16/09/2026

Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunbiz@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com

SCAN ME

WEDNESDAY | SEPT 16, 2026

Malaysia’s UN SDG push needs all-round partnerships

M’sian climate adaptation requirements could top US$1 tril by 2050: SC KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s climate adaptation needs could range between US$852 billion and US$1.1 trillion (RM3.47 trillion and RM4.48 trillion) by 2050, underscoring the scale of financing required to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate change, said Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). Citing the World Bank’s Country Climate and Development Report on Malaysia, SC chairman Datuk Mohammad Faiz Azmi said the figures showed that climate adaptation was no longer merely an environmental consideration but a national economic and development imperative. “This points to a structural absence in our financial architecture, which has yet to fully recognise adaptation and resilience needs. The consequences are also distri buted unevenly,” he added. Mohammad Faiz said this in his opening address at the SC-AlBaraka Forum Strategic Dialogue held at the Inner Temple Theatre in the United Kingdom on Monday. He noted that more than half of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member countries are assessed as highly vulnerable to climate impacts, with limited capacity to adapt. “This is not primarily a shortage of capital, but a return problem because many adaptation and resilience projects are unbankable. Adaptation projects have long tenors and limited standalone cashflows. A seawall generates no direct revenue. A flood-resilient drainage system may sit idle for years,” said Mohammad Faiz. He also noted that developing countries would require between US$310 billion and US$365 billion annually by 2035 to meet climate adaptation needs; however, international public adaptation finance amounted to only US$26 billion in 2023, leaving a gap 12 to 14 times greater than current funding flows. Mohammad Faiz said mobilising private capital was critical as the scale of the challenge far exceeds what individual countries’ public resources could meet alone. – Bernama

important economic sector. “A well-structured care economy can create quality employment, professionalise caregiving, support women who wish to enter or return to the workforce, and open new opportunities for social enterprises and businesses. “To advance this agenda, KPWKM is implementing the Malaysia Care Strategic Framework and Action Plan 2026–2030 as a national roadmap to professionalise, regulate and expand a sustainable care ecosystem. “The framework provides strategic direction to improve the quality, affordability and accessi bility of childcare and eldercare, while strengthening recognition and training for caregivers.” Nancy also said that businesses should increasingly recognise family-friendly policies, care infra structure and flexible work arrangements not merely as corporate social responsibility initiatives, but as investments in productivity, talent retention and sustainable business performance. Civil society and community organisations must be empowered as meaningful delivery partners, while academia has an important role in strengthening evidence based policymaking through rigorous research and lived ex periences, she added. “Sustainable development is ultimately measured not only by what we build, but by the people we empower, the families we strengthen and the communities whose lives we improve,” Nancy said. The summit brought together about 130 policymakers, govern ment officials, business and sustainability leaders, civil society representatives and community leaders to strengthen collaboration and accelerate Malaysia’s progress towards achieving the UN SDG.

o Minister says country cannot achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals through government policy alone as it requires participation across sectors and society

Ű BY JOHN GILBERT

to the wider 2030 Agenda: SDG 1 on No Poverty, SDG 3 on Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 on Reduced In equalities, SDG 11 on Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 16 on Strong Institutions, and SDG 17 on Partnerships,” she told delegates at the 5th Malaysia Sustainability Leadership Summit 2026, entitled Driving Sustainable Development Through Trans formative Partnership and Colla boration yesterday. Nancy said Malaysia cannot realise its full economic potential while half of its talent pool re mains underutilised and women’s economic participation remains a major opportunity. She pointed out that in 2025, Malaysia’s female labour force participation rate stood at 56.6%, compared with 83.3% for men. Of the 7.03 million Malaysians outside the labour force, 4.89 million, or 69.5%, were women. Significantly, 42.8% of these women cited domestic responsi bilities and caregiving as the main reason for not participating in the labour force. Nancy said, “Nearly one million women in Malaysia are both the primary caregiver and the sole breadwinner in their households. Many are single mothers, and only a proportion are connected to formal social protection systems. “This is not a question of talent

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s progress towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) cannot be driven by government policy alone, but by forming enduring partnerships across sectors and society. Women, Family and Com munity Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said sustainability is often discussed through the lenses of economic growth, environmental targets, technology and smart infra structure. “These are essential, but they are means to a larger end – improving people’s lives. “For KPWKM (Women, Family and Community Development Ministry), sustainability must ultimately be reflected in whether our families are resilient, our children are safe and nurtured, women are able to participate fully and meaningfully in the economy, older persons can age with dignity, persons with dis abilities can live with greater independence, and vulnerable communities can access the support they need. “This is central to the mandate of the ministry, as our responsi bility is to strengthen families, protect those who need support, expand opportunities and pro mote social inclusion. “Thus, our agenda is not just confined to SDG 5 on Gender Equality, but it is also connected

or capability. It is a structural gap that prevents our economy from fully benefiting from women’s skills and potential. “KPWKM is addressing these barriers through policy and institutional reforms. Through the National Policy on Women, we continue to advance gender main streaming across sectors and pursue the target of at least 30% women in decision-making posi tions. “We have also established Gender Focal Points and Gender Focal Teams across 46 ministries and agencies to strengthen the integration of gender and social inclusion considerations into policy planning and implement ation from the outset.” Nancy emphasised that a sus tainable economy therefore re quires a sustainable care eco system. “We must move away from viewing care solely as a social cost and recognise its potential as an Nancy speaking at the 5th Malaysia Sustainability Leadership Summit 2026 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Sim urges Penang to explore setting up gold bazaar BATU KAWAN: Penang should consider exploring the establishment of a gold bazaar and potentially a gold storage facility as part of efforts to develop the state into a regional gold hub, said Entrepreneur and Co operatives Development Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong. ecosystem by including or setting up a gold bazaar here in Penang. “There is nothing to stop Penang from being a Dubai Plus One or an India Plus One, because gold buyers and sellers are looking for alternative locations,” he said at the launch of Public Gold’s international-standard refinery here yesterday. Sim said Penang’s established gold manufacturing industry, which Louis Ng said the new refinery, seated on a 0.461-hectare site within the Batu Kawan Industrial Park with a built-up area of 4,038.68 square metres, is designed to refine up to 10 tonnes of precious metals annually, with the capacity to expand between 20 tonnes and 50 tonnes per year as market demand grows. The facility would enable Public Gold to refine scrap gold locally instead of sending it to overseas facilities.

He said the proposal would complement the state’s established gold jewellery manufacturing in dustry and strengthen gold’s role as one of the key assets supporting Penang’s aspiration to become a financial hub. “I hope eventually, together with the state government and the federal government, we can complete this

accounts for about 70% of Malaysia’s gold jewellery manufacturing and production, gave the state a strong foundation to develop into a regional gold bazaar. Meanwhile, Public Gold founder and executive chairman Datuk Seri

The project creates about 1,000 direct employment opportunities, ranging from highly skilled technical and engineering positions to quality assurance, operations, and corporate support functions, he added. – Bernama

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (centre), Sim (second from left) and Ng (second from right) at the launch of Public Gold’s refinery yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC