Category: Environment

Categories
Environment

[1028] Of 2006 top Malaysian environmental issues

With a little over 24 hours before 2006 comes to a close, let us revisit all the green issues mentioned in two other entries — entry [775] and [879]:

  1. Smelly tap water in the Klang Valley in February. Not just smelly, it smelled like shit. The smell was caused by ammonia released from several improperly managed landfills. The landfills later were shut down, at least, according to reports. See [756].
  2. The tabling of the Water Services Industry Bill in April. Proposed death penalty to polluters. See [765].
  3. With the shut down of landfills, a related problem ensued: shortage of landfills in April too. See [775].
  4. Big flood in the northern states early in the year. See [775].
  5. Flash flood in Shah Alam. Local residents were positively angry. See [775].
  6. Deforestation in various states. TV3 played an active role in informing the public. See [709] and [720].
  7. The Malaysian Nature Society’s Save Belum-Temengor campaign. See [885]
  8. The drive towards biofuel. See [775].
  9. Proposed mega palm oil estate by Indonesia on Borneo. It affects Malaysia because, well, it would be on the border. See [775].
  10. Proposed nuclear energy for Malaysia. See [775].
  11. Bird flu. See [775].
  12. Landslide at Genting Highlands. See [775].
  13. Damage to Sipadan coral reef in May. The accident forced the Sabah state government to halt construction of a huge facility at Sipadan after coming under attack from the public. See [791].
  14. Metal smelter in Bakun. See [879].
  15. Cancellation of Broga incinerator. See [879].
  16. Haze. And yeah, I told you so. See [879].
  17. In practical terms, the extinction of leatherback turtle in Malaysia. See [855].
  18. Sustainable forestry program. See [853].
  19. Congestion tax in Kuala Lumpur in August. It came back in December after the Kuala Lumpur mayor made a comment on it. This is a progressive policy but the public transportation system must be improved first. See [854].
  20. Growing rhinoceros population in Borneo. See [879].

That is a compilation of issues that started between January and some time in September 2006, inclusively. But of course, a year does not end in September and so, the complication continues.

  1. El Niño is officially back in September. See [883] and [886].
  2. The hunt for a killer crocodile in October. The act of revenge turn for the worse and became a merciless culling of crocodiles. The effort was criticized by greens and the culling immediately stopped in October. See [896].
  3. Temporary ban lift on commercial usage of paraquat. Something smell fishy. See [897].
  4. Legalization of turtle eggs collection by Terengganu state government in October. See [912].
  5. 300MV coal power plant in Sabah, as reported in November. See [975].
  6. New Orleans of Malaysia. See [1018].
  7. And perhaps, finally, after all these years, climate change. See [1017].

Will 2007 be a better year? Will the haze return?

Stay alive and find out next year.

Categories
Conflict & disaster Environment Politics & government

[1018] Of New Orleans of Malaysia

What had happened in New Orleans during the aftermath of Katrina is happening in Johor. Looting has been reported:

SEGAMAT: The ugly side of human nature has started to emerge from the floods that have hit several states — there are reports of looting and people are claiming that certain parties, including uniformed personnel, have asked for money before rescuing victims.

This is a major disaster, make no mistake of that. But where is the Prime Minister?

Just like in New Orleans, this is becoming a failure in leadership.

Borrowing Bakri Musa’s phrase: Undurlah Pak Lah!

p/s – Ego amid disaster:

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) — Malaysia does not need foreign help to tackle the severe flood situation in the country, which so far has claimed six lives, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.

Najib, who is also Defence Minister and chairman of the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee, said Malaysia was capable of handling the situation and that flood relief efforts were put in motion the moment floods struck in the states of Johor, Pahang, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan and Melaka.

“We will handle it ourselves. The situation has stabilised… no need (for foreign help),” he said at a press conference at the Defence Ministry here today when asked if Malaysia would accept foreign help in tackling the disaster.

