RAHSIA Servis Laptop

Apabila kita membeli laptop, setiap penjual akan memberitahu tentang kelebihan setiap laptop yang dijual. Spesifikasi, kelajuan processor, memori yang pantas, kapasiti cakera keras yang besar, pemproses grafik yang boleh menjana visual realistik, saiz paparan skrin dan lain-lain lagi ciri-ciri yang digunakan sebagai poin jualan.

Namun begity, hampir tiada seorang pun daripada penjual laptop ini akan memberitahu anda bagaimana hendak menjaga laptop dengan betul. Baru tersedar bukan?

Jom kita berkongsi rahsia yang semua kedai komputer tak ingin anda tahu berkenaan servis laptop. At least anda boleh buat sesuatu.

Cuci Kipas laptop dan tukar ‘thermal paste’ baru setiap 6 bulan.

• 80% dari laptop yang rosak adalah disebabkan masalah motherboard
• 7% dari masalah motherboard berpunca dari kecuaian manusia seperti tertumpah cecair dan terjatuh
• 93% dari kerosakan motherboard  ini berpunca dari tidak servis laptop

Apa Itu Servis Laptop?

Servis laptop adalah dimana laptop akan dibuka dan habuk yang berkumpul di kipas laptop akan dibersihkan. Thermal paste baru akan digantikan

Mengapa Ia Perlu Dilakukan?

Sama seperti kereta, laptop mempunyai komponen yang bergerak, komponen yang bergerak memerlukan sistem penyejukan. Komponen seperti processor dan pemproses grafik menjana haba yang tinggi. Kipas yang menjadi sistem penyejukan, lama kelamaan akan memerangkap habuk.

Apabila habuk-habuk ini berkumpul, sistem menjadi tidak efisien kerana ianya menghalang udara panas dari keluar. Apabila ianya tidak efisien, komponen penting seperti processor dan pemproses grafik ini akan rosak kerana terlebih panas (overheating).

Apabila ini berlaku, kos membaikinya lebih kurang membeli laptop baru. Sebagai contoh kos untuk tukar motherboard brand Acer sahaja mencecah RM700 manakala untuk motherboard Apple Macbook Pro adalah RM2000.

Apakah Thermal Paste?

Thermal paste adalah selapis bahan yang mengalirkan haba sangat baik yang letaknya diantara komponen panas dan sistem penyejukan. Lama kelamaan, thermal paste akan keras dan tidak mengalirkan haba dengan baik. Tujuan servis laptop ini adalah untuk menjamin sistem penyejukan yang efisien dan optimum sepanjang masa.

Bila Waktu Sesuai Servis Laptop?

Anda dinasihatkan untuk servis laptop anda setiap 6 bulan sekali. Jika anda merasakan laptop anda cepat panas, contohnya jika anda boleh rasakan haba di tapak tangan anda ketika menggunakan laptop, segeralah hantar ke kedai komputer berhampiran untuk diservis.

Kesimpulan

• Servis laptop adalah langkah pertama untuk memanjangkan usia laptop anda.
• Haba adalah musuh utama laptop.
• Pastikan anda servis laptop anda sekurang kurangnya 6 bulan sekali.
• Hantar laptop pada yang pakar sahaja.

Sumber: MajalahNiaga

Empangan Sungai Selangor Hanya Berbaki 29 Hari

Ini kisah catuan air.

Menurut sumber berita, kerajaan Selangor akan meneruskan catuan air berikutan paras air di Empangan Sungai Selangor berada pada tahap kritikal dan bekalan air yang ada hanya mampu bertahan 29 hari lagi.

Berikutan itu, Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS) dengan kerjasama Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KKSB) sedang giat meneroka kolam-kolam bekas lombong terutama di kawasan lembangan Sungai Selangor bagi tujuan mengepam air mentah dari kolam takungan bekas lombong ke Sungai Selangor.

Pada masa yang sama, LUAS dan Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS) turut menjalankan aktiviti mengepam air sungai hasil hujan lebat di hilir untuk ditakungkan ke kolam-kolam sekitar Empangan Sungai Selangor untuk digunakan pada musim kering nanti.

