The trends in SEA implementation
may indicate that Malaysia is still experimenting with the use of SEA as a policy planning mechanism and is
hesitant in embracing SEA. This may be due to its traditional
top-down policy planning with minimal public participation
and its conventional reliance on EIA. Meanwhile, notable
progress of SEA implementation in Malaysia has been the
recent recommendation by the Ministry of Natural Resources
and Environment for SEA to be implemented in mainstreaming
biodiversity. SEA prospects seem to be in the development
of public participation initiatives in national legislation and
policies. This includes the recent Malaysian government
circular on the online public engagement of new legislation
as well as the utilization of sustainability assessments in land
use planning