Sustainable development:
“Sustainable development is a result of partnership of all stakeholders who take part in outcome-oriented programmes that place the people at the centre.”

“The MDGs and sustainable development will and must be achieved through the North-South partnership as much as the South-South partnership. They will and must be achieved through the ODA as much as through empowering the developing countries to self-help. And they will and must be achieved not because the government treats the poor as economic and social burden. Neither is it because the poor are recipients of government charity. Nor will it be achieved should the private sector regard them as parasites. The key to success in sustainable development must lie in the tripartite partnership between the government, the people and the private sector.”

“It is both a duty and a moral obligation for a government to put people at the centre of their policy, to carry out policy that is a result of an outside-in approach, listening to the real needs of the people and responding to their different needs and requirements. There is “no one medicine” for all diseases for development. There must be room for variations and adjustments if such development policy is to be result-oriented.”

“ Empowering of the grassroots economy is as important as the strengthening of the mainstream economy if development is to be sustained……Empowering the grassroots is expanding productivity, generating income, and securing livelihood, social and family ties.”

Democracy:
“Democracy is not just a mark and a ballot box. Democracy is not just a number of elections. And democracy is not just the freedom of expression. So long as our poor citizens continue to live their lives without human dignity, there can be no genuine democracy.”

Poverty alleviation:
“To achieve poverty alleviation and the MDGs, we must ensure that there shall be adequately clean water, sufficient food, affordable medical care, decent clothing and proper housing for the impoverished. Fulfilling these basic needs is decreasing poverty, upgrading human dignity and increasing democracy at the same time.”

Housing:
“By allowing and supporting the communities to be the owners of their own developmental process and the main actors in managing the design, construction and financial management (housing scheme), the Government is investing in the country’s most important asset, its human resources.”

----------------------------------------------------