Taklimat Status Projek Di Dalam Parlimen Santubong

Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, yang juga Ahli Parlimen Santubong mempengerusikan Taklimat Status Projek-Projek Di Dalam Parlimen P.193 Santubong bersama Agensi- Agensi Pelaksana di Bilik Mesyuarat, Pejabat Residen Bahagian Kuching pada pagi ini.

Pelombongan Bauksit Haram Di Pahang Masih Berlaku?

KUANTAN: Kerajaan tidak menolak kemungkinan masih berlaku kegiatan perlombongam bauksit secara haram dalam tempoh moratorium hampir setahun lalu.

Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar berkata ia berikutan hasil tinjauan di sekitar daerah ini mendapati masih banyak stok simpanan bauksit di kawasan penyimpanannya.

Jelasnya hasil tinjauannya selama kira-kira 30 minit dari udara pagi tadi di semua kawasan lombong, meskipun tiada pergerakan keluar masuk lori, masih kelihatan longgokan bauksit.

Tambah beliau aktiviti perlombongan haram itu agak sukar untuk dikawal disebabkan kekurangan pegawai penguatkuasaan setiap masa serta faktor kawasan perlombongan terlalu luas.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada media dalam satu sidang media mengenai status pengenaan moratorium ke atas aktiviti perlombongan dan pengeksportan bauksit di Pahang hari ini.

Moratorium aktiviti bauksit di daerah ini dikuatkuasakan 15 Januari lalu bagi menambah baik persekitaran kawasan perlombongan yang terjejas.

Malaysia Fokus Pengurusan Biodiversiti Pada COP13 CBD Cancun

Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar mengadakan pertemuan bersama Pengarah Ekskutif UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Erik Solhiem mengenai bantuan untuk pemuliharaan hutan bagi program Central Forest Spines" di Semenanjung Malaysia dan "Heart of Borneo" di Sabah Dan Sarawak di Cancún, Mexico kelmarin. 

CANCUN: Penglibatan Malaysia pada Mesyuarat Peringkat Menteri bagi Persidangan Ke-13 kepada Konvensyen Kepelbagaian Biologi (CoP13 CBD) dan Mesyuarat Bilateral Berkaitan Biodiversiti pada tahun ini adalah penting kerana Konvensyen kali ini akan menbincangkan isu berkaitan usaha mengarusperdanakan pengurusan biodiversiti.

Menurut kenyataan media Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar berkata, dalam mengarusperdanakan pengurusan biodiversiti ada terdapat empat sektor utama iaitu perhutanan, pelancongan, pertanian dan perikanan. 

"Dengan adanya kefahaman di kalangan negara parti terhadap kepentingan usaha mengarusperdanakan biodiversiti dalam empat sektor tersebut maka elemen kekeliruan dapat dilelakkan agar sumber biodiversiti sentiasa terperlihara dan diuruskan secara mapan."

Junaidi juga menambah, di samping itu, pihak Sekretariat CoP13 CBD juga telah menyediakan Cancun Declaration on Mainstreaming the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity For Well-Being yang akan menjadi teks utama perbincangan di sesi Peringkat Menteri.

Junaidi mengetuai delegasi negara ke mesyuarat tersebut yang berlangsung di Cancun, Mexico dari 1 Disember sehingga 7 Disember 2016 di Cancun, Mexico.

Konvensyen Kepelbagaian Biologi (Convention on Biological Diversity - CBD) merupakan salah satu konvensyen alam sekitar yang diterima oleh masyarakat dunia semasa Earth Summit di Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Rio Summit) pada tahun 1992. 

Konvensyen ini bertujuan untuk memelihara dan menggalakkan penggunaan berkekalan kepelbagaian biologi serta menggalakkan perkongsian faedah secara adil dan saksama hasil daripada penggunaan sumber biologi.

Berhubung Konvensyen tersebut, Malaysia telah menyediakan Dasar Kepelbagaian Biologi Kebangsaan 2016-2025 yang memberikan panduan dalam pengurusan biodiversiti negara selari dengan inisiatif Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 dan Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

Malaysia juga telah menjadi ahli kepada beberapa perjanjian alam sekitar pelbagai hala (Multilateral Environmental Agreements - MEAs) selaras dengan komitmen negara dalam bidang alam sekitar dan kepelbagaian biologi. 

