Not enough allocation for environmental protection, say groups

PETALING JAYA: Environmental groups have welcomed Budget 2018’s push for green technology but cautioned that it does not address Malaysia’s core environmental issues.

“We are encouraged to see an attempt by the Government to push for more green investments with the RM5bil allocation for the Green Technology Financing Scheme.

“This will hopefully entice more companies to invest in sustainable investments that will generate green jobs and protect the environment,” said Greenpeace Malaysia chief operating officer John Loh.

“However, we would have loved to see the Government allocate more for environmental protection as well, to support Malaysia’s pledge to cut carbon emission intensity by 40% by 2020.”

Malaysian Nature Society’s (MNS) Henry Goh agreed that the budget lacks provision for wildlife and environmental enforcement.

“Despite increasing incidents of encroachment, poaching and wildlife getting killed, the budget did not address shortfalls like manpower or technologies for enforcement.

“More budget should be allocated to address potential biodiversity loss and enhance the protection of wildlife as some are already on the critically endangered list,” Goh said.

Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) president Datuk Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said the RM517mil allocation for flood mitigation plans failed to tackle the root of the problem, which is the loss of water catchment areas due to large-scale deforestation.

“We are going to see a lot of floods due to climate change and deforestation, so conservation and preservation should have been prioritised in the budget,” she said.