Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir presenting a souvenir to British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Wong Tuck Keong, October 21, 2015.
More British manufacturing companies may be investing in Perak and creating more job opportunities for the people, British High Commissioner to Malaysia Vicki Treadell said today.
However, she declined to give more details as the matter had not been made public.
"It's not just about what Britain can sell or do in Perak, it's about what we can invest in the state to create jobs here," she said after a meeting with Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir during her official visit to the state.
Treadell said she was interested to intiate collaborations and partnerships between Britain and Perak in tourism, agriculture, agritech and the manufacturing industries.
She also praised the conception of the Royal Belum State Park as a protected forest reserve.
"There is real value in making moral and ethical judgements instead of making fast bucks from illegal logging and destroying the environment.
"Endangered species from the Asian elephants, tigers to 10 species of hornbills that are in Belum are unique to Southeast Asia.
"So many people would want to come and see something so special and so rare," she said.
Treadell, who was born in Ipoh and lived in Maxwell Road in her younger years, is expected to visit Tarcissian Convent tomorrow, where she had briefly attended school.
She will also be supporting a British council project called "Sports for All" before heading to Simpang Pulai for the opening of a new Tesco hypermarket.
By Ewe Shufei / theedgeproperty.com | October 28, 2015 8:43 PM MYT
IPOH (Oct 28): The RM1.1 billion, 26-acre Qi City development project in Bandar Meru Raya, Perak, is tentatively set to be launched within the first quarter of next year, said Green Venture Capital (GVC) CEO Chandragesan Suppiah.
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) between China Energy Hua Ren Industrial Investment Co Ltd (CEHR) and Wawasan Qi Properties Group subsidiary GVC was signed yesterday to facilitate the development's construction.
“We are very happy with this partnership as it will have huge impact on the state’s economy and further promote China-Malaysia bilateral ties,” said Perak state secretary representative Datuk Mohd Zahir Abdul Kalid during the signing ceremony yesterday.
The agreement involves a three-year partnership between GVC and CEHR for the construction works on Qi City, which are expected to start in 2016.
“This MOA marks a pivotal moment in the development of Qi City to begin the process of bringing the blueprint to reality. CEHR’s involvement in this project will showcase its expertise in infrastructure development and construction, which has a widespread reputation both in the region and around the world,” said Chandragesan in his speech.
“This strategic alliance will give us a further understanding of the Malaysian market and allow us to be part of a viable investment venture in this part of the region,” said CEHR chairman of the board Wang Wei.
Qi City consists of a teaching hospital with public and private wings, the Quest International University Perak (QUIP) campus, three condominium blocks, retail outlets, a medical rehabilitation centre, a convention hall to cater for up to 1,500 people and hotel suites.
Chandragesan remarked that the development aimed to attract specialists from diverse fields to teach, practice as well as to conduct research in the hospital wings via the provision of multi-platforms to benefit students, lecturers and doctors.
The development will also be located close to the central business district of Bandar Meru Raya, as well as amenities such as a private international school, an animation theme park, a hyper market and a business hotel.
GVC is a special-purpose vehicle established to spearhead the Qi City development, while CEHR is involved in sectors such as international trade and engineering, energy exploitation and management, real estate investment and construction.
A UNIQUE barter campaign was launched in Serdang Jaya recently to allow residents to collect compost in exchange for food waste.
Subang Jaya municipal councillor Michael Noel Jalleh said the pilot project would be tested there first to help the residents get compost as fertiliser for their plants.
“In the Zone Bersih campaign, we are always looking for innovative ideas, and the unique compost for food waste barter is something out of the box,” he said.
He added that residents could collect their food waste in plastic bags and throw them in designated compost bins that would be placed at the guard house at Jalan SR 8/7.
Michael hoped the residents would take the initiative to do their part to recycle food waste as well and said residents from other areas could also approach the council for the same initiative.
Meanwhile, residents are happy to hear about the barter trade campaign, especially with their new Community Garden.
Serdang Raya SR 8/6 and 8/7 Residents Association chairman Tan See Meng said it was a great start to a proper waste separation initiative.
