NEWSLETTER NOV 2018 The Penang state government has instructed the local authorities to prepare a draft to amend the state by-laws giving more authority to the state government to monitor development activities especially at hill slopes. State Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairperson Zairil Khir Johari said he would get the state legal advisors to look into the matter including steps to impose high compounds on contractors found to have failed to comply with the law. "In Selangor for example, the PBTs (local authorities) are allowed to impose compounds of up to RM250,000 on contractors who do not abide by the follow Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan. "However in Penang we are not in the position to do that. We need to look into ways of having more authority over these issues," he told reporters after visiting the site of the landslide at Jalan Bukit Kukus, Paya Terubong near here today. Penang gov’t wants more authority over hillside developments So far four foreign workers have died, three were injured and three others are feared to be still trapped in the landslide that was reported at 1.56pm yesterday. The incident which occurred following heavy rain in the state since Thursday evening, caused the hilly area to collapse and slide down bringing the containers and workers’ quarters to be buried together at the construction site of the paired road at Jalan Bukit Kukus in Paya Terubong. Yesterday, the bodies of Indonesian Samsul Asman, 19, and Bangladeshi Attrul, 35, were found, while the body of a Myanmar woman Khin Aye Khaing, 33, was found at 1.30am. The body of the fourth victim, identified as Bahtiar, 36, from Indonesia was found at 11.55am. Zairil said the state government should be more proactive in monitoring hillside development projects to avoid untoward incidents which could result in loss of lives. "We may have to figure out how we can do more monitoring, for example, have an Ops Lumpur where a special task force will make spot checks not just on the hillsides but also to check on the water flow, drainage and silting which may cause floods. By right, he said, for every project there should be an engineer responsible for monitoring the situation and work in progress at the construction site. "It is the responsibility of the engineer who has signed the documents for the project to ensure that work is being carried out according to standard operating procedures and so forth. But in this case we still do not know what happened. We will have to wait for the results of the investigation," he said. Source: Bernama
Transcript
NEWSLETTER NOV 2018
The Penang state government has instructed the local authorities to prepare a draft to amend the state by-laws giving more authority to the state government to monitor development activities especially at hill slopes. State Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairperson Zairil Khir Johari said he would get the state legal advisors to look into the matter including steps to impose high compounds on contractors found to have failed to comply with the law. "In Selangor for example, the PBTs (local authorities) are allowed to impose compounds of up to RM250,000 on contractors who do not abide by the follow Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan. "However in Penang we are not in the position to do that. We need to look into ways of having more authority over these issues," he told reporters after visiting the site of the landslide at Jalan Bukit Kukus, Paya Terubong near here today.
Penang gov’t wants more
authority over hillside
developments
So far four foreign workers have died, three were injured and three others are feared to be still trapped in the landslide that was reported at 1.56pm yesterday. The incident which occurred following heavy rain in the state since Thursday evening, caused the hilly area to collapse and slide down bringing the containers and workers’ quarters to be buried together at the construction site of the paired road at Jalan Bukit Kukus in Paya Terubong. Yesterday, the bodies of Indonesian Samsul Asman, 19, and Bangladeshi Attrul, 35, were found, while the body of a Myanmar woman Khin Aye Khaing, 33, was found at 1.30am. The body of the fourth victim, identified as Bahtiar, 36, from Indonesia was found at 11.55am. Zairil said the state government should be more proactive in monitoring hillside development projects to avoid untoward incidents which could result in loss of lives. "We may have to figure out how we can do more monitoring, for example, have an Ops Lumpur where a special task force will make spot checks not just on the hillsides but also to check on the water flow, drainage and silting which may cause floods. By right, he said, for every project there should be an engineer responsible for monitoring the situation and work in progress at the construction site. "It is the responsibility of the engineer who has signed the documents for the project to ensure that work is being carried out according to standard operating procedures and so forth. But in this case we still do not know what happened. We will have to wait for the results of the investigation," he said.
Source: Bernama
Illegal plastic recycling factories highlight need for real solutions
New Zealand news portal RadioNZ’s recent exposé of the illegal plastic recycling industry in Jenjarom and plantation hinterlands in Malaysia that deal with plastic waste imported from New Zealand and the United Kingdom, highlights the fact that most of the world, including developed nations with ostensibly clear waste management and recycling legislation, are ill-equipped to deal with plastic waste. The irony of this fact – the import and processing of plastic waste in Malaysia – is not lost on environmentally aware Malaysians who applauded Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin’s latest announcement on Sept 14 that Malaysia would be phasing out and eventually banning single-use plastics. All our efforts to reduce plastic waste and microplastic pollution would translate into very low environmental and health returns if plastic recyclers – which are mostly unlicensed and unregulated – are allowed to continue processing plastic waste that had entered Malaysia prior to the Minister’s Sept 1 announcement of a restriction on plastic waste imports. The plastics manufacturing industry tries to convince the public that littering, ignorance about recycling and the lack of recycling facilities – and not the production of plastics per se – are the problem. But the real problem is that we are using a lot more plastics and generating a lot more waste as the world is becoming more industrialised. The World Economic Forum reports that we use 20 times as much plastic as we did 50 years ago. Businesses create more single-use plastics to meet consumers’ expectations for convenience, and most of these plastics can never be recycled.
