The Star's Meng wins another green accolade

Meng Yew Choong (left), receiving the merit award for the CDL Environment Journalist of the Year from Singapore's Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, watched by SEC chairman, Isabella Loh and Esther An (right), CDL's head for corporate social responsibility.

SINGAPORE: The Star’s assistant editor Meng Yew Choong garnered two awards at the second edition of the Asian Environmental Journalism Award (AEJA 2013) here.

Organised by the Singapore Environment Council (www.sec.org.sg), AEJA honours journalists, bloggers and photographers from all over the region for their outstanding work on environmental issues.

Meng, 44, won a merit award on Friday for the Coca-Cola Environmental Story of the Year for his story on the unseen dangers posed by improper disposal of compact fluorescent bulbs.

He also won another merit award as the City Developments Ltd (CDL) Environmental Journalist of the Year for his overall coverage that ranged from waste disposal to energy efficiency and conservation.

CDL is a major Singapore developer, which is supportive of green measures.

The Environmental Journalist of the Year was Jing Li from the South China Morning Post, who reported courageously from China on its manifold environmental problems.

Meng prevailed in a field of 84 entries from 14 countries, judged by a panel of 10.

A fortnight ago, Meng received the Green Tech Journalist of the Year award for English print media from the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation.

That award honours members of the media who have played a catalytic role in driving the nation’s green agenda.