Ipoh City Council Participates in IGEM2018 to Promote Perak as a Low Carbon State

Oct 25 2018

Ipoh City Council represented Perak at the 9th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM) held at KLCC from 17 to 20 October 2018 to help promote Perak as a low carbon state apart from show casing Perak and Ipoh as tourist destination and providing information on investment opportunity.

IGEM is the biggest flagship event organised annually by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change (MESTECC) aimed at creating a platform for solution providers and green energy businesses to tap into the fast expanding ASEAN market by showcasing the latest innovations to policy makers, government organisations, investors and the mass market.

IGEM 2018 Green Economy & Industry 4.0 explores the integration modes between green economy solutions and its application to the current automation trend which includes; the Internet of Things (IoT), cyber security, system integration, Big Data, autonomous robots and more, with the aim of achieving sustainable development goals for various global industries. It was graced by Yeo Bee Yin, Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change.

The 4-day event which showcase green technology solutions represented by 250 exhibitors from 10 countries. Over 1,000 people attended the exhibition which also incorporate Business Matching Sessions, IGEM 2018 Congress; featuring robust dialogues, and thought-provoking sessions with 40 panel speakers from various industries; as well as the sought-after Pocket Talks.

Perak was among the few states that took part in the exhibition. Other states present include Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Sabah and Sarawak.

KOHIJAU, UITM Seri Iskandar and Perak Invest were invited by Ipoh City Council to participate together at its booth. KOHIJAU, represented by its Chairman, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Richard Ng, helped promote recycling and climate change via its award winning “Trash2Cash” recycling system. KOHIJAU also took the opportunity to showcase its “Best of Best” and “Best in Climate Change” trophies won recently at the JCIM SDA 2018 award ceremony.

Perak State Exco members Dr. Aziz Bari and Paul Yeong as well as Buntong State Assemblyman Siva Subramaniam, Ipoh City Council Secretary Mohd Zakuan Hj. Zakaria and Ipoh Town Planning Director, Zulqarnain Mohamad who were presence at the booth took the opportunity to have a photo with the trophies. Minister Yeo Bee Yin was also among the dignitaries at the expo that were given the honour to hold the trophies.

Recognition for green effort - Star Metro Perak

17 Sept 2018

Ng (sixth from right) with the Jelapang community during a recycling project.

KOPERASI Alam Hijau Perak Berhad (Kohijau) won two awards at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Malaysia awards ceremony.

The event in collaboration with United Nation (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), saw Kohijau winning in the Climate Change category, and the Best of the Best Award 2018.

This was the second year such an event was organised by JCI Malaysia. There were a total of 17 categories.

The award serves to increase awareness of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and for organisations to bring about change through their business activities, innovative products or services and creative contributions toward the goal.

“This is a surprise to all of us, as we are such a small non-governmental organisation (NGO), but with passionate volunteers.

“The big win is the first of its kind for an NGO from Perak and we are very proud of the achievement, more so as we bested bigger corporations and established NGOs,” he said.

Ng said prior to this, Kohijau helped four other communities win awards, including the Premier Award under the Best Innovative Project category won by Rukun Tetangga Jelapang that encouraged the community to supplement their income.

He said last year, Kohijau helped Slim Village emerge third in the National Premier Village award for cleanliness.

“We also helped SMK Raja Perempuan Ipoh emerge national champion in the Toyota Eco Environment project.

“In March this year, we assisted the Selama Police District become the national champion in recycling innovation,” he added.

Ng said Kohijau is grateful to JCI Malaysia for hosting and organising such a prestigious event to reward Malaysian companies and organisations, civil societies and NGOs for their efforts in advancing UN’s SDGs.

He said the Best of the Best Project Award is chosen from the 17 winners based on the most outstanding and sustainable projects, which helps advance the most goals.

The criteria used to select the winners of each category includes how the project is written and presented.

The project must be carried out continuously and sustainable by the organisation staff or volunteers, and not just a one-off affair.

It must also have a large and meaningful impact on the society using a creative and innovative approach.

Ng said Kohijau’s entries were based on its three-year project launched in Jelapang Tambahan in collaboration with the Rukun Tetangga, Perak Solid Waste Management Corporation, and Ipoh City Watch using the social business concept.

The project involved residents from 250 houses, where door-to-door campaigns were used to educate the community to segregate their garbage into recyclables and non-recyclables.

“Collection was carried out twice every month at the centres and the recyclables brought by the residents were weighed.

“The residents were then instantly rewarded with cash according to the weight and type of recyclable contributed.

“Later, a recycling reward point system was introduced and residents were provided with recycling bins for them to drop their recyclables any time at their convenience,” he added.

Ng added to date, some 8,900kg of recyclables had been collected from Jelapang Tambahan and RM3,850 paid out to residents.

