CONTEXT
Development in Malaysia, as in most Asian countries, has been driven largely by economic factors and has been primarily a ‘top-down’
process. Representatives from government, business and civil society in Penang were not convinced that this process was creating the kind of community they wanted for themselves or their children.
The Sustainable Penang Initiative (SPI) promotes the message of sustainable development and provides middle ground for the government and community groups to work together.
THE PLAYERS
SPI is led by the Socio-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (SERI), a newly-created think tank. Indicators are created by
participants at five separate Roundtables, and monitored by sub-groups created at the Roundtables.
THE PROCESS
SPI is centred around five Roundtables focusing on ecological sustainability, social justice, economic productivity, cultural vibrancy and popular participation. Roundtables for business people and Chinese and Malay speakers were also held.
The SPI Roundtables bring together government, NGO representatives and citizens in an environment where everyone is comfortable expressing their views freely as part of the participatory process. Roundtable participants develop a vision of the way they would like to see Penang develop. Based on this vision and the current context, they identify common issues which they feel need to be addressed in Penang. They also identify indicators through which they can measure the progress of Penang towards sustainable development. The indicators create a common language by which politicians, policy makers, NGOs, business, academics and citizens can talk about the long-term well-being of the people of Penang.
NOURISHING A STATE
After years of top-down development planning driven largely by economic indicators, the government and people of Penang are pioneering a new
community-based indicators project. The Sustainable Penang Initiative is helping to make holistic, people-centred
planning a reality in the state of Penang.
SUSTAINABLE PENANG INITIATIVE
MALAYSIA
INTEGRATING PENANG’S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS
Many of Penang’s young professionals are university- educated and major contributors to the state’s economic development.
Approached by SPI to take part in the Roundtables, many feared it would be a boring intrusion into their hectic lives.
Yet a core of dedicated ‘knights’ of the Roundtable has emerged which actively participates in SPI
activities. The Roundtables have opened a whole new world of insights and knowledge into the lives of these successful young professionals.
Some are drawn to the Roundtables because of the knowledge they gain and a new interest in their communities. They learn to have patience with regard to the slow nature of the
development process, and that meaningful decisions can only be made if important information from the people is voiced and heard.
The Roundtable is a big leap in the decision-making process in
Malaysian society. As professionals sit around the tables with
grassroots leaders, they understand the importance and challenge of participation from every level of society.
CAGIN is Funded by CIDA and Managed by The Institute On Governance
IMPACT
A series of approximately 40 indicators has been created, encompassing environmental, social, economic, cultural and governance dimensions. The indicators are being integrated into a People’s Report on the State of Penang, and published and discussed at a People’s Forum. A few indicator groups have spun off into new organizations. Water Watch Penang (WWP), Sustainable Transport Environment Penang (STEP) and Sustainable, Independent, Living & Access (SILA), are all new groups created from the SPI process, which are contributing their energies, knowledge and skills to support the state development process.
For participants, the SPI process has stimulated a new way of thinking about development in the state, and helped them to identify and value aspects of development that are not mentioned in economic discussions.
Most importantly, the process has made its way into the state development planning process and the heart of the Chief Minister of the State. He has directed all of the members of his executive council to hold People’s Forums on the issues in their portfolio. The state government is also using the SPI indicators and report in the process of developing the next ten year strategic development plan. This holistic, people-centred approach to development is also being reviewed by some agencies as a possible model for development planning at the national level in Malaysia.
THE IMPACT OF HOLISTIC, PEOPLE-CENTRED PLANNING SHOWS CONCRETE RESULTS FOR THE DISABLED
Modified drain covers or well-placed handrails are barely noticed by most of us. But for those with physical disabilities, these small details can make all the difference between confinement and dependence on others, and the ability to shop and move around the city independently.
Sustainable, Independent Living & Access are the goals of a new group, created as a result of the SPI process, to harness the strengths of Penang’s disabled community. The initials spell SILA, the Malay word for ‘please’. The wheel-chair mobile and eyesight, hearing and speech-impaired are well represented at most SPI Roundtables. With encouragement from the SPI team, a coalition of disabled groups and
individuals formed SILA to work more effectively with government to improve access to public facilities for disabled persons.
The awareness of their role in the development of a non-handicapping environment is new to Penang’s disabled community. They now have a new understanding of their civil rights and responsibilities, and how to influence the development, implementation and
enforcement of policies and laws. They are learning how to talk with government about changes in policies and government support.
SILA’s first tasks were surveying buildings and parks, and requesting an upgrading of facilities to improve access to several sites around Penang. As a result, handrails and crosswalks were upgraded near the Home for the Blind, enabling the visually impaired to do their own shopping at an adjacent mall. Drain covers in the Botanic Gardens were retrofitted to facilitate wheelchair access, and changes were made to improve access to the main government building. The President of the Penang Municipal Council has pledged improvement of disabled access to priority public areas around the city.
A week-long workshop for the disabled was designed to encourage cross-disability solidarity, mutual
understanding, teamwork and co-operation. Participants learned negotiation, fund raising, campaigning,
management and training skills to help them lobby the government more effectively in future.
