indeed, we met DiGi. No, the resort-like workplace is not an urban myth but I digress. When we heard of DiGi’s latest Corporate Responsibility (CR) programme we knew we wanted to know more. Any one of us who has lived in Malaysia in recent years will know that DiGi is synonymous with the colour yellow. So when DiGi announced Deep Green (“DG” – pun intended?) it certainly piqued our interest in wanting to delve deeper into DiGi’s CR initiatives. And upon finally coming to a time that is in agreement with the right people, DiGi graciously allowed us to pick at their gray matter.

Initially, the initiation seemingly appeared as a shift in terms of DiGi’s CR efforts. We have always known to associate DiGi’s efforts to community engagement, with which more often than not, it is in relation to the young and the creative ones. “Why the sudden shift?” we thought. It was then revealed to us that it is not a sudden shift that was conceived out of the inevitable growing affinity towards all things going green. It has been a while now that with much awareness, DiGi recognized that there is an alarming and urgent need for change in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. The one fact that stood out was that from “a McKinsey report on the environmental impact by various industries revealed that the ICT industry is set to outstrip the aviation industry as the major source of CO2 emissions by 2012” (Source: DiGi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd.).

This doesn’t just involve the industry makers alone – but this includes consumers, myself included, who depend on the ICT industry that contributes to the alarming statement. It is with this in mind that DiGi has cultivated a stance consistent throughout its organization to ensure the preservation and salvation of the environment. It is with such conscientiousness that has led for DiGi to include Environment as one of the legs of the tripod that forms the CR Strategic Focus. From the preservation of the hillock in its office grounds that was kept and built around down to the concept of the large, wide windows throughout the building to ensure reduction of electricity consumption, DiGi is consistent in that it has clearly incorporated sustaining the environment within its own organization before venturing out into the community.

The tagline under the company’s Corporate Responsibility arm – “Doing Great While Doing Good”. The office culture, working environment and D’House alone, this a reflection and fair representation of the company? I for one definitely wouldn’t mind clocking in the long hours (if necessary) in a working environment like this – if everyone works together a common belief, a common good. And yes, I shamefully admit that claiming a site like DiGi D’House as a second home is an all-too alluring thought.