Di samping melaksanakan obligasi sebagai ahli, Malaysia juga berpeluang mendapat bantuan kewangan, teknikal serta teknologi melalui keputusan dan aktiviti-aktiviti yang dilaksanakan di bawah MEAs ini. 

Kehadiran Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar ke Mesyuarat Peringkat Menteri merupakan tanggungjawab negara sebagai ahli kepada MEAs. 

Sebagai ahli kepada CBD, negara mempunyai obligasi dan komitmen untuk melaksanakan keputusan-keputusan yang bakal diterima pakai semasa mesyuarat ini. 

Sehubungan itu, penglibatan Malaysia di Mesyuarat Peringkat Negeri bagi memastikan kepentingan negara dijaga dan memastikan sebarang keputusan yang dibuat tidak mengikat negara atau menjejaskan kepentingan negara dalam mencapai pembangunan mapan.

Persidangan Parti-parti (Conference of Parties – CoP) bagi CBD diadakan setiap 2 tahun sekali bagi memastikan komitmen yang terdapat dalam Konvensyen ini dilaksanakan mengikut keputusan yang telah dibuat oleh CoP. CoP juga berperanan menetapkan hala tuju dalam pengurusan biodiversiti untuk dilaksanakan oleh setiap negara ahli. 

Malaysia telah menjadi ahli kepada Konvensyen ini sejak tahun 1994 dan Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar merupakan focal point bagi CBD.

Laksana Projek Kerajaan Dengan Sempurna, Pesan Wan Junaidi

Kontraktor yang telah berjaya mendapat projek kerajaan disaran untuk memastikan projek tersebut dilaksanakan dengan sempurna mengikutkan ekspektasi kerajaan dan rakyat.

Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar berkata, rakyat setempat berharapkan agar projek yang dilaksanakan di kawasan mereka akan memberi manfaat maka jangan mengecewakan mereka.

"Kepada semua kontraktor, saya berpesan jangan hanya berjanji tetapi sebaliknya gagal melaksanakan projek tersebut dalam masa yang telah diberikan," tegas Junaidi lagi.

"Saya juga telah mengarahkan Jabatan Pengairan Dan Saliran (JPS) untuk memantau sekiranya ada syarikat kontraktor yang gagal menyempurnakan projek dan terus akan menyenaraihitamkan syarikat tersebut dari mendapat projek kerajaan."

Beliau menambah, kita tidak mahu berlaku ketirisan dan penyelewengan kewangan yang boleh menyebabkan kualiti projek rakyat pada tahap yang teruk maka ikutlah spesifikasi pembinaan.

Jelasnya ia penting kerana setiap projek yang diperuntukan kerajaan memberi impak kepada kehidupan rakyat.

     

Beliau, yang juga Ahli Parlimen Santubong berkata demikian ketika ditemubual pemberita selepas merasmikan Upacara Pecah Tanah Ke Atas Projek Rancangan Memulihkan Koridor Sungai (RMKS) Batang Sadong dan Kerja-Kerja Berkaitan di Pekan Simunjan, Lembangan Batang Sadong pada hari ini.

"Projek pemulihan koridor Sungai Simunjan contohnya haruslah menggunakan bahan-bahan berkualiti bertepatan dengan kos yang diperuntukkan."

Projek pembinaan koridor yang bernilai RM15.5 juta tersebut sepanjang 560 meter itu dijangka siap Mei 2018 nanti.

     

Turut hadir pada majlis tersebut adalah Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Hajah Nancy Shukri, ADUN Gedong Datuk Haji Naroden Majais, yang juga Menteri Muda di Jabatan Ketua Menteri (Pembangunan Usahawan Bumiputera), ADUN Sadong Jaya Aidel Lariwoo dan ADUN Simunjan Awla Dris.

Malaysian Delegation's Participation At COP22 In Marrakech, Morocco

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar led the Malaysian delegation at the 22nd Conference of Parties (COP22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Marrakech, Morocco recently. 

The minister in a press conference held at his office today disclosed that, the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP12) and the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1) were also held simultaneously.

