May 5, 2008
The Earth Day celebrations organised Friends of Kota Damansara (FoKD), the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and the Malaysian Nature Society got a lot of coverage from the local media.
According to Star Metro, more than 500 people turned up to show support for an environmental cause and to take part in the activities designed to bring awareness to the community about the rich eco-system in the park.
Nature lovers, residents and students thronged the Kota Damansara Community Forest Park to celebrate Earth Day recently.
The highlight of the celebration was nature lovers hearing the views of newly-elected representatives - Bukit Lanjan state assemblyman Elizabeth Wong, Kota Damansara state assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim and Subang MP S. Sivarasa - on the environment and what they would do to improve the current situation.
“We want the new leaders to see how beautiful this place is and we want the forest to be gazetted. We also want to educate the public on the importance of the environment. We don’t object to development but we want it to be sustainable,” said organising chairman Anson Ooi.
NST
Kota Damansara folk take part in Earth Day activities
PETALING JAYA: More than 300 residents of Kota Damansara took a 20-minute stroll in their community park as part of the Earth Day celebrations yesterday. Among other activities jointly organised by 16 residents’ associations called Friends of Kota Damansara (FoKD), the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and the Malaysian Nature Society, were boat rides at the nearby lake and a night jungle trek.
The programme was also held for residents to meet their wakil rakyat to highlight the preservation of the Sungai Buloh forest reserve. FoKD chairman Jones Gabriel Ponudurai said the association wanted the 140ha forest to be made into a community forest. “We hope the forest will be rega-zetted and declared a state park.”
Representing Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was state executive councillor for tourism, consumer affairs and environment Elizabeth Wong.
”A task force will be formed comprising non-governmental organisations, experts and scientists to advise us. We will include the community’s participation in the state policy,” said Wong who is also Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman.
She added that she had discussions with the Forestry Department to gazette other environmentally sensitive areas. Also present was Kota Damansara state assemblyman Mohd Nasir Hashim, Subang member of parliament R. Sivarasa and MBPJ secretary Puasa Md Taib.
Earth Day blast at Forest Park
Malay Mail
By PEARL LEE
KOTA Damansara residents came out in full force to celebrate Earth Day at the Kota Damansara Community Forest Park yesterday.
Jointly organised by i6 Residents Associations, known as the Friends of Kota Damansara, as well as the Malaysian Nature Society and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), the programme saw the participation of the State executive councillor for tourism, consumer affairs and environment Elizabeth Wong, Subang member of Parliament R. Sivarasa, Kota Damansara assemblyman Mohd Nasir Hashim and PJ deputy mayor Puasa Md Taib.
The residents took part in a boat ride and night walk in the park, which is the nation’s first community forest park. The park is home to 50 species of medicinal plants, 230 bird species and is an ideal place for trekking, bird-watching, fishing and boating.
Team to advise on eco policies
The Star
The state government will place emphasis on community-centred development to ensure sustainability and minimal impact on the environment.
A task force consisting of non-governmental organisations, industry experts and scientists will be formed to advise the state government on environmental policies.
Speaking at the Earth Day celebration at Kota Damansara Community Forest Park, state exco Elizabeth Wong, who holds the state tourism and environment portfolio, said these were among the initiatives she would undertake with the help of other state assemblymen.
“We will also look into the list of environmentally sensitive areas in Selangor and ensure these areas are gazetted.
“We hope to make this permanent, and this will include many areas currently in dispute,” said Wong, who is also state assemblyman for Bukit Lanjan.
The initiatives include “Earth Day” events throughout the year to raise environmental awareness and the Green Rangers programme.
Launched recently, the Green Rangers programme will see members of the community acting as the eyes and ears of the state government to monitor and help curb environment-unfriendly occurrences like pollution and illegal rubbish dumping.
“Consultation between residents and the authority is very crucial, so that development can be well-thought through without making the residents suffer,” said Kota Damansara state assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim who was also present at the event.
Petaling Jaya City Council representatives also introduced the Local Agenda 21 environmental plan, which places emphasis on the responsibility of the community to work with the local authority to ensure development sustainability. The plan draws out the importance of the community to start practising environmentally friendly habits at home.
