KUCHING: The Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), Asia’s leading think tank, recently announced new policy recommendations aimed at addressing four major challenges in Malaysia.
The four major challenges are climate resilience, digital literacy, biodiversity, and child malnutrition.
The recommendations were formulated by a diverse group from the Malaysia Stay and Build (MS&B) 2024 leadership programme and were presented at a public forum.
GIFT Asean’s managing director Pial Khadilla said that national development is a multifaceted endeavour requiring a collaborative and comprehensive approach.
“It is not a solo act, but rather a complex symphony that demands strong, coordinated leadership across government, business, and civil society.
“That is why our MS&B programme takes an immersive, outcome-driven, and collaborative approach to equip Malaysia’s top talents with the thinking, skills, and networks needed to find solutions that drive sustainable national development,” she said.
She said this in her speech during the public forum held at Borneo Cultures Museum here today (July 5).
At the forum, representatives from the government, business, and civil society sectors gathered to hear the policy recommendations from four MS&B programme participants – Amelia Rhosky Mohd Nasir from Kumpulan Wang Persaraan Diperbadankan (KWAP), Nurul Azilah Ahmad Kamil from Boustead Holdings Berhad, Imran Naziri from FGV Biotechnologies Sdn Bhd, and Kishan Buxani from UN Global Compact Malaysia and Brunei.
On another note, Nur Izzati provided insights into the leadership programme they had undertaken.
Amelia then presented a policy recommendation focusing on the establishment of a Centralised Data Hub, supported by the mobile application MyMama, to combat child malnutrition.
She said the application allows expecting mothers to log pregnancy progress and dietary needs, and after delivery, to track their newborn’s food intake and health, with data managed by the Ministry of Health for timely interventions.
Nurul Azilah then introduced a policy recommendation for the creation of a Digital Teacher Training Academy (DiTTA) aimed at empowering educators to lead Malaysia’s digital transformation in education.
DiTTA seeks to enhance digital skills among teachers through targeted training programmes and certifications, offering incentives for ongoing professional development and excellence in digital education.
Lastly, Imran proposed the establishment of a National Data Repository to gather, process, and analyse climate-related information.
He said that the repository is designed to address climate change by leveraging mobile networks and public-private partnerships for early disaster detection, informed land use, conservation, and food security.
At the same time, Kishan presented a policy recommendation for the development of a World-Class Tropical Rainforest Biodiversity R&D Centre in Malaysia.
The centre’s objective is to study plant and animal species, ecological processes, and climate change impacts, aiming to contribute to the global effort to preserve vital ecosystems for future generations.
The process also involved interactive classroom sessions, site visits, in-depth analysis, and discussions with prominent Malaysian leaders such as Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Pusaka founder and director Eddin Khoo, and MSM Malaysia Holdings Berhad group chief executive officer Syed Feizal Syed Mohammad.