Malaysia hosted her very first pavilion at the COP22 which is the brain child of it's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment after attending 2 COP21 at Paris in 2015. The pavilion served as a platform to highlight Malaysia’s climate actions and its implementation and it's focus were in forests, renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management and low carbon cities development.

The highlight of the Pavilion was the REDD+ Day that brought together experts from ASEAN countries and West Africa. The REDD+ Day culminated in the presentation of Malaysia’s REDD+ Safeguards Summary Information System by the minister to UNFCCC whom was represented by Mr Donald Cooper, Coordinator Mitigation, Data and Analysis Programme, who then praised Malaysia for her success in submitting the SIS which is part of the results-based payments requirement. Malaysia is also the second country party to have accomplished this feat and it was achieved without any external funding support.

The Pavilion also attracted numerous visitors to the various sessions that were held throughout the two weeks. Some of the key sessions that received overwhelming response and attendance include the “Climate Resilient Development: Malaysia’s Approach,” “Natural Gas as Low Carbon Fuel for Malaysia,” “Positioning in Targeted Emerging Markets,” “Overview of E-Waste Management in Malaysia,” “E-Waste Recycling Programme – Success Story in Malaysia,” “Flood Mitigation Plan in Malaysia,” “From Science to Policy,” a collaborative work between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) to develop sustainable development guidelines for low-emission cities as well as “Forest City: A Prime Model of a Future City,” a presentation on the Forest City Project, by Country Garden Pacific View.

The minister also attended and officiated several side events and held bilateral meetings with key country parties with the highlight of the side events included him officiating the High Level Meeting of the Global Agricultural 3 Diversification (GAPAD) on 14 November 2016. The minister also received the UN award on behalf of Ericsson Malaysia for innovative use of ICT in replanting mangrove in Malaysia.

In addition to attending the Asia Pacific Rainforest Partnership Roundtable by Australian Government, the minister also held a bilateral meeting with the Honourable Josh Frydenberg, the Australian Minister for Environment and Energy and a bilateral meeting with Sir David Anthony King, the United Kingdom’s Special Representative for Climate Change and Chairman of the Future Cities Catapult during the High Level Segment week of COP22.

The high-level segment of the COP22 was officiated by His Royal Highness Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. During his speech at the high level segment, the minister welcomed the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement and announced that Malaysia had completed domestic preparations for the ratification of the Paris Agreement and submitted its instrument of ratification to the United Nations, officially making Malaysia the 111th Party to Ratify the Paris Agreement. The minister also highlighted Malaysia’s sustainable forest management and implementation of REDD+ according to the UNFCCC decisions and the need for adaptation to ensure food security.

The Moroccan COP Presidency, on the last day of the Conference, launched the Marrakech Action Proclamation. The Proclamation made a high-level call to states to capitalize on the momentum of Paris and of the early entry into force of the Paris Agreement. In large part, the Proclamation echoed the sentiments expressed in the minister's high-level segment address including noting the coherence between climate action and support, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, a call for ramping up of pre-2020 ambition on climate action and support, and a recognition of the importance of four; poverty, eradication, food security and addressing climate impacts on agriculture.

The closing plenary was marked by a drive by Brazil to have the frequency of national climate plans discussed in 2017 not in a decision, but through an unprecedented verbal statement by the President. In a spirit of compromise and unity, delegates finally accepted a solution that involved an agreement to devote more effort to pre-2020 ambition. The meeting closed with the setting of a date for next year’s climate summit, which will be hosted by Fiji and held in Bonn, Germany to continue the work of developing the Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines for the Paris Agreement.

Wan Junaidi Reaffirms Malaysia's Commitment To Forest Conservation

MARRAKECH: Malaysia has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable forest conservation and management at the ongoing United Nations conference on climate change here attended by heads of state and government and ministers in charge of environment from over 190 countries.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, in addressing the conference late Wednesday (early Thursday in Malaysia), also reiterated Malaysia's strong commitment in pursuing its climate objectives through the implementation of sustainable development goals.

"One of our core strengths is in the area of forest and sustainable forest management. Our forest management records date back to 1905, including the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve (in Perak). Today this site has been acknowledged as one of the best-managed mangrove forests in the world," he said.

