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Month: December 2021

CAP, SAM object to approval of portable pyrolysis units

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are concerned to learn that the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) had approved the use of portable pyrolysis units to facilitate the disposal of solid waste generated by the recent flood disaster.  The media reported that KASA Secretary General had stated that special approval will be given by the Department of...
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CAP: What Malaysians need to know about the African swine fever?

African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating infectious disease of pigs, usually deadly. No vaccine exists to combat this virus. It does not affect humans nor does it affect other animal species other than pigs and wild boars. It can be transmitted either via direct animal contact or via the dissemination of contaminated food (e.g. sausages or uncooked meat). On 17 December, the Department of...
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CAP: Toxic chemicals found in Malaysian plastic pellets

Toxic chemical additives and pollutants that pose multiple health threats to humans and the environment have been found to be present in plastic pellets collected on a Malaysian beach. The health effects associated with these chemicals include causing cancer or changing hormone activity (known as endocrine disruption), which can lead to reproductive, growth, and cognitive impairment. Many of the...
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Learning the lessons from unexpected weather events

Malaysia is usually prepared for the seasonal flood occurrences on the East Coast with the normal monsoons this time of the year. However, what was rather unexpected was the massive floods that hit especially the Klang Valley most seriously this time around, due to the phenomena such as the Tropical Depression in the region and the effects of super-typhoon Rai that hit the Philippines. It is...
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MORE and MORE

“Clean energy might help deal with emissions, but it does nothing to reverse deforestation, overfishing, soil depletion and mass extinction. A growth-obsessed economy powered by clean energy will still tip us into ecological disaster.” ― Jason Hickel, "Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World"
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Abolish the establishment of forest plantations (monoculture plantations) in Permanent Reserved Forests in Peninsular Malaysia

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) welcomes the decision made at the 79th National Land Council (MTN) Meeting held on 2 December 2021, which had agreed in principle with the implementation of a 15-year moratorium on approvals for new forest plantations (monoculture plantations) in permanent reserved forests (PRF) in Peninsular Malaysia. However, this moratorium is insufficient and SAM recommends that...
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LANDSLIDE TRAGEDIES: NEED FOR STRINGENT PROTECTION OF HILLS AND HILLSLOPES

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is very saddened to learn about the landslide at KM34 of the Simpang Pulai-Blue Valley road leading to Cameron Highlands, in which a lorry driver is believed to have been trapped under the rubble. Despite the many incidents of landslides in Cameron Highlands and its vicinity, it is clear that not enough measures have been taken to prevent the occurrence of such...
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Prioritise improving public hospitals and not medical tourism

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) had received an increasing number of complaints by consumers about their skyrocketing health insurance premiums over the recent years. On investigation, it appears to be due to escalating medical fees charged by private hospitals. The Malaysian Health Ministry (MoH) should investigate and take appropriate action. According to Bank Negara (BNM) Annual...
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