Green Incentives in 2010 budget

Green is the way to go for the Malaysian government! The new budget tabled by the Finance Minister who is also the Prime Minister on Friday offers the following incentives to promote green technology:

• Stamp duty exemption for buyers of buildings with Green Building Index certificates
• Tax exemption equivalent to the additional capital expenditure to obtain Green Building Index certificates from Oct 24 this year to Dec 31, 2014
• RM1.5 billion soft loan for companies using green technology
• RM20 million to intensify awareness on green activities
• Putrajaya and Cyberjaya to be developed as pioneer townships in green technology 

I think the budget is good for starters. It should spur developers to build environment friendly residential homes and offices. Entrepreneurs will now be encouraged to create more sustainable businesses.

So folks in Putrajaya and Cyberjaya, buckle up!You must be ready to set the trend and become green pioneers in the Green Revolution.

Climate Change: More political will needed

London newspaper, the Daily Telegraph environmental correspondent, Louise Gray reported that scientists agreed that if the emission of greenhouse gases could be halved by 2050, then the world temperature rises would be below the dangerous level of two degrees C (3.6 degrees F).


 A WWF report found that this will require a "green industrial revolution" by 2014, with heavy investment in green technology involving low carbon emissions and away from the use of fossil fuels. Green technology would include the utilization of  wind, solar, nuclear and clean coal.

It will also mean switching to electric cars and improving energy efficiency by insulating our homes and wasting less electricity.


The above warning comes as ministers and officials from around the world meet in London this week for the Major Economies Forum. The MEF was set up by President Obama to give ministers an opportunity to solve difficult issues before the world meets in Copenhagen in December to agree a new deal on climate change.

More pressure will be put on rich countries, including the US, to sign up to legally-binding targets to cut carbon emissions. Innovative new measures are to be formulated to reduce deforestation, including plans to pay poorer countries not to chop down trees.

The WWF said both rich and poor countries need to start investing in renewable energy and encouraging behaviour change among citizens in order to meet the targets.


Downing Street is also concerned that there is no agreement on how to finance a climate change package in developing countries.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was quoted in the Guardian today warning that floods and droughts would be a normal occurence unless governments speed up negotiations on climate change before vital talks in Copenhagen in December.The prime minister will deliver his warning to a meeting of environment ministers brought together under the umbrella of the Major Economies Forum. The 17 countries in the forum are responsible for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions.
It was pointed out that India was ready to set itself non-binding targets for cutting carbon emissions, while China said it would curb the growth of its emissions by a "notable margin" by 2020, without much specified figures.

The US special envoy for climate change, Todd Stern, said developing economies must boost their efforts to curb emissions, warning it was "certainly possible" that no deal would be agreed in Copenhagen."What we need to have happen is for China and India and Brazil and South Africa and others to be willing to take what they're doing, boost it up some, and then be willing to put it into an international agreement," he said.

(Note that efforts to be made by the US is not mentioned. It is the US that had not ratified the previous protocols to reduce carbon emissions).Developing countries on the other hand place the blame on the developed countries for failure to reduce carbon emissions and the blame game continues at the expense of Mother Earth.If these situation persists, then not much progress is expected in Copenhagen.

In Malaysia, as in many other developing countries, generally the average man in the street is not very concerned about climatic change. Attitudes have to be changed if we were to save the earth from further destruction. Although there is already a Green Technology Ministry, a Ministry to deal with climate change has not been formed.Apart from the small tremors felt when there is an earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia and heavy rain when Manila is hit by typhoons; Malaysians do not connect these events as consequences of climate change.

Carrefour joins the bandwagon to reduce the use of plastic bags

CARREFOUR has now joined in the 'Say No to Plastic Bags' campaign. (See report). It recently launched a 100 day countdown to end free distribution of plastic bags at the checkout counters of its newest outlet in Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Cheras. Maya Karin, Malaysia's popular award winning film actress and nature lover, was invited to witness the launching.

The campaign hopes to save the Irrawaddy River dolphins that are often sighted along the coasts of Sarawak and Sabah.

Carrefour, in collaboration with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), will help raise awareness to protect the dolphins as their natural habitat had been seriously jeopardised by plastic bags.

An exhibition has been put up to educate customers into adopting a new habit of reusing their green shopping bags.

Maya Karin was positive that in 100 days, the Carrefour store will further reduce its environmental footprint once there is no more free distribution of plastic bags.

“I will follow up very closely on the efforts and will even step in to speak to the customers about the importance of cutting back on plastic bags,” said Maya after the launch.

According to Carrefour Malaysia’s marketing and communications director Low Ngai Yuen, Carrefour Malaysia has allocated eight eco-friendly checkout lanes at the new store, that prioritise customers who have chosen to reuse their shopping bags.

Well, this campagn should last more than 100 days to save the dolphins as Malaysians need more time to change their ways. Perhaps, Carrefour will save the turtles next.

'Reduce The Use of Plastic Bags' Campaign

The government is now looking into reducing the use of plastic bags. See the Star today.