Malaysia's forest cover now stands at 54.5 per cent and at least 50 per cent of the total land area will be maintained as forest and tree cover.

Wan Junaidi, who leads the Malaysian delegation to the conference, said the country was also committed to the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation as well as promoting the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, otherwise known as REDD+.

For this, Malaysia presented the latest REDD+ outcome report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and hosted the REDD+ Day on Monday here.

"Malaysia has an ambitious REDD+ Strategy to address the holistic forest management requirement and looks forward to accessing the international finance and support required for its successful implementation," he said.

He said extreme weather events were already taking a toll on the sustainable development gains achieved by Malaysia.

Wan Junaidi told the conference that Malaysia experienced one of its worst floods in 2014 that devastated entire settlements in several states with losses estimated at US$250 million and affected two million people.

"Malaysia remains concerned about the impact of climate change in agriculture and food security. Malaysia believes in maintaining a balance between natural area conservation, food security and sustainable development," he said.

The minister also urged developed countries to scale up their financing commitments under the Green Climate Fund worth US$100 billion up to 2020 and for developed countries to simplify the guidelines and processes for developing countries to access these funds.

To underscore Malaysia's commitment in realising the UN's targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to tackle global warming under the Paris Agreement signed by all countries last year, it has completed domestic arrangements to send the country's instrument of ratification of the agreement to UN headquarters in New York.

Once again, Wan Junaidi reminded developed countries of their continued responsibility to provide clear leadership in reducing their domestic greenhouse gas emissions especially in the pre-2020 era so as to build confidence and set the stage for the much-needed ramping up of action in facing the threat of climate change. — Bernama

No Excuse For Inaction On Global Warming, Warns Malaysia

MARRAKECH: Malaysia has warned that countries have no excuse for inaction or complacency over the threat of global warming and they do not have as much time as they thought.

In sounding out the warning on the sidelines of the high-level segment of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change which kicked off in the Moroccan city Tuesday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Marrakech meeting was historic as countries began to map out how they would halt human-induced global warming.

Speaking at the meeting on the Global Action Plan for Agricultural Diversification (GAPAD), Wan Junaidi said increases in global temperatures would have potentially catastrophic consequences, especially for agriculture.

He said the situation would worsen because the world had little scientific evidence for which crops and cropping systems would suit the volatile climates of the future.

"We are in the midst of a critical era. The planet is warming at a pace not experienced in the past 1,000 years. This year is said to be the hottest year ever with consecutive months of record-breaking heat. According to NASA, the average temperature in the first six months of 2016 was 1.3 degree centigrade, warmer than the late 19th century," he said.

Wan Junaidi, who leads the Malaysian delegation to the conference, added that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere had reached a record high relative to more than the past half-million years and had done so at an exceptionally fast rate.

"The tasks at hand are too complex, too urgent and too large for any one country to handle alone. Only by working together will we achieve sustainable development and our climate goals."

He said meeting these challlenges would require fresh and innovative thinking, excellent research and effective leadership as well as strong, proactive leaderships to address the challeges facing agriculture globally.

Wan Junaidi spoke of one such intiatives, the Crops For the Future (CFF) which is hosted by Malaysia.

CFF is the world's first and only centre dedicated to the diversification of agriculture using underutilised crops and cropping systems.

To be successful, the minister said, GAPAD must be parcitipatory, open and inclusive and the combined leadership of the broader international community with diverse resources, talents and abilities was also critical to support such a serious undertaking. - BERNAMA

Malaysia Serius Dalam Mengurangkan Pemanasan Global - Wan Junaidi

MARRAKECH: Malaysia melaksanakan peranannya dengan bersungguh-sungguh dalam mengurangkan pemanasan global dan merancang untuk mengesahkan Perjanjian Paris berhubung perubahan iklim sebelum akhir tahun ini, kata Menteri sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Wan Junaidi, yang mengetuai delegasi Malaysia ke mesyuarat ke-22 Persidangan Pihak-pihak ke Forum Mengenai Perubahan Iklim (COP 22) Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu di bandar raya Maghribi ini, berkata sebagai satu daripada 191 penandatangan Perjanjian Paris, Malaysia telah berikrar untuk mengurangkan intensiti pelepasan gas rumah hijau (GHG) daripada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) sebanyak 45 peratus pada tahun 2030 berbanding tahap pada 2005.

