The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- Haze: Sime Darby calls for proactive measures to fight haze
- Syed Hamid: SPAD agrees to 10% surcharge on Raya bus fares
- Jonker Walk: Small protests but business as usual at tourist spot
| Haze: Sime Darby calls for proactive measures to fight haze Posted: 28 Jun 2013 08:44 AM PDT PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Plantations says haze-causing fires in Sumatra were not from areas planted by its subsidiary. It said in a statement Friday that between June 11 and 19, five hot spots were found on land within the concession area of PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati (PT BNS), a company owned by PT Minamas Gemilang, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantation. However, examination of satellite data and on ground assessment teams established that these fires were not in areas planted by the company. Sime Darby Plantation managing director Datuk Franki Anthony Dass said to address the current issue of haze from fires in Riau Province in Sumatra, Indonesia, and its causes, PT Minamas Gemilang called on all other stakeholders to enter into constructive dialogue to find a sustainable solution to the problem. "It is time for all stakeholders to work together to find a way to address what has become an annual problem of the haze, and the tremendous toll it takes on the environment and the health of affected communities on both sides of the Straits of Malacca," he said. "On our part, PT Minamas would be happy to assist and participate in any constructive discussion on this matter. "Local communities, civil society groups, academics and other companies operating in affected areas should offer technical assistance and support to the Government of Indonesia to study the issues and address the root causes of the problem," Dass added. Sime Darby said among the issues that would need to be addressed include: (1) the responsibilities of different stakeholders; (2) how various stakeholder groups can work together to prevent future occurrences; (3) legal issues pertaining to land use and occupation; (4) best agricultural management practices. The statement said fires in the Riau Province have resulted in a hazardous smog blanketing Singapore, parts of Malaysia and southern Thailand and the Indonesian authorities have long sought a solution to this annual problem. Local communities plant a variety of cash crops such as corn and sugar cane, the statement said. Under current regulations and conventions dealing with local communities and the preservation of traditional farming methods, concession holders are unable to control or influence the practices and activities of these communities. "PT Minamas has conducted awareness programmes on the negative impact of slash and burn activities on local communities in the peat areas. "It intends to intensify this awareness programme together with other plantation companies and local authorities," Dass said. Sime Darby Plantation, the world's largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil, has had a zero burning policy since 1985. In Indonesia, 20 of the company's 25 mills under PT Minamas have been certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO is a voluntary certification body, whose members include civil society groups and players along the entire palm oil value chain. "There are several companies within the palm oil industry who observe high agricultural standards. "As an industry, we could contribute significantly to discussions on how to solve this problem," Dass said. For its part, Sime Darby Plantation and PT Minamas would bring to the table, more than 100 years of expertise in best agricultural practices backed by cutting edge R&D capabilities, experience in establishing responsible and successful outgrowers' schemes and experience in the management of land, on both peat and non-peat soil. Sime Darby Plantation has studied two other areas, one where the company is managing an area cultivated on peat land by local communities under the plasma, or outgrowers' scheme, and another where it had acquired a plantation established on peat soil. In the first area in Jambi, South Sumatra, local farmers, under the plasma scheme, plant oil palm but are exposed to and educated in the company's best agricultural policies. In the other area in Lavang, Sarawak, Malaysia, Sime Darby Plantation manages a small estate in which no fires have been recorded since the inception of planting in the mid 1990s as a result of efficient water table management, encouraging beneficial vegetation to protect the soil and strict adherence to the company's policies. "Out in Riau, our officials and fire fighting teams are already assisting the local authorities and communities to spot and put out fires," Dass said. "However, for the longer term, sustainable solutions that do not undermine the rights of local communities and traditional farming methods need to be found. For this to be effective, we need multi-stakeholder discussions." In 2008, Sime Darby Plantation implemented a strict policy prohibiting the clearing of peat areas. Existing areas that were cleared before the implementation of policy are carefully managed to ensure that there is minimal environmental impact. |
| Syed Hamid: SPAD agrees to 10% surcharge on Raya bus fares Posted: 28 Jun 2013 07:18 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Express bus companies can impose a 10% surcharge on tickets from July 8 to Sept 8. Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said bus operators had previously demanded for a 30% fare hike, citing cost increase over the past five years. This led to SPAD agreeing to the 60-day period for the surcharge. Syed Hamid was speaking to reporters at the Hentian Putra terminal in conjunction with the sale of Hari Raya bus tickets. He also handed out leaflets with information on the surcharge to passengers at the station. Asked if the Hentian Putra station would be upgraded, Syed Hamid said there were plans to move the operators to an eastbound terminal in Gombak in the future. Syed Hamid said touts were still a menace and only the electronic ticketing could rid the problem once and for all. "Touts are a big problem. You don't really see them here but the worst ones are in Pudu Sentral," he said. "It's not enough for us to enforce the law. Bus operators have to take action. We have to work together on this," he said. |
| Jonker Walk: Small protests but business as usual at tourist spot Posted: 28 Jun 2013 07:45 AM PDT MALACCA: It was business as usual Friday night at the iconic Jonker Walk night market despite the new ruling to allow cars in. Motorists were diverted from entering the tourist spot at 5pm by traffic policemen and officers from the Malacca Historic City Council. Other motorists were turned away by a small protests staged by the MCA and DAP, with some shouting "Save Jonker Walk" and holding placards. Traders and hawkers opened their stalls as usual. Others formed a human barricade to prevent motorists from using the pedestrian mall. The council's officers also refrained from taking action against the traders and kept watch from a distance. A brief stand-off came as leaders from the political parties claimed credit of trying to save Jonker Walk. "Where was DAP 13 years ago, you're the first to oppose when Jonker made its debut," shouted an MCA leader. A pandemonium was triggered when several traders shouted at motorists who had parked their vehicles during operating hours. The situation eased when Kota Melaka MCA Youth deputy chief Dr Yee Kok Wah was seen directing cars out of the area. DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang delivered a speech at a makeshift stage. State MCA chief and Jonker Walk committee deputy chairman Datuk Gan Tian Loo said he would meet the chief minister again to resolve the issue. "Jonker Walk has contributed immensely to the state's tourism. In fact, it has also made us proud when it was included in the Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008. "By opening the place to traffic it could derail plans to promote Jonker Walk as a holistic tourism product," he told The Star. Gan noted that the protest by traders has nothing to do with politics as they were voicing out their grievances. "The committee will attempt to meet him (chief minister) again to ask him to look into the predicament faced by the traders," he said. Related Stories: |
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