Latest news with #NaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalSustainabilityMinistry
The Sun
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Enhancing resilience to climate change
CLIMATE change is a reality that is affecting communities around the globe, including Malaysia. Rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns and environmental degradation are becoming increasingly severe. While global and national efforts largely focus on reducing carbon emissions, Malaysia's adaptation strategies remain fragmented and insufficient. Malaysia has made commitments through international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, yet gaps in governance and policy coordination continue to hinder progress. As opposed to mitigation, which seeks to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, policies geared towards adaptation focus on strengthening resilience to climate impacts such as rising sea levels, extreme floods and food insecurity. However, Malaysia lacks a comprehensive adaptation plan, leading to uncoordinated efforts at various levels of government. Recent events underscore the pressing need for robust adaptation policies. Between November 2024 and January 2025, Malaysia experienced severe flooding that displaced over 148,000 individuals across multiple states, including Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Sarawak. These floods resulted in significant infrastructure damage and economic losses, with the federal government allocating RM25 million for immediate repairs. In addition to flooding, landslides in Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands in January further highlighted the country's vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. Malaysia is also experiencing more frequent and prolonged heat waves. This poses severe health risks like heat stroke and stress, increasing energy demand for cooling as well as disrupting labour productivity. Adaptation measures are crucial to safeguarding communities from worsening climate effects. Climate-resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions and early warning systems are all components of national climate adaptation strategies adopted in countries like Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. Malaysia, however, is still in the early stages of developing a structured adaptation framework. Malaysia's response to climate impacts has often been reactive, fragmented and insufficient. Our focus remains heavily on disaster response, such as flood relief and evacuation, rather than proactive risk reduction and long-term resilience building. Another concern is governance fragmentation. Climate adaptation requires cross-sectoral integration. While climate change falls under the purview of multiple ministries, including the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, there is no single overarching framework to guide implementation. State and local governments, which play crucial roles in adaptation, often lack the necessary funding, expertise and clear mandates. Without proper coordination, efforts to build climate-resilient infrastructure, protect coastal areas and support vulnerable communities remain disjointed. Another challenge is the absence of an effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system. Studies show that more than 60% of countries that have adopted national adaptation plans do not track their implementation effectively. Among Asean nations, Indonesia has developed an M&E framework while Thailand is in the advanced stages of formulating one. Malaysia has yet to establish a similar system. Beyond government agencies, non-state actors such as NGOs, local communities and the private sector can also play a vital role in climate adaptation. Organisations like Sahabat Alam Malaysia and WWF Malaysia have been advocating for stronger policies and community-based solutions. Local communities, especially in coastal and rural areas, are often the first to experience climate impacts. Their knowledge and participation are crucial for developing practical adaptation measures. However, the involvement of non-state actors is often overlooked in policy formulation. A top-down governance approach, where policies are crafted at the federal level with limited input from local stakeholders, remains a significant barrier. Effective adaptation requires a multilevel governance model, where decision-making processes integrate insights from top-down national policies and bottom-up local experiences. Implementing climate adaptation policies requires substantial investment. Building seawalls, upgrading drainage systems and developing drought-resistant crops demand significant financial resources. While Malaysia has committed to increasing green financing initiatives, climate adaptation remains underfunded compared to mitigation efforts such as renewable energy projects. The cost of inaction is exponentially more expensive than proactive investment. This can lead to higher economic losses in the future. Countries that delay adaptation often face increased damage costs from climate-related disasters. There are also social costs involved through loss of livelihoods, displacement, and strain on the health and social services. Malaysia must prioritise long-term adaptation strategies to avoid escalating costs associated with climate inaction. To enhance Malaysia's resilience to climate change, the government must establish a comprehensive, evidence-based, inclusive and actionable adaptation plan. This plan should outline clear adaptation targets, specify the roles of different agencies and ensure adequate funding and resources for implementation. It must also be integrated with different sectors such as water security, food security and public health as well as biodiversity. Malaysia has the resources, the technical capacity and the ingenuity to build resilience. What it needs now is the collective will and urgent action to translate plans into concrete and transformative actions on the ground. Climate change adaptation is not just about protecting the environment; it is about safeguarding Malaysia's future generations. Mohamad Nazrain Nordin is a senior training consultant at the National Institute of Public Administration. Comments: letters@
