The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Towards an energy-secure future
- School receives RM50,000 donation
- Crowd brave the rain to join in MCA mega dinner celebration
| Towards an energy-secure future Posted: 02 Nov 2012 08:34 PM PDT KOTA KINABALU: Some 130 people representing Southeast Asia, India and the United States converged in Sabah, sharing stories, struggles and solutions surrounding renewable energy. The inaugural Southeast Asia Renewable Energy People's Assembly (SEAREPA) at the Rainforest Discovery Centre here drew 80 organisations with the common goal of building an equitable, energy-secure future and strategic partnerships in the region and beyond. In keeping with the spirit of a people's led forum, there were no presentations and instead, participants helped shape and determine what they wish to talk about over the course of the Assembly, which ends on Friday. Participants voluntarily took turns to point out on a world map the time their renewable energy journey started, and shared stories on their respective nations' policies on power generation, and challenges that they face in pushing for non-fossil fuel electricity. They also spoke of types of technologies and capabilities available in generating renewable energy, and methods to reduce use of electricity. SEAREPA coordinator Gabriel S. Wynn said community-based solutions and cost effective, reliable models for generating renewable electricity are among features of the Assembly that will in its own way help create a sustainable energy-secure future for the planet. "SEAREPA is a process that started over a year ago, and we are honoured to see participants from 11 countries here today, all eager to share their views on how power is generated in their communities, regions and countries, and what renewable energy means to them. "We have managed to draw interest not only from community groups and NGOs, but also government agencies and the private sector. We look forward to some interesting discussions with such a diverse mix of people," Wynn said. Wynn said participants will declare partnerships and goals, and outline next steps for SEAREPA. He said the idea for SEAREPA evolved from a successful grassroots campaign to halt a coal-fired power plant in Sabah, and is additionally driven by the need for a more effective process towards addressing local demand for energy and the global problem of climate change. SEAREPA is co-hosted by Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), TONIBUNG (Sabah-based Friends of Village Development), Green Empowerment and the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC). Partners include the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, International Accountability Project (IAP), Pacific Environment, Samdhana Institute, WWF Malaysia, the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia (JOAS) and Coalswarm. |
| School receives RM50,000 donation Posted: 02 Nov 2012 08:35 PM PDT LABIS: SJK (C) Ai Chun in Tenang Station received a RM50,000 donation from members of public recently to upgrade infrastructure and facilities in the Chinese primary school. The fund was raised by the MCA and presented to the school board of governors by Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong. School board chairman Low Kiong Chin said the school was established in 1935 in Voules Estate before it was relocated to its current location near Tenang police station in 1971. "The buildings and infrastructure are old and need to be upgraded from time to time. "We hope to provide a more conducive environment to the students," he said when met at the cheque presentation ceremony held at the school. Low said the fund would be used to repair windows, doors, replace old computers and others. The school has 145 students currently, he added. Chua, who is Agriculture and Agro-based Industry deputy minister, thanked members of public who were generous and care about Chinese education. "This shows that they have confidence in the party and the future of Chinese education in this country," he said, adding that he would leave it to the school to decide how it would spend of the fund. Chua said he hoped the school would make full use of the fund for the benefit of the students. |
| Crowd brave the rain to join in MCA mega dinner celebration Posted: 02 Nov 2012 08:35 PM PDT JOHOR BARU: The Chinese idiom feng yu tung lu, directly translated to staying together in the rain, perhaps, best describes the MCA mega dinner on a rainy night last Sunday. Thousands of diners, many holding umbrellas, had stayed on in the open air Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Muar to listen to MCA leaders who spoke on stage. Is is certainly more than braving the rain though; as the popular phrase also denotes comradeship and loyalty that withstand the test of crisis. The intermittent rain started about 6pm, an hour before the start of the dinner; but it had failed to stop some 8,000 people from making a beeline to the venue. Datuk Ser Dr Chua Soi Lek who arrived early went round the stadium to greet the people. The MCA president who took to the rostrum about 9pm, praised the people for staying on despite the rain, and this, he said, was testimony to their concern for the future of the country. "Stability and harmony in the country will continue to thrive well with your strength and support, " he said at the event themed "Stability Above Chaos". Dr Chua who was seen without an umbrella throughout the event, said there was a need to inform and explain to the people on the country's situation as general election drew nearer. Admitting that the Barisan Nasional is not free from weaknesses, he pointed out that the Pakatan Rakyat is "far from its portrayal of a perfect coalition". "While Barisan has a track record in nation building and an economic model to transform the country into a high income nation by 2020, the Pakatan only churned out populist policies, " Dr Chua said. He also challenged Pakatan leaders to a debate if they felt what he said of the coalition was baseless. He said among the pledges the Pakatan made to the people were; abolish the tolls, car taxes and Higher Education Loan Fund or PTPTN. The Pakatan, he added, also pledged a minimum of RM4,000 monthly household income for Malaysians if the coalition makes it to Putrajaya. There are 3.8 million housesholds who would benefit if it materialised, and this would cost the Government RM93bil annually, Dr Chua said. "I have openly said many times that all the pledges by Pakatan will cost the Government at least RM200bil a year, and this will bankrupt the country within two years." During the event, RM340,000 proceeds from the dinner was donated to 58 Chinese primary schools and two independent schools. |
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