Sustainable shift: institutional challenges for the environment in Malaysia

Adnan A. Hezri (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, hezriadnan@gmail.com)

Abstract


Sustainable development is a global challenge. It is a systemic one and is deeply embedded in the pattern of economic production and consumption. The ‘shift’ towards sustainable development requires an institutional change, and one which requires a long-term perspective. The article traces the evolution of environmentalism, demarcated into three main waves namely, nature protection, governmental reform, and green investment. It also discusses the nature of institutions through cursory review of definitions and principles for institutional reform. In comparison to ‘organisation,’ ‘institution’ is broader, durable and persistent, so much so that its ‘hardware’ and ‘software’ must be considered in tandem. Next, a cursory assessment of Malaysia’s sustainability policy performance is also presented. The final part of the article asks what are the institutional challenges for the sustainable shift in Malaysia? Taken together, weak implementing agencies, conflicting Federal-State relationship, feeble environmental advocacy, and research that is policy-irrelevant, demand a concerted effort in thinking institutionally to find solutions to unsustainable development trajectory.

Keywords: Sustainability; environmental policy; institutional change

ABSTRAK

Pembangunan lestari merupakan suatu cabaran sejagat. Ia merupakan suatu yang sistemik dan merupakan asas di dalam mencorak pengeluaran dan penggunaan ekonomi. Perubahan ke arah pembangunan lestari memerlukan perubahan institusi, dan perspektif dalam suatu jangka masa yang panjang. Artikel ini mengutarakan suatu fahaman evolusi persekitaran, yang dibahagikan kepada tiga fasa utama iaitu, perlindungan alam, transformasi kerajaan, dan pelaburan hijau. Ia juga membincangkan kriteria-kriteria institusi melalui tinjauan takrif-takrif dan prinsip-prinsip untuk penyusunan semula institusi. Berbanding dengan ’organisasi’, perbandingan yang melibatkan ’institusi’ adakah lebih luas, tahan dan berterusan. Ianya harus dipertimbangkan dengan teliti supaya penghasilan ’software dan ’hardware’ dapat dihasilkan dalam satu kitaran. Seterusnya, satu penilaian prestasi dasar ketahanan Malaysia juga turut dibentangkan di dalam artikel ini. Bahagian terakhir artikel mempersoalkan apakah cabaran-cabaran keinstitusian untuk anjakan kelestarian di Malaysia? Turut diseratkan bersama-sama kelemahan pelaksanaan agensi-agensi, konflik perhubungan di antara Kerajaan Persekutuan dan Kerajaan Negeri, sokongan kempen alam sekitar yang lemah, dan kajian polisi yang relevan memerlukan satu usaha bersepadu sesebuah institusi untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian berhubung dengan trajektori pembangunan lestari.

Kata kunci: Kelestarian; polisi alam sekitar; perubahan institusi


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