Law: Vital for us to be unanimous
Reports by Balbeer S. Jessy, Pang Hin Yue, Sufi Yusoff and Faridah Begum. Pictures by Zahari Razak
KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. —The three-day second ministerial conference of developing countries on environment and development beginning here tomorrow is a crucial meeting because it will help safeguard the future of the Earth.
Science, Environment and Technology Minister Law Hieng Ding said today that in view of this the ministerial gathering needed to achieve unanimity on all issues regarding development and the environment.
"The Kuala Lumpur conference offers the last opportunity for developing countries to forge a consensus and strengthen their views regarding development and the environment," he told the New Straits Times.
Law said this was exactly what. Malaysia hoped to achieve, before the Ministers proceed to Rio de Janerio in June for the United Nations conference on environment and development (UNCED).
Law, who is chairman of the ministerial conference, expressed confidence that unanimity would be achieved among Ministers and Government officials from the 53 developing countries on taking a joint stand before proceeding to the UNCED — also known popularly as the Earth summit.
According to him, it is important that senior officials meeting before the ministerial conference come up with a refined text of the final draft of the Kuala Lumpur declaration.
"There has been general consensus on all the issues. The delay in issuing the final draft is because the officials wanted simplicity so that Ministers at the conference tomorrow will have a text that is refined and acceptable to all."
Law noted that this was the main reason behind the senior officials carrying on with their meeting, which started yesterday, until 2am today.
Responding to a question, Law said nations of the South were being very reasonable in dealing with the core issues and were always willing to negotiate with the North.
"But as I said earlier, we are not beggars and what has been missing from the North all this while is the willingness to co-operate.
"Thus, it is important that the North reciprocate this reasonable stand of the South which is always willing to accommodate requests from them."
The Kuala Lumpur declaration will be examined and adopted by the Ministers at the conference.
Malaysia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, has been given the task of presenting it to the G77 in New York before it is taken to the Earth summit.
The declaration is aimed at presenting a stronger stand for the South at the summit.
Keeping pace with global drive to cut down pollution
KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. —Malaysia has introduced environmental protection policies and regulations as early as more than 20 years ago, and has ever since kept up closely with the global drive to cut down pollution and environmental destruction.
Just two years after the landmark United Nations Conference on the Environment in Stockholm in 1972 to launch the international initiatives to protect the environment, Malaysia enacted its Environment Quality Act (EQA) 1974 with strategies to regulate, prevent and abate any forms of pollution.
Even before the EQA, environmental problems in the country were being tackled by various independent Government agencies at Federal, State and local authorities level.
These agencies operated under various ordinances and enactments such as the Water Enactment, the Mining Enactment, the Forestry Enactment, the Land Conservation Act and the Factories and Machinery Act.
Certain categories of pollution were also dealt with by the Health Ministry, the Drainage and Irrigation Department, the Land and Mines Department, the Forestry Department, the Chemistry Department, Factories and Machinery Department, municipal councils and other local authorities.
At that time, the various legislations were designed to cope with special problems as they emerged and were formulated on the basis of expediency to eliminate specific pollution and environmental woes.
Despite their limited resources, these agencies were successful in abating pollution to some degree.
With the introduction of the EQA, an Environmental Affairs Division was also set up in the General Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department while the Minister with Special Functions then, was entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the question of pollution and environment.
To underline the importance it attached to the issues, the Government created the Local Government and Environment Ministry headed by Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui in September, 1974. In August, 1978 the Ministry was renamed the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry.
The EQA deals with a wide spectrum of problems ranging from noise, industrial waste, jungle wildlife and vegetation, river and drinking water to emissions from factories and the motor vehicle fumes.
Over the years, the EQA has been used in conjunction with other legislations as an important instrument of environment management.
In addition, a string of regulations and rules were also introduced as the need arose.
To control agro-based water pollution, the Government introduced the Environmental Quality (Licensing) Regulations and the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Premises) (Crude Palm Oil) Regulations, both in 1977, and the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Premises) (Raw Natural Rubber) Regulations 1978).
In 1979, the Environmental Quality (Sewage and Industrial Effluents) Regulations were introduced to control municipal and industrial waste water pollution.
To control industrial emissions, the Government introduced the Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulations 1978 and the Environmental Quality (Compounding of Offences) Rules 1978.