“Several states have already begun to separate waste and I think it is good to start this practice first before the Selangor state government implements waste separation as well,” he added.
The barter trade campaign was launched during the opening ceremony of a Community Garden in Jalan SR 8/7, Serdang Raya 8 under the Zone Bersih campaign.
The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) had allocated RM40,000 for the Zone Bersih for four chosen Residents Committee (JKP), one of it is Zone 23 where Serdang Jaya is located.
About RM6,000 was spent for the community garden including the construction of a staircase and gate for the residents to enter the area.
Tan said the residents had pooled their energy together to clear up a parcel of land next to a small river for the garden.
The place was infested with mosquitoes in the past and the land was used to discard construction waste.
Some 30 residents came together to set up the garden with MPSJ’s assistance.
Today, about 35 fruit trees had been planted, thanks to MPSJ while residents planted vegetables including sawi on a special vegetable plot during the launch.
“This piece of land has become a useful entity for the residents here. We had asked our hardworking MPSJ contractors to help us clean the place up,” Tan said, adding that some residents had even contributed their own plants.
He said it was not only about keeping the place clean but it was also a great way to interact with their neighbours and residents from neighbouring residential areas under the Zone 23 JKP.
Another resident Khairul Nizam Basir, 37, who had planted a row of banana trees, said it would be difficult to get the residents to participate at first.
“It will not be easy to get everyone to join hands because most people have this ‘wait and see’ policy, but if we prove it to them and show them it can be successful, they will join us,” he added.
THE concept of reducing, reusing and recycling has been drummed into us since childhood by television jingles and schoolteachers.
But for the most part, the cause and effects of indiscriminate waste dumping seems largely unheeded in our day-to-day practices, leading to a rise in dengue cases and pests.
The critical situation has led to the Government authorising a mandatory “separation at source” plan under the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Corporation (SWCorp) for households to manage their waste disposal.
Implemented nationwide on Sept 1, except in Selangor, Penang, Terengganu and Kelantan, this raises the question of what materials are recyclable.
Statistics provided by Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) show that in Malaysia, approximately 90% of waste were going to landfills while recycling rate is less than 10%.
Compared to Singapore’s 1% landfill, 51% incineration and a total solid waste (excluding construction waste) recycling rate of 48%.
Many other Asian countries, including Taiwan and Hong Kong, have recycling rates that either touch or far exceed the 50% mark.
Plastics and Polystyrene
Plastics and polystyrene have for many years been a contentious subject due in part to its use of natural resources such as oil and natural gas moulded through a chemical bonding process called polymerisation.
Approximately 4% of the world’s crude oil is used to manufacture plastic products in comparison to 45% for transportation and 42% in the production of heat, electricity and energy.
Though we know traditional materials such as paper, glass and plastics can be recycled, a common misconception is to overlook the recyclable properties of polystyrene as well as to view plastics as hazardous waste.
However, little is known of the industry as a whole and its importance in the field of medicine and safety through hygiene.
Food waste constitutes 50% of domestic waste in Malaysia, while plastic packaging constitutes less than 4% of all municipal solid waste by weight.
Debunking myths
Malaysian Plastics Forum education and awareness chairman Ahmad Khairuddin Sha’aban said plastics were also less harmful in landfills because they stayed inert, a form of carbon capture that did not contribute to toxic emissions.
“Degradation when exposed to oxygen emits the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), while degradation in the absence of oxygen emits methane gas, 22 times more harmful than CO2.
“There has been evidence of mummified papers that have not degraded because it’s been buried in the landfill for years.
“Single-use plastic is not just for convenience but also an issue of health, safety and hygiene for consumable items, and especially in the medical field such as blood bags.
“Almost all conventional plastics are recyclable and can be recycled again and again but those that are not, have an energy value that can be recovered through waste-to-energy incineration,” Ahmad explained.
He said the recycling industry was a profitable one, though low-key in Malaysia.
He cited as example, plastics had a high calorific value, which meant it was a good fuel source.
According to MPMA, a pound of plastic has the ability to produce twice the amount of energy than some coals, and almost as much energy as fuel oil.
