22. May 2012 · Comments Off on SEPA Lahad Datu Appreciation Dinner · Categories: News & Updates

Sabah Environmental Protection of Sabah had organized an Appreciation Dinner and Environment Photography Exhibition in Lahad Datu at Dewan Sri Perdana on Sunday 19th May 2012 in order to appreciate those who had help in lahad datu during the NO COAL campaign.

The appreciation dinner that was chaired by Yyonne Chew was a success where about 400 had attended.

A Community Development issues was presented by Alice Mathew and Lanash Tanda who are the SEPA Committee Member.

Group Five Point One Nine, Group Traccie and Da’ Boyz also had performed and special danced performed by own SEPA Member Jackson Rosedennis.

Wong Tack also had made a speech to share his experience on Himpunan Hijau and remind the people the importance to take care the environment.

SEPA would like to thanks to those who attended the Appreciation Dinner and those who help and contributed their time and effort to the environment cause.

For more photos, please click link below

SEPA Lahad Datu Appreciation Dinner

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14. May 2012 · Comments Off on SEPA meeting with Restaurant Kg Nelayan Bukit Padang management · Categories: News & Updates

SEPA President Wong Tack, Secretary Paul Chang, Committee Member Julia Hwong and Member Helen Hiew had made a visit to the management of the Restaurant Kg Nelayan Bukit Padang to discuss about the well being of the environment surrounding the Taman Tun Fuad Stephen.

The visit was received warmly by Ms Jacqueline Wong the Director and Mr Christopher Wong the General Manager of the Silverado Corporation Sdn Bhd. Suggestion and ideas was exchange on how to improve the environment of the park for the public benefits.

SEPA will be lending their expertise to the management in the effort to start the environmental awareness among their staff and management and ensure this historical park can be one of many a green lung for the city. The management has assured their cooperation on this green effort and acknowledge the important to protect, preserved and restore the surrounding environment.

SEPA greatly appreciate for the gratitude that the restaurant management for their commitment and hope this cooperation will be the example for many other company to follow for the sake of our city environment.

Please click link below for more photo

SEPA meet Restaurant Kg Nelayan Bukit Padang Management

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04. May 2012 · Comments Off on Sustainable Farming @ SK Convent St. Francis, Kota Kinabalu · Categories: Projects

President of SEPA Wong Tack, Secretary Paul Chang and Consultant of the project Shum went to SK St Francis Convent to witness the corn harvest of the sustainable farming that was started few months ago

The farm project yield a good quality corn harvest.

Headmistress Sim Cho Kein, teachers and students join together to harvest the organic corn and taste the first hand quality.

Wong Tack and Paul also gave few organic corn yield for sampling to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah YB Datuk Masidi Manjun and his Permanent Secretary Datuk Michael Emban

SEPA would like to thank to SK St Francis Convent Headmistress Sim Cho Kein, Teachers and Students for their good respond of this sustainable farm project and hope the health awareness of organic vegetables benefits can be applied to their everyday life

For more photos, please click link below

Sustainable Farming @ SK Convent St. Francis

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02. May 2012 · Comments Off on Facial Massage Therapy and Environment Pollution and Health Seminars by Speaker Cheang See Kwoi · Categories: News & Updates

Participant are listening to Mr Cheang opening introduction.

Showing the exact position of where the line in connection to our body health.

Participant follow and do a practical training with guidance by Mr Cheang

Mr Cheang explains the roles of the environmentalist.

For more photos, please click link below

Facial Massage Therapy and Environment Pollution and Health Talk

25 April 2012

SEPA will be hosting a seminar talk on 29th April 2012 at Likas Condotel 3rd Floor Gaya Room. The first seminar is the Facial Massage Therapy where the speaker Cheang See Kwoi will be talking in Chinese and English from 2.00 – 4.00 pm.

The second session is the Environment Pollution and Health and also by Cheang See Kwoi in which he will present in English language about the air, land and water pollution and its relation on our health from 8.00 to 10.00 pm.

