Landed homeowners in Penang must separate their waste from Jan 1, or else - Star Metro News

19 Sept 2018

Filepic of a waste collection truck making its round in picking up separated recyclable waste from a residential area in SS20, Petaling Jaya.

THE waste separation at source policy will now be extended to residential property owners in Penang and those who fail to do so will be slapped with a compound from next year onwards. 

Penang Housing, Town, Country Planning and Local Government Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said this was to ensure residents staying in landed properties separate the recyclable and non-recyclable items.

“The decision was made two weeks ago. Residential landed property owners were not issued compounds when we started enforcing the waste separation at source policy on June 1, last year.

“From Jan 1, we will start issuing compounds,” he said at Komtar on Friday.

The separation at source policy against commercial properties was enforced from Jan 1 this year.

Jagdeep said there was a moratorium on the enforcement of waste separation for residential landed properties when it was enforced last year.

“They were given ample time, so they now have the next few months to start separating their recyclables and non-recyclables before we enforce it.

“The local council enforcement team would be conducting checks on residential properties from now to December but compounds would be issued from January onwards,” he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/09/19/landed-house-owners-turn-to-comply-waste-separation-policy-to-be-enforced-for-householders-in-penang/

Ipoh now rivalling Penang as a tourist attraction - The Star Metro Perak

18 September 2018

Tourist attractions also include miniature figurines depicting a Song Dynasty banquet at Miniature Wonders Art Gallery in downtown Ipoh. — Photos: LO TERN CHERN/The Star

THIS is a heads-up for tourism players in Penang. Nothing good lasts eternally and neither will our appeal as a tourism hotspot.

Your neighbour, Perak, is doing mighty well.

I went to Ipoh, and the once dull city is now bustling with tourists from all over.

It too has beautiful murals on century-old shops, on par with those in George Town and certainly livelier than those in Seberang Prai.

Filepix of tourists thronging Concubine Lane which is a famous tourist spot during holidays.

Many of the once-polluted back alleys in Ipoh are now crowded flea markets and street food haunts.

Like Penang’s many museums and art galleries, Ipoh has a growing number of them.

Penang has a few remaining beaches, while Ipoh has loads of limestone caves to stay in the race of natural wonders.

Recently, I brought up the topic of Ipoh tourism to friends from Alor Setar and to my surprise, many of them would rather drive three hours there than to Penang because of two main reasons — cost and transportation.

They say Ipoh has wider roads, which I found to be true during my visit.

There were noticeably fewer cars parking illegally, and the main roads are wider with roundabouts instead of traffic lights.

Attractions are inexpensive in Ipoh. I wonder how many Penangites would call our attractions affordable.

I visited Kek Look Tong Cave Temple in Gunung Rapat, at the southern end of town. To my surprise, entry is free with ample parking lots, also free.

Massive stalagnates (on right) formed when stalagmites from the ground and stalactites from the ceiling meet, abound at the Kek Look Tong Cave Temple in Gunung Rapat, Ipoh.

Inside the cave, it’s a natural wonder of ancient stalagmites and stalactites, with awesome golden statues of rarely seen Chinese deities.

At lunch in one of Ipoh’s bean sprout chicken restaurants, I spoke with a local tour guide who had a group of 20 Japanese tourists.

“Ipoh used to be a dead town. People only came here to work, or else we would just drive past it on the highway.

“But look at the heritage enclave now. Many Asian tourists have been to Penang and now they want Ipoh,” he said.

I would say Penang food still leads, but not by much more. Seafood here is no longer cheap.

While I find Ipoh offers fewer varieties of flavours, food elsewhere in Perak, such as in Tapah and Tanjong Tualang, are far cheaper than in Penang, and these places are only about 30 minutes’ drive from Ipoh city.

Penang needs to look for alternatives to continue attracting visitors.

As a mainland boy, driving 90 minutes to Ipoh is almost the same as inching into jam-packed George Town, so why not? It’s the nature and local food that we seek on vacations.

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.

Ride With The Boss with YB Kula

11 August 2018

Program “Ride With The Boss” anjuran Ipoh City Watch dan KOHIJAU dengan kerjasama CYCLEDIOS bertujuan untuk memupuk gaya hidup yang sihat di samping menjalin hubungan silaturrahim di kalangan perbagai penduduk di Malaysia khasnya Warga Ipoh. Ia diadakan setiah hari Sabtu kedua setiap bulan. Ini merupakan siri kedua selepas ianya dilancarkan pada  kali pertama pada 14 Julai 2018.

Bermula di Pejabat Cycledios di Kinta Riverwalk, kayuhan basikal sejauh 3.5km ini akan membawa peserta mengelilingi bandar Ipoh di sepanjang trek yang disediakan khas untuk basikal di Jalan Lim Bo Seng, kemudian ke Jalan Raja Musa Aziz terus menuju ke Taman DR Seenivasagam sebelum kembali ke Kinat Riverwalk.

