Article: Give priority to conserving the environs, urges DPM

Tuesday October 6, 2009

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS

PUTRAJAYA: The Government will continue with programmes to conserve our rich biodiversity and save the environment because it is never too late to protect Mother Earth, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said the Government was also committed to addressing environment-related problems, particularly solid waste disposal.

"We want to manage these issues well so they will have a positive effect not only on the environment but also the public. It is still not too late for us to conserve the environment.

"We need to preserve God's gift to mankind and ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate nature," he said when addressing staff of the Prime Minister's Department at its monthly gathering yesterday.

Muhyiddin said that greed was a "great destroyer" of the environment as hills have been cut and rivers and lakes polluted.

He said that as a top 10 nation in terms of biodiversity, Malaysia was aware of the crucial need to protect its natural heritage.

Muhyiddin also said Putrajaya was an example of how a city could be developed well with minimal damage to the surroundings, adding that the federal administrative capital was "clean and green".

He said civil servants could also play their part by conserving energy, noting that because of the warm and humid weather, the temperature of air-conditioners in offices was set very low, so much so those inside the building were "freezing."

"Energy conservation is important not only because of the environment but also to reduce government expenditure," he said.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 6 October 2009