Category: Environment EN

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) calls for the urgent establishment of a single, federal regulatory authority to seriously protect all rivers, as they are the nation’s lifelines in the supply of water. Ninety-five percent (95%) of our water needs come from our rivers. We reiterate this call which has been made in the past, in view of the major water disruption in the Klang Valley these past few...

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is outraged by the Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar’s statement that cyanide used by three gold mining companies in Malaysia does not cause any health problems such as cancer or skin diseases and that cyanide used at the mining ponds had no impact on the air or the nearby environment. He was also quoted by the media that “no matter...

In conjunction with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples today, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) wishes to express our concern on the proposal to develop an oil palm plantation project in Marudi, Baram, which will affect the native customary rights (NCR) of at least 20 Iban villages. The affected customary territories not only include some forested areas, they also contain...

Padi farmers in Kepala Batas, Penang are crying out for help because of destruction to their rice crops, but their cries are not in vain for the state Agriculture Department has come to their rescue through the biological control of rats in the paddy fields. Using barn owls to fight rodent populations is an old idea that is getting a second look by many sectors of the agriculture industry....

In conjunction of Plastic Bag Free Day on 3rd July, the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) distributed free cloth bags made from discarded t-shirts to market-goers in Bagan Ajam Market in Butterworth, Penang.  The event to mark the global day of action was a joint action with SMK Convent Butterworth and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai. As a symbol of our disposable consumer society,...

At a time when the country is undergoing such a historic political transition, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) wishes to draw attention to the plight of our indigenous communities who have long been deprived of their rights to basic services. In Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia, a significant section of our indigenous population has yet to have access to a clean water supply system, electricity...

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) are pleased that Penang will embark on a ban of plastic straws and other single-use plastic food and drink containers after Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow gave local authorities carte blanche to execute such policies to preserve the environment. The proposal by the Penang government and local authorities is the way forward...

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) today supported the call by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, to ban logging in the Ulu Muda Forests Reserves (UMFR), and for the Federal Government to compensate Kedah for the loss of revenue caused by the logging ban. We also support the move by the Penang State Government to initiate a top-level meeting between the...