PETALING JAYA: A novel way to protect the environment is in the pipeline.
NST FEB 27 2007
By Rina De Silva

A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and residents’ associations plans to buy up multi-million ringgit green lungs nationwide so that they would not be developed.The parties who have committed to this effort include: World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia, Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia, Maxwell Towers Owners’ Association Petaling Jaya and Section 5 Residents Association Petaling Jaya. The green lungs will be bought through a National Conservation Trust Fund which will have its own board of trustees to ensure proper and effective management.
 
With the National Trust Fund, everybody from the government sector, NGOs, environmental groups to the public could contribute towards protecting the environment and protecting lives, said Victor Oorjitham, chairman of the protem committee for the fund and chairman of the Maxwell Towers Owners’ Association Petaling Jaya.
 
“We want to appeal to the public to give any amount to protect the environment,” he said.
 
“When it comes to green open spaces, it is only logical that people subscribe to such a proposal.”
 
About 46 Petaling Jaya residents’ associations and 20 NGOs had also pledged their support, said Edward Lee, president of Section 5 Residents’ Association Petaling Jaya and chairman for the Protem Committee All Petaling Jaya Pro-Action Committee. 
 
Lee said residents had been protesting, demonstrating and picketing for years against development which threatened the environment and their lives but it had not yielded any positive results.
 
“By setting up the fund, we are putting our money where our mouth is. We can’t see it any other way,” said Lee who had met with residents’ associations in Penang, Kuantan and Ipoh to rally support.
 
“We are not fighting with anyone. This fund will be a collaborative effort,” he stressed.
 
Once the lands have been bought, the trustees will begin their efforts to turn them into a national heritage.
 
They will also be accountable to the public and to all those who have a stake in preserving the natural resources.
 
Oorjitham said the fund would be set up as soon as a patron, a board of trustees, a financial institution and an audit company were appointed. 
 
Former Bank Pertanian chairman Dr Agoes Salim, who is protesting the proposed hill slope development in Jalan Hulu Kelang, welcomed the effort.
 
“I think it is a good idea to protect the environment, provided the fund is managed by trustworthy trustees.”
 
John Liu, 24, from Taman Seputih, said he would not mind contributing RM10 towards the fund.
 
“I agree in principal to the cause but I need to know the mechanics on how it is all going to work,” he said.