Tag Archives: sustainable development

Islanders Squeezed Out by Mainland Boatmen

Redang Island is groaning under the weight of day-trippers and both nature and locals are suffering, warns marine advocate Julian Hyde.

IN JUNE, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) was one of several organisations that raised concerns about a video taken of Teluk Dalam, Redang Island, with so many boats lined up along the beach that it was scarcely possible to move between them.

The community marine conservation group that we support on Redang (Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) led local efforts to raise awareness of this growing problem.

(Feature pic: Some days, the Teluk Dalam beach is neck-deep in day-tripping boats, 90% of which are from the main land | Photo by imanredang)

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Save the Endangered Parrots at Tanjung Aru

Tanjung Aru’s beloved rare parrots must not be relocated, say birdwatchers Amar-Singh HSS and Ron Pudin.

TANJUNG ARU Beach in Sabah is an idyllic beach with tall old Casuarina trees, lovely sand and some of the most magnificent sunsets in the world. Located on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu its proximity to the city makes Tanjung Aru Beach a great place to bring the family and have a peaceful day out. Many tourists visit the site daily.

Equally important is that Tanjung Aru Beach is home to an endangered parrot, the Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis). Blue-naped Parrots are medium sized parrots with green plumage, blue on the nape and mid-crown, broad orange-buff edging on wings and yellow on the undersurface of the tail.

(Feature image: Little is known about the global  population of the Blue-naped Parrot but the number of locations it is found is declining  |  Photo: Amar-Singh HSS)

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Listen to the Birds to Save Mangroves

Velvet-fronted Nuthatch (Amar Singh-HSS)

Listen to the Birds to Save Mangroves

When birds disappear from back mangroves, the mangrove forest’s very survival could be at stake.

Produced by: Ashley Yeong, Amar-Singh HSS & SL Wong
Edited by: YH Law

Co-published with the Malaysian Bird Report

Published: June 14, 2024

(The Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis is absent in many mangroves in Selangor | Photo by Amar-Singh HSS)

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气候变迁法案是系统治灾依据

治灾防灾靠的不只是人力财力,更需要完善的法律。

为解决气候变迁和频繁水灾的根本问题,气候变迁法案是其中一个尚在规划的方案,而前能源、工艺、科学、气候变化及环境部长兼蒲种国会议员杨美盈希望在团结政府届满前,在国会提呈及通过气候变迁法案。

她之前解释,政府应成立一支特工队,设下18个月的目标,在2年内完成气候变迁法案。

(图片:水灾给百姓带来巨大的损失。| 来源:Canva 图片库)

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可持续规划,治水灾根本

气候变迁导致降雨骤增,更揭露了我国长期忽视排水需求的根本问题。我们该如何对治频频发生的严重水灾呢?

每年年杪至年初,水灾一直是马来西亚的重大课题。根据国家灾难管理机构(NADMA)灾难控制中心发出的最新全国灾难事故报告指出,2023年11月11日至2024年1月13日期间,累计有2万2966户家庭和7万4807名受害者安置在临时疏散中心(PPS),其影响农地达4900公顷,造成我国2300万令吉的经济损失。

(图片:淹没的村镇。 | 来源:Canva 图片库)

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Unlocking Rare Earth Riches in Malaysia

The world wants a lot more rare earths to power its green technology and meet climate goals. This offers lucrative opportunities for Malaysia to tap into its subterranean rare earth deposits of 16.1 billion tonnes. But first, the country wants to develop guidelines for a rare earth mining method said to be safer for the environment. Can Malaysia produce rare earths for the world’s green technology, and keep itself clean too?

(Image: A rare earth mining  facility in Perak; satellite image taken in January 2022. | Image: Google Earth)

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What Way If Not the PJD Highway?

While many Petaling Jaya residents don’t want an elevated highway through their community, they are still keen to drive. This is Part 2; read Part 1 for an interactive trip along the PJD highway.

TRAFFIC jams are a painful part of life in the Klang Valley. The Malaysian way to ease traffic, however, appears to focus largely on mega infrastructure: huge, tolled highways that cost hundreds of millions of ringgit to build.

In 2022 alone, two elevated highways were completed: the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Highway (DASH) and the first phase of the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Highway (SUKE). 

And the government is evaluating the proposal of yet another elevated highway: the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link Expressway (PJD). However, unlike the earlier highways, the PJD would pass through some of the most crowded residential and commercial areas in Petaling Jaya.

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