FROM the 1st of April 2022, Malaysia will enter a transition stage from the Covid-19 pandemic to the endemic phase. However, the uncertainties in the global economy continue to loom large due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and increased tensions between the US and China.
Locally, the multiple flood events in the Klang Valley have caught the attention of all Malaysians on the insidious impacts of climate change and the potential risks in almost all aspects of life. All these uncertainties have further driven the discussion and pressures for a more sustainable pathway of development.
Terms in relation to sustainability, like ‘security’, ‘resilience’, and ‘survival’ of humankind, have replaced ‘growth’ to become the keywords in these discussions. In the midst of uncertainty, planning authorities at both the federal and the state levels have moved on to mainstreaming sustainable development, particularly the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework in finding ways to recover from the pandemic.
East Malaysia is in limelight due to its heavy reliance on large-scale land exploitation, especially timber extraction and oil palm plantation. Sabah and Sarawak have experienced massive deforestation and forest degradation in the past two decades, alongside the rapid expansion of oil palm plantations.
This mode of development has been unstable following the wax and wane of commodity cycles and accompanied by serious social issues that emerged from land-use conflicts.
Environmental degradation also exacerbates climate change, increasing the risks of droughts, floods and subsequently affecting agricultural production. Both states are also exposed to great risks of coastal erosion and rising sea level, as most of the cities are located along the coasts.
Sarawak
In Sarawak, the state government remains highly optimistic about its ongoing 10-year plan despite the uncertainties. A review published by The Sarawak Economic Action Council, chaired by the Premier, states that Sarawak ‘aspires to be a developed state by 2030’ with improvements in physical and digital infrastructure, science-based education, and ‘smart’ farming.
The term ‘digital economy’ was frequently mentioned by state officials, aiming to transform the state from a raw material producer to a high-value service provider.
While oil palm remains a key sector, the focus will be shifted from upstream to downstream with the development of oleochemical and bio-based industries in the state.
Forestry is given a new objective as revealed near the end of the report, hoping to restore ‘more than 200,000 hectares of (the) degraded forest’