Steps to control motor vehicle emissions were taken with the enactment of the Motor Vehicles (Control of Smoke and Gas Emission) Rules 1977 under the Road Traffic Ordinance of 1958) and the Environmental Quality (Control of Lead Concentration in Motor Gasoline) Regulations 1985 while the Environmental Quality (Motor Vehicles Noise) Regulations 1987 checked noise levels.
Four regulations govern the control of toxic and hazardous waste management. — Bernama
Strong: DR M's presence beneficial
KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. —Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad can provide strong leadership to the developing world at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Dr Maurice Strong said today.
The presence of the Malaysian Prime Minister in Rio would benefit the South countries, he said when asked on the Malaysian leader’s non-committal stand on his attendance at the summit.
Dr Mahathir had said he would not go to Rio if the summit were to be used for running down the developing countries on environmental issues. — Bernama
Princess heads Thai team
SUBANG, Sun. — The Thai delegation to the second ministerial conference of developing countries on environment and development beginning tomorrow will be headed by the youngest daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Princess Professor Dr Chulabhorn Mahidol.
The 35-year-old princess and her 12-member delegation arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport here on board a royal jet this evening.
Japan: Consensus first, aid later
PETALING JAYA, Sun. —Japan will provide transfer of technology and financial assistance to the South only after a consensus has been reached between the North and South countries on environment and development issues.
Speaking to reporters on his arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Subang, Japanese Environment Minister Shuzaburo Nakamura said Japan has accumulated the technology capability to cope with environmental problems and was willing to co-operate with the -global community.
"But first and foremost, it is important that the world community work together within a framework to reach a consensus. Only after that is resolved, will Japan would come in to offer financial and technical assistance," he said in reply to a question on Japan’s stand on the June Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro.
Nakamura, who is here as an observer in the three-day second ministerial conference of developing countries on environment development, said the conference was vital for the developing nations as it would serve as an avenue for them to arrive to a common position on the Earth Summit.
Meanwhile, Australian Minister for the Arts, Sports, the Environment and Territories Ros Kelly who also arrived here today, said since Australia was firmly positioned in Asia, the stand it would take at the Earth Summit was one that "reflects the views of the developing world."
"As such, we are here to hear what the developing countries have to say. We do believe that Australia has some similarities with the developing world in terms of natural resources, agriculture and urban problems," she said, adding that Australia could also serve as a link between the industrialized and developing countries.
Commenting on the last Unced preparatory meeting, she said, there was a breakthrough among the nations, as there was a clear agreement on what should be in the declaration and in the main agenda. This includes the convention biodiversity.
However, issues pertaining to the greenhouse effect remained unresolved. Nevertheless, Kelly said opportunities still existed for both the North and South countries to reach a compromise.
Lim wants two points to be included
KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. —DAP secretary-general Lim Kit Siang today proposed that two points be included in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration to be issued by the second Ministerial Meeting of Developing Countries on Environment and Development beginning here tomorrow.
He said that firstly the declaration should insist on the attendance of US President George Bush at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, commonly referred to as the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janerio in June.
By attending the summit, Bush could demonstrate the US Government’s seriousness and pol4tical will to resolve global environmental and developmental problems, he said.
Lim said this at the DAP organized "Malaysian Green Conference" which was opened by Semangat 46 President Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, here.
Lim said the second point was that the conference should adopt the principle of "Who pollutes should pay most". He proposed that the US, Japan and the European Community should commit US$10 billion to US$20 billion ($25 billion to $50 billion) a year to implement the Earth Charter and Agenda 21, which will be discussed at the summit. —Bernama
Snippets
PRIMARY Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik had hardly finished his speech at the national-level celebrations to commemorate the 21st World Forestry Day at the Bukit Nanas forest reserve when its started raining heavily.
"You don’t have to worry because this rain will further ensure that our rainforests grow even faster," be told foreign delegates at the function. After delegates had each planted a tree at in the area, Dr Lim urge them to return to the forest reserve once in a while to see the progress of the seedlings they had sown.
• JUST a day after the the Press had praised the Crown Princess for the endless flow of coffee at the media centre, journalists were in for a rude shock yesterday when the coffee and tea was nowhere to be seen till about 3pm.
This prompted one foreign journalist to quip, "So much for the endless flow of coffee and tea."
However, a hotel spokesman said the delay was due to the failure of the International Conference Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department to place orders for the day.
"This is because of the continuing discussion on the draft Kuala Lumpur Declaration and no one expected everyone to be working here today," she added.
