ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE: PERSPECTIVES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL

Malaysia’s Federal Constitution, in addition to numerous legislations, state laws, and policies set the foundation for environmental governance in Malaysia. The interpretation and implementation of environmental laws and policies are subject to the division of legislative powers between the Federal and State Governments. While this is arguably an imperfect system, it has worked as intended in the past.

In this modern day and age, where Malaysia together with the rest of the world is grappling with biodiversity loss, climate change, intensifying natural disasters, and balancing development with sustainability, there is an urgent need to assess how the existing environmental governance processes in Malaysia can cope in the age of Anthropocene. This presentation will also touch on Malaysia’s environmental pledges to the various international treaties, and how it interacts with the governance system in place. This presentation will also highlight the positive progress that is taking place to make Malaysia better adapt to climate change in the 21st century, and what needs to be amplified moving forward.

YB NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD

Member of Parliament

A law graduate from King’s College London, he was elected as Selangor State Assemblyman for Seri Setia in the 2008 General Elections. He was appointed as the Political Secretary to the then Selangor Chief Minister. He was elected as Setiawangsa MP in 2018. While “green issues” had previously only been an occasional part of his work and activism, executing the Malaysian government’s ambitious sustainability plans brought home to Nik Nazmi how crucial solving climate change is to the country’s survival. Nik Nazmi continues to work on matters relating to climate change and planetary health, within his capacity as a MP, and a concerned citizen for the planet. He has authored many books, the latest being Saving the Planet: Climate and Environmental Lessons from Malaysia and Beyond.