11MP, New Economy Model Strong Platform For Malaysia To Achieve 2030 Agenda

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Nov 15 (Bernama) -- The Eleventh Malaysia Plan and the New Economy Model will prove a strong platform for Malaysia to undertake and implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Economic Planning Unit Director-General Dr Rahamat Bivi Yusoff said the 2030 Agenda, comprising 17 goals which were approved by the United Nations General Assembly a year ago, would be undertaken in three phases at national level. She said the current Phase I covering the period of 2016 to 2020, was formulated with people as the centre of all development efforts under the 11th Malaysia Plan, which embraces three dimensions of inclusiveness, sustainability and high income. "Phase II and III, respectively, will focus on achieving the goals and objectives of SDGs beyond 2020, and the remaining goals and objectives in line with national capabilities. "I am confident Malaysia is on track to pursue the 2030 Agenda," she said in her opening address at the Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Malaysia: A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Conference here Tuesday. Besides, Rahamat Bivi said the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department - which serves as the focal point for the SDGs - would share the draft of the national roadmap for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda at the conference. "We, therefore, welcome any input and suggestion that may further improve and strengthen the draft roadmap. We look forward to hearing from you. Your contribution will be important," she added. Since Malaysia made progress in pursuing the 2030 Agenda, Rahamat Bivi said Malaysia had registered to participate in the Voluntary National Review at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2017. "At the forum, we will share Malaysia's achievement in planning and implementing the Agenda, as we believe, our accomplishments deserve to be shared and showcased at the international level. "It will also affirm our commitment towards the 2030 Agenda, as well as our aspiration to become a high income developed nation, including in terms of the social and environmental dimensions," she added. Meanwhile, United Nations Malaysia Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative ad interim Jakob Simonsen said everyone had a role to play to make Malaysia a better place for all and ensure no one was left behind. "Malaysia has also demonstrated its strong commitment to the Agenda 2030 by volunteering to conduct a National Review and report to the High Level Political Forum in July 2017. "This year, there were 22 countries which reported their progress at the annual High Level Political forum, and next year, will be 30 countries, including Malaysia," he added. However, Simonsen pointed out the challenges in ensuring the data requirement for the planning, support and measurement of progress remained a daunting task for developing and developed countries. "Data has to be accessible, reliable and disaggregated, which will enable federal, state and local governments to measure the progress made on reaching those groups and address remaining gaps," he said. Organised by EPU and the United Nations Country Team, the two-day conference will find ways to better implement, monitor, evaluate and report on SDGs in Malaysia. --BERNAMA