Public policy

2010-2011

Cooperative Management of Langkawi Geopark

The Kilim Karst Geoforest Park is located in the eastern part of the Langkawi Island and is renowned for its vertical limestone hills and unique ecosystem. In 2007 the three river basins of Kilim were give a World Geopark status by UNESCO.

In 2011 the AMI funded Charles Darwin University to work with the Langkawi Development Authority, the Forestry Department and community residents to develop mechanisms to conserve and manage Langkawi's natural resources in the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park.

A series of workshops were held to identify shared values, responsibilities, aspirations and recommendations for cooperative management among the stakeholders. The workshops drew on Australia's lessons and experience in applying the concepts and principals of 'cooperative management' for protected areas which offer potential for improving management of Langkawi conservation areas.

The project provided opportunities for community leaders and government agencies to work closely together in the management of Kilim, developing a framework of community engagement in sustainable tourism.

Best Practice Public Sector Reform Workshop

The AMI provided financial support for a Public Sector Reform Workshop held on 26 and 27 January 2011; a joint initiative of the Australian High Commission and Austrade in Kuala Lumpur, the Crawford School and the Razak School of Government. This workshop focused on one of the top Malaysian government priorities in the New Economic Model (NEM) and Economic Transformation Program how to improve government services through reform of the public sector.

The workshop was designed to share Australia's expertise in public sector reform and marry this with implementation initiatives under the NEM and 10th Malaysia Plan. Presentations from Australian participants included the Australian Public Service Commissioner, Stephen Sedgwick, and the head of the Crawford School, Ian Buchanan.

Improving Corporate Social Responsibility Standards in the Oil and Gas industry: A Comparison of Malaysia and Australia

This project was a collaboration between four leading sustainability researchers from Griffith University (Australia), the Universiti Sains Malaysia, the International Islamic University and the Universiti Teknologi MARA comparing the current state of corporate social responsibility practices in the oil and gas industries in Malaysia and Australia.

The researchers identified and compared key priorities for business organisations in Malaysia and Australia in the oil and gas industry. This resulted in shared learnings about corporate social responsibility practices, particularly regarding the culturally sensitive aspects of managing industries in Malaysia and Australia. The workshop attracted leading professionals from companies such as Petronas and leading government departments in Australia and Malaysia. A number of joint publications in international journals and conferences resulted from this research collaboration.

MERCY Malaysia visit to Australia

The AMI funded a delegation from MERCY Malaysia to visit Australia from 6 – 13 November 2010. MERCY Malaysia is an international organisation involved in the delivery of medical and humanitarian aid in Malaysia. The delegation met with 14 Australian aid organisations in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, as well as with members of AusAID's Humanitarian Emergency Response Section. These meetings, and other program elements, allowed the delegation to explore collaborative opportunities for providing medical relief, water sanitation and hygiene, and risk reduction programs in the Asia-Pacific region.

The visit was an outcome from the AMI Advisory Board meeting with MERCY Malaysia in February 2010 in Malaysia.