Sultan Nazrin speaks at an event held in Kuala Lumpur on November 18, 2021. – Bernama photo
IPOH (March 28, 2008): People’s greed to destroy the environment cannot be justified by their obsession with infrastructure development and business profits, stated Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah.
He stated that technology alone cannot prevent disasters caused by environmental devastation.
Recent natural disasters that have been increasing in frequency should be seen as a divine censure for our misbehaviour, turning the nature against us.
To achieve a balance between regeneration and growth, national growth and development must be balanced with respect for the environment.
This was the first meeting of the fifth sessionof the 14th Perak State Legislative Assembly at Dewan Negeri.
His Royal Highness also stated the Covid-19 Pandemic, natural catastrophes, inflation, and, lately, conflicts have threatened the global food supply. Rising food costs will adversely affect people’s lives and create distress.
He stated that the government has been implementing several integrated actions to ensure food supply. These include efforts to modernize the food subsector of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0), identifying new markets, and attracting young people to agriculture, fishery, and livestock farming.
Sultan Nazrin spoke out about food wastage, particularly during Ramadan. He suggested that government departments set an example by ordering food quantities at functions and events, as well as during meetings.
Food wastage is a common occurrence. Global data show that food wastage accounts for 2.4% of the global Gross Domestic Product.
It is estimated that there are 17,000 tonnes worth of food waste in the country. This can feed three million people. Food waste accounts for 4,080 tonnes. This number rose 10 percent during Ramadan. He said that these numbers reflect the gravity and wastefulness of today’s food production.
Sultan Nazrin stated that no household, school, college, institution of higher education, place of worship, food operator or restaurant should provide food that is too expensive and will end up in the trash.
He reminded them to limit the use plastic and encouraged them to support the campaign to reduce or stop the use plastic bags.
Malaysians are sadly unaware of the dangers of plastics, which can poison food and the environment, and are indifferent to them.
His Royal Highness also commended the efforts of 40 mosques, tahfiz centres and other Perak institutions in using the land around their mosques and institutions for food production.
The Perak Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council and other state-linked companies fulfill their corporate social responsibility by funding youth agriculture projects and assisting in the creation of agricultural clubs to spark interest in agriculture among the young.
He said that this admirable effort should be expanded to include additional places of worship, schools and youth movements, and should also be introduced into government quarters including army camps or police barracks.
The First Meeting of Fifth Term of the 14th Perak State Legislative Assembly’s 15th Term will be held for three days, starting today. – Bernama
— BERNAMA
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Monday, 28 March 2022