NGO calls for transparency in meeting environmental goals

PETALING JAYA: Dirty rivers, black smoke and rubbish strewn everywhere. It is always the “same old, same old” every year.

While many plans have been drawn up for the environment and conservation, lack of enforcement has always been the problem.

Malaysian Nature Society national council member Vincent Chow said the only way forward was for the authorities to be transparent.

“Release quarterly reports and tell us truthfully where we stand. Statistics show that we have brought down the emission of greenhouse gases but do we actually see this?” he asked.

Chow said what was seen were lorries and factories spewing black smoke, rivers polluted with waste and rubbish strewn everywhere.

“We need strict enforcement ... the authorities need to stop making policies and go to the ground to see what is actually happening,” he said.

Chow also said that when it came to the environment and conservation, constant updates were a must.

“Make reports public and tell us what has been done, what has failed to be done and what can be done,” he said, adding that awareness programmes were also crucial.

Chow said pollution affected all Malaysians and most of them were more than willing to pull their weight if given full information.

He urged the Government to tell the public which environmental goals in the 10th Malaysia Plan had not been achieved so that these could be worked on.

Preserving the environment is one of the six strategic thrusts under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

Among the goals are delaying climate change, enhancing conservation efforts and reducing greenhouse gases by up to 40% over the next five years from the 2005 levels.