Malaysia’s implementation of the Local Agenda 21 (LA21) programme begun in 2000 with the LA21 Pilot Project, in which four local councils were selected based on their interest and capabilities: Petaling Jaya Municipal Council, Kerian District Council, Kuantan Municipal Council, and Miri City Council.
For Sarawak, Miri City Council’s position as a pioneer in this pilot project, especially in its implementation of social and environmental-related projects, has provided an example for local governments in the State of how LA21 works.
Today, nearly every local councils across the State have implemented their own LA21 programmes, from as urban as Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) to as rural as Kapit District Council.
LA21 involves and emphasises the cooperation of local governments, public and private sectors in planning and managing their environment, economy and society towards sustainable development and a higher quality of life.
Local governments play a crucial role in educating, mobilising and responding to the public in promoting a sustainable future because they are the level of governance closest to the people, and as stated in Chapter 28 of Agenda 21, of which LA21 is based on:
“Because so many of the (environmental) problems and solutions being addressed by Agenda 21 have their roots in local activities, the participation and cooperation of local authorities will be a determining factor in fulfilling its objectives.”
By implementing the LA21 programme, local governments are able to enhance their cooperation and align their goals with the private sector and communities, resulting in a more organised and responsive development that meets local needs.
So far, most initiatives under LA21 in Sarawak focuses on the importance of hygiene and preservation and conservation of the environment.
Sibu Municipal Council, for example, has organised community projects such as recycling, tree planting, Earth Hour and cleaning campaign through smart partnerships with the corporate sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
For local governments located in rural areas, LA21 provides the opportunity to gain direct community participation in its activities while forging ties with the people living within their jurisdictions, as well as create awareness on government policies and development.
For instance, Kapit District Council has been organising four LA21 and community service programmes across Kapit Division every year.
Through collaborations with government agencies, private sector and communities, the council takes advantage of its LA21 programme to highlight current issues including environment, social development, health, economy, security, education, infrastructure development and youth development.
