Held at Sunway University on 13 – 14 January 2025, the 2025 ASEAN Workshop on Sustainable Development: Accelerating ASEAN Progress on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, involved several SDSN Malaysia Leadership Council members.

Day 1

Day 2

On May 26th, 2022, SDSN Malaysia convened a virtual meeting to launch its state-level SDG Dashboard, called SDG Monitor, bringing together expert contributors from seven SDSN Malaysia member institutions.

Hosted on the Esri ArcGIS platform, SDSN Malaysia’s SDG Monitor is a state-level dashboard for SDG performance. The platform’s interactive maps utilizes data from the Malaysian Department of Statistics.  

This launch enables the Malaysian public, students, academics and policymakers to access localized SDG performance. Supplementing the existing data are over 40 expert commentary write-ups on goal level assessments for the country. References in academic and multimedia format are provided to spur in-depth learning on SDG issues.

Led by Danesh Prakash Chacko of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development at Sunway University, the SDG Monitor utilizes the same methodology as SDSN’s global Sustainable Development Report. Formulation of the Monitor was possible with guidance from the SDSN SDG Index team in Paris. A total of 26 expert commentators from the following institutions contributed to the selection of indicators: Sunway University, Monash University Malaysia, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the Penang Institute.

The SDG Monitor serves the following purposes:

• Public engagement to understand the SDGs
• To know which states are performing well or poorly for overall and specific SDGs
• To lay the basis for more policy briefs and working papers
• To lay the foundations of an ASEAN-level SDG Dashboard
• For educators and learners to engage with the SDGs at a local level

 SDSN Malaysia Network Manager, Kong Phui Yi welcomed the participants and gave the floor to Prakash who conducted a tutorial on the Monitor’s layout, navigation and contents. This included providing an overview of the methodology and the hybrid approach to its data collection process. One of the major challenges highlighted was finding local thresholds based on government document aspirations. Currently, the threshold used for the Malaysian states is the global benchmark.

“We want this website to be a launchpad for researchers and academics to study the gaps and progress on the SDGs at the state-level and to launch their next research.” – Danesh Prakash Chacko, SDG Monitor Project Lead.

During the Q&A session, participants enquired about how often the data would be updated, whether there are any plans to develop a local benchmark and the purpose of story maps. More than one participant suggested making this an interactive and open-sourced dashboard where members of the public can also contribute.

The SDG Monitor team is currently working on a second round of updates to add more commentary with one of the long-term goals being to develop state-level thresholds for the relevant SDG indicators. The team is also interested in documenting and featuring on the website, how people are using this tool. Viewers interested in learning about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on selected SDG indicators on the state-level in Malaysia can explore the dashboard online.

SDSN Malaysia has plans to conduct an iteration of this SDG Monitor presentation for interested SDSN members in the Asia-Pacific region in the future.

“I hope that everyone understands that we really want this (dashboard) to be used and help to inform research gaps and opportunities. Please reach out to us to get linked to people in other disciplines because we know that impactful research cannot be done without a multidisciplinary team.” – Kong Phui Yi, SDSN Malaysia Network Manager.

Malaysia’s inaugural National Solutions Forum (NSF) was held on 28th April 2022 to advance a whole-of-nation approach to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hosting the NSF were the Sunway Group, a leading Asian conglomerate, driven by its mission to be Asia’s leading corporation in sustainable development, and SDSN Malaysia, having the mandate to mobilize expertise for the implementation of the SDGs. This forum was modelled after the SDSN Global Solutions Forum, which has been carried out since 2019. SDSN Malaysia’s secretariat is the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University, Malaysia.

The call for submissions began in January 2022, which drew a total of 39 entries from all corners of the country. Participants were responding to this year’s theme, “Wellbeing,” in a wide variety of approaches and at different scales. Of the 39, nine shortlisted solutions were selected to be featured at the NSF and received grant funding courtesy of the Sunway Group.

A common theme of the solutions was the emphasis on the use of digital technology to address social issues. Technology became a great equalizer in enabling access across socioeconomic groups as marginalized communities and individuals can be connected with resources at a far lower cost than before.

Investors from start-up incubators, seasoned industry professionals, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the SDGs Secretariat (APPGM-SDG), academicians and a host of solutions-providers, graced the occasion.

 Each solution was presented in seven minutes, either in English or Malay.

The SDSN Malaysia Leadership Council featured prominently on the judging panel, comprising three of the four judges. The panel included the chair of Malaysia’s bourse, senior members of the Malaysian civil service, and the CEO of a prominent start-up incubator. The event was also facilitated by an independent scrutineer from BDO Malaysia:

• Tan Sri Wahid Omar, Chairman, Bursa Malaysia
• Datuk Dr Zunika Mohamed, Deputy Director General (Policy), Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister’s Department
• Dr Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Culture of Science), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
• Puan Rafiza Ghazali, Group CEO, Cradle Fund
•  Ms Pam Lee Wen Ai, Executive Director, Advisory BDO Malaysia

These thought-leaders in nation-building selected the NSF’s best solution, which received additional funds.

