Nurturing A More Sustainable Practice Among Malaysians
Greetings and welcome back to an all new Head’s Up. I had a chat with BeliGas’s Managing Director, Suthan Mookaiah who shares with me on his latest initiative to get Malaysians to donate their cooking oil for cheaper cooking gas.
But it’s not just about donating, it’s about discovering the sustainable factor behind. The social enterprise is also doing more in terms of getting Malaysians back on their feet. So be sure to have a read, and if you enjoyed this issue, do not hesitate to give it a like and share.
But just before you go on, an announcement is in place.
In this latest instalment of Austral Media’s Rainforum, expert panelists and host will explore how digitalisation is changing the game for social entrepreneurs. The virtual event consists of a network of movers and shakers of the social impact ecosystem where you can be part of.
Join us on Thursday | 24 JUNE 2021 | 2pm - 3pm. RSVP today at https://bit.ly/AMRainforum5 .
Nurturing A More Sustainable Practice Among Malaysians
Suthan Mookaiah founded BeliGas with hopes to provide employment to as many B40 Malaysians as he could. The registered social enterprise started with the Sustainable Development Goal to get Malaysians back into the workforce and has since hired more than 60 Malaysians, with many coming from marginalised communities.
While many of his employees were those who had lost their initial jobs from the first Movement Control Order, Suthan is committed to hiring more B40 community members and ex-convicts into BeliGas as it expands.
As a registered parole location, the social enterprise is working together with the Kajang Prison to hire exemplary and recommended ex-prisoners to work with in its warehouse hubs. Those hired are given a safe working house, sound employment and necessities, which includes a hostel as well.
“We help them to build a life again and many among those we have hired has upskilled and gone on to manage their own divisions within BeliGas. It’s only right for them to lead a dignified living in their own right,” he says.
Nurturing A More Sustainable Practice
The social enterprise operates by delivering LPG cooking gas to houses and businesses and as of recent, they have introduced a new initiative. Malaysians can now donate their leftover cooking oil in return for subsidized cooking gas.
“The idea has always been part of founding BeliGas but we wanted to strengthen our foundation and logistics before we could launch the initiative,” says Managing Director, Suthan.
With 13 outlets and 200 service points in the Klang Valley, BeliGas latest initiative makes it easier for Suthan and his team to access houses and encourage Malaysians to donate their cooking oil which will then be converted into biodiesel.
The biodiesel is then used to fuel BeliGas’ lorries and for export purposes as well.
For Suthan, by subsidizing cooking gas prices, the initiative helps the B40 community particular by cutting down their expenses and at the same time encourages them to lead a more sustainable living.
“The current situation has made Malaysians to be more prudent and particular with what they are spending their money on. Our move to subsidize their cooking gas’ price will help them in the long run, and not just the B40 community but also dealers in the business.
“And we are doing this through digitalisation, big data and efficient logistics,” he says.
BeliGas offers programmes that allows dealers to sell cheaper cooking gas and at the same time monetise and benefit from other offerings the programmes have to offer.
The social enterprise has brought down the prices for its users down to RM25.16 and Suthan is committed to bringing it down even further.
“We don’t want to just subsidize the prices to make it easier for them, but we want Malaysians to learn the value of recycling from within their houses as well,” he tells Head’s Up, referring to the lack of awareness done to promote recycling among Malaysian houses.
Having established a stronghold in Klang Valley, Suthan is looking to expand his reach to four more states which includes the likes of Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Malacca in the coming year.
With an initial aim to establish 100 outlets, he has since brought the numbers down to 30 due to complications posed by the MCO which led to struggles in obtaining the necessary licenses to do so.
On how Malaysians can help the SE, Suthan is urging the public to buy their next gas with BeliGas.
“Download our BELIGAS app in the app store or order from our website. Our customers, be it at home or business will derive instant savings from buying with us. You will be surprised how cheap we are compared to the traditional players.
“You will also help put Malaysians back in the workforce as the profit we make are put back to hire more Malaysians in our organisations.
“We want to impact Malaysians in a more sustainable living, and while BeliGas is committee to doing so in the coming years, we also want to make cooking gas free for all one day,” Suthan says.
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