Cheang See Kwoi was a former air traffic controller, trainer instructor and facilitator with the Royal Malaysia Air force and United Nation peace keeping mission from 1973 to 1993.

In May 2001, Cheang was suffering from the last stage of liver cancer. All the years of hard work and stress had taken its toll on him which he was sleeping about five hours a day and smoked profusely.


Cheang See Kwoi, 55, Pensioner (far left)

Because they were unable to do anything else, the doctors did what they normally do when a patient reaches terminal stage, they send him home.

With the help of several alternative therapies he regained strength. Simple movement was not a problem anymore. His fever dissipated, and soon enough, so did the pain.

Today he is working in the Art of Living Stress Management Programme as a facilitator, counsellor for Alternative Health Care and physiological therapist for Healing Breath since 2002.

Please call SEPA member Mr Khor at 0178502222 for more details about this seminar.

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29. April 2012 · Comments Off on Sabah Himpunan Hijau 3.0 supporter on 28 April 2012 at Town Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu. · Categories: News & Updates

It is estimated more than 1,000 people has attended the rally that felt festive carnival like. The Himpunan Hijau 3.0 supporter march from the Suria Sabah pass through the historical Gaya Street and met no hard restriction from the authority.

SM Muthu environment activist is spreading the GREEN message to the rally participant and got a huge support from them.

for more photo, please click link below

Himpunan Hijau 3.0 + Bersih 3.0

22. April 2012 · Comments Off on SEPA Sustainable Farming Talk @ SRK(C) Chung Hwa Likas · Categories: Environment

Many thanks to Principal Yong to allow such green event to take part at the school.

Shum and Ng explained the difference of organic and chemical planted vegetables and the important of sustainable farming.

Shum teach the student of the right way to toil the ground for better farming.

Ng introduce organic fertilizer to the student.

Plot of ground let to settle and ready to be planted with vegetables.

Principal Yong received material of composite and organic fertilizer for compost support by SEPA for the sustainable farming project.

For more photos, please go to the link below.

Sustainable Farming Talk @ SJK(C) Chung Hwa Likas

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16. April 2012 · Comments Off on River Quality at Kampung Ambual · Categories: Environment

26 March 2012 
Report Prepared By: Sabah Environmental Protection Association

1. Introduction:

16/03/12
  • SEPA was contacted by the Kampung representative of Kg Ambual (Garius bin Pukin), with a complaint against water quality in their area.
  • SEPA conducted a site visit, to Kg. Ambual and to Sook oil Mills  Sdn Bhd.

2. Background:

  • Kampung Ambual is inhabited by the Murut Ambual, population of 1035.
  • Kg. Ambual moved to its current location decades ago due to various reasons, where part of the old site was gazetted as a forest reserve and part was alienated to cater for an oil palm plantation.  The villagers claim to have tried to apply for their ancestors land, however was not done formally and relied upon the Wakil Rakyat.
  • The villagers of Kg. Ambual rely heavily (70%) on direct water supply (picture, pg 6) from the river. The piped water supply built by the government (20 years ago) is insufficient for this population’s usage.
  • Kg. Ambual also depends on the river for fish and shellfish for livelihood. Their dependency on the river also goes towards watering their crops and padi.
  • According to Garius, the village representative, the Mill was built at the old kampung site in 2008 (Newspaper article, Pg 5, 7.1).
  • Mill has been operating for the last 3 years.

3. Facts:

29/04/08
  • Kg Ambual reported poor water quality due to site clearing and building operations of Sook Mill that is located up stream. Newspaper clipping attached (Pg 5, 7.1).
  • No report available from DOE.

 

12/12/11
  • Community complained to Garius on the Water quality of the river (pictures Pg 6, 7.2)
  • Freshwater shellfish and fish found dead in the “tagal” area about 5km downriver from the mill.
  • Padi harvest in early march down by 40%. Harvest from the earlier 2 rounds yield was 4.16 ton/acre, March = 1.3 ton/acre. DOA was called in but to date have not taken soil samples to determine cause. (pictures Pg 7, 7.4)
  • Complained to DOE, DOA, Wakil Rakyat.

