November-December , 2020 | @ green opinion
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Cutting across the board
A unique feature of APPGM is it may incorporate members of the public into the set-up
Sustainable Development . It brings a
different meaning from different people . The oft-cited Brundtland Report , also known as Our Common Future , released in 1987 , defines Sustainable Development as “ development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs ”.
Fast forward 28 years . The Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ) were adopted by all United Nations member States in late September 2015 . The SDGs comprise 17 broad goals that are cross-cutting and serve as a universal call to action to end poverty , protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030 .
How has Malaysia responded ? A giant leap was taken on Oct 19 , 2019 , when the Parliament of Malaysia approved the formation of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals ( APPGM-SDG ) and was formally registered with Secretary of Parliament soon after . The All-Party Parliament Group formulated in Malaysia was adopted from the one instituted by the United Kingdom .
The APPGM-SDG requires a minimum of five members from the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara . The current chairperson of the APPGM-SDG is Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim while her deputy is Maria Chin Abdullah . A unique feature of the APPGM may incorporate members of the public into the set-up . The Malaysian CSO SDG Alliance is the Secretariat for the APPGM-SDG with Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria as the Head of Secretariat .
During the Budget 2020 speech in October 2019 , the then Minister of Finance announced an allocation of RM2 million towards activities by the APPGM-SDG .
The APPGM-SDG Pilot Project began in January 2020 . Ten Parliamentary constituencies were identified and subscribed into the Pilot Project . They were Pendang , Kedah ; Jeli , Kelantan ; Bentong , Pahang ; Selayang and Petaling Jaya , Selangor ; Tanjung Piai , Johor ; Papar and Pensiangan , Sabah ; and , Kuching and Batang Sadong , Sarawak . The aims of the APPGM-SDG are :
• Engage with Members of Parliament in both houses of the Malaysian Parliament and across political parties
KEE HUAT ’ S FACTS
Figure 1 : Niche Themes of each Parliamentary Constituency
By Anthony Tan Kee HuAT on the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals with a focus on economic , social and environmental concerns about development planning and delivery .
• Identify policy issues on SDGs and prepare strategic papers to advice MPs which could be beneficial for their parliamentary debates and work with relevant select committees and agencies .
• Assist the Members of Parliament in the monitoring of SDG delivery & implementation at the parliamentary constituency level and draw out national issues and concerns arising from localising SDGs for parliamentary debates and discussion .
• Assist the Members of Parliament on SDG related matters about their parliamentary constituencies such as advising on local solutions and specific intervention initiatives .
• Prepare parliamentary questions , position papers and speeches for parliamentary debates and discussions of SDG 2030 Agenda .
• Strengthen the oversight function of Parliament and MPs in holding the government of the day accountable to international commitments made to the localisation , effective implementation & delivery of the SDGs . The APPGM-SDG pilot project at the 10 Parliamentary
Constituencies has the objective of “ Localising SDGs by promoting the role of the Member of Parliament as a Champion of Sustainable Development Goals within their Parliamentary constituency ”.
A simple methodology is applied to each constituency . A group of researchers , experts , and NGO representatives , with the active support of the MP ’ s office , conduct a 2-3 day site visit to fact-find the actual situation with the communities on the ground .
Agencies from the Federal , State and local levels are invited to participate in stakeholder briefing and consultation sessions . After the facts have analysed and issues prioritised , these are presented to Member of Parliament who shall specify a few short 3-6 month term projects that can be implemented in the constituency .
A simple methodology is applied to each constituency . A group of researchers , experts , and NGO representatives , with the active support of the MP ’ s office , conduct a 2-3 day site visit to fact-find the actual situation with the communities on the ground .”
What are the challenges in bringing SDGs down to the local / district level ?
This map depicts a situation where development issues are cross-cutting and diverse throughout the country . From squatters in Kuching to connectivity issues in Batang Sadong , to migrants in Selayang , Urban Poverty in Petaling Jaya and Small Holder challenges in Jeli .
At the heart of the map are SDG17 ( partnerships ) and SDG16 ( institutions ). The mapping shows that every Parliamentary constituency has some unique development challenges which may not be shared even with the constituency next to it . A “ one size fits all ” development approach does not represent the reality on the ground .
The 10 Parliamentary constituencies represent slightly less than five per cent of the total ( 222 ). Still , the outcome of the research shows the various kinds of development issues faced by the different localities and communities throughout the country .
At present , there are 22 Capacity Building activities , and 35 Solutions Projects deployed to these constituencies to cater to the most critical issues at hand . Although the pilot project was to end in December 2020 , it has been given a three-month extension due to the delays caused by Covid-19 .
The current Minister of Finance has announced an allocation of RM5 million for APPGM-SDG activities in 2021 , through which the Pilot Project will be replicated in 20 additional constituencies while following up in the original 10 .
It is hoped this effort by the APPGM-SDG would continue to receive the support of the government throughout the 12th and 13th Malaysia Plans . — @ green
Figure 1 is taken from the APPGM-SDG Preliminary Report 2020 : Synthesis Report produced by the APPGM-SDG Team headed by A . Mahadi & Z . A . Sanusi ( 2020 ).
Anthony Tan Kee Huat : Finance Officer , All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals ( APPGM-SDG ) ( Master of Sustainable Development Management , Sunway University )