Environmental Policies andDevelopment in Penang
7th Asia Pacific Eco-Business Forum,Kawasaki, Japan
14th February 2011

Overview• Penang, Malaysia• Environmental Policies for Penang• Penang Environmental Conservation Strategy (1999)• Paradigm Shift• Penang Blueprint (2011 – 2015)• Penang Green State• Public Programmes• Cleaner Greener Penang• Penang Eco-Town• Conclusion

Penang, Malaysia•Penang Island was established in 1786
by Capt. Francis Light of the British
East India Company•Mainland Penang (ProvinceWellesley) was occupied in 1790, andplaced together under theadministration of Straits Settlement.
•George Town, a port town, wasdeveloped as hub for trading,commerce and culture.
.
•Country : Malaysia•Coordinates: 5o24’N 100o 14’E
•Area: 1,048 km2•Population: 1.5 million (as of 2010)•GDP : RM 49.5 billion (as of 2010)•Human Development Index : 0.773•Urbanization: 80%

Facets of Penang

Penang, Malaysia• Started off as a trading port in Malaysia. Penang enjoyed the status of free
trade port until 1969.
• In 1970, Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone was established to spur
economic developments in Penang• Apart from Bayan Lepas FTZ, other parts of Penang were also developed
as industrial zones, including areas such as Juru, Bukit Minyak and MakMandin.
• Manufacturing is the largest component of the economy, at 50.6%. Service
industry follows with 45.8% of the economy.
• In 2010, Penang attracted RM 12.2 billion worth in investments,contributing to 26% of Malaysia’s total investment

Penang, Malaysia• Tourism development is the second largest driver forthe economy. One niche sector developed in Penang
is Eco-tourism, featuring sites such as:– Penang Botanic Gardens : oldest public botanic gardens inMalaysia (1884)– Penang Hill : oldest hill resort in the region (1796)– Penang National Park : smallest national park in the world– Batu Feringghi beach : beach resort strip since 1970

Environmental Policies for Penang• Penang adopted policy for sustainable development since 1991.
• Penang Strategic Development Plan 1 (1991- 2000) incorporate environment and natural resource management
into economic planning.
• Penang Strategic Development Plan 2 (2001 – 2010) Proposed strategies for transition towards sustainabledevelopment.
• 1999 – Penang Environmental Conservation Strategy wasadopted by the Penang State GovernmentPenang Environmental
Conservation Strategy (1999)• To address environmental concerns in Penang vis-à-vis
development in the recent decades.
• Identified problems in the Strategy:– Environmental pollution– Traffic congestion– Solid waste disposal and management– Hill slope development and soil erosion– Flash floods– Lack of public open spaces– Degradation of natural ecosystems– Poor environmental health : air & water sources– Exploitation of future natural resources

Penang Environmental Conservation
Strategy (1999)• A set of strategies, with desired policy interventions and time-frame
for implementation was derived to address issues based on thesefocus:– Population– Land use and rehabilitation– Freshwater resources– Marine and coastal resources– Biological diversity– Sustainable tourism development– Liveability development– Industry-related environmental management• The supporting policies, institutional mechanism, implementingagencies, time frame for implementation and needs assessment weredone suggested in the strategy to address the issues.

Paradigm Shift• Shift from environmental protection towards sustainabledevelopment• Ecological or environmental sustainability is the basis ofeconomical and social sustainability• Change in strategies for adoption, based on:– Protection of the environment and reducing the impact of development– Improve the quality of life through environmental planning– Sustaining the future – Adaptation strategies form future environmental
threats and transition to a sustainable future

Penang Blueprint 2011 - 2015
• Emphasis is given towards the transition for a moresustainable Penang• Previously outlined issues are re-examined and strategies
are rearranged based on priority• New agenda for the transition are included:– Using ecological footprint as a tool to measure sustainability– Global climate change – response from the local community– Natural resource depletion – efficient use of resources– Development based on sustainability– Green growth, green business and green manufacturing– Addressing loss of ecosystems and biodiversity• The Penang Blueprint is used as a guide for newdevelopments in the coming 5 years

Penang Green State• State Government vision to transform Penang into thefirst green state of Malaysia.
• Geared towards empowering the people of Penang tomake a difference, and to increase awareness ofPenang’s commitment towards green via:
– Green School Award– Aqua Save Award– Green Journalism Award– Penang Environmental Award– No Free Plastic Bag Day (From 3 days to 1 week)– Green Citizenship– Cleaner Greener Penang initiative– Eco-town

Public Programmes• Cleaner Greener Penang initiative – launched in 2010 as
campaign to bring environmental improvements toPenang• Multi-stakeholder participation, from State Government
to the community, NGOs, media, public• Targets to improve the quality of life with environmental
changes via:
– Cleaner and greener neighbourhoods– Achieving waste minimization through 3R– Transforming mindset towards responsible citizenshipCleaner Greener Penang• Activities of Cleaner Greener Penang includes:– Establishing Environmental Resource Centres in various
districts and communities– Mass cleanup of public open spaces– Urban redesigning initiatives– Greening of streetscapesCleaner Greener Penang Programmes

Penang Eco-Town• Follow up on the collaboration initiated by UNEP- ITEC in2008.
• State government and Local government are majorstakeholders• Serves as catalyst for the Penang Green Agenda – programmes
are implemented in the programme area
• Large participation by industry players.
• Also incorporates vision to develop Penang as a GreenManufacturing HubPenang Eco-Town• The Eco-Town study and implementation also
inspired the development of 2 other projects:– Eco-Village: On Penang Hill, a well known tourist
destination with a small community– Eco-City : Green field development: to incorporate
sustainable city designs on a new piece of development• Other similar projects:– Eco 2 City : A World Bank concept that is aimed totransform the area of George Town into a economical andecological viable city

Conclusion• Changes towards realising environmental importanceand sustainability is growing in Penang• Reflective in policy changes and programmes,
especially from the State Government• Receptive by the people, and have spurred similarinterest nationwide• Still a long way to go before achieving a truly
ecologically sustainable State, but efforts are there tocontinue support the vision.

Thank You
Question and Answer

Ben Wismen
Research Officer
14th February 2010