Malaysian Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui has announced that his ministry plans to start a campaign to create a greener environment. For the kick-off towards a more eco-friendly nation which causes less harm to the environment; the Ministry will start with reducing the use of plastic bags, especially for packing food.

Quoting from the Star report: “We also plan to rope in other ministries for this good cause. It is important for the public to be aware of the harm plastic can do to the environment,” he told reporters after the ministry’s monthly gathering yesterday.

Ministry staff are thus encouraged to bring their own food containers to the cafeteria if they want to buy food. The staff members are expected to lead the way for their children, friends, family and neighbours to follow. This would certainly go a long way to protect and preserve our natural resources should everyone cooperate and change their attitudes.


The Minister hopes that if the “do not use plastic bags” campaign among the public sector in Putrajaya succeeds, it would then be extended to the private sector (shops and retail outlets) within Putrajaya, before going nationwide.

This is good news for green lovers but we must be wary of the plastic manufacturers who will find ways not to reduce their sales.Perhaps the government could look into giving incentives for the research and manufacture of greener packaging materials.Thus the manufacturers could then have the alternative to switch to biodegradable plastics based on agricultural residues or cast-aways, instead of the more conventional petroleum based plastics.

DIY Eco Home

Yesterday's news on a couple turning their double storey home eco-friendly was something to ponder about. Everyone should listen up and follow their example. Maybe the authorities should give tax incentives for houseowners to convert their home to make them 'green'. This would get the architects and contractors to put on their thinking caps and get creative. At the same time, everyone does his bit to help Mother Earth.

Click this link for details.

Cut Down Waste-Says KL Mayor

“People should learn to practice the 3R system – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – so that we can save space and prolong the lifespan of our Bukit Tagar Sanitary landfill,” KL mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail said this after visiting a former landfill and a domestic waste transfer station in Taman Beringin, Jinjang.


The Bukit Tagar landfill in Selangor is supposed to last for 20 years only.
Fuad said that if KL residents could reduce waste by up to 30%, the numbers would definitely be helpful.

“Do not waste food, recycle as much as you can and reuse old clothes instead of shopping every month,” he added.

Click here for more

Obviously, nobody is listening to the mayor nowadays. As Ramadan enters the second week, business peaks up for most stores. Everywhere I go; hypermarkets, Ramadan bazaars and department stores, people seem to suddenly have so much money to spend. The new Eid clothes adorn the stores, Raya cookies are everywhere and customers line up to pay at Tesco's, Giant and Carrefour and not forgetting the local NSK. The store owners must be laughing all the way to the bank!

Green Technology as an Engine of Growth

The Prime Minister announces that green technology will be another engine of growth.This is good news as without incentives it is very difficult to venture into this field.

I must put this article on record to monitor the progress of incentives to be proposed for the private sector by the Malaysian government. Click this link for details

Birds and Trees

The bird photos are taken from Google images because I couldn't capture the birds in photo. They simply flew away.

(This is my rambutan tree. The fruits are really fabulous.)

(This tree was planted by my late father. It is a nearly extinct species.)

The birds have had it. The report in today's Star says it all.

Lowland birds are flying to higher grounds. This is an indicator that their habitat has been destroyed by deforestation and climate change.

Consultant naturalist on birds, wildlife and bio-diversity Mike Chong said lowland birds such as magpie robins (burung murai) and spotted doves have been spotted in Cameron Highlands.

Chong said temperatures in the mountain had also increased due to global warming, and this had allowed lowland birds to adapt easily to their new habitat.

These lowland birds would then have to compete with highland species if they shared the same food source, habitat and nesting habits.

This could lead to the extinction of either species in the next 10 to 20 years. “There are about 674 bird species in the country. I hope more studies will be conducted on the migration of the lowland birds so that we can properly gauge the effects of climate change,” Mike Chong said in the report.

Meanwhile, Zoo Negara director Dr Mohamad Ngah said birds lose their food source when trees are cut.

“We cannot totally stop development from taking place but as scientists, we can monitor the situation and try to breed endangered species to ensure they do not become extinct,” he said, adding that there were close to 100 bird species observed in the zoo.

The birds are welcomed to my dwelling. Lately, I have had birds chirping happily when my 'jambu bol' and rambutans trees were full of ripe fruits. I do not consider them a menace as I enjoy seeing them flying around my trees. I also have some tree shrews permanently living in my backyard.

As I believe that these creatures are also God's creatures and they can help us get merits for good deeds. Moreover, our fruit trees bear too much sweet fruits that we have to deliver them to our relatives, friends, and neighbors to help us finish them. I also believe that by spreading the bounty, we will be bestowed more in the future and more fruits will be borne, thus adding more goodwill for us.

Brace up to pay 20sen for a plastic bag

Two weeks ago, my daughter, Zayye came home and complained that she had to fork out 20sen at IKEA for a plastic bag after paying for a study lamp. Zayye normally says no to plastic bags when she shops for small items and she was not aware that the campaign to use the reusable green bags had started.

Penang has started the "No plastic Bags Day" on Mondays. More than 300 hypermarkets, mini-markets, department stores and other participating shops are charging 20sen for a plastic bag.

Tesco hypermarkets gives 2 extra bonus club points when customers bring their own reuseable shopping bag. Customers with reusable bags are allowed to use the expressed check out lane at Giant Bayan Baru. Boxes were provided for customers who shopped a lot and did not bring their own bags on the day. Customers are encouraged to drop plastic bags to a special bin so that these bags could be reused by other customers.

Other stores have also started the save on plastic bags campaign. Parkson Grand at Gurney Plaza will give one free tote bag for purchases of Rm2oo and above and customers can also buy these bags for RM2 each.

This is what I have been waiting for. Once the big stores start the ball rolling and educate the customers giving them no choice, then only would the campaign be effective. The time will come when everyone will accept that plastic bags are not to be wasted and thrown anywhere they like.
I remember that one of the reasons that the hypermarket Makro failed was because customers did not accept that there were no packaging to their purchases. Maybe the timing for Makro was not right and Makro did not try to educate its customers.

I notice Jusco and Tesco have also started a mild campaign in the Klang Valley. Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags on certain days voluntarily, but at present there is no charge for the plastic bags yet.

Only a concerted effort by every hypermarket and supermarket will the campaign work. An irate woman left all her groceries at Tesco Penang, when told that she has to pay 20sen for a plastic bag, reported today's Star. She will soon realise that she would have to toe the line next time when everyone starts bringing their own bags to Tesco or lose out on Tesco's offers.

Meanwhile, customers' education must continue. The media has a lot to do, to contribute to the success of the campaign.

I understand that proceeds from the sales of the plastic bags will go to the "Partners Against Poverty Campaign"

I just hope that the "Say No to Plastic Bags " will become a common feature in the future and not one off campaigns soon to be forgotten.

(Look up for other incentives to go green at the link shown)

Malaysia's Hanging garden of BABYLON?

The Star on Tuesday has an interesting article of a garden on the roof. Maybe unlike the hanging gardens of Babylon?

I remember when the former Malaysian Minister of Agriculture, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid suggeseted planting paddy on rooftops, many were cynical and just laughed at him.

He should be smiling now as a garden is blooming at the roof top of the new wing of the 1-Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya, some 35 m from the ground.

The garden ( about 2,787sqm,), planted with some 500 species of rare tropical and temperate plants, has recently been opened to the public on weekends.

1-Utama director Datuk Teo Chiang Kok, an avid gardener, was reported to say, “Having a green roof insulates and blocks heat from the roof, thereby decreasing the air-conditioning required to cool the building. (This) allows 1-Utama to conserve energy and be environmentally responsible,”.

The soil mix used for the garden’s flower bed – granulated horticultural carbon – is a planting medium derived from light, compacted and carbonised sawdust that puts to use wood waste that would otherwise be rotting in dumpsites and releasing carbon. This is a green technology developed by a botanist Dr Francis Ng.

“The horticultural carbon is being tested with different plants. The most amazing result is with rice that is grown in containers. It shows that the usual way (submerging rice plants) is not the only way to grow rice.

Unfortunately, the horticultural carbon is not commercially available yet although Ng is trying to encourage the manufacturer and 1-Utama to look into commercial production.

Although the Department of Irrigation and Drainage’s Stormwater Management Manual was introduced in 2001, it remains only a guideline. Commercial building developers are not legally required to implement it in their projects.)

The owners of 1- Utama has led the way by collecting rainwater to water the garden.
The rainwater is diverted from the roof and stored in specially built reservoirs in the basement in all Bandar Utama commercial buildings, namely the extended wing of 1-Utama Shopping Centre, the Centrepoint Neighbourhood Centre, the IBM-KPMG Plaza and the One World Hotel. The harvested water is used for flushing toilets, watering plants and also supplied to the cooling tower of the air-conditioning system.

“However, the rainwater collected is not sufficient to flush all the toilets. It only saves us 30% of the total water consumption in the new wing,” says Alfred Chong, landscape manager of Bandar Utama City Centre, the subsidiary of Bandar Utama Group which manages the commercial units.

The company’s pioneering effort closely follows the growing importance given to rooftop space by city authorities worldwide.

Last month, Toronto (in Canada) approved a bylaw that requires new residential units over six storeys, schools as well as commercial and industrial buildings to have up to 50% green roof coverage. Chicago (in the United States) offers incentives to builders who put green roofs on their buildings.

It has been estimated that if all the roofs in a major city were “greened,” urban temperatures could be reduced by as much as 7°C.

Originally, a green roof was one where vegetation partially or completely cover the roof surface over a water-proofing membrane.But the term has since taken on an expanded meaning to include green technologies that are introduced on that space, like harvesting of rainwater and harnessing solar energy through a photovoltaic panel.

High rise dwellers will soon be growing their food on roof tops next. Tan Sri Sanusi's dream has come true! Now who's laughing?