Article: A green passion

Sunday April 12, 2009

By RICHARD LIM

IT is not always a chip off the old block.

Although her mother is a land developer, marine biology student Wong Shu Kuan, 22, has her heart set on conserving Malaysia’s coral reefs.

One of the lucky seven Malaysian undergraduates selected to represent the country for a study of the United States Institute on the Environment (Usie) in Hawaii – the birthplace of US president Barack Obama.

“I’m looking forward to observe negotiations between the US government and the NGOs,” said the second-year Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) student when met before her departure to Hawaii.

“Each side will have their priorities and compromise must be made to arrive at a middle path.

The group of students engaging in a gleeful discourse before departing for Hawaii.

“Also, Obama promised so much and it’ll be interesting to see how his administration is delivering on his campaign promise.”

It is interesting that despite being an animal lover, Wong only acquired her passion for all things green at university.

“I love dogs and I originally wanted to study veterinary science,” she added. “However, this course was offered to me instead and I credit my dedicated lecturers who got me interested in environmental issues.

“They explained how our actions impact the environment and how neglect has led to climate change over the years.”

Wong also stressed that more environmental drives or foreign exchange programmes are needed to instil more awareness on issues like the greenhouse effect and waste management in local campuses.

Funded by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Usie is hosted by the East-West Center, Hawaii, in collaboration with over 20 organisations including the University of Hawaii’s Environmental Center, Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment and the Nature Conservatory.

Participants were competitively selected from Fiji, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Singapore by US embassy staff.

Like Wong, Universiti Teknologi Johor urban and regional planning student Abdul Hafiz Sheik Abdul Hardy, 21, cannot wait to start.

“I’m interested in discussing the effects of urbanisation and I hope to exchange ideas with the other parcipants,” he said.

“I’ll be presenting my ideas on the effects of urbanisation. Some orang asli settlements in Johor have made way for development and I’m interested in highlighting their plight.”

Abdul Hafiz was referring specifically to the Tanjung Pelepas port development and the Tanjung Bin power plant project.

“Many orang asli in Tanjung Pelepas are fishermen and their catch has since reduced,” he added. “We need to look into viable ways for them to change their economic activities, like switching to agriculture.”

The other selected Malaysian undergraduates are Universiti Malaysia Sabah environmental science student Chow Geh Tsung, 23, Universiti Sains Malaysia applied biology student Chuah Chiew Yen, 23, UMT marine biology student Qiistina Shakireen Azman, 21, and UMT marine science students Yew Min Terk and Lin Wai Hwa, both 22.

Also present was US acting deputy chief of mission Robert Kuntz who congratulated the students.

“This is the right time for all of you as the Obama administration is focused on environmental issues,” he said.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Education 12 April 2009