Selain itu, kaedah pembenihan awan dikenali sebagai 'royal rain making technology' juga akan digunakan untuk mendapatkan hujan sekurang-kurangnya tiga kali seminggu di negeri ini.

Kerajaan menjangka usaha-usaha ini akan dapat menghasilkan kira-kira 1,000 JLH (juta liter sehari) air mentah dan jika petunjuk pelaksanaan positif dalam tempoh seminggu, kerajaan negeri bersedia mengkaji semula keputusan catuan air ini.

Sumber: AstroAwani

Time macam ni lah baru sedar betapa pentingnya air dan time ni jugak lah harga tong-tong air, baldi dan seangkatan dengannya mencanak naik. Nasib-nasib. Setiap hari dok tadah air...Boleh terkena musculosketal disorder pasni. Apa-apa pun, sediakan lah besen sebelum hujan.

Pray for MH370

Assalamualaikum dan selamat tengah hari

Kecoh negaraku Malaysia berikutan isu misteri kehilangan pesawat MH370.
Spekulasi memang tak hengat.
Masing-masing ade teori.
Tak kisah la, kat warung kopi ke, stesen LRT ke, dalam kelas ke
Semua orang dok bincang.

Baguslah.
Nampak rakyat Malaysia sekarang tak macam dulu
Makin berkembang mindanya.
Makin terbuka.

Memberi idea boleh.
Cipta teori pun boleh.
Tapi haruslah ambil kira perasaan keluarga penumpang MH370.
Jauhi lawak-lawak tidak bijak di dalam teori dan idea.
Kurangkan 'post' berita yang tak sahih di FB.
Buat semak feeds dan jadi lebih keliru.
Pakar ada biaq pi depa buat keje depa.

Kita? Doakan yang terbaik.
Agar selamat semuanya.
Selagi tak ade berita muktamat, anggaplah semua penumpang dalam keadaan baik-baik je.
Jangan behenti berharap.

Kepada keluarga penumpang MH370, bersabarlah.
Tawakkal hanya kepada Allah.
Sebaik mana perancangan kita, perancangan Allah jualah yang lebih baik.
Bersangka baiklah kepada Allah.
InsyaAllah..

Nota: Pray for Syria, Palestine, Ruhingya, fi kulli maakan.

Seksyen 144A Akta Keterangan 1950- Hebat

 Gambar kredit to: roketkini.com

p/s: menarik bukan seksyen nih?

Parent Support Israel? Pergh...

Agak terkejut jugak hari ni sebab baru je tak sampai beberapa saat aku dok survey barang baby dengan bantuan En.Google terus menuju ke hasil pencarian 'manjaku'. Kalau sesape yang biasa dengan kedai baby ni, harga barangan dia agak berpatutan. So macam biasa, bukak google dan aku taip manjaku. Screen laptop keluar seperti yang tertera.

Biasanya aku akan pilih yang paling atas dalam senarai en.google tuh. Tengok pun memang betul tu laman web dia punya address. Bila aku klik, ini yang jadi...

Biar betul. Ke hacker saudi ni main tembak je? huhuhu Aku pun tak beberapa sure berkenaan hal ni. Hacker ni cakap "The HacK iS NoT The OnLy IsRaEli SiTeS BuT Any SiTe SuppORtS The JewS..". So no komen berkanaan hal ni. Takut wei Seksyen 144A Akta Keterangan 1950.

p/s: banyak dah barang aku beli kat manjaku

USJ goes a-planting

SUBANG JAYA: In efforts to reach its goal towards “Low Carbon City”, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), with the help of various non-governmental organisations, recently planted 1,111 trees on a 3.2ha land at Persiaran Setia, USJ 3C.

About 200 volunteers and residents of USJ 3C were involved in the tree-planting exercise. They are from the Subang Jaya Rotary Club, Kingsley International School Putra Heights, Zone 3 Residents’ Committee (JKP Zon 3) and members of fire brigade from SS17 fire station

MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi said the council’s aim is to plant 10,000 trees by 2020, under the Urban Community Forest project.

“This is our first big-scale project and it is just the beginning. Now that the lot has been gazetted as a public recreation park, we hope the trees will ensure that the carbon emission is reduced,” said Asmawi.

