Business Council for Sustainable Development in Malaysia: a dormant entity?

Taken from their website, The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Malaysia was formed because the business community was concerned for the Environment. BCSDM strives:

To create awareness in sustainable development (SD) To get the business community involved in SD To be the main link between the Government and the business community To be an information exchange on successful SD practices To work with national and global bodies towards attaining SD The reality of the current state is that the organisation website I visited is very much dormant. Last activity recorded was in July 2009. Even the President Dato’ Saw Choo Boon is no longer the Chairman of Shell Malaysia. How can this organisation play a genuine role of a sustainability change agent when information on the virtual platform is not up-to-date?

The first Chief Sustainability Officer in Malaysia?

In the corporate world, you've heard of of the title CEO, COO, CFO, CTIO and here is a cute one, CHCO (pronounced as Cheeco or the Chief of Human Capital Officer). All the top management positions carry specific roles and responsibilities in the organisation.

Sustainability is so crucial in the corporate world today it justifies not to be put under the same division in Corporate Communication or Health Safety and Environment.

Sime Darby is well known to be the leader to champion the sustainability cause in Malaysia Corporate Sector. Such cause must be driven by a dedicated leader with support by a multi diverse group of talents. Mr Puvan J Selvanathan assumed the position of Chief Sustainability Officer of Sime Darby on 1st Nov 2008. I would love to know from him the achievement to date and the future plans of Sime Darby sustainability journey.

 

Is development in Malaysia sustainable?

Is development in Malaysia sustainable? That is the common question that will be asked on anything pertaining to the SD subject matter. In general, the answer will vary from one stakeholder to another. For example, when the government decides to build a new airport in the country, majority of the local residents that will be affected with potential "noise pollution" will be the first to object the idea. On the other hand, different groups will see this as an opportunity like creating new jobs and further expansion to boost the tourism industry.

Sustainability practitioners will tell you that there will never be a direct YES or NO answer to this question. A simple explanation to this is that we will never be able to satisfy all stakeholders. In fact, it is impossible to predict accurately if our development will satisfy the need of our future generations.

Do not feel despair to know that there will be no straight answer to this. Those who wish to embrace sustainability principles must be prepared with the right knowledge, tools, awareness and most importantly PASSION to strive in making any development as sustainable as possible. This is the main problem that Malaysia will face in trying to grasp the essence of sustainable development in the country. We have so many people talking about the subject without really knowing the content. We are still focusing on the form rather than the substance. This blog will try to take one issue at a time to discuss and find a better solution which will be more sustainable.

I will end this posting on a positive note by sharing with you Malaysia current status to achieve UN Millennium Goal, which is one of the established sustainable development indicators around.

source: http://www.mdgmonitor.org/country_progress.cfm?c=MYS&cd=

In comparison to other countries, the results indicate that we are certainly in the right direction.

Malaysia boleh!

Go Green!

Let's all local sustainable players join hands and put all our collective efforts into this noble course!!!