Malaysia has outpaced global average in sustainable development goals’ progress — PM
17 Sep 2024
Malaysia is making significant strides in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), having accomplished 43% of its targets, well above the global average of 17%, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
In his officiating remarks at the Malaysia SDG Summit 2024 on Tuesday, Anwar said that achieving the SDGs requires a focus on sustainability, compassion and justice rather than solely on economic interests.
“Based on an analysis of 248 SDG indicators, Malaysia has achieved 43% of its goals, surpassing the global average of 17%. But I don’t think that is a fair assessment. Yes, we have achieved relative success, but we should ask ourselves: Is sustainability meant to fulfil just economic policy interests, or is it something critical for the survival of humankind?
“Now if we as a nation, as SDG assessment based purely on Malaysian interests and policies, then I would say that notwithstanding all these factors, we must have that resolve to do our level best and not to show not to be just satisfied with the rate of success that we have achieved this far,” he said.
He added: “We should do whatever is necessary to ensure that we achieve these goals in a more spectacular manner, because that is a reflection of what the Madani government stands for. It is about sustainability, ihsan (compassion), and understanding the need to survive as a nation and as human beings. In these post-normal times, this means addressing these issues with unprecedented speed and urgency, driven by the imperative of ensuring the survival of both the nation and humanity.”
According to Anwar, unprecedented challenges — ranging from political instability and environmental disasters to the ongoing crisis in Gaza — required a response centred on compassion, justice, and environmental preservation.
“We want Malaysians to understand that within the framework of Economic Madani, we place a strong emphasis on values like humanity and compassion, going beyond what is currently a core pillar of the SDGs,” he stressed.
SDG is a framework for guiding development efforts towards a more sustainable and equitable future.
The 2030 agenda for sustainable development — adopted by all UN member states in 2015 — outlines 17 SDGs to address various challenges including poverty, inequality and climate change.
Source: The Edge Malaysia