Also present were MPSJ deputy president Abdullah Marjunid, Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, councillor Rajiv Rishyakaran and Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo Burne.
Among the tree species planted were Cengal, Kasai and Keruing.

Rajiv who is also the president for JKP Zon 3, said the project will be conducted in stages until the completion by 2020.

While waiting for the trees to grow, the next step is to build a gazebo, put up a proper fencing, a walking trail and a car park by next year.

To ensure that the project goes smoothly, the council has appointed the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Forestry Department of Selangor and Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) as the project’s advisers.

Source: C. Premananthini

Envisioning a greener Earth

The company set itself a noble target when it launched an environment-friendly corporate social responsibility campaign themed "A million trees, a million dreams".

Shaklee Malaysia has always wanted to do its part to green the earth and at the same time advocate a cleaner, healthier and safer world.

That dream started materialising in 2009 when it teamed up with the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia to sponsor and plant trees at Kepong Botanical Garden, a former mining area which is now an educational public park.

Pushing ahead with its efforts to educate Malaysians on environmental issues and the need for growing trees, Shaklee Malaysia recently planted trees at Bukit Sungei Puteh Forest Reserve in Cheras for the second consecutive year with the cooperation of the Forestry Department.

The event, which was officiated by Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, saw the company's employees, civil servants, guests and members of the media plant tree saplings.

The three-year cooperation between Shaklee Malaysia and the National Forestry Department started last year when the company sponsored RM10,000 worth of tree saplings and a trail measuring 226 metres long. The trail is to ensure that the park has facilities for visitors including the disabled.

"Reversing the unprecedented loss of biodiversity and saving our planet requires the effort of everyone," said Victor Lim, the regional general manager of Shaklee, Southeast Asia.

"Working with the Forestry Department in planting trees at this forest reserve is part of the company's effort in mitigating residual carbon emissions, while at the same time hoping to create valuable wildlife habitats and a forest park for people to enjoy and learn from," he said.

The company hoped that the choice of fruit trees for planting this time around would serve to attract birds, insects and other wildlife to this reserve and create biodiversity.

"Tree-planting is definitely one of the most potent ways to protect our planet, but people are either not doing enough of it or not doing anything at all," said Lim.

"Forests help to control climate. Some experts now call rainforests 'the air-conditioners of the world' because their dark depths absorb heat from the sun."

In his speech, Kurup said Shaklee's efforts was in line with the ministry's drive to plant 26 million trees by 2014 which would be capable of absorbing 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The campaign, "Green The Earth: One Citizen, One Tree", was launched in April last year. More than 13 million trees have since been planted.

A total of 110 trees were planted during the event, including rambai hutan, sentul, keledang temponek, beruas and kandis .

Source: AVEEN MATHEW MENON
streets@nstp.com.my

Safer option with ‘Taxis for Women’

PUBLIC transport is now safer for women with the launch of "Taxis for Women" by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development yesterday.

Deputy Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kei said the project was in line with their aim of providing safe public transportation for women.

"These taxis are to cater to women, especially those who are used to travelling alone or with their children.

"We hope it will reduce the number of rape and robbery cases involving taxi drivers and female victims," she said.

According to Heng, the idea was to have taxis that were "driven by women, for women".

"Some 400 taxis will be on-call to ensure the safety and comfort of female passengers."

The service, which will be expanded in stages, currently has 50 taxis operating around the Klang Valley.

She said the service would also help create job opportunities for women, especially single mothers, housewives and pensioners, who were looking for another source of income for their family.

"It is an alternative for women, and those who are interested to pursue this career can also work in shifts to accommodate their schedule," she said.

The ministry and Abex Manufacturing Sdn Bhd are providing training and courses for those who were interested to become female taxi drivers, said Heng.

One of the taxi drivers Faridah Idris, 38, said the service provided female commuters a safer option to travel in.

"Women passengers are normally more comfortable with us.

"For female drivers, there are always risks when picking up passengers, especially at night.

"With this project, both female drivers and passengers can feel safer," she said.

The launch was held in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2011 at the Bandar Tasik Selatan bus terminal.