Pada siri kedua ini, YB M. Kula, Menteri Sumber Manusia merangkap Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Barat telah sudi hadir bersama warga Ipoh. Pada edisi ini yang diadakan sempena bulan kemerdekaan, sebelum kayuhan bermula, para peserta sama-sama menyanyikan lagu kebangsaan serta lagu patriotik dalam suasana muhibah.

Kayuhan basikal secara beramai-ramai ini boleh memupuk talian persaudaraan berbagai kaum di Malaysia yang hidup dalam keadaan harmoni seperti saranan tema Hari Kebangsaan Tahun ini iaitu Sayangi MalaysiaKu. Sambil berbasikal kita juga boleh menyebarkan mesej kepada masyarakat untuk sama-sama menjaga kebersihan dan melonjakkan Ipoh sebagai bandar terbersih di Malaysia.

Program Kayuhan Basikal “Ride With The Boss” kali ini adalah berbeza dengan siri pertama di mana peserta akan juga menjalankan “Plogging on Wheels” yang bertujuan untuk memberi kesedaran kepada masyarakat tentang peri pentingnya menjaga kebersihan bandar Ipoh yang sekarang ini telah menarik ramai pelancong-pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara sejak Lonely Planet mengiktiraf Ipoh sebagai salah sebuah daripada 10 buah negara yang mesti dilawati di Asia.

Adalah penting untuk kita sama-sama menjaga kebersihan bandar Ipoh di mana masyarkat mestilah mengamalkan budaya “Kebersihan Bandar Kita Tanggungjawab Kita Bersama”. Bandar yang bersih sudah tentu akan memberi nilai tambah kepada Ipoh yang memang sudah terkenal dengan berbagai tarikan seperti makanan yang enak, bangunan bersejarah, gua-gua tokong, lukisan mural serta taman rekreasi.

Konsep “Plogging on Wheels” anjuran Ipoh City Watch ini membolehkan kita mengutip sampah sambil kita kayuh basikal. Ini satu amalan yang baik kerana ia dapat melahirkan rasa tanggungjawab kita kepada kebersihan alam sekitar selaras dengan slogan Ipoh City Watch iaitu “Our City Our Responsibility”.

Program ini juga boleh menggalakkan orang ramai supaya mengamalkan gaya hidup yang sihat melalui kayuhan basikal. Bukan sahaja ia menjadi satu bentuk senaman dan aktiviti riadah tetapi juga membantu Ipoh menjadi sebuah bandar rendah karban bagi mengurangkan kesan gas rumah hijau yang memberi impak kepada pemanasan global.

Bagi menggalakkan orang ramai mengamalkan budaya kitar semula bagi membantu menjaga alam sekitar, Sistem Mata Ganjaran Kitar Semula KOHIJAU-ICYCLE turut dilancarkan oleh YB M. Kula. Tong ini yang diletak di Kinta River Walk membolehkan orang ramai dan pengunjung menyumbang bahan kitar semula dan menerima mata ganjaran setelah mereka berdaftar sebagai ahli kitar semula KOHIJAU-ICYCLE.  Mata ganjaran yang dikumpul ini kemudian boleh ditebus dengan wang tunai, kupon untuk membei barangan keperluan dapur ataupun didermakan kepada badan amal.

Menurut Presiden Ipoh City Watch dan KOHIJAU, Prof. Dr. Richard Ng, “sehingga kini, KOHIJAU telah melancarkan lebih dari 71 tong diseluruh Perak. Seramai 7,000 telah berdaftar menjadi ahli dan menyumbang kepada lebih dari 80,000 kg bahan kitar semula yang terdiri daripada kertas, tin atau pun plastik sejak sistem itu dijalankan pada bulan September 2016.”

Kata Dr. Richard Ng lagi, “Kami ingin menjadikan bandar raya Ipoh, bandar yang menjadi pilihan utama orang ramai di Malaysia atau “the most lievable city in Malaysia” yang mempunyai ciri-ciri bersih, hijau, sihat, selamat, mempunyai system pengangkutan yang efisyen serta memegang kepada Sustainable Development Goal 17 atau Sasaran Pembangunan Mampan 17 seperti saranan Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu.

YB M. Kula mengucapkan syabas kepada Ipoh City Watch dan KOHIJAU kerana membantu kerajaan mendidik masyarakat tentang peri pentingannya menjaga kebersihan serta amlan budaya kitar semula.

Beliau turut menyarankan kepada pihak Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh untuk menyediakan lebih banyak laluan basikal yang selamat di seluruh Ipoh terutama di kawasan tarikan pelancong untuk mempromosikan amalan kayuhan basikal terutama kepada pengunjung sambil membolehkan pelancong menghayati struktur bangunan bersejarah serta lukisan mural yang ada di sekitar Ipoh. 