He said the recycling rate in this village was 17.5% compared to the average national recycling rate of 10%.

Ng said the 12 illegal dumpsites discovered prior to the recycling campaign had also disappeared and residents were more aware of keeping their environment clean.

“This project has successfully helped salvage 8,900kg of garbage from going to landfills or illegal dumpsites.

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/09/17/recognition-for-green-effort-ngo-bags-two-awards-for-its-community-recycling-programme/

Launching of KOHIJAU-GOLDEN AGE CLUB HOUSE

26 August 2018

YAB Dr. Nomee Binti Dato' Radzi Manan and YB Wong May Ing came to launch the KOHIJAU Golden Age Club House on 26 August 2018. Located at Taman Pinji Mewah, the club house will provide senior citizens in Ipoh a place fo fellowship. Also presence include Ex Perak Exco for Women Development, Datuk Rusnah Kassim. It was attended by about 200 people.

The KOHIJAU Golden Age Club House (KOHIJAU-GACH) was mooted by a group of NGOs in anticipation of the need for caregiving services with the expected increase in the rate of ageing society in Perak. According to the statistics from the Perak Family Planning and Development Board, by the year 2020, 15% of the population of Perak or 450,000 people will be in the aged group (above 60 years of age).

KOHIJAU being one of the members of the Coalition of Caring NGOs in Perak took the initiative to start this so call club house where senior citizens can gather and have fellowship. It is run under the Social Business concept where those using the place will be charged a reasonable fee to help fund the operations in order to stay sustainable.

House in a 8-room bungalow with 20 beds, the club house started renovation work in July 2018 with assistance from the generous public  in terms of donation in cash and kind. To date we are very pleased to note that over 100 generous people have responded positively towards the setting up of this project. They have contributed cash, beds, mattresses, wheel chairs, resting chairs, dining tables, sofa sets, refrigerators, washing machine, LCD TV, LED lights, office chairs and tables, potted plants, curtains and blankets with a value of approximately RM70,000. However, to run a reasonable good centre, a minimum of RM120,000 is required. I believe our good intention will receive help from corporate companies and individuals. You never know this Golden Age Club House will help serve us one day. We are appealing for contrbution in terms of LCD TV, Exercise Equipment, Potted Plants, Floor Mat.

Some of our dedicated members of KOHIJAU and Ipoh City Watch as well members from the Lions Club of Perak Silver State have also volunteered their free time cleaning up the 8-room bungalow house provided by one of our members on a subsidised  rental rate. We need volunteers especially university and college students to come help volunteer to take care of our senior citizens. Our aim is to cultivate a caring society among us and show our love and appreciation to these people. This is especially so with so many senior citizens left alone at home by busy children or society.

The centre will be opened to public effective 1st October 2018 once all approval from the authorities have been obtained. Among the services planned by KOHIJAU-GACH include basic daily rental as guest house for public with first priority for family with senior citizen age above 60, care giving services for senior citizens, transport services for    medical check up, fun trip, and day care centre. The centre will also be opened  to senior citizens for fellowship and gathering where they can hold meetings, cooking session, BBQ,  singing, dancing and use of the mini gym. There will also be a mini library and a pantry to cater their needs for a small fee.

As our country is approaching an Aged Society with more and more people reaching the age above 60, new social problems will emerge. Many senior citizens are left to fend for themselves despite their deteriorating physical conditions.

We hope the KOHIJAU-GOLDEN AGE CLUB HOUSE will be abel to play a small but meaningful role. With the support of 25 NGOs and the publics, we intend to duplicate this effort to reach out to more people who are in need.

KOHIJAU in collaboration with Open University Malaysia is offering Professional Caregiving Skill Course from Level 2 to Level 5 to train volunteers and single mom to be equiped with the required skills to handle senior citizens. 21 volunteers have signed up for the 3-month course starting in Auguest 2018. These volunteers will help manage the KOHIJAU-GOLDEN AGE CLUB HOUSE

I wish to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone who have contributed their free time and money towards the successful setting up of this centre. We welcome Organisations and  Individuals to help sponsor senior citizens as part of their CSR programme. We also welcome volunteers and university/college students to come and show their care and love for the senior citizens.

Review of Plastic Ban in Perak and Emulate Japanese Culture during SUKMA and all government functions

6 July 2018 by Dr. Richard Ng

The new Pakatan Harapan government has been urged to review on the previous BN government’s policy of banning plastics as announced in April 2016 which is supposed to be enforced effective 1 June 2017.

The U-Turn was announced by the then Perak MB, Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir about a month before the enforcement of the policy giving excuses that a thorough study was required before enforcing the ban. According to him, we cannot tackle the problems of plastic and polystyrene usage without providing the correct alternative, as well as creating an environment that leads towards the ban.