"Tenaga, proses perindustrian, pertanian, penggunaan tanah, perubahan penggunaan tanah, perhutanan dan bahan buangan adalah antara sektor di bawah skop komitmen dan liputan pengurangan kami," katanya ketika merasmikan Pavilion Malaysia yang julung kali diwujudkan di bawah siri COP.

Pavilion itu berfungsi sebagai platform bagi Malaysia mempamerkan dan menonjolkan pencapaian negara merangkumi aktiviti yang berkaitan dengan pengurangan dalam perubahan iklim selain menunjukkan komitmen ke arah usaha itu.

Persidangan di peringkat pegawai dari semua 191 negara penandatangan Perjanjian Paris bermula minggu lepas manakala mesyuarat peringkat tertinggi selama tiga hari membabitkan menteri bermula esok.

Hampir semua negara anggota mempamerkan projek pembangunan lestari, yang sedang dan bakal dilaksanakan, di bandar raya seperti khemah besar ini.

Wan Junaidi berkata kepelbagaian biologi Malaysia diiktiraf sebagai antara yang paling kaya dan merupakan sebuah daripada 12 negara yang diiktiraf sebagai 'megadiverse' di dunia.

"Pertumbuhan ekonomi kami, yang amat penting bagi kesejahteraan kami, turut memberi tekanan terhadap flora dan fauna kami," kata Wan Junaidi, yang sejak menerajui kementerian itu lebih satu setengah tahun yang lalu, berusaha keras untuk memperkenalkan undang-undang lebih tegas untuk melindungi biodiversiti negara.

Beliau secara konsisten menekankan tentang keperluan untuk meneguhkan usaha pemuliharaan untuk memastikan pembangunan yang seimbang dalam usaha mencapai pertumbuhan hijau dan sumbangan kepada Agenda Pembangunan Lestari global.

Ketua Setiausaha kementerian itu, Datuk Seri Azizan Ahmad berkata pujian harus diberi kepada Wan Junaidi yang berusaha keras untuk mendapatkan kelulusan Kabinet bagi mewujudkan Pavilion sulung Malaysia selepas berlangsungnya 22 mesyuarat COP.

Satu daripada projek yang dipamerkan oleh Malaysia di Pavilion itu ialah Forest City, pembangunan bandar pintar yang terletak di Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, bersebelahan dengan Laluan Kedua Malaysia-Singapura.

Forest City, usaha sama antara Country Garden Holdings dan Esplanade Danga 88, dijenamakan sebagai model utama bandar masa depan dan terdiri daripada empat pulau yang direka sebagai destinasi ideal bagi generasi baharu rakyat Malaysia dan warga asing untuk hidup serta bekerja dalam metropolis yang padat serta dilengkapi pelbagai kemudahan sivik, kebudayaan dan rekreasi di dalam landskap tropika yang rimbun.

Forest City dijangka menjana KDNK kira-kira RM197.7 bilion menjelang 2035 atau 7 peratus daripada jumlah KDNK Johor dan mewujudkan lebih 220,000 peluang pekerjaan, separuh daripadanya pekerja mahir.

Delegasi Malaysia ke COP22 termasuk Ketua Menteri Melaka Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Duta Besar Malaysia di Maghribi Datuk Jamal Hassan dan Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang. - BERNAMA

Malaysia Cipta Sejarah Di Marrakesh

MARRAKESH: Buat kali pertama, selepas 22 tahun menyertai Mesyuarat Peringkat Tinggi Persidangan ke-22 Konvensyen Rangka Kerja Perubahan Iklim Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (COP), Malaysia mempunyai Pavillionnya sendiri.

Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar berkata, kesungguhan dan komitmen Malaysia mempamirkan produk serta kejayaan negara ini telah mendorongkan Malaysia mengadakan Pavillionnya sendiri pada COP-22 di Marrakesh, Maghribi.

Beliau yang mengetuai delegasi negara yang terdiri pegawai tertinggi kementeriannya dan barisan pemimpin-pemimpin di Malaysia ke COP-22 pada siang tadi telah merasmikan pelancaran Malaysia Pavillion di tapak COP-22.