Supporting Multisectoral Partnerships to Deliver Sustainability at Scale

Start-ups struggle to create multi-sectoral partnerships to scale solutions. The NSF model provided the necessary cross-sectoral dialogue to bring together investors and government officials to enable solutions providers a more holistic start-up ecosystem. Further, organizing the event with an added online component widened public exposure, opening up segments previously unreached. The exposure not only linked solutions-makers with potential collaborators and investors, but also prompted a change in public mindset towards moving from awareness to solutions.

The low-cost electric vehicle charging station solution received the highest score, based on the judges evaluation of its solution approach, impact, scalability and financial sustainability. Kray Chong, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Powered by RISE, reiterated the value of cross-sectoral platforms to start-ups, “This platform gives us support not just financially but with exposure as well. I’m very thankful to the organizers of the NSF for the opportunity, as some people wait a lifetime for an opportunity like this.”

Solutions ranged from agritech to single-use plastic waste reduction, from community education to NFC-chip embedded reusable bags, from interventions customized for migrant workers to school students without digital devices.

Supplementing Government Efforts to Achieve the SDGs

Supporting the event from the Malaysian government was YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy). He commended the nine finalists’ understanding of local issues, which enabled them to propose novel strategies to accelerate progress towards sustainable development.

Malaysia’s poverty rate is currently at 5.6%. Malaysia’s current five-year development plan has identified rural and indigenous communities for poverty alleviation efforts. The finalists’ knowledge of local communities allowed them to identify unique needs gaps. This is shown by three of the nine finalists’ solutions being targeted at rural indigenous communities.

Showcasing solution-makers is vital to implementing the SDGs within a local context. The NSF platform allowed recognition of solutions-makers as contextualizing agents of the SDGs. These organizations and individuals have stepped up to fill a needs gap in provision of resources for poverty alleviation.

SDSN Malaysia was supported by the APPGM-SDG Secretariat to inform their network of Solution Providers about the NSF opportunity. In essence, the APPGM-SDG has undertaken the role of identifying, building and linking on-the-ground actors with beneficiaries and relevant government entities. Beginning with 10 parliamentary constituencies in 2020 and an additional 20 constituencies in 2021, they have reached a total of 30 out of the nation’s 222, one in eight.

Private Sector Role in Supporting Cross-sectoral Partnership for the SDGs

The business community has a significant role to play in driving sustainable development transformations. Businesses can innovate across their value chains to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and identify both risk and opportunity areas for human wellbeing.

The main event sponsor of the NSF is the Sunway Group, which apart from its own group sustainability efforts, has also pledged US$20 million to advance sustainability in the region. This fund pledged through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation has since financed the development of the Jeffrey Sachs Center for Sustainable Development at Sunway University, as well as the establishment of the Asia headquarters of the SDSN in Sunway City, Kuala Lumpur.

Driving A National Narrative of Solutions-Making

In addition to supporting knowledge-networks for sustainable development, making the solutions forum a public event serves as a launch pad for widespread public uptake of local sustainable development solutions.

Events like the NSF shift public mindset towards civic participation in solutions-making for local issues. “I applaud such innovative thinking, and I hope that the National Solutions forum can inspire more people from different walks of life to come up with solution-driven initiatives that are beneficial to society,” Mustapa said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a radical change in the social and economic fabric of our nation. Measures that were taken to curb the spread of the virus, while necessary, have had a negative impact on large segments of society. As vaccination rates rise nationwide and we begin the task of rebuilding what was lost, we now have the unique opportunity not merely to return to status quo, but to create a more sustainable, equitable, and inclusive society for all. As we navigate the decade of action for the Sustainable Development Goals leading up to 2030, now is the time for the public sector, businesses, academia and civil society to come together and envision a better, brighter future for our people, nation, and the planet.

You may view a recording of the event below:

Agenda

Welcoming Remarks by YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy)

Session 1: Policy Interventions and Using Data

Moderator: Prof. Dato’ Dr. Rashila Ramli, Principal Fellow/ Professor of Political Science, Institute of Malaysian and International Studies (IKMAS)

Panellists: Mr. Abdul Halim Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Director General (Policy), Economic Planning Unit; Assoc. Prof. Madya Dr. Azwan Abdullah, Head of Networking and Big Data Division, Institute for Poverty Research and Management (InsPeK), Universiti Malaysia Kelantan

Session 2: Multi-stakeholder Involvement

Moderator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rusmawati Said, Head of Economics Programme, School of Business & Economics, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Panellists: Prof. Dato’ Dr. Woo Wing Thye, Director, Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development, Sunway University; Prof. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, Malaysia CSO-SDG Alliance

The presentation slides are available for download in the links below. 

 Mr. Abdul Halim Abdul Aziz

 Prof. Azwan_Abdullah

 Prof. Denison Jayasooria

 Prof. Woo Wing Thye

How did Malaysia fare this year?

Join us when we observe the @UN #InternationalDayOfHappiness

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) at Columbia University invite people of all ages from classrooms, businesses, and governments around the world to observe International Day of Happiness on March 20 when we launch the 2021 World Happiness Report.

We are living through an exceptional time dealing with the widespread effects of the pandemic. Appropriately, this year’s report discusses World Happiness during COVID-19.