M'sia on right track to achieve 2030 SDG agenda

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is on the right track towards achieving the global 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at enhancing the contribution of cities to sustainable development and at ensuring that cities are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Director of Knowledge Management and Advisory of Urban Wellbeing Centre of Excellence (Urbanice) Malaysia Dr. Azmizam Abdul Rashid said, as such, the country currently focused on multidimensional goals from 2016 to 2020 and implementing the New Urban Agenda (NUA) to demonstrate the benefits of a sustainable pathway for rapidly urbanising communities.
He said the labour productivity had increased from RM77,100 in 2015 and to an expected RM92,300 in 2020, compensation of employees to gross domestic product increased from 34.9% in 2015 to 40% anticipated by 2020 and Malaysia Wellbeing Index to increase by 1.7%.
"Malaysia is also now focusing on the national urban policies, urban legislation, rules and regulations, urban planning and design, urban economy and municipal finance and also local implementation," he told Bernama after speaking at the networking event of the 9th World Urban Forum (WUF9), here today.
In Oct last year, Malaysia has unveiled its NUA, aimed at leading the country towards sustainable urbanisation and development besides providing guidance to achieve the SDGs, which are a universal call for action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
NUA, introduced in October 2016 during the United Nations Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador, has since been adopted by 170 countries.
Meanwhile, Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements president Khairiah Talha said the SDGs principles are entrenched in Malaysia's wide-ranging development endeavours under the 11th Malaysia Plan.
"SDGs, New Urban Agenda and 11th Malaysia Plan share most common goals that include improving people's quality of life, fostering equitable growth and protecting the environment," she said.
WUF 9, which began yesterday until Feb 13, is being held for the second time in Asia and will hold over 500 events, including assemblies, high-level roundtable talks, dialogues and special sessions.
Themed 'Cities 2030, Cities for All: Implementing the New Urban Agenda (NUA)', the forum hosted by Kuala Lumpur will focus on implementing the NUA. — Bernama