Mesyuarat COP-22 berlangsung dari 14 hingga 18 November 2016 adalah platform antarabangsa untuk menyampaikan pandangan dan pendirian negara mengenai isu-isu perubahan iklim serta mendapatkan komitmen peringkat tertinggi kerajaan bagi memastikan inisiatif serta sumber digembleng dalam merangka pelaksanaan Paris Agreement dengan teratur dan sempurna.

Wan Junaidi Ketuai Delegasi Negara Ke Margribi

MARRAKESH: Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junandi Tuanku Jaafar mengetuai delegasi negara ke Mesyuarat Peringkat Tinggi Persidangan ke-22 Konvensyen Rangka Kerja Perubahan Iklim Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu, di Marrakesh, Maghribi.

Beliau bersama rombongannya yang terdiri pegawai tertinggi kementeriannya tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Marrakesh-Menara, Maghribi semalam.

Mesyuarat Peringkat Tinggi Persidangan ke-22 Konvensyen Rangka Kerja Perubahan Iklim Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu yang berlangsung dari 14 hingga 18 November 2016 adalah platform antarabangsa untuk menyampaikan pandangan dan pendirian negara mengenai isu-isu perubahan iklim.

Selain itu juga, mesyuarat ini juga bertujuan untuk mendapatkan komitmen peringkat tertinggi kerajaan bagi memastikan inisiatif serta sumber digembleng dalam merangka pelaksanaan Paris Agreement dengan teratur dan sempurna.

11th Asia-Pacific Mineral Resource Exhibition and Conference (AMPREC) 2016

Minister of Natural Resource and Environment Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar with the Honourable Mr Godfrey Oliphant, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa at the Official Opening of 11th Asia-Pacific Mineral Resource Exhibition and Conference (AMPREC) 2016 at Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, PWTC, Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Pembangunan Tidak Terkawal Punca Banjir Pulau Pinang

PUTRAJAYA: Banjir kilat di Pulau Pinang baru-baru ini berpunca daripada pembangunan pesat yang tidak terkawal sehingga menyebabkan larian kelodak berlaku ke sistem perparitan dan sungai.

Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar berkata, pelaksanaan projek-projek tebatan banjir juga tidak akan menjamin kejadian banjir tidak berulang sekiranya pembangunan pesat di kawasan tadahan lembangan sungai tidak dikawal di peringkat punca.

"Pihak kerajaan negeri perlu memastikan program pembangunan di negeri tersebut dilaksanakan secara lestari dengan mengambil kira kepentingan rakyat dan bukannya menuding kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan apabila berlakunya kejadian banjir," katanya dalam sidang akhbar selepas perhimpunan bulanan kementeriannya di sini hari ini.

Dalam pada itu, berhubung kejadian pencemaran najis babi di Sungai Giling di Kampung Batu Laut, Sepang, Selangor, Wan Junaidi berkata, pihaknya sedang menunggu laporan penuh dari Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) dalam tempoh tiga hari ini sebelum mengambil tindakan selanjutnya.

"Saya sudah arahkan Ketua Pengarah JAS untuk buat siasatan lengkap kerana ia membabitkan penempatan manusia.

"Segala pelan untuk menangani isu itu termasuk memindahkannya (ladang babi) atau melakukan penempatan semula ke tempat lebih jauh hanya boleh ditentukan selepas laporan itu siap, " katanya. - UTUSAN ONLINE

Projek RTB RM250 Juta Tangani Banjir Di Kuching, Samarahan Dan Sibu

Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar telah memperuntukkan sebanyak RM250 juta bagi projek Rancangan Tebatan Banjir (RTB) fasa satu bagi kawasan Kuching, Samarahan dan Sibu.

Menterinya, Dato Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar berkata, peruntukan tersebut telah pun diluluskan dan projek-projek berkenaan akan dilaksanakan setelah mendapat maklum balas daripada semua Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) mengenai kawasan mereka yang terjejas dengan banjir.

"Dalam masa dua minggu ini, kita akan mengumpul segala maklumat sebelum membuat penilaian, siasatan dan pelan menyeluruh," katanya lagi sambil menambah, fasa kedua dan ketiga projek RTB tersebut akan menyusul selepas fasa pertama disiapkan.