 

January (late)/12
  • DOE visited the affected site and the mill in late Jan, water samples taken but to date no results.

4. Issues:

  • The village drinking/eating water supply is disrupted and they need to now travel into town to buy water which is becoming a heavy cost to them.
  • The villagers that rely on the sale of padi for their livelihood or for their diet now have to buy rice.
  • Sales from freshwater shellfish is no longer available, and source of protein (fish) is not available.
  • Although the Village Rep is sure that the affected river is the source of their water problems, this is being disputed by the Mill representative. There is a need to verify the route of river.
  • Further investigations needs to be done to determine the  claim of reduction of padi harvest to 40% is linked to the effluent discharged from the mill.

5. Solutions:

In a discussion between SEPA , Village Rep and Sook Oil Mill, it was agreed that an immediate solution to the problem of drinking water would have to be dealt with.Village Rep (Garius) stated that there was an unaffected tributary that was still clean and that a piping system could be dragged to the Kampung. The Mill Manager (Arthur Chui) agreed to aid in this to overcome this most urgent issue. He also suggested putting in a filtration system.However, SEPA did state that it was important for the mill to stop directly discharging as can be seen in Pg 7, 7.3 into the rivers and that there was an urgency of desludging its POME ponds as it had not been desludged in 3 years. Arthur further added, that they were having trouble with its polishing plant and that the consultants were causing them problems.Arthur had also stated that he had submitted his report and has added that POME treatement should be conducted. But this was up to the owner’s discretion.

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6. Conclusion:

The interim solution is to deal with the villagers’ emergency situation. However SEPA recommends that a long term solution that is viable should be worked on. SEPA has conducted research with a partner group in West Malaysia dealing with POME treatment and has successfully completed its pilot stage. This system works towards a zero discharge system.

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News Paper Clipping (Click to download the news)

Related News:
Penduduk bimbang kesan pencemaran kilang kelapa sawit
PENDUDUK BIMBANG BERLAKU PENCEMARAN

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23. September 2011 · Comments Off on HIMPUNAN HIJAU – The choice is ours, Pilihan di tangan kita 选择在我 · Categories: News & Updates

Event description

We envisioned this to be a campaign based on hope not fear, and the idea that everyone should take responsibility for their own future and the future of their children. The gathering of people, young and old at sunrise signifies the welcoming of a new era. Let ours be the time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.

We expect 10,000 and more people from all over the country will participate in this historic event. Tentatively we have close to 80 NGOs and civil society groups expressing their support for this campaign.

The National Steering Committee has decided to launch this national groundbreaking event in Kuantan and a local organising committee has been set-up to host this event. The committee is looking for partnerships with all local cultural, religious, educational, businesses and government institutions to come together to champion this movement. At the moment we have received very positive response from the local communities.

By organizing this event, Malaysia, particularly the community of Kuantan, will be remembered as a champion in promoting the Earth Charter initiative in such a magnitude. As a result, Kuantan will be placed on the world map and receive international attention. Kuantan will also receive enormous benefits particularly in the cultural and tourism sectors.

Objectives of event

To call for all responsible Malaysian citizens to gather in Pantai Balok Kuantan at sunrise to welcome a new era of hope by endorsing the Earth Charter. Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. It seeks to inspire in all people a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the whole human family, the greater community of life, and future generations. It is a vision of hope and a call to action.

To propel a change in our way of life, change in how society works, how decisions are made, and how businesses are conducted.
Vision

We envisioned this to be an annual event whereby on the second Sunday in October every year, millions of responsible Malaysians across the nation will gather at different locations to witness the sunrise and endorse the Earth Charter.
The National Steering Committee will extend this campaign in the global arena.

