BEYOND GDP SYMPOSIUM - Transitioning into Sustainability

    1. Background. This Symposium, held on May 19, 2014 which I participated, was jointly organised by the Office of the Science Advisor, the International Human Dimension Programme on Global Environment Change of the United Nations University (UNU-IHDP) and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT).  It is the brainchild of the Science Advisor, Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Dato' Seri Dr. Zakri Abdul Hamid, who, in his Foreword to the Event, highlighted that the 'the international community should measure development beyond GDP and develop a new sustainable indicators or set of indicators' which include among others, inclusiveness, social well-being and environmental sustainability.  According to him, many questions remain as to how we measure true progress and the Symposium, therefore offers as a forum for stakeholders from various sectors and generations to bring the issue into the mainstream of economic development, in the context of the kind of future we want.
  Prof Dr Anantha Duraiappah, the Executive Director of IHDP-UNU in his message, pointed out the increase in global population, which is currently at 7 billion to a projected 9 billion within the next 30 years will have consequences as to the depletion of resources, natural spaces, biodiversity loss, ecosystem destruction and climate change.  In addition, growing inequality between and within nations is contributing to social tensions.  He went on to say that it is time for change in shifting from the individual to societal consideration, from amassing wealth to the a more sustainable development.  It is imperative that each country, with its own unique circumstances find its own indicators, taking cognition of our global  interconnectedness.
  The Symposium was participated by senior government officials, leaders of the private sector, representatives of local universities, NGOs and Gen Y, which in my estimate, totalled 130 delegates.

Guests of honour and cross-section of the participants

 Another cross-section of participants

2. The Programme.  The three-hour programme which started  at 2.00 pm  and ended at around 5.00 pm was scheduled with too many activities, which among others, include the opening addresses, an interactive panel on the symposium topic, a youth debate on the topic 'Should we seek other economic indicators' and the closing addresses.  The panellists of the interactive discussion were made up of:

       (a) Prof Datuk Noor Azlan Ghazali, Vice-Chancellor of UKM
       (b) Dr. Bakary Kante, Founder & Chairman of Africa Sustainability Center (ASCENT).
       (c) Prof. Ligia Maura Costa, Professor at the School of Business Administration of
             Sao Paulo.
       (d) Prof. Sir Partha Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus at the University of Cambridge.
  The key indicators that were identified that need to be integrated in sustainable development, to meet the many challenges that the world is facing now, include:
        . social sustainability that provides the fundamental needs of the people - education,
          health and happiness
        . equity in bridging the gaps between the rich and poor
        . education is the key in creating awareness of the challenges and the roles
          the citizens need to play
        . sustainable development where wealth creation is balanced with social
          consideration and environmental protection
        . global citizenship recognising the interconnectedness and responsibility to
          the global society.

 Panelists



 The youth debate

  3. Closing Remarks.  In his closing address, YB Senator Dato' Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia,  pointed out that Malaysia's five-year development plans are people-centred with quality of life as the objective.  The new economic model that is being promoted now aims at high income with the accompanying inclusiveness and sustainable development.  He noted that the country is in the process of preparing the next 5-year plan and the views and recommendations discussed at the Symposium will certainly be taken note of.



  Closing Address by YB Senator Dato' Seri Abd Wahid Omar

4. General Observations.  I am glad that Tan Sri Prof. Emeritus Dato' Seri Dr. Zakri, the Science Advisor is taking the initiative in creating awareness to the stakeholders in the country, on the need to have a more balanced development - sustainable development- recognising the challenges staring at us on population increase, depletion of resources, biodiversity loss, eco-system destruction, food security, climate change and social tensions.

Posted on June 7, 2014
Email: hashim.abdulwahab@gmail.com

Nostalgic Journey to Sabah: May 2 to 5, 2014

NOSTALGIC JOURNEY TO SABAH: May 2 to 5, 2014

  1. Introduction. The three-day trip to Sabah, extending from May 2 to 5, made initially as a working visit to look at a few pieces of land for herbal development, at the invitation of a friend, turned out to be a nostalgic journey as I managed to cover a few things which include participating at a Kaamatan Festival. Visit Places of Interest, renew bond with old friends.  I was accompanied by Dato' Kamaruddin Kachar.  Our hospitable hosts were Dato' Joseph P. Lantip, Group Executive Director, Senarah Borneo Sdn Bhd and Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa, an old friend.
 2. Visit to Kundasang.  Dato' Joseph is interested in developing his land for the herbal industry, from the cultivation of suitable herbal species to the processing of herbal products ranging from perfumery, cosmetics and health and also considering the agro-tourism aspect of the farm development.  A consulting team is needed to come out with the various proposals of this development.  Visiting his pieces of land took us to Kundasang, Ranau and Kinabalu National Park. We had lunch at a popular restaurant, Anjung Selera, owned by a pretty divorcee in Ranau, followed by having desert at a stall, though the desert of durian is still expensive in Sabah ( at this stall we paid RM 135 for 4 fruits). At Kinabalu National Park, drove up to the point of ascent of Mt Kinabalu, Timpohon.  Recollected the 15 times I have scaled it - the first in 1990- the most challenging as I underrated it, thinking that the climb was going to be easy.  Subsequent climb was easier as I learnt the finer points of going up - do not hurry, enjoy the scenery around and before you know it you are at Laban Rata.  Why so many times scaling up - one gets the feeling of achieving a goal once reaching the summit.

 

 The reception office of Senarah Borneo Sdn Bhd

 From right: Dato' Joseph Lantip, Dato' Kamarudin Kachar, Datuk Zainei Aucasa at the corridor

of a resort in Kundasang

 Beautiful view of Kundasang

 The well- known  vegetable market  of Kundasang

 Anjung Selera Restaurant in Ranau

 The many faces of Mt Kinabalu.  It was covered by clouds the morning we were there



            The roadside stall where we had the durian desert 

    3. The Harvest Festival Dinner.  We were the guests of Dato' Joseph at the Pesta Kaamatan dinner held at the Kg. Nelayan Restaurant Hall.  The programme for the night was the cultural show and the contest for the Unduk Ngadau for the InanamDistrict. The Unduk Ngadau contest is a tribute to Huminodun. a beautiful daughter of Kinoingan and Suminundu from Nunuk Ragang, a village now known as  Tampias, Ranau (re article entitled Harvest Festival - a KDM cultural heritage by Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Herman Luping in Daily Express May 4). According to legendary tales, Huminodun had sacrificed her life for her community when the community was facing famine throughout the country due to drought and the subsequent shortage of the staple food of the people-rice. During my ten year stay in Sabah from 1990 to 2000, Pesta Kaamatan with the Unduk Ngadau contests were festivals I did not want to miss.

 The backdrop of the Pesta Keamatan Dinner and the Unduk Ngadau contest

of the Inanam District

 With guests at Table VIP 1 at the Dinner

 The cultural show as a prelude to the Unduk Ngadau contest

 The contestants at the Unduk Ngadau pageant

 The winners of the various categories

 

 

Group photo with the winners

 

  4,  Tamu at Tuaran.  Another attraction visiting Sabah is the Tamu, the weekly market where the people bring their goods: traditional vegetables, herbs, marine products, wildlife, handicrafts etc for sale.  During my days in Sabah the tamu at Tuaran or Gaya Street or Kinarut was  where I got my pegaga, pucuk paku, terong pipit, durian belanda etc. On this trip we visited the Tamu at Tuaran. It was still busy.  However, Tuaran town landscape has changed considerably.

 

 The varied agricultural products available at the Tamu

Various types of ginger











    

  5. Tour Around Kota Kinabalu City.  Kota Kinabalu or KK to the local is a vibrant city with many new development areas around One Borneo, KK 2 and KK 3.  Visited the Philippines market where it is wellknown to get pearls, handicrafts from the Philippines and marine products such as ikan bilis, udang kering, sea cucumber.  Bought a few pieces of pearls for my daughter who was celebrating her birthday and ikan bilis for home consumption especially to accompany the nasi lemak breakfast.  Also visited the wet fish market to assess the species and size of fishes being sold there.  Very glad to see the diversity of species of fishes and se-shells and surprising to see the large sizes available.