In April 2016, he announced that the total ban on plastic bags and polystyrene containers would be enforced in stages, starting with state government buildings, cafeterias, and functions to start using biodegradable containers every Friday from June last year. In the second stage, the ban was extended from weekly to daily. It was then extended to cover all municipal councils in the state. The final stage was the ban on polystyrene and plastic bags throughout the state.

If the government is serious about reducing carbon footprint and addressing climate change as one of the goals under the United Nation on Sustainable Development Goals, then the review is imminent. There are two ways to do it: through enforcement and legislation and education.

In Perak with a population of 2.8 million now, a total of 200,000 tonnes of garbage is generated each year and of this total about 30% or 65,000 tonnes made up various plastics and polystyrene. Also there are over 2,000 illegal dumpsites now. As plastics takes years to decompose, the landfills and illegal dumpsites will keep piling up.

We need not to wait for further studies as states such as Penang, Selangor, Melaka and Johor have implemented successfully. The people in these states have adapted to it and are ever willing to cooperate. However, it must start from the government, the corporate sectors, the traders and plastic manufacturers.

We still noticed during Hari Raya Open House hosted by government agencies continued to use disposable polystyrene plastics, plastic spoons and forks as well as plastic straws. The government must stop using single use plastic even though it is a cheaper option to help reduce plastic pollution which is choking our ocean.

Traders must be forced to use plastic containers which can be recycled instead of polystyrene box even though it cost more and not a good alternative.

The better option is to educate the public to bring their own tiffin carrier and mugs when purchasing foods and drinks.

The government must also engage environment NGOs such as KOHIJAU and Ipoh City Watch which have been actively involved in educating the public especially students to practice 3R and use recyclable shopping bags. The community such as senior citizens and single mothers can be taught on upcycling skills to salvage plastics and turn it into bags and other products which can be reuse as decorations, flower pots, stationery holders or even handicrafts.

The enforcement on the banning of plastics can be carried out by business licensing authority especially the local councils. Traders who ignore this ruling will have their business license revoked.

During the recent FIFA world cup in Russia involving Japan, the Japanese fans, players and officers set good examples to the world by picking up thrash left in the stadium and even cleaned up their rooms before they leave. This a habit the Japanese government has cultivated in young Japanese students.

Perak will soon host the 19^th SUKMA Games from 14 to 22 September 2018. This is the best opportunity for Perakians to showcase our good habit by emulating the Japanese to clean up the venue after every event held.

The Perak Chairman for Youth and Sports should look into engaging NGOs and Volunteers to help. Thousands of people will be in Perak during this game and what better way to show that we are not just only a good host but a responsible host. Already Perak is famed for its good food. We must not just display the number medals we receive but also to showcase that we are one of the cleanest if not the cleanest state in Malaysia.

So start to form our volunteer brigade and NGOs, empower them and make our state proud and great again.

Volunteers help clear hoarder’s cluttered house - The Star Metro Perak

2 Jan 2018 by Manjit Kaur

Low (right) along with some volunteers helping Lee (standing left), clean up recyclable items inside her house.

SIXTY-EIGHT-year-old Lee Chin Lan was all smiles when a group of volunteers cleaned her house, which had been overflowing with with recyclable items.

It was be a fresh start for the year for Lee because not only was part of her house cleaned, Lee, fondly known as “Ah Mooi”, also received RM152 for a total of 266kg of recyclables bought by recycling organisation Koperasi Alam Hijau Perak Bhd (Kohijau).

Lee said she was very happy that her house was cleaned, and she promised not to collect anymore recyclable items to store in her house.

“I am hoping that once my house is fully cleaned, I will be able to bring my 43-year-old daughter who has been in the Ulu Kinta Hospital Bahagia since 2001.

Ipoh Barat MCA Youth chief Aldrich Low Guo Nan had previously brought the public’s attention to Lee’s plight, and on Dec 10 The Star reported that the senior citizen had been collecting and selling recyclables to make ends meet for the past 10 years.

According to Lee, her two daily meals consist of potato soup because that is all that she can afford. Her husband left her 40 years ago, and she has been staying alone, with no support.

Enough recyclable items to fill a small lorry were cleared from Lee’s home in Bercham.

Lee used to work as a cleaner, while her daughter used to study and work part-time when she was mentally fit.

After her plight was highlighted in the media, several non-governmental organisations such as Kohijau, Ipoh City Watch, Lions Club of Silver State, Rukun Tetangga Bercham and Bercham Residents Representative Committee volunteered to clean up her house on New Year’s Eve.

Plastic bottles, cardboard, and metal items were among the things collected from Lee’s house.

Kohijau chairman Associate Prof Dr Richard Ng said a full lorry load of recyclable items was collected from Lee’s living room.