Modern energy recovery facilities cleanly burn the non-recyclable plastics in special combustion chambers.
While contemporary air pollution control devices remove potentially harmful particulates and gases from incinerator emissions, with energy from the heat used to generate steam or electricity.
As plastic products are made up of different raw materials known as resins, most products have differing melting points.
A seven coding system (the triangular recycle symbol with numbers at its centre) is used to assist recycling centres in the segregation of plastics by identifying the types of resins used and whether or not the plastics are recyclable.
MPMA Environment, Safety and Health executive Sri Umeswaran Shekar posited three important elements in waste management that included logistics providing proper bins in strategic locations, frequent and correct collection of waste, as well as enforcement.
“The collection method must be overseen because people are willing to separate, but collectors end up dumping the separated items into one garbage bag.
“Enforcement among households is also needed to a certain extent because we are still in the transitional period of learning how to properly segregate waste.
“Right now SWCorp has not mentioned households segregating plastics according to coding, but this is happening in countries with more advanced recycling efforts such as Japan because the people there are more aware of it.
“But as long as we as consumers at least start with separating organic waste from recyclable materials such as plastic and polystyrene, it’s an achievement.
There is also a need to emphasise the importance of separating organic waste and rinsing out recyclable items because in the case of plastics and polystyrene, contaminated materials becomes less valuable because of its properties at a molecular level could become weaker.
“Recycling has an economic value and should be seen as such, with grants or loans for those in the waste industry because they are not able to obtain it as the materials are not end products,” said Sri Umeswaran, underlining a holistic approach.
Ahmad said that rather than burdening the public, brand owners should also be roped in as part of the value chain because of the huge role they play in the collection system of their products for recycling.
“It is a concerted effort to inculcate caring for the environment,” he said.
Running campaigns and school programmes since 1997, MPMA made several efforts advocating the recycling with its most recent being the “Don’t be a Litterbug” litter-free Ramadan campaign to educate traders on managing waste.
The association is now collaborating with local authorities and SWCorp for the “separation at source” initiative.
Running recycling centres
IPC Shopping Centre has been diligently carrying out its own recycling efforts since June 2009, involving all 180 of its tenants in the process and encouraging visitors to do the same through the Recycling and Buy-Back Centre.
The centre acts as a collection and waste segregation point, offering buy-back prices at a minimum of 1kg for six commonly found household and retail business recyclable items.
These include cardboards, newspapers, magazines, plastic, aluminium as well as metal, and at the same time providing proper handling in the disposal of used batteries, light bulbs and compact fluorescent lights.
The top three buy-back items sent in by the public are magazines, with an average monthly volume of 1,800kg, newspapers (1,500kg) and plastics (250kg).
Centre marketing manager Karyn Lim said everything began with IPC’s thought on how to better incorporate sustainable operations at the mall in managing the waste generated by the many tenants.
“The buy-back centre operates at its own cost with any revenue received, reinvested into the centre to improve our recycling services and other sustainability efforts.
“We also use it for handling fees of certified specialist subcontractors who know how to recycle specific materials using bulb-eater machine, which crushes the bulbs, coated with neutralising chemicals then sealed in cement.
“These are then passed over to Kualiti Alam Sdn Bhd to be placed in a certified landfill,” she said.
Centre manager Joakim Hogsander revealed that tenants generated 76 tonnes of wet or organic waste and 38 tonnes dry waste monthly.
“There is a machine to segregate metal and chemical waste but our people have to manually separate paper, plastic and glass.
“We are appealing to the tenants’ green side and their economic sensibility so we have to show people the benefits.
“I believe that it’s not just in Malaysia now, but the world has to see how we can start to recycle everything, and it is the producers and consumers who decide that,” he said.
With 176 bright yellow collection bins scattered around the Klang Valley, Community Recycle for Charity (CRC) compiles then separates anywhere from 100 to 150 tonnes of recyclables a month.
As volunteers scour cities and towns daily to collect from at least 30 to 40 bins, their job is but halfway done.
The centre separates waste according to the traditional paper, plastic and glass, as well as electronic items.