If I were the top executive person in the government, I’d accept any sincere help from anybody.

pp/s – the PM is finally back in Malaysia, more than five days after tragedy struck:

During his visit Saturday, Abdullah took a helicopter ride for an aerial view of the extent of the floods in several districts of Johor, such as Muar, Batu Pahat and Kota Tinggi.

The prime minister also saw the extent of the floods in Melaka.

Categories
Environment

[1017] Of global warming on the front page of Utusan

Today is the first time in my life I see a mainstream Malaysian newspaper highlights global warming on its front page:

Screenshots of Utusan Malaysia. Fair use. Scanned by Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams.

“Kesan pemanasan global” means “the effect of global warming”. I’d prefer the headline to be retitled “Kesan pemanasan sedunia” but that’s another issue altogether. For the article, it’s accessible through Utusan.com.my:

KUALA LUMPUR 22 Dis. — Saintis tempatan percaya perubahan cuaca sekarang disebabkan oleh fenomena pemanasan global, sekali gus memberi kesan ketara termasuk kejadian banjir di negara ini.

Pengarah Pusat Perubahan Cuaca Universiti Malaya (UMCCA), Profesor Khairul Maini Osman Salleh berkata, fenomena itu telah mempergiatkan proses-proses cuaca sehingga menyebabkan berlaku pelbagai perubahan yang mendadak dalam tempoh masa yang tidak menentu.

Very rough translation:

KUALA LUMPUR Dec. 22 – A local scientist believes that global warming is the cause behind the changing of the climate which is producing profound effects such as the current flooding in this country.

Professor Khairul Maini Osman Salleh, the direction of University of Malaya Climate Change Agency (?) (UMCCA) said the phenomena is catalyzing climatology processes to cause unpredictable drastic changes.

Of note, the article also cites on article on global warming at Wikipedia. And a few days, I wondered the connection between climate change and the magnitude of disaster hitting Malaysia nowadays. For your information too, the IPCC is expected to make a formal connection between climate change and stronger storms.

What unfortunate however is the tendency of the article to make the United States of a scapegoat:

Menurut Khairul Maini lagi, berbanding negara-negara maju yang lain terutamanya Amerika Syarikat (AS), negara ini mengambil berat mengenai fenomena pemanasan global dengan menyokong Konvensyen Kyoto mengenai Kesan Rumah Hijau.

Translation:

According to Khairul Maini, compared to other developed countries especially the United States, this country (Malaysia) places great concern for the global warming by supporting the Kyoto Procotol.

This is a disgusting statement. Not that I’m defending the United States but the statement on how Malaysia cares more about global warming, or climate change in general, than developed countries is untrue on general. Europe, the EU in particular, is the leading supporter of the Kyoto Protocol. Among the developed countries, only the US and Australia that have refused to rectify the Protocol.

If it’s true Malaysia cares more about global warming than other developed countries, then Malaysia should commit itself to the responsibilities of parties to Annex 1 of the Kyoto Protocol, even if Malaysia is not required to be a party, just like a few other developing nations. Furthermore, what has Malaysia done to reduce its emission? What is the emissions standard of Malaysian vehicles? Fuel efficiency? Suffice to say, it does not come close to the efficiency level developed countries are accustomed to. So, it’s outrageous to claim Malaysia cares more about global warming than other developed countries.

According to Wikipedia, in 2003, Malaysia produced 6.4 metric tons of carbon per capita; more than 150,000 metric tons in total. Observe how Malaysia fares in carbon emissions per capita in 2003 among countries of the world, keeping in mind the ridiculous “Malaysia cares more about global warming than developed countries” statement:

Public domain. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CO2_per_capita_per_country.png

Nevertheless, this article is important because Utusan Malaysia is a major Malay mainstream paper. The policymakers of this country read it and it does affect the politics of this country, whatever the magnitude might be.

People, make way for green politics. It’s one of those politics that will cut through narrow and outdated communal politics, be its by ethnicity or religion.

Categories
Environment Politics & government

[1015] Of where’s Prime Minister Waldo?

