GLOBALISATION brings many challenges. It has bound us up in ever more complex relationships as laws and norms vary across the globe. These differences have become both opportunities and challenges and, to its credit, the government has strived to protect the national interest in the international system - both economic and political.

But we are a relatively small country where job and wealth creation remain a top priority. How do we then negotiate commercial opportunities, which carry with them negative consequences for the environment, for instance?

Recent concerns have been raised following a proposal by a European firm to relocate commercial practices - specifically an animal testing facility - that are no longer lawful there, to our shores.

While it is clear that globalised activist networks were activated in this instance, it is also clear that many NGOs are well aware of international standards and are striving to promote them locally. The response of the Wildlife and National Parks Department is also welcomed. It organised a consultation with leading NGOs in the field and brokered a meeting with one of the main stakeholders. It is always helpful for there to be a sharing of perspectives between various stakeholders.

The department's deputy director-general 1 was quoted as saying: "We had an open discussion with nothing to hide." This is the kind of sentiment we would like to hear more of. What are the considerations that the Johor State Investment Centre has to negotiate when deliberating the economic viability as well as the social and ethical desirability of such a project?

Do jobs trump pollution? Does striving for internationally sanctioned best practices mean that we forego business opportunities that will create jobs? What do policymakers understand by sustainable development?

These are not easy questions to answer but the mark of our collective maturity is in creating the mechanism to manage and negotiate them.

One positive outcome is that this little storm in a teacup has revealed the inadequacies of our legislation to deal with such matters. Legislators should address this gap.

With good sense and "nothing to hide" we will clearly be on the road to genuine progress.