PETALING JAYA - The Malaysian-Asean Youth Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit 2025 is set to take place on May 10 at The Secret Garden, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, under the theme ‘Enhancing Inclusivity and Sustainability’, with the launch of a new model called ‘Way Forward’.
It aims to boost youth-led, public-private-partnership (PPP) collaboration in advancing the SDGs. The summit is a collaborative effort between the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) and MySDG Academy.
It is supported by the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), the Youth and Sports Ministry and more than 40 partners from civil society, academia, media and the private sector, including World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Taylor's University, Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS), Higher Education Malaysia Association (Heya) and venue sponsor 1 Utama.
Described as a "unique bipartisan initiative”, APPGM-SDG was approved by the Malaysian Parliament and brings together both government and opposition Members of Parliament (MP) to localise the SDGs.
"Since 2020, our collaborative efforts have involved 143 MPs and over 1,000 local organizations, successfully localising the SDGs and implementing impactful, community-driven solutions nationwide.
"At the heart of the summit is the launch of the ‘Way Forward’ model, which is designed to empower youth as co-leaders in SDG localisation efforts by promoting structured collaboration across public, private and grassroots sectors,” the group said in a joint statement.
The model draws upon institutional resources and intergenerational knowledge, aiming to produce shared, measurable outcomes that align with the SDG agenda.
1 Utama, Malaysia’s eco-conscious shopping destination and the summit’s venue sponsor, will host the event in The Secret Garden, one of Southeast Asia’s largest rooftop gardens.
The setting is designed to create an immersive sustainability experience, combining nature and innovation.
Participants will also embark on the SDG-Xplorers Trail, which features six real-life sustainability checkpoints:
- 1RECYCLING CENTRE
- Rainforest
- Arboretum
- W.I.S.E. With Food
- Autism Sensory Pod
- A checkpoint focusing on climate action, biodiversity, food systems and emotional well-being in an urban environment.
A sweet touch to the event will be provided by local dessert brand Sugirl, which will debut the limited-edition SDG Blue Bowl, made with Blue Pea Pulut and other locally inspired ingredients.
According to the organisers, the colourful bowl symbolises beauty, love, unity and earth, celebrating Malaysia’s multicultural identity and its commitment to inclusive, sustainable living.
In addition to the main programmes, the summit will feature:
- Interactive SDG Labs
- A curated Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Exhibition
- Utopia Night, an evening networking session designed to spark long-term collaboration through curated conversations and shared purpose.
This year’s summit also emphasises the critical role of the media in promoting the SDG movement.