The electronics are sent to specialists to disassemble for their profitable parts, with any revenue received from the specialists used to benefit homes for the underprivileged.
CRC founder Datuk Joe Chong, 31, started the organisation in April 2009 with a primary focus on educating the public about recycling, besides charity work.
“About 15% of the items we collect are bulk waste, with a disposal rate of about 30% of waste that cannot be reused.
“Items that can be reused such as furniture are given to charity homes upon request but a lot of things collected are not reusable.
“We are working with local authorities for a special dumpsite to properly dispose of unsalvageable rubbish.
“I think the trouble is that a lot of people have the heart to donate, but don’t know what items are recyclable or what charities need and can use.
“About 60 to 70 tonnes of the recyclables we collect are clothes, way too much for welfare homes to use so we can only give these away to be reused as cloth for cleaning,” Chong noted.
To-date, CRC has assisted approximately 100 or more homes in this way on a rotational basis.
“We also have a pick-up service for bulk items that still work, so they can be sent to homes in need,” he said.
To Chong, goodwill is paramount, believing in the generosity of people and cultivating a willing nature rather than enforcement in the separation of waste.
He also urged the Government to involve NGOs more in their efforts to instill greater practice of recycling.
But an issue that constantly crops up – one that all three organisations agree upon – is the need for education in terms of waste segregation for our society to evolve a First World mindset.
While there are many campaigns highlighting dengue, pest problem and littering in cities, it takes individuals moving in a conscientious direction, one little step at a time, for a successful outcome.
Ipoh City Watch was invited to participate in the Car-Free Day cum the launch of Ipoh Heritage Footprint. We were among 10 govt agencies and NGOs which were given a booth to display and promote our activities.
Headed by our Hon. Secretary Victor Chew, a group of 12 ICW Members were at hand helping out with the buntings, banners and a LCD display unit putting up the work done by ICW to help make Ipoh the most liveable city in Malaysia.
Perak SWCorp was kind enough to lend us their 3R boxes to help us promote Recycling. We managed to get the Signature Banner ready for participants to make a pledge on 3R efforts. Among those who make a pledge this morning include the Perak MB YAB Dato Seri Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, State Treasurer YB Dato Ghazali, Mayor Dato Zamri Man and State Exco for Tourism, YB Dato Nolee Radzi.
Participants were treated to a Zumba dance session before the start of the event which was eventually joined in by Dr. Zambry, Dato Ghazali, Dato Nolee and Dato Zamri Man who came on a bicycle ride.
I had the opportunity to speak to the mayor directly on our concern towards the cleanliness of Ipoh City especially be traders and restaurant operators who dumped their garbage after business hours without the use of garbage bins. I also pointed out on ICW's roles in educating the public to be responsible towards the cleanliness of the city.
It was a good start for Ipoh City Council and we hope more publicity is done to get the participation of more people. We also urged the mayor to provide proper space for pedestrians and cyclists in the future.
Car Free Day is aimed at turning Ipoh into a low carbon emission city and the people into a low carbon community, says Dato Seri Zambry Abd kadir. Zambry said Ipoh had achieved another milestone through the programme, which had been implemented in other cities in Malaysia and around the world. “The programme creates awareness of a healthy lifestyle and the people can cycle, skateboard, rollerskate and walk about freely without any vehicles on the roads. “We have also received positive feedback from various parties about the programme, including the Sultan of Perak (Sultan Nazrin Shah) who hopes to join the programme in the future,” he told reporters after attending the programme at Padang Ipoh today. About 5,000 people, including mayor Datuk Zamri Man, state exco members and government department heads took part in the programme organised by Ipoh City Council. Roads closed to traffic were Jalan Raja DiHilir, from the Sultan Yussuf roundabout near the menteri besar’s official residence to the Sultan Iskandar roundabout near Jalan Towers; Jalan Kelab Golf, from the Jalan Tun Suffian interchange to Jalan Raja DiHilir; Jalan Watson; and Jalan Dato Seri Shaari (Jalan Garland). Free health checks, aerobics sessions, cultural and children’s activities were variously offered by KPJ Hospitals, Perpustakaan Negeri and Persatuan Interaksi Kebudayaan Malaysia. Zambry said the state government hoped to turn Ipoh into a green city to preserve the environment.
