Strategies and challenges for implementing sufficient economy for sustainable development in Malaysia

Due to the rapid development of the science and technology, the advancement of economic growth must be harmonized with the environment. But unfortunately, based on the human interest principles whenever the profit is greater than the maximum cost of production, the consumption of resources will be over-exploited leading to over-supply and eventually leading to the waste of resources, environmental pollution and causing ecological degradation. Hence, there is a serious need to call for the green economy in Malaysia.

The philosophy of ?Green Economy? is inter-connected with achieving the state of sufficient and circular economy towards a sustainable development based on the viable foundations of reasonableness, resilience and moderation in economic growth. The concept of sufficient economy for sustainable development encourages the balanced management of life in the individual, community and national levels.

And generally, Malaysia is financially stable in the position of an endless supply of drinking water and many other resources. And in the situation of abundant resources, there is still no incentive to implement circular economy in the territory. Unlike many other developed countries, Malaysia is still facing numerous environmental issues like pollution and ecological degradation. And based on Kuznets? curve, Malaysia is projected to be on the top left of the curve due to the high level of pollution regardless of the relatively high per capita income (GDP).

The circular green economy is an economic development model that involves the measure of borrowing significant future environmental resources where the development is likely to be equivalent of paying high interest debts of environmental degradation. The circular green economy is characterized by the principles of waste minimization, reuse and recycling improved the efficient use of resources through effective management of technological transformation, as well as minimizing resources consumption and waste discharge.

Examples of implementation of sufficient green circular economic strategies can be seen in the major field of manufacturing and retail industries. For instance, the manufacturing industries often increase the cost of natural raw resources in order to ensure maximum use of resource efficiency. The increases of natural raw resource tax and rejecting export tax rebate for any potential pollution-caused projects could be one of the keys to ensuring project developers and vendors would not harm the environment. An existing policy of Cleaner Production Partnership program is effective and should be continued together with other new initiatives in order to control the level pollution created from the manufacturing industries.

Besides that, the strategy of further modifying the new industrial waste charges and adopting the polluters? pay principles could also able to help companies in reducing the amount of waste generation. Indeed, various companies will actively look for alternative sources of clean energy technologies in order to minimize the impacts cost by the industrial waste charges. Nevertheless, this implementation of industrial waste charges is only applicable to wastewater treatment fees, construction waste and plastic bag levy.

The government and other authority agencies should support clean and renewable energy technology industry by providing relevant subsidies to the local companies. At present, there is no direct initiative from the government as they should support the local green industry for instance by promoting the purchase of local recycled artificial coal (from wood waste) as part of the incineration fuel, recycled trash bags and glasses into eco-bricks and etc. It is anticipated that the economy demand of local green businesses will consciously developed by leap once the development of clean energy technology is lower than the price of existing resources.

On the other hand, the small enterprises and retail industries should also impose higher cost of pollution penalty, such as increase summon for littering to any individual who causes pollution to the environment. Moreover, the increase number of local recycling facilities in all major cities and communities (such as the communal municipal solid waste collection pavilion) would ease and encourage the good culture of recycling among the peoples. At the same time, the implementation of solid waste levy system (pay as you throw) or better known as the polluters? pay system should be put in practice too.

The green economy will not function if there is no allocation of sufficient resources to promote waste separation at source, material recovery and recycling at all levels, including the district councils, schools and local communities. There should be three independent entities involve in the municipal solid waste collection pavilion that consists of the local servicing community, green technology facilities providers and the authorized resource recycling industry. Hence, the establishment of a sustainable local market for recycling industry must be managed by an independent non-profitable organization with the transparent operation flow controlled by the representatives of government, community leaders, academicians and recycling industry merchants.

All of the initiatives will not work if there is no enforcement of regulation and the enhancement on the public promotion of sustainable lifestyles relating to environmental awareness by incorporating greater efforts in school (formal education), community outreach and publication of environmental education guidelines. Stringent enforcement of law and legislation must be put in practice where civil service officers should set as a good role model in the sustainable environmental practices to the public. And ultimately, the government should take up the most crucial role to support all of the policies and ensure the full implementation of the suggested strategies of the ideal sufficient and circular green economy in the nation.