Also present were Land Public Transport Commission chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and Singapore High Commissioner, Ong Keng Yong.

Source: AISYAH SULAIMAN
aisyahs@nst.com.my

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

Derelict project a health risk

JOHOR BARU: Residents of the Larkin flats here and those living in the surrounding areas want the authorities to deal with the health risks posed by an abandoned housing project.

The project for the relocation of residents of Kampung Setulang Baru was started in 2003, but was stalled several times before being completely abandoned in 2009.

The site is now an eyesore and residents living in the vicinity are worried that it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Kampung Melayu Zone committee member Azman Dawam said the residents are fearful of the dengue threat as puddles of water could be found at the site of the abandoned project every time it rains.

Johor Baru Umno Youth chief Khaled Mohamad recently visited the area and promised to take up the matter to the authorities.

"We (Umno Youth) are equally frustrated over this project which should have been completed in 2007. "It was for the benefit of the poor," he said.

A resident of the Larkin flats, Romzi Abdul Razak, said he hoped the authorities will revive the project, so that the site would be cleaned up.

"The drains at the site are mostly clogged, causing them to be ideal places for the aedes mosquito to breed," he said.

Source: Mahani Ishak

Screening tests not perfect

It turns out that catching cancer early is not always as important as has been thought. Some tumours are too slow-growing to ever threaten your life. Some are so aggressive that finding them early does not make much difference.

And today’s treatments are much better for those somewhere in the middle.

“We can find cancer early. We can reduce the burden of the disease. But along the way, we’re learning our tests are not as perfect as we’d like,” says the American Cancer Society’s Dr Len Lichtenfeld, a longtime screening proponent.

Forum on vaginal discharge

Damai Service Hospital (Melawati) will be holding a public forum on vaginal discharge by Dr Zunita Abdul Hamid at ground floor, lobby area, Damai Service Hospital (Melawati), Lot 9132-9134, Jalan Bandar 4, Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Call Dayang or Vicky at 03-4108 9900 for more information. Admission is free.

Source: Compiled by Syida LizTa Amirul ihsan

Getting to zero — the way forward

After nine years of perseverance for the vulnerable communities in Malaysia, Red Carnival, one of the largest initiatives for World AIDS Day in Malaysia returns with a bigger purpose.

hemed "Getting to Zero", Red Carnival 2011 mirrors UNAIDS' (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS) vision of zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and zero discrimination.

Spearheaded by PT Foundation and supported by Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC), the event aims to elevate knowledge and understanding, change perceptions and create opportunity for greater public involvement in HIV prevention.

PT Foundation chairman Hisham Hussein, said "Globally 33.3 million people have HIV. In Malaysia, nine people get infected with HIV every day. There has also been a noteworthy shift in the main mode of HIV transmission from injecting drug user, which has predominantly been the driver of the Malaysian epidemic, to sexual transmission. New HIV infections among women are also on the rise. It is currently accounting for about 20 percent of the total new HIV infections in 2010 as compared to only five per cent 10 years ago."

World AIDS Day is an important reminder for people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done. HIV is spreading at an alarming rate, people are losing lives because of AIDS and more people are losing their careers, friends and families due to discrimination attached to HIV.

"Though many scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, laws to protect people living with HIV and information about the condition, Malaysians are still largely unaware about the disease, resulting in high-risk behaviour, stigma and discrimination.

Through Red Carnival 2011, we hope to improve education, fight prejudice and mobilise community support in ending the epidemic," said Hussein.

Containing the HIV epidemic would need urgent outreach and attention from all -- the government, policy makers, law enforcers, health practitioners, social workers and, most importantly, the public.

"This year we want to extend our outreach and mobilise efforts from all parties to prevent new HIV infections, stop AIDS related deaths and eliminate discrimination. We are extremely delighted to have two great partners extend their meaningful support," said Hussein.

Sungei Wang Plaza pledged its continuous commitment by being the venue sponsor of the carnival for the 10th consecutive year.

This carnival will also see a new partnership with Durex embarking its commitment to the local HIV response for Red Carnival and PT Foundation's community-based programmes. Durex will also be releasing its annual Sexual Well-being Survey at Red Carnival 2011 to provide findings and insights for an effective HIV prevention framework.

