How much does the development matter in preventing environmental disaster?

Development is a general term people tend to use to describe improvement or a

positive change. It is a continuous progress towards achieving a desired state in society which
is always associated with greater human freedoms and well-being (Shanmugaratnam, 2001). It
is a necessary and natural process that we embark consciously or subconsciously, whether as
an individual or as a nation. In better understanding of development, Bell (2011) categorize
development into four aspects: 1) Economic development, 2) Human development, 3)
Sustainable development and 4) Territorial development. Each aspects having different
approaches in defining development with specific features that are being incorporated as part
of various governments policy making and development management (Bell, 2011). Among
these four aspects, economic development is regarded to be the first form of development and
has been strongly associated with the concept of economic growth which, in simplified terms
is referred to the increase in the per capita income of the economic system (Boateng, Heeks,
Molla, & Hinson, 2008).
Examples of economic development can be seen worldwide, and has become the focus
of federal, state and local government to improve the peoples standard of living. This can be
achieved by creation of job opportunity, strong support of innovation and ideas and generally
to create an overall better quality of life for the people. In doing so, economic development
may come in the form of improvement of infrastructure such as roads and bridges and further
improving the education system by building new schools and universities. Improvement also
involves the upgrading of the public health through building of health facilities and opening
new business area and housing community. Hence, this essay will refer development as the
economic development.
Since achieving her independence in 1957, Malaysia has shown remarkable progress in
economic development, beginning from an agro-based economy which highly depends on
commodities such as rubber and tin and progressively transformed herself into a modern
industrial economy. This achievement has made Malaysia being noticed internationally as one
of the successful developing nations in East Asia (Tan & Eu Chye, 2014).
It was not until in the early 1970s that the concept of environment really made an
impact and became a global issue. It started with a global recognition that the Earths ecosystem
are in fact fragile and that human beings have been identified to be the major culprit in the
Earths degradation. Malaysia has then define environment through its Environmental Quality
Act (1974) as the physical factors of the surrounding of the human beings including land, water,
atmosphere, climate, sound, odour, taste, the biological factors of animals and plants and the
social factors of aesthetic (EQA, 1974). This definition has clearly outlined the elements
involved when addressing the environment. However, in this never ending race to strive for a
better economic development, our environment seems to be at the losing end, being left
neglected as advances in development progresses on. Environmental degradation and depletion
of the nations environmental resources are some of the many impacts of development which,
if not carefully attended can result in environmental disaster (Bowman K., 2010).
The term environmental disaster may vary in definitions. The term disaster on the other
hand can be referred to as human induced disaster or naturally caused disaster to the
environment. The event of an environmental disaster can also be a one-time occurrence or can
be in episodes that spreads out over decades (Shaluf & Ahmadun, 2006). The Malaysian
National Security (MNSC) Directive 20 (2003) defines disaster as an emergency situation of
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some complexity that will cause the loss of lives, damage property and the environment, and
hamper local social and economic activities. Furthermore, environmental disaster can cause
widespread human, material, economic and environmental losses (UN/ISDR, 2004).
As a result of intensive development for the past few decades, the Malaysian
environment is slowly degrading (Raman, 2006). Malaysia too, like other developed and
developing countries faces environmental crises. The implications of developments has shown
is negative impact. From the polluted rivers, extensive land clearing of hill slopes, endangered
and extinct species, depleting natural resources, air pollution resulting in haze, contaminated
food supplies and climatic changes. Water quality also continues to deteriorate due to improper
sewage management, siltation and contamination from heavy metals from illegal factory waste
disposal. Moreover, the increasing demand for energy supply to support the growing industry
has witness emissions from power plants, factories and combustion vehicles to release polluting
gases and particulate matter in the atmosphere whereby further degrading the air quality of our
nation. Deforestation and land clearing for development is also a huge concern when discussing
environmental issues.
One of the many examples of environmental disaster in Malaysia is the Bakun Dam
hydroelectric project (BHEP) in the state of Sarawak located in the East Malaysia. The project
was first proposed in the 1980s to exploit the potential of the Sarawaks river system in
providing 2400 MW electricity to supply the countrys industrial sector. The BHEP was
designed to consist of a catchment area of 1.5 million hectares of mainly primary forest and
flooding an area of approximately 70,000 hectares. The project requires the relocation of
10,000 indigenous peoples (Kayan, Kenyah, Kajang, Ukit and Penan) under the governments
resettlement programme in Sungai Asap. Serious conflicts erupted between the indigenous
people and the government as they were forced into resettlement villages with inadequate and
poor quality land for cultivation compared to their existing lands. Furthermore, the dam would
have potentially destroyed one-third of Sarawaks remaining primary forest. This could have
devastating effect on the overall ecosystem, disturbing the already existing flora and fauna in
the dam affected area.
Other example of environmental disaster is the haze episodes in Malaysia, notably the
Haze Emergency in Sarawak and West Malaysia in 1997 (Shaluf & Ahmadun, 2006). Since
then, Malaysia has experienced frequent haze episodes and once again, it blanketed our nation
in October 2015.
Haze can be defined as the presence of fine particles ranging from 0.1-1.0 m in
diameter which are dispersed at a high concentration through a portion of the atmosphere that
diminishes the horizontal visibility thus giving the atmosphere a characteristic opalescent
appearance (MMS, 1995). Since 1991, haze has been an acute problem for Malaysia. A study
done by H. A. Rahman (2013) has identified three factors causing the haze outbreak. The main
factor contributing to this disaster are the irresponsible action of several oil palm plantation
companies located in Indonesia that uses a slash-and-burn method to clear land for their
plantation. The other factors are the wind factor that resulted in the transboundary factor and
finally the domestic factors in Malaysia originated from the power plants, industrial factories
and motorized vehicles. Haze disasters can affect the human health, nations economy and
social activities (Rahman, 2013).
These two examples are just the tip of the iceberg of the many other examples of
environmental disasters happening in Malaysia. Knowing that development is a national
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necessity towards progressing forward, development and the environment are two inseparable
entity. Putting more emphasis in either one will hinder the ability for the country to develop or
will result in environmental disasters. Realising this, we must incorporate new approach in
development, thus born the concept of sustainable development. Sustainable development can
be the answer in achieving lasting economic growth and an efficient protection of environment
and natural resources thus preventing environmental disaster (Meadows, 1972).
Sustainable development first emerged as a concept to address the environmental
concerns whereby the term made its first appearance in the World Charter for Nature (UN,
1982). The concept of sustainable development then made a huge impact when the concept was
published in an international report Our Common Future by the World Commission on
Environment (WCED) in 1987 commonly known as the The Brundtland Report. In this
report, sustainable development was defined as Development that meets the needs of the
present, without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (Hassan
& Lee, 2015) further described sustainable development as a dynamic process connecting local
and global concerns, as well as linking local social, economic, and ecological issues, in order
to fairly meet the needs of current and future generation. In addition, by adopting such concept,
(Krajai, Dui, & Rosen, 2015) emphasise that sustainable needs at least three pillars i.e.
environmental, social and economic. These three pillars must be incorporated deeply in both
governmental and research agendas.
Malaysia has already taken its initiative in implementing sustainable development as a
national agenda. A series of implementation can be seen, show casing Malaysias response
towards the global movement (Joseph, 2013). The first move in the implementation was the
Malaysia National Environmental Policy in 1992 as a response against the 1992 Rio Summit:
World commitment on sustainable development and Agenda 21. This is then followed in the
year 2000 as Malaysia adopted the Kyoto Declaration on Green House Emission in 1997 by
the establishment of Malaysia Local Agenda 21, Planning Doctrine, which involves a holistic
development for land use planning and the Small Renewal Energy Power Program. Later on
after the 2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit, Malaysia then took another steps towards
implementing sustainable development by the establishment of the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environment in the year 2004, followed by the National Physical Plan in year
2005. The following year, in 2006 saw the incorporation of sustainable development in the
Malaysia 9th Malaysia Plan under the 4th Thrust i.e. to improve standard and sustainability of
quality of life and renewable energy from waste to wealth (Foo, 2015).
The same year also so the National Urbanisation Policy being implemented. In the year
2007, the world again sat for another global discussion, the Bali Roadmap towards International
agreement on Climate Change. In response, Malaysia again established the Ministry of Energy,
Green Technology and Water in April 2009. Finally in the year 2009 after the COP 15
Copenhagen Accord, Malaysia incorporated the National Green Technology Policy in the 10th
Malaysia Plan. In the 10th Malaysia Plan also states that the quality of life for Malaysians
improved through better access to healthcare, public transport, electricity and water. Measures
were also taken to create a caring society and promote community well-being. Economic
development was based on sustainability principles to ensure that the environment and natural
resources are preserved so that growth will not come at a cost to future generations.
Malaysias move towards sustainability is supported by several policies in Malaysia,
namely National Physical Plan to address land use, National Policy on Climate Change and
Road Map for Reduction of GHG Emissions to address Climate Change and National Green
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Technology Policy to address issues relating to Green Technology by providing conducive

environment for Green Technology (Mokthsim & Salleh, 2014) Development and to promote
the public awareness in green technology. In the National Policy on Climate Change, the policy
highlights on controlling climate change through wise management of resources and enhanced
environmental conservation that results in stronger economic competitiveness and improved
quality of life.
As a conclusion, both development and environment are inseparable. It involves a
complex relationship that intertwines each other. Development is vital in achieving a better
quality in life, placing human needs in an ever challenging world. At the same time,
environmental aspects are also equally important as mankind depends on it in achieving such
development in life. Thus the question on how much does development matter in preventing
environmental disaster? The answer is development does matter but it must be in a different
approach, which is sustainable development. Only then can we achieve development while at
the same time prevent environmental disaster.

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