Towards sustainable development? The evolution of environmental policy in Malaysia

Abstract

Over the last five decades, Malaysia has undergone rapid economic, social and environmental change, a process which is still continuing. The pursuit of socio‐economic progress has been accompanied by an unprecedented rate of change in the natural environment. In parallel to this development, governmental responses have also adapted over time to address emerging environmental situations. This article views the recent history of Malaysia's evolving policy response to development needs and environmental change as consisting of four distinct stages. Despite an impressive array of policy statements and strategies to implement sustainable development, many challenges remain today. A clear articulation of normative principles of sustainable development is of paramount importance, as is the monumental task of policy implementation. The article argues that the trajectory of Malaysia's policy on natural resources and environmental issues bears the characteristics of path‐dependent evolution.

The rise of sustainability services for the built environment in Malaysia

“…In conclusion, the emphasis on sustainable development in Malaysia's national and state policy and regulation is beginning to spur some interest in sustainability in the built environment (Hassan et al 2011;Hezri and Hasan 2006), which in turn is providing a platform for the potential growth for demand in sustainability services. Although critics highlight weaknesses in sustainability policy implementation and enforcement (Hezri and The qualitative data collected through the interviews were analysed through a series of analytical processes such as categorisation, reduction and rearrangement, recognition of patterns and relationships.…”

“…Malaysia has experienced over thirty years of consistently high economic growth and is now aiming to adopt more stringent sustainability policies to support recent national development strategies (Economic Planning Unit 2010; Hezri and Hasan 2006). Examining the current status of the market, the A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 3 extent to which it is evolving, and analysing the factors required to help overcome the barriers and constraints will help to determine how sustainable development can be supported in Malaysia's urban environment.…”

Neighborhood Sustainability Assessment: Evaluating Residential Development Sustainability in a Developing Country Context

“…In contrast, master-planned developments (relatively large in scale) have to provide the necessary amenities as required by the planning standards. Sustainable urban development practice in our case developing country context of Malaysia is extensively reported in the literature [63][64][65][66][67][68]. Rather than repeating what have been already said, we focus on residential sustainability assessment in a case study location in Malaysia.…”

Public Perception of Forestry Practices in Malaysia

“…Among those interested in the long-term viability of the forest resource are young people, specifically those in the age group of 21-35 years. Indeed, their beliefs and attitudes play an important role in determining how they perceive the forests should be managed and ultimately, in how they are sustained for future enjoyment and economic returns (Hezri and Hasan, 2006). Within this context, this research aims to develop an in-depth understanding of perceptions, beliefs and behaviors of people towards the forest in Malaysia.…”