Dato Seri Dr. Zambry was seen signing the Recycling Pledge put up by Ipoh City Watch
“For a start, Menteri Besar Incorporated has started programmes to plant trees and place antique chairs at several strategic spots in the city. I hope everyone can do their part to ensure the success of the programme,” he said. – Bernama, October 18, 2015.
I was somewhat amused when Dr Richard Ng, President of Ipoh City Watch whatsapped (texted) me, early one morning last month, asking whether an online news portal report that Ipoh has been declared as one the cleanest towns in the country was true. I replied, matter-of-factly, that the claim could merely be a “syiok sendiri” or a self-gratifying attempt at making good an elusive dream.
Granted that Ipoh was once dubbed the cleanest town in the country but that was eons ago when things were much simpler and an opposition party, the People’s Progress Party, under the Seenivasagam brothers, was in the driving seat. That was the time in the country’s history when politics was less complicated and the hegemonic tendency of the ruling coalition was not too pronounced.
The 1960s, however, was a challenging time for then Malaya. To compound it further was Indonesia’s confrontation against the formation of Malaysia in 1963. This forced the federal government to suspend local council elections in 1965 vide the Emergency (Suspension of Local Government Elections) Regulations 1965. Since then, local governments in Malaysia have not been elected but appointed and this has affected how the lowest level in the system of government in Malaysia is managed.
The gleaming period of the Seenivasagam brothers came to an abrupt end and so was Ipoh’s envious title of the cleanest town in the country. The transformation from good to bad was not overnight but over an extended period of time when lethargy and complacency, caused by too much politicking, set in.
Ipoh in the 1970s and onwards was a different kettle of fish. The municipal council, consisting of a senior civil servant as its nominal head and council members, appointed by the state government, adopted an entirely different approach in managing the town. Although the laws allow the council to collect revenues through taxation, they do not specify how the monies are to be spent.
The council’s expenditures, to this date, are never announced publicly in spite of much hue and cry. The only revelation is done at the monthly full-board meeting, which is opened to the public but is shunned, at best. Only the essentials are leaked out to the media and questions are seldom entertained at the press conference that follows.
Now back to the online news portal’s unsubstantiated claim of Ipoh being one of the cleanest towns in the country. What was the basis? No reference was made to any credible source other than re-stating an earlier statement by Mayor Dato’ Zambri Man that Ipoh City Council was committed in its efforts at keeping the city clean.
“From January to September, 8154.12km of monsoon drain, 3898 illegal dumpsites and 137,328 tons of domestic waste had been cleared. The council had organised 239 gotong royongs, 37 of which were targeted at mosquito eradication. It had issued 610 compounds valued at RM84,200 to litterbugs.” The mayor’s statement was most probably made during one of the council’s full-board meetings, which was privy to all news agencies.
So this was not earth-shattering news to soothe the frayed nerves of die-hards like yours truly. Suffice to say that the claim is purely to make certain individuals within the ruling circle happy. It’s like telling your spouse she looks pretty when in fact she is not – a platitude by any definition.
Ipoh still has a long way to go before it can be termed as “clean”. There is more to it than what meets the eye. Reminds me of the time when Khir Toyo, the disgraced former Menteri Besar of Selangor, proudly announced that Selangor had achieved developed-nation status based on some insignificant financial computations, which was beyond his comprehension. We are no better.
Let’s allude to this famous saying, “One sparrow does not a summer make”. Cleanliness is not measured by the length of drain or the tonnage of waste cleared. It is a relative term that transcends speculation and idealism.
State Secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan (left) and Malindo Air commercial general manager Mohammad Hariss Abdullah exchange documents, witnessed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (centre) in Ipoh. - The Malaysian Insider pic by Wong Tuck Keong, October 13, 2015.
The Perak government will be applying to the federal government for funds to upgrade the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh, says Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said the increased number of passengers arriving in the airport has made customs, immigration and quarantine facilitation among the urgent requirements.
