THE government has embarked on a nationwide push to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) implementation through a targeted district-based approach, with Batu Pahat selected as the first location under the SDG Bersasar Programme 2026.
The initiative was launched by Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and coordinated by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) together with the National SDG Centre, the Johor Government, Batu Pahat Municipal Council, Batu Pahat District Office and partners from the public sector, private sector, academia and civil society.
Akmal said national policies could no longer be implemented through a one-size-fits-all approach, stressing the need for district-level interventions based on specific challenges and opportunities.
“National policies cannot be implemented through a uniform approach. This programme ensures that data, expertise and resources are focused on the most pressing issues in each district so that development benefits truly reach the people,” he said.
He said accelerating SDG implementation was crucial as Malaysia entered the final four years towards the 2030 deadline.
The three-day programme, held from July 31 to August 2 at Dataran Penggaram, will eventually be expanded to 13 districts nationwide, linking national development strategies with local data, community needs and targeted action plans.
Government analysis based on 2023 data projected that 49 per cent of Malaysia’s SDG targets were on track to be achieved by 2030, while globally only 15 per cent of the 139 targets with sufficient trend data were progressing as planned.
“2030 cannot become a year when we list what we failed to achieve. It must be the year when development outcomes can truly be seen and felt by the people,” he said.
Johor’s role as an economic growth driver was also highlighted, with the state contributing 19.8 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports in 2025.
Akmal said the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) was not merely a new growth area, but a catalyst for high-value investment, advanced industries, regional supply chain development, local talent growth and skilled employment opportunities.
The JS-SEZ covers 11 key sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, digital economy, food security, tourism, energy, green economy, financial services, healthcare and education.
The initiative targets 50 projects within five years and 100 projects within 10 years, while creating 20,000 skilled jobs.
“The spillover benefits from JS-SEZ are expected to extend across the Southern Region, including Batu Pahat, Muar, Pontian and Kluang, through stronger local enterprises, supply chains, logistics, agro-food, tourism and digital economy activities,” he said.
Batu Pahat was selected as the starting point based on data-driven assessments and local development needs.
In 2024, the district recorded a poverty rate of 2.4 per cent, an unemployment rate of 1.3 per cent, full access to water and electricity supply, and a 98.1 per cent upper secondary education completion rate.
However, maternal healthcare was identified as a key area requiring attention, with Batu Pahat recording a maternal mortality ratio of 52.1 per 100,000 live births in 2024, compared with 33.3 in Johor and 24.3 nationally.
“Our goal is not merely to understand statistics. Our goal is to ensure more mothers receive timely care and return safely to their families,” Akmal said.
The programme adopts a whole-of-nation approach by bringing together policies, funding, data, expertise and community experience, with local residents positioned as active partners rather than merely beneficiaries.
Among the targeted outcomes are mapping maternal and child healthcare service chains, improving delivery processes, reducing bureaucratic barriers, developing joint initiatives between communities and frontline workers, and establishing monitoring mechanisms to measure progress and real impact.
Throughout the programme, the public can participate in SDG exhibitions, Pocket Talk sessions, podcasts, mini forums, SDG Challenge Competition and activities focusing on healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and environmental sustainability. - July 31, 2026
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