Meaning of Sustainable Development

Many confused about the definition of sustainable development. To some, they considered the sustainability of a programme is classified as sustainable development. To some, they thought of getting public involvement in any social programme, even with tokenism is considered sustainable development in practice. To very few, sustainable development is talking about programmes benefiting community at large and environment as a whole for the present and future generation. The last one should prevail, but many have not shared the same thought.

I am a bit uneasy after attending a discussion with officers of MBPJ recently on producing a video entitled sustainable development of PJ. Many of them have spoken about preparing a script highlighting the programmes they carried out and scope of functions within their department's purview even though these are not done in accordance to the sustainable development principles and concepts. For example, activities organised by MBPJ for the youth without the participation of youth during planning process. Similarly providing services to the underprivileged without analysing the pressing need of this group is tantamount of "shook sendiri".

I suggested that the video should start with an introduction on sustainable development and its relation to MBPJ, followed by when MBPJ has commenced embracing the term and what we have done in term of policies, mechanism, structure, practice and governance system before going into detail on the respective initiatives. Highlighted initiatives should fulfill the principles of strategic and long term actions, stakeholders' partnership and participation and of course having impacts on the social, environmental and economic dimension of development for Petaling Jaya.

We agreed with the format without much debate, and this worried me. I started wondering if this is a sign of greater understanding on sustainable development or other wise. If the answer is the latter, then it must be more reasons to worry since we are celebrating 10th anniversary of Local Agenda 21 Petaling Jaya this year.