“The number of passengers coming through the Ipoh airport has increased and the airport is the busiest it has ever been.
“Last year, there were a total 98,768 passengers. As of August, there have been 124,235 passengers, which shows a clear increase,” he said, after witnessing the signing of a five-year agreement for promotion and flight marketing between the state government and Malindo Air at the State Secretariat building today.
The agreement was signed by state secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan and Malindo Air commercial general manager Mohammad Hariss Abdullah.
Zambry said there were currently four flight companies operating at the local airport, with at least one flight a day to Singapore and back.
These include Fire Fly, Sriwijaya Air and Tiger Air, which operates additional flights to Johor Baru and Kuala Namu, Indonesia.
“Although the Transport Ministry had previously approved an allocation for the Sultan Azlan Shah airport to be upgraded as it is now, the extent of improvements were not as we specified.
“At the time, many did not have faith that our airport would flourish after almost 10 years of inactivity.
“But now it has picked up and we hope the federal government will help us to accomplish our progress plans,” he said. – October 13, 2015.
Research officer S. Mageswari (centre) and SAM members hope to pressure ResourceCo Asia (M) Sdn Bhd into returning the waste it has imported from Australia for the purpose of manufacturing fuel for a cement manufacturer, outside the plant in IGB Industrial Park in Ipoh today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Wong Tuck Keong, October 15, 2015.Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) wants stern action taken against ResourceCo Asia (M) Sdn Bhd for illegal trafficking of waste into the country.
Research officer S. Mageswari said following an anonymous tip-off, SAM had discovered that the company had imported solid waste from Australia for the purpose of manufacturing fuel for cement manufacturer Lafarge in Kanthan, Perak and Rawang, Selangor.
“SAM followed up with the Department of Environment (DOE) and was informed that it had sent the company a notice to return the waste to Australia.
“We want the authorities to take stringent action to send a message to other companies that may have acted similarly.
“Malaysia is not a dumping ground, the waste should return to Australia,” said Mageswar outside the ResourceCo Asia plant in IGB Industrial Park in Ipoh today.
She and several others had turned up with placards in a bid to pressure the company into obeying the DOE notice to return the waste, which importation is illegal under Article 9 of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
Mageswari said according to the DOE’s letter to SAM in August, the company had classified the solid waste as solid fuel and failed to provide the environmental impact assessment of the process of turning solid waste into solid fuel.
“They should act fast or we will proceed to complaints to the Australian Embassy,” she said.
ResourceCo Asia general manager K. Muralindran said the company was already in discussions and cooperating with DOE on the matter.
“We have stopped importing waste material from Australia since being restricted in July by the DOE.
Mayor of Ipoh Datuk Zamri Man said this car-free day would be to test the water and gauge popularity, with a view to hosting regular days in future. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 10, 2015.
Ipoh will host its first car-free day, encouraging drivers to travel in a more environmentally friendly fashion, on October 18.
For three hours, from 7am to 10am, an area including Jalan Raja Di-Hilir, the roundabout in front of the menteri besar’s residence to the Sultan Abdul Aziz roundabout and sideroads, Jalan Golf Kelab, Jalan Caldwell, and Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreation Park will be closed to motorised transport.
According to Ipoh City Council (MBI), the car-free day is just “a trial run” to test how popular it will be with residents.
Mayor Datuk Zamri Man said, after a recent council full board meeting, that certain routes would be designated vehicle-free for three hours on a specific date, if the residents supported the move.
“We are looking to gain support from residents in the chosen areas before finalising. Currently, we are engaging local community leaders and have so far received a positive response.
“The aim is to encourage people to walk, jog or cycle,” he said.
“We plan to have car-free days only on Sundays.”
He said the plan was to start with a monthly event and later increase this to once a fortnight.
Zamri said MBI would be approaching the residents for feedback, but those who the council could not get in contact with could submit their views at the MBI office.
The World Car-Free Day was on September 22. According to the Washington Post, the event “promotes improvement of mass transit, cycling and walking, and the development of communities where jobs are closer to home and where shopping is within walking distance.”
