The Penang government will continue strengthening its sustainability agenda after the state ranked 11th nationally in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for Malaysian States 2025 report, despite being among the country’s strongest economic performers.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Penang’s score of 67.84 out of 100 in the report served as a reminder that economic prosperity and sustainable development do not always go hand in hand, Bernama reported.
“While Penang has performed well economically, we must continue strengthening our efforts in areas such as environmental stewardship, resource management, social well-being and long-term resilience,” he said when opening the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Sustainability Conference 2026 here today.
He noted that Penang remains one of Malaysia’s most dynamic economies, with its gross domestic product per capita in 2024 exceeding the national average by more than 34 per cent. Its labour force participation rate stood at 72 per cent, compared with the national average of 70.6 per cent.
Speaking to reporters later, Chow, who is also PDC chairman, said sustainability has remained a priority for the state government since the launch of the Cleaner-Greener Penang initiative in 2008 and was further reinforced through the Penang2030 vision introduced in 2018.
He said the Penang Green Council leads the state’s Green Agenda, a master plan that guides and strengthens environmental initiatives across Penang.
The state has also prioritised energy transition efforts, including increasing renewable energy adoption and advancing broader sustainability initiatives. Ongoing measures include developing public green spaces and installing solar panels, although further improvements remain possible, he said.
Meanwhile, PDC chief executive officer Abdul Latiff Abd Aziz said the agency remains committed to supporting the state’s development agenda while integrating sustainable practices into its planning and operations.
He said this commitment is guided by the PDC SDG-ESG Sustainability Initiative Plan 2024-2028, which provides a roadmap for embedding sustainability across its operations, development projects and subsidiaries.
“In 2025, PDC achieved a completion rate of 83.7 per cent for its planned sustainability initiatives, with a further 13.9 per cent currently in progress. These achievements reflect its commitment to translating sustainability goals into meaningful outcomes,” he said.
Abdul Latiff said key initiatives included the development of sustainable industrial infrastructure at Batu Kawan Industrial Park 3, featuring facilities that support low-carbon industrial operations. Environmental efforts also included planting 1,000 mangrove trees to strengthen ecosystem resilience and support long-term carbon-reduction goals.
Earlier, the one-day conference drew more than 150 participants from government agencies, industry, academia and the sustainability community, providing a platform to exchange ideas, share experiences and learn from experts on key sustainability issues.P