WONG EE LYNN is coordinator for Green Living Special Interest Group, of the Malaysian Nature Society
Sanitary landfills versus waste-to-energy incinerators
Letter from Mohamed Rafick Khan | Published: 30 Aug 2018, 1:26 pm, Malaysia Kini
I refer to the article titled "Clearing the air on Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill" written by Chock Eng Tah, the
MD of KUB-Berjaya Enviro Sdn Bhd (the company that owns the Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill, BTSL) in response to my original article related to the incinerator project (commercially known as Waste-To-Energy Production, WEP) and the concerns raised by several NGOs in Kepong. I would like to reiterate that my original article was not written to attack BTSL but to highlight the need for a WEP plant (diagram) to support the growing population in Klang Valley and the major cities in Malaysia and making a comparison to a sanitary landfill. The author has chosen to defend BTSL which is an expected response as it impacts their long-term business. WEP is a competing technology to that of a sanitary landfill and the author was looking at BTSL from his company’s profit-and-loss perspective, and not the long-term impact on the environment. I would like to point out some points of contention that were presented in the write-up. The author has claimed
that BTSL can last for 100 years. We all can do our maths
by plotting the waste production and doing a forecast analysis to find a meeting point. Our own internal assessment shows that the landfill will last not more than 50 years. Factoring population growth, urbanisation boundaries and waste production per household will give the necessary numbers. What do we do when a landfill is full? Do we open more landfills? Is the author saying that since it can last 100 years, we don't have to worry about it? That it’s a problem for the
future generation to solve? I beg to differ. We need to
create a better future for the next generations to come and not pass down problems for them to sort out. BTSL today sits on 700 acres of land. This is arable land that can be used for food production. When this site is filled up, do we continue to destroy the environment and reduce the much-needed land by allocating a few thousand acres of land nationwide for a landfill? When do we stop? The non-biodegradable waste will continue to be buried in the ground for thousands of years to come. Why did advanced countries around the world switch to WEP from landfills?
Use Your Brain It's true: Use it or lose it. Stretching your brain keeps your mind sharp. People who are more active in mentally challenging activities are more Likely to stay sharp. Mix Things Up Remember trying to talk backwards as a child? Researchers at Duke University created exercises they call "neurobics," which challenge your brain to think in new ways. Since your five senses are key to learning, use them to exercise your mind. Work Out to Stay Sharp Exercise, especially the kind that gets your heart rate up like walking or swimming, has mental pluses, too. A Healthy Diet Builds Brainpower Do your brain a favor and choose foods that are good for your heart and waistline. Watch What You Drink You know that too many drinks can affect your judgment, speech, movement, and memory. But did you know alcohol can have long-term effects? Too much drinking over a long period of time can shrink the frontal lobes of your brain. And that damage can last forever, even if you quit drinking. Video Games Train Your Brain Grab that joystick. Several studies found that playing video games stimulates the parts of the brain that control movement, memory, planning, and fine motor skills. Music Helps Your Brain Thank your mom for making you practice the piano. Playing an instrument early in life pays off in clearer thinking when you're older. Make Friends for Your Mind Be a people person! Talking with others actually sharpens your brain, whether at work, at home, or out in your community. Studies show social activities improve your mind. Stay Calm Too much stress can hurt your gray matter, which contains cells that store and process information. Here are some ways to chill: • Take deep breaths. • Find something that makes you laugh. • Listen to music. • Try yoga or meditation.
Sleep and the Brain Get enough sleep before and after you learn something new. You need sleep on both ends.
Jackfruit Is Super
Healthy!
1.Improves Immunity Jackfruit contains a high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants which helps boost your immune system and makes it stronger when fighting an infection.
2. Replenishes Energy A 100gm serving of the jackfruit contains 94 Kcal and is loaded with good carbohydrates. It instantly gives you an energy boost upon consumption.
3. Ensures a better cardiovascular health and a regulated Blood Pressure A right amount of potassium ensures a balanced regulation of sodium in our body which if left unregulated can cause damage to the arteries and the heart. 4. Improves Digestion Jackfruit is rich in two kinds of fibers- soluble and insoluble. It is very important to eat a healthy amount of fibers in your daily meal. 5. Prevents Cancer Jackfruit is rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients and flavonoids. The presence of these antioxidants eliminates the toxins produced by the body as well as the free radicals which are harmful for us. 6. Enhances Vision Being rich in vitamin A(Beta-Carotene), jackfruit provides a healthy nutrition for our eyes. It protects the eyes from bacterial and viral infection and also rids them of free radicals which might be harmful. 7.Prevents Ageing Antioxidant rich jackfruit destroys these free radicals which slows the ageing process down. 8.Strengthens Bones Jackfruit is loaded with high amounts of calcium which strengthens the bones and potassium which reduces loss of calcium through kidneys. 9.Improves Blood Quality Iron also helps in aiding metabolism. vitamin C, magnesium and copper also help in improving the quality of the blood. 10.Prevents/Controls Asthma Jackfruit helps control the imbalances in the body which result in controlling of the asthmatic attacks. Especially when the symptoms are triggered by the pollution, jackfruit helps control the symptoms by eliminating the free radicals being produced in the body due to the pollution which otherwise lead to asthmatic attacks.
