PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysia Sustainable Development Goals Foundation (MySDG Foundation), which was launched yesterday, will be a platform for better coordination of grants from various sources.

       Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said various funds had been set up and managed by stakeholders to address issues pertaining to poverty eradication, wildlife welfare as well as environmental and biodiversity conservation.

       However, he said the funds could not sustain due to financial constraints to facilitate the implementation of long-term programmes and projects.

       “Hence, there is an urgent need to ensure a more coordinated and integrated fund management to finance programmes and projects in the country that are likely to be outside the scope of the government’s annual allocation,” he said.

       Tengku Zafrul was speaking at the launch of the MySDG Foundation by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, yesterday. The foundation will be governed by a board of trustees comprising respected individuals in the public sector, industry players, civil society leaders as well as experts in specific fields.

       The board will set strategic priorities for the fund based on the SDG pillars, as well as seek public feedback and input on upcoming projects.

       “All programmes and projects under this fund are also subject to a thorough and transparent selection, monitoring, reporting, and auditing process,” Zafrul said. — Bernama