"We are committed to working with PT Foundation to reduce the number of HIV and other sexually transmissible infections among Malaysians," said Nikhilesh Kalra, marketing director at Reckitt Benckiser, Malaysia.

Red Carnival 2011 will be held on Nov 26 and 27 at Fiesta Street, ground and lower ground floor of Sungei Wang Plaza, Bukit Bintang, from 2pm to 9pm.

The two-day event will offer many exciting and educational activities. Booths will be set up to present HIV and AIDS information and services such as risk assessment exercise and HIV testing.

Apart from corporate partnerships, PT Foundation is looking for volunteers to assist in the activities. For more information, log on to www.prfmalaysia.org.

Source: NSTs

Piranha gigit 15 perenang

SAO PAULO: Beri-ribu ikan piranha daripada spesies maging memenuhi pantai popular di barat Brazil dan menggigit sehingga putus ibu jari kaki sekurang-kurangnya 15 perenang.

Pihak berkuasa di bandar Caceres di Mato Grosso berkata ini adalah kali pertama mereka berdepan masalah piranha di pantai Daveron di sungai Paraguay, selepas ikan agresif itu berkumpul sejak dua minggu lalu.

“Penduduk perlu berhati-hati. Jika digigit, mereka perlu keluar segera dari air bagi mengelakkan darah tersebar,” kata anggota bomba Raul Castro de Oliveira, kepada laman web G1 Globo TV.

Antara mangsa yang digigit pada Ahad lalu ialah Elson de Campos Pinto, 22.

“Saya menyelam dalam sungai dan tiba-tiba saya merasa sakit pada kaki. Saya berlari keluar dari sungai sebaik menyedari kehilangan hujung ibu jari kaki. Saya bimbang akan diserang lagi kerana kaki berdarah,” katanya.

Pihak berkuasa bandar berkata pantai itu akan dibuka kerana ia adalah tarikan penting pelancong di rantau Pantanal Brazil, terkenal kerana pelancongan ekologi.

Setiap September, Caceres menganjurkan pesta perikanan terbesar, acara seminggu yang menarik 200,000 pelancong untuk memancing dan menikmati konsert.

Pegawai keselamatan sudah memasang tanda amaran kepada orang ramai supaya berwaspada jika berenang. – AP/Agensi

Sumber: Berita Harian Online

Enforcement officers to serve as facilitators?

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has advised Kuala Lumpur City Hall staff to consider enforcement in the wider context of education, creation of awareness and assistance to derive maximum results.

He said it was incumbent upon them to serve as facilitators to ensure that the people understood the reasons for implementation of the various by-laws.

"To ensure effective enforcement, it is important for us to educate city folk to not only respect the laws but also to understand why they are being enforced," he told staff of City Hall's Enforcement Department as part of his day-long walkabout in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

Muhyiddin said the people should be informed that laws are not meant to inconvenience them but to aid the development process.

He said that to ensure acceptance of the laws, the department should understand the profile of the people living in Kuala Lumpur, thus facilitating the department in its interaction with them to understand their aspirations and needs and solve their problems easily.

Source: The Star Online

Malacca plans green city

MALACCA: The state government has announced an ambitious plan to develop a pioneer green city where motorised vehicles would be limited.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam told the state legislative assembly that the new city would be named Hang Tuah Jaya Green City.

He said the state would utilise allocation set aside under the Malacca 2012 Budget to spearhead projects at the new city that would be conceptualised after Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

“The new township will be touted as an icon of green technology for the state,” he said yesterday.

Mohd Ali said the state would outline technical guidelines which would compel developers to register for Green Building Index certification before completing their projects.

They would also be asked to assign a special lane for electric vehicles, bicycle lanes, pedestrian walkways, besides creating a charging station for electric vehicles and building LED or solar-powered street lamps, he added.

Mohd Ali said the physical development at the new city would also include “green” restaurants, a green technology academy, a nursing college, a state health department administration complex, an Internal Revenue Board academy, a medical college and a Socso rehabilitation centre.

“The city will be a benchmark for the future development of similar cities in Malacca,” he added.