Beliau juga mengucapkan syabas kepada syarikat Cycledios yang menyediakan basikal secara sewaan melalui app. Ini dapat memudahkan orang ramai meletakkan kereta mereka di satu tempat di pinggir Ipoh dan kemudian mengayuh basikal ke bandar. Dengan cara ini bukan sahaja masyarakat menjadi lebih sihat tetapi juag dapat mengurangkan kesesakan jalan terutama pada hujung minggu.

Perak NGOs say plastic, polystyrene ban long overdue - Malay Mail

4 July 2018 By Loghun Kumaran

In Perak, over 200,000 tonnes of garbage are generated by households and 30 per cent, or about 65,000 tonnes, is made up of plastics. — Istock.com pic via AFP

IPOH, July 4 — Environmental groups in Perak want the state government to revive a proposed ban on plastic bags and polystyrene food containers and this time, make sure it is carried out.

The groups say it is time for the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to cut down on the use of plastic in the state after a similar plan by its predecessors was not fully implemented.

The present government, they stressed, must not drag its feet about the proposal and other policies to save the environment.

Ipoh City Watch president Dr Richard Ng said many concerned citizens want the Perak government to emulate the ban in Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and other states on the use of plastic and polystyrene containers.

“Many customers end up using plastic bags to place their garbage before they are dumped illegally or sent to landfills where they will take hundreds of years to decompose,” Ng said.

“There are currently over 2,000 illegal dumpsites in Perak where over 30 per cent are plastics.”

In Perak, over 200,000 tonnes of garbage are generated by households and 30 per cent, or about 65,000 tonnes, is made up of plastics.

Ng said there were many options open to the authorities, but noted a strong political will was needed from the outset.

He said traders should be forced to use recyclable plastic containers, while plastic straws and disposal plastic plates, forks and spoons must be banned.

“The enforcement can be carried out by business licensing authorities like local councils. Traders who ignore this ruling can have their business licence revoked.

“Plastic manufacturers have been warned long ago to change their business so as to adhere to the new sustainable environment requirements.

“There should be no excuse that their business is badly affected by the ruling as there are many industries that have closed down due to destructive technology as well as changes in demography and market demands.”

He suggested that ‘no plastic days’ could be enforced on weekends, where the charges on consumers who insist on using plastic bags could fund non-governmental organisations who educate the public on environmental initiatives.

In 2016, the previous BN administration took a bold step by announcing the first phase of a state-wide ban on plastic bags and polystyrene containers.

At the time, it said the move would be implemented in stages — from state government offices in June 2016 to a full public enforcement a year later.

However, the state temporarily called off the ban, saying it would be rescheduled after further studies were carried out.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia field officer Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said such extended studies were unnecessary, given the breadth of sources at the government’s disposal.

“There’s no need for studies to last years at a time, especially when you have multiple agencies. What is needed is a proper mechanism and commitment from the state,” he said.

Meor Razak said the state must make the plastic ban feasible for the public and plastic manufacturing industry.

“They could offer tax exemption or incentives to businesses that support the ban. You can’t expect businesses to change by themselves without support.”

“We have written to the state government about the necessity to bring in this ban. But we haven’t heard anything back yet. It seems like the environment is not a priority at the moment,”

Perak Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia (PEKA) chairperson Sajeeda Muhamad agreed that nothing can be done without political will from the new administration.

“The new government must do something. If other states like Penang can carry out bans, why can’t Perak?

“They can start with Ipoh first, and then gradually expand it throughout the state. But our leaders must take the lead and show a good example.

“Individually, it can be as simple as bringing their own containers... maybe stop buying plastic mineral bottles.”

Perak asks for more time to implement plastic ban - The Star Metro Perak

14 July 2018 By Silvia Looi

The Perak state government says it needs time to ban the use of plastic bags and polystyrene containers in the state. — Picture by Choo Choy May

IPOH, July 14 — The Perak state government remains committed to ban the use of plastic bags and polystyrene containers in the state but needs more time to do so.

In reiterating its stand on the matter, state Education, Science, Environment, Green Technology and Information Committee chairman Abdul Aziz Bari said the state needs time to engage with stakeholders before going ahead with the move.

“Yes, we want to be environmentally friendly but the plastic industry is an economic activity. We cannot do away with it just like that,” he told Malay Mail.

Aware that environmental groups want the state to revive a proposed ban on plastic bags and polystyrene food containers made by the previous Barisan Nasional administration, Aziz said the matter had yet to be discussed at the state executive council level.

“Give us time as the matter does not involve my portfolio alone but other portfolios too such as Local Government and Investment,” he said, referring to his fellow exco members Paul Yong Choo Kiong and Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin respectively.

“My power is confined to environmental issues. The issue of hawkers using plastic bags and polystyrene containers comes under the local government. And to encourage plastic manufacturers to change to environmentally-friendly products involves investments,” he said.

Malay Mail had previously reported that environmental groups in Perak want the state to revive a proposed ban on plastic bags and polystyrene food containers and make sure it is carried out this time.

The groups said it is time for the state government to cut down on the use of plastic in the state after a similar plan by its predecessor failed to take off.

They had stressed the present government must not drag its feet over the proposal or other policies to protect the environment.

Abdul Aziz questioned if the society is ready for the ban.

“To implement [the ban], we must educate the people. Can the rural folks do away with not using plastic bags and polystyrene containers?” he asked.

“The society is so used to using plastic bags and polystyrene. All this needs time for adjustment,” he said, adding that a systematic way of doing away with plastic bags and polystyrene containers was needed.

In 2016, the previous BN administration took a bold step by announcing the first phase of a state-wide ban on plastic bags and polystyrene containers.

At the time, it said the move would be implemented in stages — from state government offices in June 2016 to a full public enforcement a year later.

However, the state temporarily called off the ban, saying it would be rescheduled after further studies were carried out.

High Technology Recycling effort undertaken by Rukun Tetangga Jelapang finally recognised and rewarded

8 July 2018

The recycling project launched in Jelapang Tambahan has finally been recognised. The project mooted by Ipoh City Watch in collaboration with Perak SWCorp and managed by Rukun Tetangga Jelapang since April 2015 under the social business concept, has won the Premier Award under the Best Innovative Project category.

RT Jelapang Chairman, Mr. S. Thinakaran, received the certificate and cash prize award of RM500 from Perak State Chairman for Civil Society, YB Sivanesan witnessed by Perak State Director, Department of Unity and National Integration, Tuan Haji Hadi Awang at a ceremony held at Arena Square, Batu Gajah.

Before the recycling project started in Jelapang Tambahan, there were 12 illegal dumpsites found within the community of about 200 houses. The place was also recorded among the highest dengue cases in Perak.

A recycling system was set up at Jelapang Tambahan where RT Jelapang helped to manage the community to bring their recyclables twice a month. Several gotong royong and house to house campaign were also organised to educate the community. The contributors were paid cash based on the type and weight of the recyclables. This system was carried out until December 2016.

When Ipoh City Watch set up Koperasi Alam Hijau Perak Berhad (KOHIJAU) and collaborates with ICycle Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., a new recycling system was launched where contributors used the recycling reward point system where contributors can drop their recyclables at any recycling bins. The recyclables were placed in a biodegradable plastic bags with barcode membership sticker pasted. The recyclables will be collected from the bin every week and sent to a factory where they are sorted and weighed and recycling points were allocated. The recycling points accumulated can then be redeemed with cash or coupons as when required.

The KOHIJAU-ICYCLE system was then launched in Jelapang in January 2017 which enable RT Jelapang to go high-tech to help reduce garbage from going to landfill and in the process contribute some income to RT Jelapang to finance its community programmes.

To date, 8,900 kg of recyclables have been collected from Jelapang Tambahan and a total of RM3,850 has been paid out to the residents. The recycling rate in this village is 17.5% compared to the average national recycling rate of 10%. The 12 illegal dumpsites have disappeared and residents are more aware of keeping the environment clean. The dengue cases has also dropped.

Thus RT Jelapang has successfully helped salvage 8,900kg of garbage from going to the landfills or illegal dumpsites. This is a saving of about RM2,700 to the state government where the government pay an average of 30 sen per kg to contractors.

This is a social business embarked by RT Jelapang to self-finance its activities and help contribute towards eradicating poverty and climate change as stipulated under the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

According to Ipoh City Watch President cum KOHIJAU Chairman, Associate Prof. Dr. Richard Ng, Jelapang Tambahan has set up a good example for other Rukun Tetangga in the state to emulate. Garbage is generated by every members of the community and it is good that RT do something to help educate the community.

For KOHIJAU, this is the 4^th achievements within 2 years. Last year KOHIJAU helped the Slim Village to emerge 3^rd place in the national Premier Village award for cleanliness. KOHIJAU too play a small part in helping SMK Raja Perempuan Ipoh emerged national champion in the Toyota Eco environment project. In March 2018, KOHIJAU helped the Selama Police District to emerge as national champion in innovation for using the KOHIJAU-ICYCLE system. The award received by RT Jelapang is the 4^th one where KOHIJAU has played a key role.

KOHIJAU is now embarking on a new project with RT Jelapang by developing a community fish and agro farming by converting organic waste to fish food and fertilizer. This project if successful can help RT Jelapang reduce 40% of the waste and help generate a good income for the community. It also helps to create jobs and supplement income.