Low Carbon News in Malaysia in November 2013
Prime Minister Launches Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon Implementation Plan
6 November 2013
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak launched the Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon Community Implementation Book to enable the residents of Iskandar Malaysia to enjoy better living with the use of more efficient energy in 2015.
Outlining 10 major programmes in giving a new lease of life to the region, the book, among others, contained an environment friendly integrated transportation programme, Iskandar Malaysia mobile management system, guidelines on the green economy and the eco-living challenge for schools project.
It also contained portal programmes for the green technology, branches for urban parks and jungles, responsible tourism and biodiversity rehabilitation, Bukit Batu eco-community and the Green Accord Initiative Award (GAIA) and the Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE), a management system for green buildings in Japan.
The book, encompassing awareness campaigns and activities involving all strata of society including students, social organisations, public agencies and private bodies, also involved programmes to turn the Felda Taib Andak scheme as a Low Carbon Village and Pasir Gudang as a smart, clean and healthy town.
The launching ceremony at the Parliament Building here was also attended by Chief Minister of Johor State Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and the Iskandar Region Development Authority (IRDA) chief executive Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.
At the event, the Prime Minister also launched the iskandar.my, an application for mobile devices developed by IRDA as a travel guide for visitors to Iskandar Malaysia. Using the ‘argument reality’ (AR) technology, the iskandar.my application provides a proposed journey to Iskandar Malaysia, highlighting events and local attractions as well as guiding tourists to follow the Heritage Trail.
According to the IRDA media release, the iskandar.my smart phone application can be found in the Apple App Store beginning today and in Google Play Store at the end of the month. Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled said at the media conference that the book would also be tabled at the climate change conference in Warsaw, Poland at the end ofthe month.
He said the book was among Malaysia’s efforts and commitment in supporting initiatives to tackle the threats to the environment caused by carbon emission which constitutes 40 per cent by 2020.
“The Prime Minister also welcomes the initiatives taken while the launch of the book proves that the state government supports all efforts carried out by the government in tackling the problems of carbon emission,” he added.
References: http://www.nst.com.my/latest/najib-launches-book-to-enhance-quality-of-life-for-residents-of-iskandar-region-1.393586
Prepared by: Teh Bor Tsong, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia