GEORGE TOWN – As flash floods worsen in Klang and the greater Klang Valley, the Environment and Water Ministry has warned Penang to be prepared for flash floods during this rainy season, highlighting that Malaysia’s environmental state is poor.
Its deputy minister, Datuk Mansor Othman, said today that the ministry has roped in the agencies under them, especially the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), to provide early warning and aid to people in affected areas in addition to engaging with the state government.
He said that rubbish-filled drains and rivers coupled with climate change are the reasons why flash floods happen.
“Flash floods have a very high cost because people lose their belongings and have their property damaged.
“We are looking at a way to turn it around. The rubbish in drains has the potential to be part of the circular economy.
“When these items are recycled, they can generate income.
“That is why we are striving to raise public awareness, like what we are doing today at this beach clean-up,” he said during the beach clean-up programme held in conjunction with the National Environment Day 2021 at Bayview Beach Hotel here, today.
He stressed that it would not be necessary for the ministry to gazette a beach and sea area as a national park, tourist centre or historical heritage site when more people assume the responsibility for the environment, especially for scenic places like the beach.
“Citizens should have the awareness to maintain the condition of the beach and sea.”
He said that Penang used to be called “Pulau Pinang Darul Sampah” but ownership has set in among its people and the situation has improved drastically from where it was before.
The joint programme organised by Rakan Alam Sekitar (RAS), a division of the Environment Department, and Tenaga Nasional Bhd saw 137kg of waste collected within an hour and a half.
The 35 Universiti Teknologi Mara students involved managed to sweep the beach clean despite the rain.
Meanwhile, Environment Department Director-General Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the department aims to develop more awareness and mobilise community members through environmental conservation activities.
“Through our environmental partners, we at (the department) would like to foster a sense of responsibility in society to act and participate in caring for the environment that we all share.
“Through RAS, the department also provides a channel for the community to make complaints or (give) views on environmental pollution issues to the relevant government agencies.” – The Vibes, December 18, 2021
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