Should Malaysia Go Green with Public Projects?

The purpose of this discussion is to open doors for the youths to voice out their views and challenges as well as providing suggestions to encourage other youths to be politically literate and active.

In Collaboration with

1. Vote for Best Statement

Sustainable timber procurement policies may create inefficiencies and bureaucratic challenges.

Implement a voluntary certification program that encourages local suppliers to adhere to sustainable forestry practices. This approach promotes responsible sourcing while allowing flexibility and fostering community engagement in environmental stewardship.

Tinesh Ravindran
Opposition
Agree
Disagree

Going green with public projects in Malaysia enforces environmental conservation nationwide and preserves resources.

By prioritising sustainable public projects through applying environmentally friendly practices such as ethical deforestation, Malaysia can maintain natural ecosystems, conserve resources, and achieve a balance between development and ecological protection, hence corresponding with global environmental objectives.

Sarah Tan
Government
Agree
Disagree

Malaysia should prioritize economic growth over mandatory timber policies.

We should prioritize economic growth and support businesses to ensure sustainable development. Instead of enforcing a mandatory timber procurement policy, we can promote voluntary eco-friendly practices that encourage innovation while allowing flexibility for projects to progress without unnecessary constraints.

Shazea Qhadra
Opposition
Agree
Disagree

Foreign investors and NGOs prefer sustainable public projects in Malaysia, while boycotting unsustainable practices.

By adopting a mandatory sustainable Timber Procurement Policy for all public projects, the risk of the Malaysian government receiving backlash that could result in boycotts from foreign NGOs are reduced and it attracts foreign investors to Malaysian public projects, enhancing ethical practices and publicity, while fostering direct investment and infrastructure development for greener outcomes in the country.

Manuel Jelian
Government
Agree
Disagree

Skirting the blame to timber production is evading the primary players affecting Malaysia's forests.

Implement stricter regulations on palm oil producers to enforce accountability. This approach would help mitigate deforestation by compelling corporations to adhere to sustainable practices, ultimately benefiting both the environment and local communities affected by their operations.

Abdullah Saud
Opposition
Agree
Disagree

Unsustainable timber sourcing in Malaysia causes environmental degradation and harms local communities.

Mandatory sustainable timber sourcing addresses unsustainable practices by creating jobs, stimulating local economies, and improving community infrastructure, thereby mitigating environmental degradation and enhancing the well-being of local communities reliant on forestry in Malaysia.

Gaautham Manimaren
Government
Agree
Disagree

The inefficiency of building regulations leads to increased emissions and costs.

Instead, encourage sustainable timber usage in public projects through voluntary certification, local sourcing incentives, educational programs, innovation support, partnerships, and pilot projects. These strategies promote responsible sourcing while maintaining project flexibility and fostering community engagement without enforcing mandatory procurement policies.

Tiffany Chong
Opposition
Agree
Disagree

Public projects must prioritize health; ineffective timber policies harm sustainability

Public projects, and national development cannot come at the cost of national health, while a timber policy does not stand paramount it is a stepping stone to better environmental governance in the future which is invaluable to public health, and that should be the ultimate public project.

Daniel Iskandar
Government
Agree
Disagree

Sustainable timber procurement policy could prevent an unbalanced timber industry ecosystem and illegal logging.

Bodies like MTCS and MTCC have already promoted the policies, which I believe the government should work with closely to govern a mandatory push by establishing clear sourcing guidelines. This promotes responsible forestry practices, reduces illegal activities, and encourages market demand for certified timber, fostering a healthier forest ecosystem.

Khairul Iman
Government
Agree
Disagree

Ineffectiveness of mandatory sustainable timber procurement policy adoption for all public projects in Malaysia

Local timber SMEs face challenges transitioning to sustainable practices due to high costs and limited certified timber, leading to greenwashing and undermining certification credibility. Instead, implementing financial incentives or grants can help alleviate costs and encourage sustainable timber sourcing among these companies.

Afiq Arsyad
Opposition
Agree
Disagree

2: Vote for Most Popular Debater
Voting closed on: ---

MUHAMMAD KHAIRUL IMAN BIN YUSRI

18 years old
POLITEKNIK SEBERANG PERAI
null

MAISARAH UMIRAH BINTI NORDIN

18 years old
UITM KAMPUS BERTAM
null

SITI SALINA BINTI SALIM

20 years old
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
null

ONG ZHAN HAO

30 years old
PETACE
null

DANIEL ISKANDAR BIN NORADZRIN

21 years old
LAW SCHOOL
null

AFIQ DANISH BIN MOHD HASSANAL ADZRIN

18 years old
UITM KAMPUS BERTAM
null

TINESH A/L RAVINDRAN

25 years old
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
null

AMIRUL ADIB BIN ALMALIK FAIZAL

18 years old
UITM KAMPUS BERTAM
null

LEE ZHI JIONG

20 years old
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
null

SUMAN SUGUMARAN

19 years old
POLITEKNIK SEBERANG PERAI
null

TIFFANY CHONG VINN QI

14 years old
SMJK HENG EE BAYAN BARU
null

MUHAMAD AFIQ ARSYAD BIN AWANG@TARMIZI

24 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS ISLAM MALAYSIA
null

NUR QISTINA BINTI MOHD AUZANI

17 years old
PUSAT ASASI SAINS UNIVERSITI MALAYA
null

SARAH TAN KE YIN

16 years old
SMJK HENG EE BAYAN BARU
null

ABDULLAH SAUD FATMI

25 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
null

TAN YAN BIN

20 years old
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
null

NUR SHAZEA QHADRA BINTI MOHD SAIFULLYZAN@BOY

16 years old
SMJK HENG EE BAYAN BARU
null

NUR AIN NATASHA BINTI MOHAMED YUSRI

25 years old
PERSATUAN MAHASISWA RAUB
null

AMMAR AKMAL BIN MOHD ZABIDI

22 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS ISLAM MALAYSIA
null

MUHAMMAD FIRDAUS BIN MOHD NORHARISHAM

21 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS ISLAM MALAYSIA
null

SHAMEERA NASREEN BINTI AHAMED NOORDEEN

25 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
null

LEE YOU HONG

16 years old
SMJK HENG EE BAYAN BARU
null

GAAUTHAM A/L MANIMAREN

24 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
null

HALEIM SHAH BIN HAJA MOHIDEEN

21 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
null

MANUEL JELIAN ANAK MASAM

22 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
null

AINA FADZLIN SALHI BINTI BOLIHI

18 years old
UITM KAMPUS BERTAM
null

MOHAMAD FAIZ HILMI BIN KAMARUDIN

25 years old
MAYC PULAU PINANG
null

JOSH LEE WEI JIE

19 years old
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
null

MUHAMMAD IMAM B. AZMI

22 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS ISLAM MALAYSIA
null

SURIA ANISA BINTI KASIM

22 years old
UNIVERSITI SAINS ISLAM MALAYSIA
null

SYARMIRAH BINTI SYAHIRUDDIN

20 years old
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA
null

SARAH TEH KAI XIN

14 years old
SMJK HENG EE BAYAN BARU
null

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