Multi-dimensional development for Maran District: A symbiosis

Development in the modern era is often understood in terms of fiscal and economic growth and human capital development. Negative impacts of environmental degradation are normally mitigated through the improved ideas of sustainable development the source of which is either colonial or local knowledge. Wth special reference to the Structure Plan of the Maran Distrit this study takes a closer look at the idea of sustainable development which should not only be confined to environmental sustainability issues and challenges but also include holistically all aspects of economic and human development. Realitistic sustainable development should be a symbiosis of thesis, anti-thesis and synthesis between colonial and local knowledge. In Malaysia’s Budget 2015, the main focus of established development is to improve people s living standards in line with the vision of Malaysia becoming a developed country by year 2020. For Maran, it was argued that such symbiosis would be instrumental to the District’s moving forward in the direction of the vision.