Green reports rewarded

On top of the world: Winners of the Penang Green Journalism Award 2014 (from left) Siti Nadiah, Syajaratulhuda, Tan, Lim and Gokina showing off their certificates.

THREE journalists from The Star made the newspaper proud by making a clean sweep of the Penang Green Journalism Award 2014 (English category).

The reporters bagged a total of RM6,500 in prizes after their entries won the Excellent Awards and Special Awards for News Report and Features Writing in the contest organised by the Penang Green Council (PGC).

Senior writer Christina Chin received two accolades — an Excellent Award in the Features Writing category for her entries ‘Missing the buzz of the bees’ and ‘Bringing back the honeybees’, and also a Special Award in the News Report category.

When contacted, Chin, 36, who is now based in Petaling Jaya, expressed her gratitude to the PGC for recognising and encouraging efforts to green the state.

“The win is both meaningful and unexpected. Although I am based in Petaling Jaya now, Penang is still very close to my heart,” she said.

Chin added that it is important for everyone to do their part in environmental conservation as every little bit makes a difference.

Chin, who was unable to attend the prize presentation dinner during the Green Pinang 3A (Achievements, Awards and Accolades) Gala 2014, was represented by fellow journalist Cavina Lim.

Journalist Tan Sin Chow, 32, who won the Excellent Award in the News Report category, thanked the newspaper’s copy editors, editors and sub-editors in their collective effort to make his story presentable for print.

“I would also like to thank our readers for constantly tipping us off about environmental issues in the state,” he said.

Lim, 26, was elated that her article ‘Sweet Feat’ won the Special Award in the Features Writing category, her second consecutive time winning the state government’s Green Journalism Award.

Her story highlighted the application of oil palm syrup in the production of toffee, which was explored by Universiti Sains Malaysia Food Technology graduate Syuhairah Ahmad, 23, in her final year pro-ject.

Syuhairah’s invention had won her the gold medal at the British Invention Show.

“It is great to know that the younger generation is becoming more conscious and aware of the importance of finding green alternatives as a way of helping to sustain the environment,” Lim said.

Reporters from Sinar Harian also won in the Bahasa Melayu category.

Siti Nadiah Ahmad Zamlus, 29, won the Excellent Award in the News Report category while M. Gokina, 28, won the Excellent Award in the Features Writing category.

The paper’s Syajaratulhuda Mohamad Rosli, 32, won the Special Award in the same category (Features Writing).

The gala also saw the conferment of awards to winners of the Penang Green School Award, Penang Green Office Project Certification, Penang Green Innovation Incentive and the Penang Green Video Contest.

In his speech, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also the PGCchairman, said that the solid waste recycling rate for the Penang Municipal Council and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council had reached 28% and 34% respectively, which exceeded the country’s 20% target for 2020.

He added that the state government was studying the model and practices of the Federal Government on the mandatory separation at source, which would be implemented from September next year, so that the state could make the necessary enactments in the bylaw to ensure that the process would be carried out smoothly throughout the state.