KUALA TERENGGANU, 19 MAY 2024 – Malaysia SDG Summit 2024: Wilayah Timur, organised by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy concludes on a high note with the successful organisation of the summit, here, today, at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).

The Malaysia SDG Summit 2024: Wilayah Timur with the theme “SDGs Local Actions for Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Malaysia,” encapsulated ECERDC’s holistic approach to create awareness for the people in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), centred around ECERDC’s projects and programmes that are in line with SDG goals.

The summit was preceded by three prelude events to create SDG awareness at Laman Warisan Kampung Laut in Tumpat, Kelantan, Tasik Chini, Pekan, Pahang and Kampungstay@Teluk Buih in Mersing, Johor, as well as a technical visit to Setiu Wetlands.

“The Terengganu State Government is pleased to be part of the national SDG movement as it is line with our mission to spearhead state development in a sustainable manner. The sustainability agenda is part of an important development strategy in Terengganu as the state is blessed with natural resources, natural assets and cultural heritage. Therefore, the shift towards sustainable development goals will enable the preservation of the environment and ensure the momentum of economic growth can be maintained at the same time,” said YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri bin Mokhtar, Menteri Besar of Terengganu, in a speech read by Terengganu State Secretary YBM Tengku Seri Bijaya Raja.

“The hosting of the Wilayah Timur SDG summit exemplifies our commitment and reiterates our stance in sustainable development goals. Our goal is to be a “Distinctive, Dynamic and Competitive” region and this is reflected in our projects and programmes which has consistently prioritised sustainability, environment protection and the preservation of arts, culture and heritage,” said YBhg. Dato’ Baidzawi Che Mat, Chief Executive Officer of ECER.

Also present at the summit were YBM Tengku Seri Bijaya Raja, Terengganu State Secretary; YB Dato’ Sri Haji Zulkifli bin Haji Yaacob, Pahang State Secretary; YBhg. Dato’ Luqman Ahmad, Deputy Secretary General (Macro) Ministry of Economy; YBrs. Tuan Haji Ahmad Azizi bin Zulkifli, Kuala Nerus District Officer and Madam Karima El Korri, Resident Coordinator of United Nations in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

The main summit held at UniSZA today attracted more than 500 participants, with a diverse lineup that included five esteemed keynote speakers, four expert sharing sessions and a workshop by Youth Environmental Living Lab (YELL), a joint programme by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF in collaboration with Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM) and European Union (EU). The summit also featured exhibition by ECER entrepreneurs, handicraft demonstration, as well as an exhibition of electric vehicles (EV) and recreational vehicles (RV).

Among topics by the keynote speakers are The ECER Region – Pathways Towards Sustainable Development, Malaysia’s Sustainable Development Goals Implementation Plan: Achievements and Future Outlook, and Charting the Course to 2030: Assessing Global SDG Progress and the Imperative for Collective Action.

The dialogue sessions discussed challenges in the ECER region and how collaborative efforts foster sustainable economic growth. Another hot topic discussed at the summit were ‘Gender Equality’ where the panellists spoke on promoting a just and equitable society. This includes raising awareness on the importance of gender equality and creating space for sharing perspectives and experiences as well as identifying challenges and solutions.

ECERDC’s three prelude events zoomed in towards each location’s sustainable development elements. The first prelude event was held on 3 May 2024 at Laman Warisan Kampung Laut to highlight the conservation and restoration of the 400-year-old Masjid Kampung Laut and the relocation to its original site which focuses on SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) aimed at safeguarding the cultural and natural heritage, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) aimed at promoting beneficial and sustainable tourism.

The second prelude, held in collaboration with the Tasik Chini Research Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPTC) at Tasik Chini, in Pekan, Pahang, with a focus on SDG 14 (Life Underwater), aimed at protecting and restoring ecosystems and SDG 15 (Life on Land), focusing on safeguarding biodiversity and natural habitats. Participants were enlightened about the importance of conservation and preservation of the Tasik Chini biosphere reserve while ensuring the preservation of the indigenous community’s interconnectedness with the Tasik Chini ecosystem.

The third and final prelude with the theme “Climate Action in Reducing the Impact of Climate Change”, took place at Kampungstay@Teluk Buih, in Mersing, Johor organised in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported by Global Environment Centre (GEC), Tengah Island Conservation (TIC), and Reef Check Malaysia. The event aims to raise awareness on SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, and SDG 14, focusing on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, encouraging sustainable consumption and production patterns, building knowledge and capacity to meet climate change targets as well as protecting and restoring ecosystems.

ECERDC also organised a technical visit to Setiu Wetlands together with the State Park Management Council (MPTN), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Setiu District Office which shed light on the abundant natural assets of the ECER region, which boasts diverse ecosystems including tropical rainforests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and thriving marine habitats. Setiu Wetlands was chosen as it has one of the healthiest mangrove ecosystem in Malaysia.

Among the activities held include mangrove boardwalk, mangrove planting and visit to Rumah Botol where they learned about the value of recycling and coastal preservation. The participants also visited Kampung Pelancongan Mangkok, where they had the opportunity to learn how to make traditional handicrafts and were given a demonstration on cooking local cuisines like satar and keropok lekor.  

The Malaysia SDG Summit comprise a series of summits supported by the Ministry of Economy and led by Economic Corridor Authorities and State Governments. The summits have been carried out according to regions with the first summit held in the Southern Region in August last year, followed by the Northern Region, Sabah and Sarawak. The completion of the final leg in this series at Wilayah Timur will make way for the National SDG Summit 2024 scheduled to be organised by the Ministry of Economy in August 2024. The national level summit will serve as a platform for Malaysia to showcase its SDG initiatives and achievements.

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