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
465 encroachment cases on federal lands since in last ten years
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 465 encroachment cases have taken place on lands owned by the Federal Government from 2015 till May 2025, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani ( pic ), who is tasked with temporarily overseeing the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, said these figures involved encroachment on Federal Government-owned land, which is a total of 215,406 hectares nationwide. 'For the case in Penang, 26 complaints involved encroachment on federal-owned land, which is 18 lots of land,' said Johari in Parliament on Monday (July 28). Johari said the Lands and Mines Department (JKPTG) director-general would coordinate joint programs with other enforcement agencies to address the issue of encroachment. According to Johari, notices under Section 425 of the National Land Code (Act 828) would be issued to encroachers. Johari also said to ensure that federal lands are not repeatedly encroached, the government will come up with a method that will involve ministries or the consumer department. 'Every federal-owned land has development plans based on the Malaysian Plan,' he said. 'But, developing the land is based on the priority and allocation given by the government,' added Johari.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Ministry partners with 13 NGOs, communities to boost coastal conservation
KUALA LUMPUR: The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) is working closely with 13 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local communities to bolster nationwide coastal conservation efforts. The ministry, in a statement issued in conjunction with the International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem today, said that the integrated approach reflects Malaysia's commitment to tackling the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and coastal erosion. "The government, through NRES, remains committed to strengthening the environmental preservation and conservation agenda. "One of the key initiatives under this agenda is the mangrove and suitable tree species planting programme along the country's coastline, which involves reforesting 3,820ha of degraded areas with a total of 8.99 million trees," it said. The ministry also emphasised the importance of collective action, urging participation from all sectors, including government agencies, the private sector, NGOs, academia, and the general public, in safeguarding Malaysia's vital mangrove forest ecosystem. "This shared commitment is crucial to ensuring the survival of these natural resources for current and future generations, in line with the country's sustainable development goals," it added. Celebrated annually on July 26, International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem reflects the global commitment to recognising the critical role mangrove forests and coastal ecosystems play in maintaining ecological balance and supporting human well-being. – Bernama
Malaysiakini
22-07-2025
- Health
- Malaysiakini
Schools to activate online learning if API breaches 200 mark
The Education Ministry will activate Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) if the air pollutant index (API) reading surpasses 200, said Minister Fadhlina Sidek. She said the decision follows existing guidelines jointly coordinated with the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and the Health Ministry.
The Star
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Haze: PdPR to be implemented if API exceeds 200, says Fadhlina
KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry will implement Home-Based Teaching and Learning (PdPR) if the Air Pollution Index (API) reading exceeds 200, says Fadhlina Sidek. The Education Minister said that this decision was guided by existing guidelines, which are aligned with the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and the Health Ministry. "According to the guidelines, if the API exceeds 100, outdoor activities are not allowed. If it exceeds 200, PdPR will be implemented, meaning learning will take place online. "The guidelines are clear, and instructions have been given to all state directors to make prompt decisions based on the API guidance," she told reporters after officiating at the National Level Digital Utilisation and Technology Awards (Duta) 2024 here on Tuesday (July 22). According to the Malaysian Air Pollution Index Management System portal of the Environment Department (DOE), Nilai in Negri Sembilan recorded an unhealthy API of 116, and Johan Setia in Selangor recorded 154, as of 4pm on Tuesday. According to the classification by the DOE, an API reading between 101 and 200 is categorized as unhealthy and can affect high-risk groups, including the elderly, children, and individuals with respiratory illnesses. API data is released hourly based on 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide, and the public can refer to the website APIMS or download the MyJAS EQMS app via Google Play or the App Store. – Bernama
