to International Standards
Many of the essential elements in the United Nations’ (UN) Millennium Development Goals can be identified in earlier policies implemented in Malaysia.
In fact, Malaysia’s achievement in implementing various socio-economic policies over the years has provided a solid platform on which the country was able to embark on the following phases of development.
To continue achieving its national developmental goals, Malaysia now embarks on the 10th Malaysia Plan, from this year until 2015.
At a recent Millennium Development Goal (MDG) seminar, the UN came up with guidelines to measure the country’s focus in linking development across environmental, economic, social and various other aspects.
The idea for the Millennium Development Goals stems from the start of the new millennium in 2000; 189 world leaders came together at the United Nations in New York, in an attempt to agree on ways to ensure a better future for everyone on the planet.
Conjuring up eight global time-bound development goals – with progress measured against the base year 1990 – the world is now twothirds of the way in achieving the goals set for the target year 2015.
Chief Minister YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud explained that Malaysia has done quite well in ensuring environmental sustainability, in keeping with guidelines set by the UN.
He stressed that the Malaysian government endorsed and adopted several international frameworks on environmental sustainability, such as Agenda 21; Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; and sustainable forest management principles, because the country, and Sarawak especially, were fully aware of their importance.
YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib stressed that the concept of sustainability has been an obvious motivator as the State continues to take on challenges to meet the needs of society, while considering the implications of development on the environment.
“In Sarawak, as part of efforts to ensure environmental sustainability, the State has been practicing and promoting sustainable forest management in its logging operation since 1989.
“Six million hectares have been set aside for Permanent Forest Estates (PFE) for sustainable forestry production and another one million hectares for Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) in support of the biodiversity conservation protection efforts,” he said.
In his text of speech – read by Minister of Housing and Urban Development, YB Datuk Amar Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Openg – YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib added that all these efforts had been spelt out clearly in the national-level plans.
The Chief Minister, who is the Minister of Planning and Resource Management, explained that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Social and Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) studies were also carried out before the implementation of any development project, to ensure sustainability of the natural environment.
This goes to show the government’s precision and dedication in carrying out the preceding steps before performing any activities, especially when dealing with the environment.
On the overall achievement of MDGs after a decade, YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib said Malaysia had shown impressive achievements.
He also pointed out that poverty, education and healthcare were still the biggest challenges for the State to address, to ensure that all the MDGs were achieved.
At the same time, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the implementation of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) would help achieve the nation’s MDGs target.
“In conclusion, Sarawak is fully committed to achieve the MDGs target, set by the Malaysian government. However, to ensure the State can achieve the target, all relevant stakeholders including government agencies, private sector and non-governmental organisations are required to collaborate and create a synergised effort to achieve the goals.”
Among those present at the seminar were State Secretary YB Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi bin Abdul Ghani, Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin anak Jawong and Director of State Planning Unit (SPU) of the Chief Minister’s Department, Datu Haji Ismawi bin Ismuni.
More info on MDG
Millennium Development Goals or MDGs emerged as a product of the road map that was developed to guide efforts towards universal human wellbeing.
The MDGs address many of the most enduring failures of human development, placing human well-being and the eradication of extreme poverty at the centre of global development aims.
The MDGs and the enjoyment of human rights are a mutually supportive agenda to eradicate poverty in all its dimensions.
