'Greener' manifestos, please

'Greener' manifestos, please
By Tan Cheng Li
Thursday March 6, 2008

PETALING JAYA: Environmental groups in the country are disappointed that ecological concerns have received little attention in the country's 12th general election.

They said comprehensive environmental agendas were missing in the manifestos of various political parties, despite growing environmental threats to the country.

The grouping called Malaysian Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (Mengos) said in a statement that while issues emphasised by contenders, such as political reform, education, social concerns and the economy were of utmost importance, the nation nevertheless faces daunting challenges posed by environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.

"Mengos hopes that the future government of the day will place unprecedented emphasis on environmental issues in its post-election political agenda and intensify the integration of environmental issues into national policy-making," it said in a statement.

It called attention to the following:

1) Implement policies on biodiversity and physical planning;

2) Protect important habitats (such as forests, highlands, mangroves, coastal zones, river basins, islands and peatlands);

3) Strengthen environmental laws;

4) Respect and protect the rights of indigenous people;

5) Expand environmental education;

6) Implement sustainable agriculture policies;

7) Manage solid and toxic waste;

8) Adopt environmentally sound energy sources;

9) Mitigate climate change;

10) Control use of genetically modified organisms; and

11) Affirm gender equality.

Source: The Star News