 

 The popular Philippines market

 Seafood products at the Philippines market

 The diversity of species of fishes

 The sea-shells

 

  6. Strengthening bondage among Old Friends.  One of the most satisfying things in life is being able to meet friends and make new ones.  Among those I met were friends in Rotary, those associated with me in environmental organizations, connected through academic and alumni links and friends who have worked with me in the Malaysian Cocoa Board and Promenade Hotel. We recollected the great times at work, play and community service.  Life has been very happy journeys indeed, particularly my ten years in Sabah

  

 Back row: from left Omar (MNS), Datuk Zainei (Sabah Wetlands& Archery), Frankie Foo (Rotary)

Front row: from right Dato' Kamarudin Kachar, Datuk Seri Panglima Kamaruzzaman Ampon of UMS

 Presentingmy latest book ' A Senior Citizen's Journeys of Happiness' to the Vice-Chancellor,

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), who is an alumnus of UPM

 Enjoying the singing by the group at the Lounge of Promenade Hotel

 

 With friends Kamarudin Yusoff (1st left in photo) and Asso. Prof. Mariam of UMS

Ex- officers of the Malaysian Cocoa Board and Tokojaya Sdn Bhd, who remain friends



     

Entrepreneurship: Opportunities and Challenges

 Panellists at the discussion

 Participants at the discussion

 Group photo of the panellists with the participants

Appreciation gifts to the panellists

 

  The discussion on the topic 'Entrepreneurship: Opportunities and Challenges' was organised as a pre- AGM activity of the Persatuan Alumni Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (PAUPM) at the Briefing Hall, Administrative Building UPM on Saturday April 19, 2014.  It was participated primarily by around 40 members of the Association. The panel was chaired by Dr. Mohd Hashim Ahmad Tajudin and was made up of four members. The salient points highlighted by the panellists were as follows:

 

   1. Panellist 1 - Dato' Wan Hashim Wan Jusoh who was the former Director of a Division in MIDA indicated that the Organisation promotes and coordinates investments in the manufacturing and services sectors. MIDA also provides incentives such as tax exemption and suggested it is useful that members of the Aumni can network together to benefit from Government incentives. He quoted the example of Romotar Sdn Bhd owned and managed by an Alumni, Encik Baharum Hamzah, who has benefitted from these incentives.

 

   2. Panellist 2 - Dato' Ahmad Said, who was an ex-CEO of Agrobank and a UPM graduate of 1974 reiterated that credit is important in entrepreneurship and that the country has many financial institutions with credit facilities.  However the key thing to the success of getting credit is a good project, that the financial institutions are confident, is viable and will generate profit and that the loan will be paid.  He advised that an entrepreneur must be persistent and does not give up easily.  He considered networking is also important in the success of an enterprise.

 

   3. Panellist 3.  Encik Baharum Hamzah, a UPM graduate of 1979 started Romotar Sdn Bhd with the financial incentives provided by MIDA.  He started his business in oil & gas and subsequently embarked into the manufacturing of oil pipelines.  It was a competitive business and he narrated the story of how the local government bureaucracy appeared to favour foreign over local companies in this niche market.  He confessed that financing is one of the challenges he faces though his initial funds was provided by MIDA.

 

   4. Panellist 4. The last speaker, Encik Sharul Nizam Hussein, a more recent graduate of UPM (2006) has a very interesting story to tell of how he started a company, Ritz Ranch Sdn Bhd, raising up cattle.  He underwent a training course in livestock after his graduation and with a piece of land provided by the State Government of Perak, started this enterprise with another trainee, raising as many as 2000 heads which are marketed to the consumers in the northern part of the country. His biggest challenge initially was to convince himself on getting involved in the agricultural business and that members of the public has low perception of those engaged in agriculture.  He felt that he is in the right business as the livestock industry has a big potential as the country is only 10 per cent self-sufficient in beef.

 

Concluding Remarks. I have always been interested in attending and participating in lectures, symposia, seminars and conferences as there is so much information generated from them and fora that I can share my views.  From this get-together it is heartening to follow the success of young entrepreneurs like Baharum Hamzah and Sharul Nizam Hussein, who have taken the challenge to be entrepreneurs.  Their success can be attributed to self-confidence, have viable projects, financial and assistance from the government and their perseverance.  In my comment I have indicated the many opportunities in agriculture in New Zealand and Asean countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam where reverse investments in cereals such as rice and corn and livestock may help alleviate the food security concern of the country and that the costs of producing these food items are lower.  As always I have encouraged the young entrepreneurs to share their experiences by writing so that their experiences and wisdom in getting involved in the very challenging enterprises could be shared with the young generation.

 

Complete this posting on May 22, 2014 

hashim.abdulwahab@gmail.com