To encourage the people to convert to green technology, Mohd Ali said the state would attempt to construct a building using recycled items and gazette an area within the city to be turned into a vehicle-free zone.

Source: Star Property

Eco Greens Community Park - Open to Public

Award-winning Eco Greens Community Park strikes a fine balance between modern living and caring for the environment.

BEFORE the arrival of Eco Greens Community Park, the area was an oil palm estate without modern infrastructure, with a population of less than 1,000.

Today, the park, which is part of Setia Eco Gardens, a nature-inspired development with an eco-living theme by SP Setia Bhd Group, is a boon to the residents as well as those living in the surrounding neighbourhoods of Gelang Patah, Ulu Choh and Pontian.

The RM40 million road-widening project, funded and built by SP Setia, has enabled better accessibility to the area and created new economic activities that have also benefited the neighbouring communities.

The park complex is open to the public. It features the Eco Shelter, Bird Island, Butterfly Trail, Eco Interactive Fountain, Eco Gallery and Green Wall.

The first of its kind in Iskandar Malaysia, the Green Wall serves as extra insulation to absorb carbon dioxide, reduce noise as well as the heat island effect. It is also a habitat for insects such as butterflies, and birds.

Other attractions in the park are the Eco Playground, maze garden, tree house, bird viewing deck and meditation garden.

SP Setia Bhd Group general manager Hoe Mee Ling said the idea was to develop a park complex that challenged the concept of a community park.

"It is a delicate balance of environmental and socio-cultural factors to benefit the community without impairing the ability of resident species to thrive.

"The park enhances the ecological system and creates wider public awareness of green living.

"For instance, Bird Island is a man-made island of trees in the middle of the lake designed to provide protection to the birds. It is also there to educate the public on the role played by migratory birds and resident species in the eco-system.

"It is hoped that this will help the public to understand the importance of protecting, restoring and enhancing biological diversity," she said

Hoe said the site's undulating terrain, natural river (Sungai Pulai) and surrounding forests was the perfect canvas for the eco-living concept.

"In-depth studies on eco theme parks and green buildings were made to maintain and enhance bio-diversity, with emphasis on the right species of plants to create butterfly trails and water plants to propagate fish species in the pond and the preservation of flora and fauna," she said.

Eco Greens recently won the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Malaysian Chapter award in the category "Purpose-built or specialised project".

Eco Greens was also awarded the National Landscape Award 2010 and the Malaysia Landscape Architecture Award 2009.

Its green building, Eco Gallery, was awarded the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green mark Gold Award by BCA Singapore in 2010, and named Cityscape Best Office or Commercial (built category) in the Cityscape Real Estate competition in April 2008.

Source: Chuah Bee Kim

The case for a world environment body

Malaysia’s call for the establishment of a World Environment Organisation has met with enthusiastic response from developing countries hobbled by a slew of multilateral environmental agreements, says ZAKRI ABDUL HAMID

THE international community has warmly welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s call for the establishment of a World Environment Organisation (WEO) — an institution that would help developing countries meet their obligations under a myriad of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) signed over the last 35 years.

Najib made the call in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 12 at the first preparatory meeting of the World Congress on Justice, Governance and Law on Environmental Sustainability scheduled in June next year.

Bakary Kante, a senior official of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said “This is the first time that a leader has gone public and taken an advanced and progressive position for a WEO. The prime minister has understood how important environmental protection is for the future of this country and the world.” Najib’s call was supported by a number of countries participating at a regional preparatory meeting for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in Seoul.

In his opening address, Henri Djambo, Congo’s minister of sustainable development, forest economy and environment, as the spokesman for Africa in Rio+20 said: “We are confident as we also feel encouraged by the recent announcement of the prime minister of Malaysia who has expressed his wish to see the birth in Rio de Janeiro in 2012 of a global environment body that meets the interests of developing countries and the needs of the planet.” Other countries that supported the idea of the establishment of WEO during the Unescap meeting include Cambodia, Pakistan and Japan.

Separately, France, Germany and Kenya had also expressed support for the WEO.

