Malaysia’s challenge in achieving the SDGs lies in being able to balance the needs and well-being of its people at the same time
Malaysia has been lauded for its efforts to achieve some of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in reducing poverty, preserving its biodiversity and providing education and healthcare.
This is due to the country’s implementation of sustainable development since the 1970s that emphasise on tackling issues similar to the SDGs, and steps taken to integrate the SDGs with its five-year national development plan framework following its adoption in 2016.
However, there remain challenges for Malaysia to fulfil the SDGs; while undertaking measures to address climate change, environmental degradation and sustainable use of its natural resources, the country must be able to balance the needs and well-being of its people.
“Malaysia will try its best to achieve the sustainable goals, although we have a need to do certain things which may cause a lot of problems for the environment. But we will try our very best to achieve the goals,” said then-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the SDG Summit Leaders Dialogue in New York last year.
Thus, to enable a more effective and comprehensive implementation of SDGs, Malaysia needs to mobilise the utilisation of various resources, including manpower, capacity building, physical spaces, digital technology and funding.
More importantly, the country must call upon coordinated action by numerous stakeholders that are committed to ensuring a sustainable and inclusive future where no one is left behind.
These include all levels of the government, the private sector, non-profit organisations, academia, organised civil societies and citizens themselves.
