Selangor Environment Department director Nor Aziah Jaafar together with Selangor state exco for Public Health and Environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin at the opening ceremony of the National Environment Day (HASN) 2023 at the Selangor State level at Setia Alam in Selangor.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
THE Selangor government is looking into establishing a Green Council soon, hopefully by next year, to look into the state’s green policies and initiatives, said Selangor public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin.
“This Green Council will be a dedicated group that looks into accelerating, addressing or improving the Selangor government’s green policies and programmes, such as those on the environment, green technology and renewable energy,” she said.
“We feel that such a council is needed to make the state’s green programmes work and to ensure the success of the First Selangor Plan (Rancangan Selangor Pertama), which emphasises sustainable development.”
Jamaliah, who is Bandar Utama assemblyman, said the Green Council will be established within the current term (of her appointment as exco), although she is pushing for it to be formed by next year.
“At this point, we are unable to give an exact timeline as we have yet to set a budget and who the council members should be,” she said.
“We need to ensure the appointed members are stakeholders from various related organisations. Besides government agencies, we need to have representatives from the private sector who can provide input based on the industry’s perspective.
“We may also look into having non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives, politicians, professionals or experts that have experience in such matters.”
Jamaliah said it is important that the establishment of the Green Council is not rushed, as its elected members also need to understand the council’s roles and responsibilities for Selangor.
Jamaliah was speaking after officiating a state-level National Environment Day (Hari Alam Sekitar Negara) 2023 event held at Setia City Convention Centre, Shah Alam. She was representing Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
The event to mark National Environment Day, which is observed on Oct 21, was organised by the Selangor Department of Environment (DOE) in collaboration with the Selangor State Economic Planning Unit (Upen).
Also present were Selangor DOE director Nor Aziah Jaafar, state secretary Datuk Haris Kasim, Selangor state deputy secretary (development) Datuk Johary Anuar and Petaling District officer Rahilah Rahmat.
Jamaliah also presented certificates of appreciation to representatives of petrol stations that are participating in a pilot e-waste collection programme in Bandar Utama and launched a coffee table book titled Khazanah Alam: Kelestarian Dan Kerentanan Tanah Gambut Negeri Selangor (Natural Treasure: Sustainability And Vulnerability of Selangor’s Peat Soil).
