S’wak happy with action on transboundry haze

KUCHING: The state government is happy with proactive steps by members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) and Asean Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC), especially Indonesia, on transboundry haze pollution.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT: (From left) Uggah, Wong and Dr Chan arrive for the dinner. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa

Stating this during the dinner for the 10th meeting of the Sub-regional Ministerial Steering Committee on Transboundry Haze Pollution, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hing Nam said the on-going bilateral cooperation between Malaysia and Indonesia in the Riau province had yielded positive results.

“Apart from the Riau province, the on-going cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore in Jambi province has also turned in positive results,” said Dr Chan to delegates from Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

He suggested the authorities in Borneo collaborate to help solve the haze problem on the island.

“I would like to suggest that we also initiate bilateral cooperation between Kalimantan, Sarawak and Sabah to address this annual problem,” he said, indicating that collaboration is vital to keep the momentum of regional efforts on-going.

Dr Chan added that the threats brought about by global warming needed to be dealt with seriously as they have the potential to change everyone’s lives and also the environment.

“Huge social, political, and economic issues will arise if we don’t do something to stop the skyrocketing rise of the temperatures and environmental pollution. We need to act,” he said, adding that everybody had to give utmost priority to sustainable development with minimal degradation.

On the state’s development policies, Dr Chan said Sarawak is embarking on prudent and judicious development to uplift and enhance the socioeconomic status of the people.

“One of the main thrusts is the development of its vast underutilised native customary land and state land for oil palm and planted forests, while at the same time (we are) committed to ensure sufficient biosphere such as national parks, nature reserves, water catchment and other totally protected areas.”

Dr Chan said the state also recognises that environmental protection agenda is important to ensure that development will not cause irreversible damage to the environment.

“Among the steps taken by the state government were the enactment of the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance in 1993 and the establishment of the Natural Resources of Environment Board (NREB) in 1994,” he said, describing the effort as testament of the country and state’s initiative to protect the environment.

Among those present during the dinner were Brunei’s Minister of Development Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Datuk Seri Setia Awang Suyoi Osman, Singapore’s Minister of the Environment and Water Resource Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas as well as Minister of Environment and Public Health Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh.