IPOH: The greed to destroy the environment and the obsession for infrastructure development cannot be justified, says Peraks Sultan Nazrin Moizzuddin Shaikh.
He stated recently that natural disasters have been increasing in frequency and should therefore be viewed as a divine censure regarding our misbehaviours and turning nature against us.
Sultan Nazrin claimed that technological advancement alone can’t prevent environmental devastation at the hands of humans.
Respect and love must be combined with national growth and development to foster awareness so that man can co-exist with nature to attain a balance of growth and regeneration. Sultan Nazrin made this royal address during Monday’s opening of the fifth session at the 14th Perak State Assembly.
Another note: The Sultan of Perak stated that the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters, inflation, war, and recently, war have all threatened the global food supply.
He said that according to the 2020 Global Report on Food Crisis (PDF), it had been reported by the experts that the pandemic could cause a critical food crisis, where rising food costs would impact lives and cause distress.
He said that the government was implementing several integrated actions plans to ensure food safety. This included efforts to modernize food subsector under the Industrial Revolution 4.0. It also identified new markets and encouraged young people to get involved in agriculture, fishery, livestock farming.
He stated that food wastage was a daily occurrence. Global data has shown that 2.4% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product is lost each year. In Malaysia, 17,000 tons of leftovers were reported to be being disposed of every day, which could feed three millions people.
This food, which is 4,080 tonnes, was thrown out. It’s edible food that has been discarded. These numbers increase by 10% during Ramadan, which reflects the gravity of food wastage.
Man must be taught to value food and to adopt a no-wastage mindset. The government must also take meaningful steps to stop food wastage at the state level.
The role model should be played in the state departments starting with the food ordered for events and functions as well as during gatherings or meetings.
He advised that all households, schools, institutions higher learning, places for worship, food operators, restaurants, hotels, and other establishments should not provide food that is too expensive or will end up in the trash.
Sultan Nazrin said that Malaysians are severely lacking in awareness about the dangers of plastics that can poison food and the environment.
He stated that the public should be aware of the dangers of plastic pollution. There are many organizations, including youth, that educate the public on how to reduce or avoid plastic use.
The public must be taught how to not discard plastic waste into rivers, oceans, drains, and other areas.
Malaysia is Asia’s second-highest plastic user (69.54kg per head). Malaysians also throw away more than 30,000 tons of plastic each year, he stated.
Sultan Nazrin also stated that the young are valuable national assets. With 28% of Malaysia’s population being youths, approximately 7.8 million youths will be eligible to vote in the 15th General Election.
They must be nurtured, guided and educated.
He said that active youth involvement will revitalize tired policies, rejuvenate decrepit structures, and inject youthful blood into the aging souls.
He stated that the state’s approach to including the young by giving them a platform for discussion and expression was a wise and constructive one.
A transparent, trustworthy, sincere, honest, and transparent machine will be able to realize every vision, idea, aspiration, and plan.
These goals can only happen if an administration maintains a high level of integrity. This includes transparency, accountability to the people, and free from corruption and abuses of power.