Despite all the bad decisions Bush had made, at least during the aftermath of Katrina, when New Orleans fell into anarchy, he as the President of the United States committed himself to the rescue effort mobilized throughout the affected areas. While Johor and several other states are suffering major flooding, one has to wonder, where’s our Prime Minister?

He’s not in Malaysia but instead, he’s still on holiday, vacationing, somewhere abroad. When I read a blogger expressing his disgust of that fact, I share the blogger’s sentiment. Moreover, with people, real Malaysians, are cut off from power, clean water and food as long as four days, the Prime Minister is more interested in defending himself against an allegation that he purchased a MYR 30 million yatch.

As far as the flood is concerned, I honestly believe that our Prime Minister has failed us, Malaysians. In absence of the top executive person in the country, the Deputy Prime Minister taken over the job of sorting this out. The Johor Chief Minister seems to be active in the rescue effort too. Kudos to them but the jury is out there. They will have to excel if both of them prefer history to be kind to them.

I’m so glad that a state-wide emergency has been declared:

Malaysia had declared a state of emergency yesterday and civil defense personnel, volunteers, and members of the armed forces took part in evacuation and rescue operations.

I can’t find any local media reporting an the declaration of the emergency. I’m not sure whether that’s due to my ignorance, the fact that the media has yet to report it or the foreign source is wrong. Assuming good faith, nevertheless, if this is an emergency as I understand it, the emergency allows state and federal machineries to direct full energy into the ongoing rescue effort. The declaration of emergency however makes the Prime Minister looks even worse — Prime Minister is nowhere in sight amid state-sanctioned emergency!

Today, the Prime Minister expresses sadness over the disaster:

Najib said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi expressed his sadness over the flood situation and asked the Federal and state agencies to help the people. Abdullah had conveyed the message to Najib over the phone.

Mr. Prime Minister, merely expressing sadness is not enough. You must act on it. Come back home and supervise the rescue effort in Johor and other states. According to a news report, residents in the affected areas have been without food and water as many as four days. How long since you last had your dinner, Mr. Prime Minister?

Categories
Environment

[1012] Of is the record rainfall in Johor part of a larger trend?

According to news, Johor is practically under water after receiving above average rainfall on Monday and Tuesday. Singapore wasn’t spare either. Record breaking could be use to describe the rainfall in Johor and Singapore.

Bloomberg reports:

Out of 31 monitoring stations in Johor, 24 recorded “very heavy” rainfall of more than 60 millimeters yesterday, according to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage’s Web site. The highest rainfall of 289 millimeters was recorded in Johor Baru.

The Star reports that in Johor, nearly 30,000 people have been evacuated…

MUAR: Nearly 30,000 people have been evacuated in Johor following the extraordinary heavy rainfall over the past three days, Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said.

…while Singapore suffered the worst rainfall in 75 years:

SINGAPORE: Singapore on Tuesday was hit by the third highest rainfall recorded in 75 years.

The 24-hour rainfall recorded was 366 mm.

About a year ago, northern Malaysian states along with southern Thai states suffered record breaking rainfall that caused massive flood. China, Japan and Vietnam each suffer their own record breaking snow and rainfall. Keep in mind while that occurred, the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active seasons in recorded history. In An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore said “…Japan reported a record number of typhoons“.

The historic disaster in Johor makes me think, is it possible to link it to climate change?

The world is currently experiencing El Niño and El Niño is supposed to bring less rainfall to Southeast Asia on average, not more. If it’s true that climate change should cause more rainfall in this part of the world, and if it’s true that El Niño had actually reduced the amount of rainfall in Southeast Asia, imagine what it would be like if there were no El Niño.

In Malaysia, the mainstream society never really gives the issue of climate change a thought. We’re too pre-occupied with moral policing, religion, ethnicity and other trivial things appeal to our inferiority complex that do nothing to solve real pressing issues like the economy, education and the environment. It’s time for us to at least pay a little more attention to the environment and investigate the possible link between extreme natural climatic disasters that are hitting us year by year lately with a global trend that is climate change.