Becoming friends of the environment

JOHOR BARU: A total of 8,971 Johoreans have registered themselves as members of Friends of the Environment in a recruitment drive for an ongoing environmental campaign in the state recently.

The campaign which aims at conserving the environment was launched in June 2009.

State International Trade and Industry Energy, Water, Communication and Environment Committee chairman Tan Kok Hong said he hoped more people would volunteer for the environmental cause.

"Volunteers should be lauded for joining the campaign as it concerns everyone's future," said Kok Hong at the launch of the Friends of the Environment Carnival held in conjunction with the state-level Malaysia Environment Week at the Hutan Bandar of the Johor Baru Central Municipal Council (MPJBT).

The recruitment drive, co-organised by MPJBT, was supported by Johor Corporation, SP Setia Bhd Group, Titan Petrochemicals, and the Gelang Patah constituencies.

Also present were Gelang Patah MP Tan Ah Eng, MPJBT president Md Fuzi Ahmad Shamimi and Johor Environment Department acting director Mokhtar Abdul Majid.

Ah Eng said caring for the environment should be an ongoing activity, such as cleaning up the environment from time to time.

"Community leaders, corporations and the local community have a part to play in protecting the environment," she said.

Meanwhile, Mokhtar said various activities have been organised in conjunction with the Malaysia Environment Week 2001.

They include the eco-run, colouring, poster-drawing and essay-writing competitions.

Source: Mohd Fahmi Mohd Yusof