~Tabiat TAK PA!~

(source: the star)

PENANG: Say no to a tree-less and dirty environment – this is the Prime Minister’s advice to the people. He said the people had the power to compel developers and hawkers to be environment-friendly.

“The rakyat have a choice not to buy houses in housing estates where developers cut down all the trees. Why live in such an uncomfortable environment?” he said when opening the Environment Awareness Campaign 2007 at the Queensbay Mall here yesterday. Abdullah also urged the people to shun dirty eateries.

Failure to take care of the environment could also pose a major setback to the tourism sector, Abdullah warned. He said an investor had rejected plans to build a hotel in Pantai Pasir Gemuruh near Teluk Kumbar in Penang because the place was dirty.

“This particular beach used to be clean, and beautiful. But now it is full of rubbish,” he said. Later during a press conference, he said 50% of the rivers in the country were polluted, of which 5% were extremely polluted.

“There are no more waterfalls in Penang. Sungai Kelang is filthy and mining ponds in Batu Pahat, Johor are filled with garbage.

“On my way here from the airport, the road was littered with durian husks and rambutan waste,” he said, adding that these marred the landscape and reflected the local attitude.

He also called on the public to observe cleanliness inside and outside their homes. “Do not throw garbage into drains. This will clog the drainage system. “The recent massive floods in Johor cost the Government RM1bil to repair damaged infrastructure. We could have used that money to build schools and hospitals,” he said.

He also called for greater enforcement to check illegal logging. “Illegal logging destroys the environment including rivers,” he said, noting that natural freshwater fish habitat had been mostly destroyed.

Abdullah said the onus was on the public to keep the environment clean. “I want this campaign to be a success; it is important for our future,” he said. Earlier in his welcoming speech, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said it was time people dropped the “tidak apa” (never mind) attitude to safeguard the world from further environmental degradation.

Abdullah Takes Dirty Malaysians to Task - (Source: New Straits Times)

Let's think about it....

GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday slammed those who continued to pollute the environment by disposing of rubbish indiscriminately. He said filthy habits had caused most states in the country to become dirty and ugly while rivers were badly polluted.

At the launch of the National Environment Awareness Campaign 2007 here, Abdullah also took to task developers who were bent on cutting every tree to construct as many houses as possible at their project sites. Such practices, he said, not only created unsightly residential areas but also contributed to rising temperatures and flash floods.

"We can see rubbish everywhere in most places. "People are throwing rubbish next to their houses, along the roads and into the rivers. "If this continues, the country will soon become dirty and ugly. "Eventually it is the people who will suffer." Abdullah cited the situation in Penang as an example and said the island was once known as the "Pearl of the Orient" because of its natural beauty. He said it should have been everyone's responsibility to take care of the island's cleanliness and preserve its beauty.

"However, what we are seeing today is completely the reverse. The rivers here are dead, the beaches polluted and waterfalls which were once excellent are all gone.

"This is not only happening in Penang but also in other states."

Abdullah said everyone should play a role in maintaining the environment and called on the people to start fulfilling this responsibility. He said the tourism industry, which contributed billions of ringgit to the country's economy, would suffer if the level of cleanliness continued to deteriorate.

Abdullah said people should start avoiding dirty places and stop buying houses in areas without greenery.

"The people can force retailers and developers to ensure they also maintain the environment."

Also present at the launch at the Jom Heboh carnival site in Bayan Baru here were Abdullah's wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid.

At a press conference later, Abdullah was asked to comment on the controversy surrounding CTOS Sdn Bhd, which was charged in court last week for various irregularities. The prime minister said any company that breached the law would be charged by the authorities.

"If they have breached the rules, then they just have to face action."

PEACE!