Junaidi, yang juga Ahli Parlimen Sanbtubong berkata demikian semasa sidang media selepas Majlis Penyerahan Sumbangan Jersi Bola Sepak bagi Pertandingan Piala Yang Berhormat Dr. Hazland Abang Hipni yang di adakan di Pusat Khidmat Parlimen Santubong, Jalan Kulas di sini pada tengahari tadi.

Terdahulu pada sebelah pagi, Junaidi telah mempengerusikan Taklimat Rancangan Tebatan Banjir Bersama JPS Negeri Sarawak di sebuah hotel terkemuka di Bandaraya Kuching.

Majlis berkenaan juga dihadiri oleh beberapa orang ADUN; ADUN Pantai Damai Dr Haji A Rahman Junaidi, ADUN Demak Laut Dr Haji Hazland Hipni, ADUN Muara Tuang Dato Haji Idris Buang AL-Hajj dan wakil-wakil kawasan DUN yang lain di sebuah hotel di Kuching.

A Man Who Walks The Talk

Pragmatic approach: While Dr Wan Junaidi has been busy reviewing and beefing up the country’s environmental laws, he also wants to see a change in public perception.

To mark National Environment Day on Oct 22, Sunday Star gets personal with Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar about issues close to his heart – keeping Malaysia green and keeping its people united.

AT 70, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is sharper than most folks half his age. And, he looks it, too.

Despite his office in Putrajaya being rather warm, the Natural Resources and Environment Minister almost always looks dapper in a tailored suit.

Over two decades in politics has seen the Santubong MP from Kampung Pendam, Sarawak, transition from a public works technician to a policeman, lawyer, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Home Minister, before assuming his new role in July last year.

Since the self-described “emotional poet” took over the ministry, he’s been busy beefing up the country’s environmental laws. From water security and clean air to biodiversity protection, Dr Wan Junaidi has been going through tomes of archaic legislation with a fine tooth comb.

“There will be many more laws coming up, I can assure you,” he says. Clearly the man means business.

Malaysia, he says, can hold her head up high against neighbouring countries because “we’re signatories to many major regional and international treaties and conventions”. But with his legal background, Dr Wan Junaidi knows only too well that the devil is in the details.

The problem, he says, is that we haven’t translated these commitments into local law. Look at biodiversity protection, he says. “We’re a party to the biodiversity convention but we don’t have a law protecting our own backyard. That’s why the Access and Benefit Sharing Bill to protect our natural resources is going to be tabled in Parliament next year.

“If we fail to do this, international law cannot become part of Malaysian law. We cannot do something that’s beyond the laws passed by our Parliament. That’s why when I was appointed minister, the first thing I did was to look at the laws – many of which were outdated.

“How can something drafted in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s deal with the problems of today? Laws are created to solve problems. Once the problems cease to exist or worsen, we must amend the law.

“For example, RM1,000 in the 1970s was a hefty fine, but today, it’s nothing. Courts must be able to impose deterrent sentences. Otherwise, a punishment becomes irrelevant.

“If our laws had been reviewed and updated regularly, it would have solved so many of the issues we’re facing today,” he says, lamenting how the Land Acquisition Act 1960, Strata Titles Act 1985 and National Land Code 1965 needed urgent attention.

The Land and Mines Department, he says, has incurred the wrath of the rakyat because owners of some 300,000 flats and apartments built in the 60s and 70s are without strata titles. People were angry and they blamed the Government.

“I pushed hard for these laws to be amended to make it easier for you to get your strata title, and to make sure that you’re compensated if the Government wants to acquire land underneath your home to install public amenities like pipes and cables.

“When you own land surface, you also own everything up to the sky and right to the bottom. You should receive something if there’s any underground development by the Government.”

You’re responsible, too

“But no matter what laws I introduce, or how big my enforcement team is, effective change can only happen with public awareness because how many people can we catch?” Dr Wan Junaidi asks.

The biggest challenge, he feels, is changing public perception. Malaysians don’t get how important protecting the environment is. They think it’s the Government’s job.

Having a comprehensive legal framework and manpower for enforcement are challenges, but apathy’s a tougher nut to crack.

