Tag - Environment

KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is prepared to play an important role in assisting member countries in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-The Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) grouping in achieving its objectives in numerous ways. Its vice-chancellor, Professor Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah, said the role could be through an exchange of lecturers and students, conducting joint research and development, joint publications, collaborating conferences and seminar, especially in relation to forestry and marine resources. “Other areas where we urgently need to combine our expertise in are tropical biology and conservation, marine science, fisheries, food security, marine resource management, bio-technology, sustainable tourism development and poverty eradication. “UMS has the potential to become an excellent centre of reference for major topics and issues relating to the BIMP-EAGA grouping in the areas of sustainable tourism, bio-diversity, aqua-culture and poverty eradication, which is in line with the university’s core research niches. Harun said that at the BIMP-EAGA conference 2012, themed ‘Enhancing Sustainability, Competitiveness and Innovation’ at the Pacific Sutera Harbour yesterday. The establishment of the BIMP-EAGA unit for Tourism Development (BE-UTD), said Harun, was officiated by former president Fidel Ramos of The Philippines last year. The unit is responsible for promoting inter and intra BIMP-EAGA tourism through research activities, capacity building, facilitating information exchange, promoting tourism investment and developing strategic partnerships between universities, non-Governmental organisations and tourism stakeholders in the BIMP-EAGA region. The recently-appointed vice-chancellor of UMS added, that the BIMP-EAGA’s potential as an economic trade and investment zone has been recognised and is no longer an issue for debate. The sub-region within the ASEAN entity has a ‘domestic’ population of more than 60 million. Harun said, BIMP-EAGA presents itself as a very viable market. “The availability of abundant natural resources gives it huge potential for tourism development, marine and agri-based industries, as well as varied levels of economic development. “There are however numerous issues which need to be addressed in order to achieve its full potential and these include climate change, safety and security, poverty eradication, terrestrial and marine issues and infrastructure development. “To address these challenges, the concepts of innovation and sustainability provides long-term solutions for the BIMP-EAGA region. “Our ability to innovate is an essential component to increase not only the competitiveness of our economies, but also improving our quality life,” he said, adding the goal highlights the strong social and environmental dimension in which innovation incorporates. He expressed belief that it favours the capacity for growth while respecting the need to preserve natural assets and secure social cohesion. According to Harun, sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future generation. Sustainable activities, he said, should involve economic, social and environmental issues. In the context of BIMP-EAGA, Harun asserted that resulting priorities would include combating climate change, ensuring sustainable transport, addressing demographic and social inclusion issues and managing responsibly of the natural resources. The conference which was officiated by Tourism, Culture and Environmental Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun, saw UMS and the Palawan State University and UMS and the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), signing Letters of Intent towards formalising the relationship between the institutions in a bid to intensify joint researches and publications benefitting the BIMP-EAGA region. The intended formalisation of relationship would stimulate and facilitate the exchange of ideas and findings among academicians and industry leaders to propel towards future collaborative efforts in ensuring sustainable development. Source : Borneo Post

KOTA KINABALU: A building resembling a wakid, the basket that Sabah’s ethnic Kadazandusuns use to carry their agriculture produce for generations, has become the first certified green structure in the state. The RM16mil Sabah Art Gallery Conservation Centre in Luyang here has been accorded the silver classification from the Green Building Index Accreditation Panel. On hand to receive the honour from panel chairman Boon Che We was state Tourism Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun who said the building’s solar pho­­­­tovoltaic electricity generating system produced 5% of its power needs. “The building electricity demand would thus be 1mW less a year – saving 780 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted during that period,” he said. Rainwater will also be harvested, thus saving up to 330,000 litres of potable water or 32% of the total annual consumption. Masidi said other energy-saving features in the building included the use of efficient LED lights with motion sensors that would automatically switch off should visitors walk away from paintings or any other exhibit there. “Automatic photo sensors have also been installed to integrate natural and artificial lighting systems to avoid unnecessary energy wastage.” Boon said the centre was among 70 structures in the country that had been accorded the green certification. Of these, 39 are new non-residential buildings, 25 residential ones and five structures that are green-retrofitted, one of which is the Prime Minister’s office. Boon said the panel had received applications for green certification from owners of a diverse range of properties, including government and corporate offices, hotels, shopping malls, factories, hospitals and airports. Source : New Straits Times