KUALA LUMPUR: All parties must support the proposed measures listed under the 2019 Budget to help preserve the environment including listing Royal Belum State Park as a Unesco World Heritage site and allocating RM2 billion to encourage investment in green technology industries.
Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the move to list Royal Belum as a Unesco World Heritage site was crucial as it could help protect the rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystem, which was part of the Belum-Temengor forest complex.
“The state park is estimated to be more than 130 million years old, thus making it older than the Amazon rainforest in South America and the Congo rainforest in Central Africa.
“Such a move could also help protect about 3,000 species of flora, 64 species of ferns, 62 species of moss and 23 types of river fish in the area apart from endangered animals such as the tiger, Malayan sun bear, Sumatran rhinoceros, white-handed gibbon, Malayan tapir and elephant.”
Lee said efforts to encourage investment in green technologies will also help create environmental-friendly businesses and industries in Malaysia.
“If possible, I also hope the government introduces environmental education at kindergartens and continue until tertiary level as we have to ensure that it is fully embraced and will become a culture among our young generation.
“I believe that if we could nurture the love for nature at young age, the young generation could help protect the environment and prevent noise, air and water pollution from worsening.”
He was commenting on the Budget to list the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) Forest Park in Selangor, and Royal Belum Perak as Unesco World Heritage Sites.
President of EcoKnights, non-governmental environmental organisation,Yasmin Rasyid echoed his opinion.
“This has been a very positive Budget, it’s taking conservation to the next level. Some may be sceptical, but we must give the new government a chance.
“We are seeing a lot of promises, but it’s a step in the right direction. In the end you have to walk the talk. And if you don’t keep to your word, we can vote them out.”
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