“We don’t have the capacity to enforce the law as strictly as we want to, so our people don’t care. Illegal sawmills are mushrooming – especially in huge states like Sarawak where there are thousands of hectares of land. They think, ‘Others are getting filthy rich from timber concessions. Why are they special? What’s wrong if I steal a few trees?’”

A hazy affair

The only way to permanently clear the air of transboundary haze is for Indonesia to ban slash-and-burn activities on agricultural land, Dr Wan Junaidi opines. Otherwise, to contain the haze, they must immediately deploy firefighters when a fire breaks out. He, however, denies that Malaysia is “soft” when dealing with Indonesia.

“The best way to deal with them is diplomatically. We broke the biggest impasse in August when Indonesia committed to the ‘haze-free Asean by 2020’ roadmap.

“Indonesia had initially refused to get onboard because another country was taking a very confrontational stance. But I told my officers to keep engaging with them. On the morning of the meeting which I chaired, I joked and kept everything light – as if we were among friends. It was such a pleasant surprise when Indonesia finally agreed.”

Last year, Singapore passed a law allowing regulators to fine or sue individuals or companies for activities leading to haze in the city-state. And in August, Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat urged the Federal Government to be firm with Indonesia over the haze issue, questioning whether Malaysians can claim compensation from Indonesia if they fall sick due to the haze, and if we could sue Indonesia.

Explaining how saving face is important among Asians, he says threats of lawsuits will never work.

Nor will interfering with Indonesia’s internal affairs.

Proof that the soft approach works is evident this year with Indonesia taking steps to lessen hotspots in the country.

It’s been a sunny September with mostly clear skies so far, unlike the hazy days during the same period last year.

Sarawakians fight as Malaysians

Last year, Sarawakian Federal Cabinet ministers came under fire from Sarawak DAP secretary Alan Ling who had called on them to resign for failing to get equal recognition for the state at the national level. But the critics, Dr Wan Junaidi argues, have never been in the Government.

Such accusations are politically motivated, he insists.

“It’s sad when people think we’re not doing our job just because we don’t shout about it. I don’t see any DAP YBs coming to ask for projects in my constituency.

“They don’t know how much we’ve contributed. Once we’re made a minister, we’re part of the federal set-up that administers this country. We look for ways to assist the less-developed states but we cannot just be championing our homestate,” he says, stressing that many important projects like the Batang Lupar bridge – which will be the longest bridge in the country once completed, the RM241mil Batang Sadong Bridge that’s nearing completion and the RM16bil Pan Borneo Highway have been approved for Sarawak.

He feels it’s unfair to compare infrastructure development between the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak. East Malaysia, he says, has low density population with a huge land mass.

“Sarawak is only slightly smaller than the entire peninsula. The peninsula can have all sorts of roads because there’s toll. Here, it’s funded by the Government.

“Only once in my political career was I ever disappointed and that was when despite having a Sarawakian Education Minister for two terms, we couldn’t even build one school in Sarawak.”

Unity isn’t propaganda

The doting grandfather’s warm hazel-grey eyes light up when he reminisces about the early years. Sarawakians, he says, don’t believe in propaganda – unity should come naturally. Having a pagan father live with his Christian and Muslim children in the same house is common there.

And, when Chinese New Year, Christmas or any festive season comes around, everybody celebrates with week-long open houses, he says.

“When I was studying in England, all the Sarawakians would sit together. But the Malays, Chinese and Indians from the peninsula would gather in racial clusters.”

“Sarawakians don’t care about colour, language, culture, religion and labels. It’s how we live. It’s real.”

Quite the charmer, he continued to walk the talk even when it came to dating.

Dr Wan Junaidi, whose wife is Chinese, shows up for every Chinese New Year reunion dinner if he’s in town and takes turns with his brother-in-law when it comes to hosting duties.

“Growing up in Miri, my ex-girlfriends were Orang Ulu, Iban and Eurasian. I was very fair and had brown hair. I was quite a good-looking chap. My first Malay girlfriend was an actress from the peninsula. I still have all the pictures,” he chuckles.

“As far as Sarawakians are concerned, religion is a personal matter. There is no moral police to tell us what’s wrong or right,” he says. Isn’t that the way it should be? - The Star