NGOs: Annual allocation a must to care for the environs

Environmental groups want funding to help them rehabilitate and rejuvenate rivers such as this one that is filled with rubbish. - filepic

JOHOR BARU: Environmental groups want the federal and state governments to continue allocating annual funding to them under Budget 2018 to carry out environmental-related activities and programmes.

Malaysian Nature Society Johor chairman Vincent Chow said continuous financial assistance was important to create better awareness on environmental issues among the people.

He said environmental-related NGOs could play a role as the ears and hands of the government.

“This would encourage more environmental-related activities and programmes by the state’s stakeholders,’’ Chow said.

He said the state government must recognise and interact with all the NGOs and invite them to attend all department meetings as well as take proactive measures to initiate meetings with them to hear their comments and suggestions to improve and sustain natural environment.

“Different perspectives can counter the often slanted and biased reports on the environment by government departments,’’ he said.

Green Earth Society Johor president P. Sivakumar said the federal government budget was needed to address the water problems in Johor.

“It is a known fact that most rivers in Johor are either dirty or dead.

“The allocations should be used to rehabilitate and rejuvenate the rivers,’’ he said.

Sivakumar said more funds were also needed by the NGOs to educate the public and deter them from throwing rubbish into rivers, which were the main source of raw water supply.

“So far, there is no help in funding for the NGOs from the state government for our activities and programmes. We are not against development but Johor needs to have a balance between progress and sustainable environment for the people,’’ he said.

Sivakumar said the future generation should not pay a heavy price due to over development and lack of enforcement.