by Rosli Mansor
The increased opening of new areas for development has the potential to cause pollution to rivers as a result of soil erosion and the disposal of waste water from development projects.
Chairman of the Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee, Mohd Akmal Kamarudin said, that is one of the difficult challenges that need to be addressed at this time.
Mohd Akmal, also hoped that all parties would be able to ensure the implementation of effective earthworks control without fail.
“Accordingly, legal action is not an option to control pollution because it is a reaction to something that has already occurred.
“On the contrary, this pollution should be dealt with during the planning and implementation stage.
“Therefore, the commitment of all interested parties, whether project movers and developers, the government, the private sector or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is demanded.
“So that all parties play their respective roles in maintaining environmental sustainability in their respective development project areas,” he said.
He said this in the text of his speech representing the Menteri Besar, Dato’ Saarani Mohamad in conjunction with the Perak State Level National Environment Day (HASN) on Saturday.
Also present were the Mayor of Ipoh, Dato’ Rumaizi Baharin @ Md Daud and the Director of the Department of Environment (DOE) of Perak, Rosli Zul.
In the meantime, Saarani said, the world is now faced with various challenges due to climate change.
He said further, regional and international commitment and cooperation is very necessary to deal with it.
“Climate change is now being felt in every country and continent, including extremely variable weather, rising sea levels and natural disasters.
“Action is our next step. This ‘Action’ means that each of us must play our respective roles.
“It doesn’t matter where, so that every action that is done, is able to have a positive impact on the environment,” he said.
He added, the use of single-use plastic is also a big threat to the sustainability of the environment.
“Commonly used single-use plastics such as plastic shopping bags, mineral water bottles, food packaging, drink straws and plastic cutlery. These plastic examples mentioned are usually disposable and not a valuable resource to be reused.
“To deal with this single-use plastic pollution and in accordance with the royal decree of His Majesty the Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan during the Opening of the First Meeting of the Fifth Year of the Fourteenth Perak Darul Ridzuan State Assembly, the state government took the initiative to draw up guidelines for the implementation of the no plastic bag campaign through use of “pollution charges” by local authorities (PBT),” he said.
Saarani said it is implemented on Saturdays every week to all existing business premises and new business premises that will start operating in 2023.