“We need to come back and collect more items, as the bedrooms, I was told have more items ‘stocked’ up. There are many people like Lee, who has appears to have a habit of hoarding and refusing to let go of things even though it is necessary to get rid of items no longed needed,” he said, adding that he gave another RM100 to the woman as a personal donation.

Low, who is also a city councillor said after Lee’s plight was highlighted many people contacted him to offer help.

“A furniture company from Kuala Lumpur is willing to furnish her home with proper furniture, and individuals from as far as Penang came to visit her to provide cash and food items.

“However we need to make sure her house is properly cleaned first, before we can accept any furniture and so forth,” he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/01/02/clean-start-to-the-year-volunteers-help-clear-senior-citizens-cluttered-house/

Not afraid to get his hands dirty - The Star

3 April 2017

THERE were many surprised looks when Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir was seen raking grass and collecting rubbish in several areas in the city last Friday.

At first glance many assumed it was just a routine clean up involving Ipoh City Council (MBI) workers. However, on closer inspection, members of the public were surprised to see Zambry, Mayor Datuk Zamri Man, and Women Development, Family, Community Welfare, Housing and Local Government Committee Chairman Datuk Rusnah Kassim taking part in the clean-up operation.

Zambry led the clean up in conjunction with the launch of the Perak Yang Bersih (Clean Perak) campaign, designed to improve cleanliness in the state.

While many would have craved a few extra minutes sleep at 6.30am, the Mentri Besar was up and abpit as he and the others gathered at five areas around the city with rakes, brooms, and plastic bags.

The five areas were the Medan Kidd bus station, the iconic Ipoh Railway Station, which turned 100 this year, the Dato Sagor food court famed for its Roti Goyang, and Concubine Lane.

The teams, comprising state government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and schools, cleaned various part of the city.

Many of the participants of the clean up said the two hours they sacrificed was to raise awareness among the public of what needs to be done to make Ipoh a clean city.

Similar activities were also launched simultaneously in towns throughout Perak’s 12 districts, including Kampar, Bagan Datuk, Taiping, and Parit Buntar.

With thousands of people taking part, Zambry said the response from the public was encouraging.

The Mentri Besar had previously stated that he wants Perak to be the cleanest state in the country.

“This will not be a one-off thing. We hope to make this a weekly or monthly event until we create a culture of cleanliness among the people.

“Ipoh is mostly clean, but we can do better. If a someone walks down the street, we want them to have the mindset of picking up any rubbish that they see and disposing of it properly. The most important thing is to educate people. We will also be making cleanliness a measure of performance for local councils,” he told reporters after launching the campaign at the Ipoh Padang.

At the launch, he said that the state government’s mission is to make Perak a clean state and to make sure that happens, the people will have to work together with the authorities.

“I’m doing this for the state and its people. The idea came about when I saw the situation as it is. I go to the city often with the mayor and some places are just not clean.

“After seeing these places and also other areas across the state, I wanted to start this initiative and was further encouraged when the people of Perak and foreigners said Perak is not a dirty state. However, it would be even better if we could brand it as clean and green.

“We are serious about this and the councils will have to meet the target. We are doing this for people of Perak and a clean city or town will ensure a good future for the younger generation.”

Sharing some of his experiences in various cities around the world, Zambry said cleanliness determines how civilised the city is and he hopes Perak will emulate these cities in the near future.

“In Japan, school kids are cleaning toilets before school session starts. They are inculcating the habits at such an early age. We should do that and that’s the spirit we want.

“I believe Perak can achieve this status. If you walk and see rubbish, collect it and put it in a bin,” he said, adding that all 12 districts in the state today launched the program simultaneously.

His walkabout was also telecast live on Facebook and he went on to say that the whole world knows what Perak is all about and what their aim is.

“Political differences aside, let’s do something great for our state and making it clean will only enhance the image of the state in the eyes of the world,” he said.

On Feb 3, Zambry had also joined a similar clean-up operation, collecting rubbish and emptying waste disposal bins, wearing the orange-coloured T-shirt of an MBI general worker.

“People will criticise me by saying this is a publicity stunt, but they can say what they want. For me, it’s about creating awareness about an issue,” he said.

“By working on the ground, we can also motivate the council workers. We want them to know that they are appreciated and that their jwob is a noble one.”

He added that this will continue as long as he is the leader of the state.

“Some call me publicity seeker but I have done this before without any coverage. When I see a need, I do something about it. For me, actions speak louder than words.”

Launching of KOHIJAU-ICYCLE System at Jelapang in conjunction with Ponggal celebration

15 January 2017

In conjunction with Ponggal organised by Rukun Tetangga Jelapang, the 9th KOHIJAU-ICYCLE recycling bin was launched. Presence include members of KOHIJAU and Rukun Tetangga Jelapang and residence of Jelapang. Also present include Clr Datuk Thangarajah.