KUANTAN: The Sustainable Kuan-tan Initiative (SKI), now on their own for the past three years, after an initial three-year period under the guidance of the non governmental organisation Sustainable Development Network (Susden), have embarked on a schedule of 20 programmes for 2006/2007.
President Bishan Singh said all the programmes were made to ensure community participation would be at its fullest.
Among the 20 programmes that have been approved at the recent annual general meeting was the setting up of “Kuantan Citizens’ Service Centre” and getting the community to participate in the development of the society.
“We will also start on a peace and unity campaign, which is important to ensure that all of us can work, live and play together,” he said.
Bishan Singh said a programme called the Community Campaign Against Climate Change to reduce global warming was also planned.
There is also the Kuantan Community Water Watch which is high on the agenda and the Protection and Conservation of Bio-diversity programme, an urgent effort to protect fast disappearing flora and fauna and insects due to the rapid development of housing area on hillsides and land clearings around the locality.
Bishan Singh said SKI was also encouraging locals and residents to create their own green patch through its urban agriculture programme.
The growing number of strays in town was also highlighted at the meeting and there had been a recommendation to set up a “Shelter for Stray Animals.” he said.
“At the end of all this on-going projects, which will also continue after 2007, we hope to have a more loving and caring society that watches out for not only their own families but also that of their neighbours and friends,” he said.
To ensure the programmes take off the ground, the initiative is in the midst of appointing representatives in villages, housing estates and towns to implement the programmes.