• DURING a briefing to visiting delegates at the Agriculture Park at Bukit Cahaya Sen Alam at Shah Alam yesterday, Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Sanusi Junid pointed out just how significant and important the various kinds of trees and plants at the park were.
"Anybody wishing to cut any trees or plants, or even leaves, must have the minister’s permission and usually I do not permit any trees to be cut.
"There is absolutely no way that anybody can bring out any plants from here. Only Mother Nature’s act does not need my permission," he said referring to the thunderstorms lately, much to the amusement of the delegates.
• PENAN Hasan Sui was the best-dressed person at the field tour of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) grounds yesterday morning.
During the trip, which was organized for the foreign journalists, Hasan wore a full three-piece suit and proudly walked into the forest for a recording session with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) station crew.
The rest came in casual clothes such as T-shirts, jeans and sneakers.
• A FOREIGN journalist had a slight confusion with Malaysian food yesterday afternoon.
Not realizing that the main lunch course and dessert for lunch were placed on the same buffet table at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) grounds, the journalist coolly placed some fried rice on his plate and proceeded to pour chendol (coconut milk with green-coloured rice flour bits and palm sugar) over it, much to the amusement of the local journalists!
QUOTABLE QUOTES
"WE are showing you the worst of what we have at this park as we hope you will return to see the best when it is fully completed." — Agriculture Minister Datuk Sen Sanusi Junid while showing the beauty of the Agriculture Park in Shah Alam to delegates.
"I do not understand why Western environmentalists are only using the Penans for their personal interest. We are happy with development and want to participate in it. It puts Penans in a bad light among other communities in Sarawak as we are seen to be backward and against development unlike the others."— Hassan Sui, a Penan businessman.
"The most vicious attacks from non-Government organizations come from the Netherlands, where the record and figures on forest cover are dismal — a mere eight per cent of the country is covered with forest" — Primary Industries Minister Datuk Sen Dr Lim Keng Yalk at the launching of national level World Forestry Day celebrations.
"Seventy-four per cent of our country, Malaysia, is covered by some form of forest cover. This include rubber and oil palm plantations. You know why I include them? Any ‘stand of trees’ is by definition a forest" — director-general of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia Datuk Dr Salleh Mohamed Nor.
Delegates sample the Agriculture Park
SHAH ALAM, Sun. —About 150 delegates and their spouses to the second ministerial conference of developing countries on environment and development today took time off to visit the Agriculture Park at Bukit Cahaya Sen Alam here.
They were met on arrival by Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Sanusi Junid.
He later gave a one-hour briefing to the delegates on the philosophy and concept behind the establishment of the park and the activities conducted there well as the facilities and attractions available.
Later the delegates were taken on a tour to several parts of the park namely the four seasons temperate garden, the mushroom garden and museum and the spice garden.
At the four seasons temperate garden, the delegates were briefed on the technology used to re-create the four seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter.
They were given a firsthand-experience to feel mid-autumn in Malaysia.
Keng Yaik: We do not need to apologise
KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. —Malaysia does not owe anyone an apology in its efforts to encourage the Penans to come into the mainstream of life, Primary Industries Minister Datuk Sen Dr Lim Keng Yaik said today.
The majority of Penans want change in their life-style so that they will not-be left behind and can reap the fruits of development.
"For the Penans who choose to remain nomadic in the forests, they are accommodated in ample forest areas in the Baram district and Mulu national park where logging is prohibited," he said at the launching of the national level celebrations to commemorate the 21st World Forestry Day at the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve here today.
Dr Lim said the Penans could have access to medical, health and educational facilities provided by the Government in centres specifically established in strategic locations to cater for their needs.
"Surely, with all these in place, we cannot be accused of forcing development down the throats of these people," he said to the applause of the crowd that comprised delegates attending the second ministerial conference of developing countries on environment and development.
Several delegates and observers from foreign and local non-governmental organizations were also present.
On the issue of 300 nomadic Penans in Sarawak, Dr Lim said manipulation, instigation and subversion by activists from the West had exaggerated their case.
Ryan leads observers
KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. —US ambassador to Malaysia Mr Robert J. Ryan is representing his nation as head of the observer delegation to the Second Ministerial Conference of Developing Countries on Environment and Development, which begins here tomorrow.
Ryan was the deputy head of the US delegation to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) preparatory committee meetings.
A statement from the US embassy here said Ryan is an authority on a range of complex UNCED issues and positions taken by nations such as Malaysia.
Source : New Straits Times, April 27, 1992
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