KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has achieved 43 per cent of the 248 current indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), compared to the global average of only 17 per cent.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said based on the analysis, Malaysia is in a good position, although he cautioned against relying solely on these metrics.
"Even though we are ahead (than other countries), however, during discussions, I emphasised that we should not use such measures, as they only provide a small indication.
"We should ask whether the goals of the Madani economy and the SDGs are essential for the country and for humanity?
"If the answer is yes, then we must accelerate our efforts to achieve better performance. That to me, is our benchmark," he said in a speech at the 2024 Malaysia Sustainable Development Goals Summit here today.
Also present were Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, Auditor General Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi and Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib.
Meanwhile, Anwar reaffirmed the government's commitment to achieving the SDGs effectively.
He said the government is dedicated to addressing issues of values, humanity and compassion, extending beyond the current major pillars of the SDGs, which include economic, social and environmental imperatives.
"We should do whatever is necessary to our best to ensure that we do achieve these goals in a more spectacular manner.
"Because that is a sign of what Madani is all about… it is about sustainability, it's about 'ihsan' and compassion, and to appreciate the need to survive as a nation, as human beings.
"I'm appalled by the fact that we still have leaders who are still proponents of climate denial. With all this level of sophistication, knowledge and understanding, we still have that problem," he said.
Anwar said economic development and sustainability are meaningless without an understanding of righteousness and humanity.
"Justice and security include the environment and climate, which we can partly determine and partly accept as a statement of the laws of nature."
However, he said there are areas that need continued focus and improvement.
"The ministry concerned, which is the Economy Ministry and the Auditor General traditionally focus on auditing financial accounts.
"But we are now moving beyond that. We need to look at policies and determinants that will safeguard our community and our nation," he added.