Enforce environmental laws with 'iron fist', urges activist

A pro-environment student activist today urged the government to enforce laws on waste recycling with an "iron fist".

Kim Sung, during his presentation at a town hall session on environmental policy in Petaling Jaya, said such an approach was warranted to tackle the worsening pollution and climate change the country was facing.

"The government must enforce recycling policies with an iron fist. We already have the policies (in place). What the government has to do now is to enforce them.

"We should emulate South Korea. See how they maintain a high recycling rate because of their stringent procedures. They prosecute their own people (for failure to comply) and offer rewards to whistle-blowers, awarding them a portion from the penalty," he told some 200-strong audience at the policy discussion entitled 'Towards A Greener and Cleaner Malaysia'.

The forum was a part of the one-day “Voice of Nation-Building” programme organised by Malaysiakini at Universiti Malaya.

Kim, who is a law student at the University of London, also suggested that the government transform all landfills into the country into sanitary landfills which treat refuse before disposing of them.

The discussion was moderated by environmentalist Yasmin Rasyid. Heng Kiah Chun of Greenpeade Malaysia and Shantini Guna Rajan of the World Wild Life Foundation (WWF) delivered presentations on forest fires and ocean pollution, respectively.

The event also featured Deputy Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Isnaraissah Munirah as a guest speaker.

Allow maps

Heng in his speech said the government should drop its objection to Malaysian palm oil companies publishing maps of their concessions to prove that they are operating responsibly.

He said only by allowing the information to be made public would the government be able to take action against irresponsible palm oil companies that are involved in open burning activities.

Shantini, meanwhile, suggested that the government set up a dedicated institution to oversee the country's oceans.

She said the absence of a focused body with an institutional framework meant that there was no one to represent national interests for marine biodiversity.

(Pix above: from left, Yasmin Rasyid, Isnaraissah Munirah, Shantini Guna Rajan, Kim Sung, and Heng Kiah Chun) -Mkini