Category: Environment EN

A new report by Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM), in partnership with the Forests & Finance Coalition (FFC), reveals that Malaysia’s financial regulatory sector is not yet fully aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)’s 2030 targets and highlights areas where further alignment could be considered. This report reviews key policies and guidelines published to date by Bank Negara...

The Penang State Exco for Housing and Environment, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), The Penang State Green Council (PGC), The  Malaysia Hindu Sangam Penang State Council (MHSPSC) and the management of the Sri Singamuga Kaliamman Temple in Teluk Bahang, urge Hindu devotees not to use any kind of synthetic foam material or plastic during the celebration of Masi Maga Theppa Thiruvizha, a...

The Earth is our home, and is full of life, mystery, and resilience. Here are more than a few reasons on why we should continue to protect it from plastic pollution and its toxic impacts! Scientists estimate that there are 8.7 million species on Earth! 165,000 of them are species of butterflies and moths. The Amazon rainforest is the largest forest in the world, spanning over 9 countries. On...

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) welcome the announcement by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that Malaysia has imposed an immediate and absolute ban on the importation of electronic waste (e-waste) effective 4 February 2026. It was reported that the second meeting of the Special Task Force on the Enforcement Management Roadmap for...

The act of planting a tree is far more than just adding beauty to your yard — it’s a gesture of hope for the future. Trees provide a wide range of benefits to our environment, from purifying the air to supporting wildlife. They are natural carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and helping to mitigate climate change. Each tree planted is a step toward a more sustainable world. But...

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) calls on the Penang state government and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to make public the technical report on the severe coastal erosion occurring in Batu Ferringhi and Tanjung Bungah in Penang. It is vital that the report is made public so that the causes of the coastal erosion and the mitigation measures to be undertaken can be understood by all...

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), the Penang Island City Council (MBPP), and the Malaysia Hindu Sangam Penang State Council jointly urge all Thaipusam devotees, temple authorities, spectators, tourists, and charity organisations to make this year’s Thaipusam a Zero Waste celebration. Thaipusam is a festival of devotion, discipline, and gratitude. These values should also be...

… in Every Tree, River, and Species that Shares this Planet with Us The words of Hubert Reeves call attention to a paradox woven into human behaviour. We often look beyond the physical world for meaning while forgetting the living systems that sustain our bodies, breath, and future. His reflection reminds us that the sacred is not distant or abstract; it is present in every tree, river, and...

The world has entered “an era of global water bankruptcy” with irreversible consequences, according to a new United Nations report. Regions across the world are afflicted by severe water problems: Kabul may be on course to be the first modern city to run out of water. Mexico City is sinking at a rate of around 20 inches a year as the vast aquifer beneath its streets is over-pumped. In...

Venue: SJKC Chong Teik, Balik Pulau, Penang Date: 21 January 2026 Approximately 120 students from Standards 4, 5 and 6 of SJKC Chong Teik participated in an Organic Waste Management workshop that included interactive activities and demonstrations. The session began with an activity designed to help students identify various plant species found within the school compound. A chilli plant was...