Society Must Be More Sensitive Concerning Environmental Sustainability - M'sian DPM

MUAR, March 7 (Bernama) -- The community must be more sensitive about their joint responsibility in looking after the environment to give a more positive impact on and enhance sustainability of the environment and natural resources. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said although the government constantly gave clarification and appropriate assistance to the people regarding their joint responsibility in protecting the environment, what was more important was that every member of society must be more aware of this matter. "The society must be more aware, be responsible and be more concerned in whatever they are doing so that they will give positive impact and strengthen sustainability of the natural environment. "Among the natural resources that we must appreciate and look after carefully are water, the rivers that generate electric power and fresh air," he said when officiating the Pagoh Green Carnival at the Pagoh Sports Complex, here Saturday. Also present were Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, his deputy Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and secretary-general of the ministry Loo Took Gee. Muhyiddin said that in this country, factors such as the weather, whether it would be hot or rainy, had become more critical and had begun to reach a crisis. "Situations such as the floods in several states have shown a more worrying situation in time to come," he said. He said, however, the nation seldom experienced critical situations where there was no water supply or serious power disruption to the extent that the people's daily routine was affected. The deputy prime minister said the people must be more prudent in their consumption of water and electricity and to be more disciplined in scheduling the use of these resources. "Such a lifestyle helps in reducing consumption cost and wastage," he said. He said that the Solid Waste Management Department had reported that solid waste in the country amounted to 29,000 tons daily and 45 per cent of these constituted food leftovers. "If garbage in the form of food leftovers are left scattered and not properly managed, they would attract disease-bearing rodents and crows," he said. As such, Muhyiddin hoped that all levels of community leaders would join in to support government efforts in reducing wastage, and encouraging reuse and recycling. "Beginning September, collection of separated waste would follow the set schedule and implemented fully in the states that adopted the Act 672," he said. He also said that the establishment of the Green Foundation would contribute towards raising awareness on the green lifestyle among the young generation and the general public. -- BERNAMA