The first car-free days were organised in Reykjavik, Iceland, in Bath, UK, and in La Rochelle, France. – October 10, 2015.
IPOH: Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh MBI) komited dalam menangani masalah anjing terbiar yang berkeliaran di sekitar bandaraya tersebut.
Bagi tempoh Januari hingga September bagi tahun 2015, MBI telah berjaya menangkap 1,169 ekor anjing terbiar.
Jumlah tersebut meningkat sedikit berbanding tahun 2014 yang mencatatkan tangkapan sebanyak 1,119 ekor anjing.
Datuk Bandar Ipoh, Datuk Zamri Man berkata, bagi menangani masalah anjing terbiar, satu Unit Kawalan Anjing Terbiar, Bahagian Pengutkuasa MBI telah diwujudkan.
“Ia adalah bertujuan untuk menyelesaikan aduan awam berkaitan anjing-anjing terbiar (tiada lesen) dengan menangkap dan memindahkan haiwan berkenaan ke tempat yang lebih selamat,” katanya.
Tambah beliau lagi, bagi tempoh bermula daripada 1 Januari hingga 29 September 2015, sejumlah 17,922 lesen anjing bernilai RM179,220.00 telah dijual.
“Pada masa ini, kaedah yang masih digunakan termasuklah tembakan pelali, perangkap, gelung penjerut dan jaring yang mana sebahagian peralatan ini telah dibekalkan oleh Kementerian Kesejahteraan Bandar, Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan kepada MBI,” jelasnya lagi.
Beliau juga menyatakan bahawa pihak MBI sedia untuk membantu Jabatan Perkhidmatan Veterinar menangani wabak penyakit rabies berkaitan haiwan peliharaan dan ternakan seperti yang wujud di Perlis, Kedah dan Pulau Pinang.
“Semua warga kota Ipoh diseru untuk membantu pihak Majlis dalam usaha menyalurkan apa-apa maklumat berkaitan ke talian 05-2551515 (MBI), 05-2083100 (Penguatkuasa) atau laman web MBI, www.mbi.gov.my,” katanya lagi.
IPOH: Bandaraya Ipoh telah diiktiraf menjadi antara bandar yang terbersih di negara ini.
Pengiktirafan tersebut menjadi satu kebanggaan bagi warga kota dan juga rakyat di negeri Perak.
Menurut Datuk Bandar Ipoh, Datuk Zamri Man, masyarakat di bandaraya tersebut seharusnya bersyukur dengan kemudahan dan perkhidmatan telah diberikan oleh Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh (MBI).
Ujarnya, MBI telah memberikan komitmen yang jitu dalam memastikan bandaraya Ipoh sentiasa berada dalam keadaan yang bersih.
“Ini terbukti dengan kesungguhan MBI iaitu bermula dari 1 Januari hingga 25 September 2015 yang mana MBI telah membersihkan 8,154.12 kilometer (km) longkang, 3,898 longgokan sampah haram; melupuskan 137,328 tan sisa domestik; menjalankan 239 program gotong-royong dan 37 gotong-royong basmi denggi.
“Selain itu, MBI juga telah memasang 403 papan tanda ‘Dilarang Membuang Sampah, serta mengeluarkan 610 kompaun bernilai RM84,200.00 terhadap pesalah pembuang sampah,” katanya melalui satu kenyataan media di sini.
Beliau yakin kegemilangan bandaraya Ipoh sebagai bandaraya terbersih di Malaysia akan diiktiraf dengan komitmen semua pihak dan tidak hanya bergantung semata-mata kepada MBI.
“Semoga kebersihan akan dijadikan sebahagian daripada budaya yang diamalkan dalam kehidupan seharian. Dengan sokongan dan kerjasama semua pihak, kita pasti akan mencapai cita-cita tersebut,” katanya lagi.
Buntong and Lim Garden residents weighing the plastic bottles at the collection centre.
THE Community Recycling Projects at Lim Garden and Buntong are now up and running.
Launched by Perak Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Rusnah Kassim recently, the two projects saw about 300 residents from each area taking part in waste separation.