Najib’s proposal envisions an international organisation that anchors global efforts for the environment while at the same time giving equal emphasis to development.

However, unlike the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which is regulatory and sets standards, the proposed environmental body should be consultative and facilitative to help countries, in particular developing nations, meet global commitments.

Over the years, the international community has adopted hundreds of MEAs, all with their own secretariats and administrations.

From 1992 to 2007, the 18 major MEAs alone convened some 540 meetings which produced more than 5,000 decisions that countries are supposed to act upon through national efforts.

Najib argued that it had become virtually impossible for developing countries to participate meaningfully: “The only countries that cope with the system are the richest countries of the world, while the developing nations are becoming disenfranchised.

“A new body like the WEO could help facilitate the participation of developing countries in a more realistic and meaningful way.” Debate on the proposal will be the focus of a watershed mega-conference next year: the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (dubbed “Rio+20”, since it will take place 20 years after the landmark Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro).

Since the concept was first introduced by the Brundtland Commission in 1987, the international community appears to have a better understanding of sustainable development and the ways in which the economy, environment and human well-being are inter-related and mutually supportive.

However, evidence on the ground doesn’t seem to indicate that the world is walking the talk. Often, economic consideration prevails and environmental imperatives and human well-being are seen as less important.

The situation faced by the global community today is akin to Nero playing his fiddle while Rome was burning. For example, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment has revealed that in the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fibre and fuel.

While these changes contributed to substantial net gains in human well-being and economic development, they came with a cost in terms of degradation of the environment, and the exacerbation of poverty in many areas of the world.

According to the Nobel Prizewinning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, intense human activities have resulted in the rise of global temperature by 0.75° Celsius in the last 100 years and 1° Celsius during the last 60 years.

Part of the problem is the tendency to juxtapose the three pillars of sustainable development — economic, environmental and social — rather than to integrate them. Hence, environmental and social imperatives are too often regarded as optional add-ons and traded off in favour of simple economic growth.

Some observers are convinced that for Rio+20 to be successful, it has to move away from equating sustainable development with “environmental” issues.

Every time sustainable development is put on the table, its positioning in environmental terms has limited both processes and participation.

Focus must be on a different approach to economic growth.

Sustainable development should not be the purview of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry alone; it needs the buy-in of the Economic Planning Unit, ministries of finance, agriculture and agro-based and others related to development.

At the global level, environmental and social issues need to be deliberated in economic institutions such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and WTO.

The question is how we strike a balance to ensure that countries continue to pursue development to generate national wealth while at the same time mindful that they have both to be people-centred and planet-centred.

A reaffirmation of the political will once demonstrated by the global community in 1992 needs to be rekindled, but with a stronger sense of urgency and purpose. If existing barriers need to be dismantled and new structures set up, Rio+20 is the launching pad that could initiate such a transformation.

Such a transformation already has a strong foundation, embedded in Agenda 21, a blueprint arising from the Earth Summit and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, ironed out at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.

All that is needed now is a commitment to approach the challenges in a holistic and systemic manner, taking into account not only the imperatives at the global level but also paying attention to the needs of the lesser players operating at the regional and national levels.

To translate the rhetoric into action, the world needs a credible and effective vehicle; hence, the case for the establishment of the WEO.

The writer is science adviser to the prime minister

Source: Zakri Abdul Hamid

Pas tentang penganjuran Seksualiti Merdeka 2011

KUALA LUMPUR 2 Nov. – Dewan Pemuda Pas sekali lagi bertegas dalam isu moral apabila sayap parti Pas itu bangun menentang penganjuran program Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 kerana jelas ia bertentangan dengan syariat, adab susila dan fitrah manusia.

Selain itu kata Ketuanya, Nasrudin Hassan ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia program itu juga berlawanan dengan akhlak Islam.

Sementara itu beliau di dalam ruangan facebooknya yang kemudian dihubungkan kepada Harakahdaily mahu penganjur dan penyokong program tersebut agar tidak meneruskan perjuangan dan kempen mereka itu.

‘‘Pihak terbabit harus sedar bahawa gaya hidup seperti itu akan berhadapan dengan kemurkaan Allah SWT serta membuka pintu kepincangan sosial dan budaya di negara ini,’’ katanya di http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nasrudin-Hassan/, hari ini.