HIMPUNAN HIJAU 10.9

Event Details
Date of Event : October 9th, 2011 (Sunday)
Location : Pantai Balok, Kuantan

Program :
6.00am Arrival of participants
7.00am Launch of Himpunan Hijau 109 with kompang and drums performance
7.15am “Stamp Out the Darkness” and register your presence with handprints.*
8.00am Negaraku
8.05am Pledge to endorse Earth Charter
8.15am Closing Ceremony and handover to representative from host of event in 2012 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah

Notes :
* More than 10,000 people will stamp their handprints on hundreds of meters of black cloth to register their presence to symbolize the stamping away of the darkness in their lives and welcome a new era of hope! All these pieces of cloth will then be binded together, rolled up and handed over to the host for next year. This will go on year after year whereby we envisioned on the second Sunday in October every year, people around the world will join us and hold this event in their respective towns/cities. One day, when the cloths with handprints is long enough to go around the globe, that shall signify the success of the campaign.

2) HIMPUNAN HIJAU 10.9 LUNCHEON

Name of event : “The Choice is ours….”
A luncheon with leaders from the civil societies movement.

Date : October 9th, 2011 (Sunday)
Time : 12 noon
Venue : Mexica Garden Seafood Restaurant

Contact Persons :
Mr. Wong Tack, Chairperson National Steering Committee (013-8851232)
Ms. Bang Seet Ping, Chairperson, Himpunan Hijau 109 Organising Committee (012-9223780)
Mr. Winson Ooi, Vice Chairperson, Himpunan Hijau 109 Organising Committee (012-9817887)

23. September 2011 · Comments Off on 2011 World Indigenous Peoples Day – Wong Tack & SEPA Members at Tambatuon · Categories: News & Updates

SEPA President Wong Tack led a group of sixteen SEPA and family members to Tambatuon to celebrate the ‘2011 World Indigenous Peoples Day, Sabah Region’ with the villagers, supporters and their friends. Among those who accompanied Wong Tack were Secretary Paul Chang, Legal Adviser Lanash Thanda, Committee Members Ng Kiam Kee and Alice Mathews and SEPA Adviser SM Muthu.

The 4 day (14th-17th Sept.) celebration was jointly organised by Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS) and PACOS TRUST together with the Tambatuon Village Action Committee. This year’s celebration focussed on awareness towards Native Customary Rights and their rights regarding land, the role and importance of natives in Malaysia and to gather and garner support and co-operation from all concerned citizens to make a strong and united stand against the proposal to construct a dam in Tambatuon which will affect and submerge large tracts of customary lands.

There were dialogue secessions where participants exchanged ideas and experiences in various districts, workshops, video shows, traditional sports and games, cultural performances and ‘gotong-royong’. PACOS’ Legal Adviser Datuk Kong Hong Ming gave a talk on NCR and proved to be a favourite among the participants.

With participation from 21 districts and more than 189 participants apart from visitors and well-wishers who thronged the 4 day event, the celebration proved to be a great success.

The only sad part was that there was no participation, attendance or representation from any government department or relevant leaders though invitations had been sent out.

Wong Tack also represented in his speech introduced Himpunan Hijau, a new national Green movement, dedicated to the observance and implementation of all the principles enshrined in the EARTH CHARTER, one of which emphasises special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.

He emphasized that Himpunan Hijau was envisioned to be a campaign based on hope not fear with the idea that everyone should take responsibility for their own future and the future of their children.

The choice is ours he said. He stressed that all of us need to act – that was why he was there with his team to lend support to the Orang Asal.

Wong Tack had also brought along his palm-print campaign banner. It was an instant hit as there was a long que of villagers eager to print their palm in support of the EARTH CHARTER and the Rights of the ORANG ASAL.

There was a slight drizzle but it did not deter all the leaders who took time to mark the occassion by planting some ‘petai’ trees around the kampong school.

The celebration ended on 17th September with the ‘gotong-royong’ but the struggle for Environmental Conservation and a better deal for the Indigenous people of Malaysia shall continue.