Two recycling bins have already been placed – at the playground in Taman Kurin, Buntong and the field behind the Rukun Tetangga office in Lim Garden.
Collection for the recyclables would be done the second and fourth Sundays of the month in the evening.
The recycling project in Buntong was a collaboration between Ipoh City Watch (ICW), Perak Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Corporation (SWCorp) and Komuniti 1Malaysia Buntong (K1MB).
The project in Lim Garden was organised by ICW, SWCorp and the Lim Garden Rukun Tetangga as well as its Residents Association pro-tem committee.
People have already started using the recycling bin at Taman Kurin, Buntong.
The projects were started following the success of the inaugural project at Kampung Jelapang Tambahan, which was launched in April.
Its main objective was to reduce waste from going into the landfill by promoting a culture of recycling amongst the community.
K1MB secretary M Ramachandran said they were eager to start the project to keep Buntong clean.
“I’ve seen the results at Jelapang and I hope we can do the same for Buntong.
“People should start learning to separate their garbage because the waste separation law will be implemented sooner or later,” he said.
Ramachandran said it would take some time for the community to adopt the waste separation process but he felt that it was achievable.
“When people start doing it and it is beneficial to the community, others will follow.
“With more awareness, people will separate their waste on their own,” he said.
Lim Garden Residents Association pro-tem committee adviser Victor Chew said they have distributed pamphlets to the residents, informing them of the recycling project.
“About 200 to 300 households are aware.
“Proceeds from the sale of the recyclable waste will go to the Rukun Tetangga and Residents Association to conduct local activities,” he said.
Buntong and Lim Garden residents learning how to make compost from household food waste.
THE Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Act 2007 in Perak could be implemented this year.
Perak Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Rusnah Kassim said she has set up a meeting with the Housing and Local Government Minister to discuss the agreement within the next few weeks and hoped to have it signed “soon”.
Rusnah said there were still some terms that needed to be sorted out before the agreement is signed.
“We may go with privatisation.
“However, we want to ensure that the agreement between the Federal and state would not burden the people or the local council workers,” she said after the launch of the Community Recycling Projects for Lim Garden and Buntong at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Buntong last Saturday.
Rusnah said the state, Solid Waste Management and Public Cleanliness Corporation (SWCorp), solid waste management company Environment Idaman Sdn Bhd (E-Idaman) and the Federal Government have already met and discussed the terms of the agreement.
Rusnah (second from left) launching the Community Recycling Project for Buntong and Lim Garden. With her are SWCorp Perak director Fatimah Ahmad (left) and Dr Ng (second from right).
“We felt that 21 years is too long for the agreement.
“We want to review the solid waste management company’s performance every three years,” she said.
Rusnah added that she has checked out E-Idaman’s performance in Kedah.
“The feedback was positive.
“The cleanliness level has improved considerably,” she said, adding that the company has been approved by the Federal Government to service states in the northern region including Perak, Perlis, Kedah and Penang.
Ipoh City Watch president Prof Dr Richard Ng said it was of utmost importance that the state privatises solid waste management.
Dr Ng said the local council lacked the expertise in garbage collection.
The residents signing the recycling campaign banner.
“The Ipoh City Council does not have enough garbage trucks.
“Contracted garbage collectors will not pick up garden waste, making it an ongoing issue,” he said.
“People need to fork out their own money to have the garden waste collected when complaints are made to the city council and this is unfair as people are already paying taxes,” he added.
Dr Ng said the city council did not have enough enforcement officers to go around to deal with those who dispose of garbage indiscriminately.
“The state needs to seriously consider privatisation.
“Once the issue with garbage, drainage and grass is solved, the city council can focus more on greening and developing the city,” he said.
“And, the people will not blame the state government for these issues anymore,” he added.
Rusnah lauded the community recycling project and said people should start learning about garbage separation.
She also said that Pasir Pinji and Manjoi could be the next areas to take on the project.
“I’ve spoken to the Pasir Pinji assemblyman about the recycling project.
“Pasir Pinji is also part of Ipoh and I think the general cleanliness of the area is also important,” she said.