Beliau mengulas penganjuran Seksualiti Merdeka 2011 dengan temanya Queer Without Fear yang berlangsung semalam hingga 13 Nov 2011 di The Annaxe Gallery.

Nasrudin berkata, Islam mempunyai pandangan sendiri dalam isu hubungan sejenis dan Dewan Pemuda akan berpegang teguh dengan ketetapan yang telah ditentukan.

Islam katanya adalah agama fitrah sementara fitrah manusia ialah hidup berpasang-pasangan lelaki dan perempuan.

‘‘Perkahwinan yang sah di sisi Islam hanyalah perkahwinan yang melibatkan lelaki dengan pasangannya perempuan yang bukan mahramnya,’’ ujarnya.

Manakala beliau berkata, perkahwinan atau hubungan sesama jenis adalah suatu noda yang dilarang oleh Islam kerana ia jelas bertentangan dengan fitrah kejadian atau ciptaan manusia di atas muka bumi.

Dalam perkembangan sama kata Nasrudin sekilas pandang pihak terlibat sedang memperjuangkan hak dan kebebasan dengan gaya hidup pilihan mereka dalam sebuah negara demokrasi seperti Malaysia.

‘‘Oleh itu mereka tidak lagi teragak-agak untuk mengiklan, memperjuang dan menganjurkan programnya secara terbuka.

‘‘Sungguhpun begitu Islam mempunyai pandangannya yang tersendiri berhubung perkara ini dan kami akan berpegang teguh dengan syariat yang telah ditetapkan,’’ katanya.

Sumber: Utusan Online

Quarry fund to help rehabilitate sites

IPOH: Over 300 quarry operators in the country may have to contribute to a fund to rehabilitate their quarry sites soon.

At present, only mining operators contribute RM10,000 annually to a fund, set up under the Mineral Development Act 1994.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said the matter would be raised for discussion during the National Mineral Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Nov 17.

Uggah said the Government was forced to take the drastic step as some irresponsible operators would leave their sites unattended after completing their project.

“The state government ended up having to foot the bill to rehabilitate, which is unfair,” he said after opening the Geology Museum here yesterday, adding that under the proposal, quarry operators would contribute to the fund.

“If the state is happy with the operators' rehabilitation work, the money will be refunded.”

Source: SYLVIA LOOI (sylvia@thestar.com.my)

Tanpa MRT, Lembah Klang Akan Sesak?

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia akan berhadapan dengan kesesakan trafik yang teruk jika aliran transit massa (MRT) tidak tersedia menjelang 2020, kata Datuk Seri Idris Jala, ketua pegawai eksekutif Unit Pengurusan Prestasi dan Perlaksanaan (Pemandu).

"Jika kita tiada MRT, saya jamin menjelang tahun 2020, bandar ini (Lembah Klang) akan sesak teruk," kata beliau dalam taklimat media bersempena dengan siapnya 12 bulan pertama Program Transformasi Ekonomi.

Beliau berkata tiada bilangan bas akan menyelesaikan masalah trafik bandar, dan Malaysia memerlukan modus operandi yang berbeza sebagai penyelesaian.

Idris berkata beliau menghabiskan masa selama 15 minit setiap hari di Twitter untuk memberi respon kepada komen orang ramai mengenai ETP, sambil menambah kebanyakan rungutan ialah mengenai pengangkutan awam terutamanya perkhidmatan bas dan kereta api Komuter KTM.

Beliau berkata orang ramai masih lagi belum sedar mengenai usaha-usaha kerajaan untuk memperbaiki sistem pengangkutan jalan raya, sambil memberi contoh tempahan untuk keretapi dan bas baharu serta menghias semula perhentian bas di Lembah Klang.

"Segala-galanya telah dilakukan dan orang ramai masih lagi merungut kerana jawapannya bergantung dengan MRT," tambah beliau.

Bagi mengurangkan kos, Idris berkata Malaysia telah belajar dengan menderaf pembangunan MRT termasuk dari Korea Selatan, Jepun dan Singapura.

Sumber: BERNAMA