SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT:
ENERGY EFFICIENCY + RENEWABLE ENERGY
by Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar
During the past five Year Malaysia Plan (2001-2005), “[e]fficient utilization of energy resources as well as the use of alternative fuels, particularly renewable energy was encouraged.” During the current 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010), “the energy sector will further enhance its role as an enabler towards strengthening economic growth. In this regard, the sources of fuel
will be diversified through greater utilization of renewable energy. Emphasis will be given to further reduce the dependency on petroleum products by increasing the use of alternative fuels. In ensuring efficient utilization of energy resources and minimization of wastage, the focus will be on energy efficiency initiatives, particularly in the industrial, transport and commercial sectors as well as in government buildings.”[1] In short, energy efficiency is a prerequisite to the development and utilization of sustainable energy from renewable sources.
To date, the current Plan has covered the only following sources of renewable energy (RE), namely, hydropower, biomass, and solar energy. “By 2010, RE is expected to contribute 350 MW … to a total energy supply of 3,128 peta Joule (PJ) or to help meet a peak demand for electricity reaching 20,087 MW,”[2] that is less than 1.7 per cent of the total generation. This percentage will still be far short of the expected pattern, based on the global primary energy supply mix of 24.3 per cent renewable by 2020: which consists of plantation biomass (13.0 per cent), organic wastes (6.6 per cent), hydro (3.9 per cent), solar and wind energy (0.8 per cent). On the other hand, the non-renewables will still be dominant sources of energy, that is, 75.7 per cent consisting of natural gas (29.1 per cent), oil (29.0 per cent), coal (12.7 per cent), and nuclear (4.9 per cent).[3]
Thus, other sources of renewable energy which ought to be featured in the forthcoming 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) are: energy from organic waste including solid waste, tide and tidal energy, wave energy, wind energy, and ocean thermal energy off the North Borneo (Sabah) Trough.
By 2010, it is estimated that the total amount of solid waste generated by the projected population of Malaysia of almost 29 million is 23,200 tonnes per day[4]. About 45 per cent of the waste generated in Malaysia is food waste which could be sorted at source, collected, and processed by anaerobic digestion to generate methane gas or compressed natural gas as fuel. The composition of the remaining waste that contains “some energy value” is as follows: plastic (24 per cent) and paper (7 per cent). Thus, about 75 per cent of the so-called “organic” waste has the total potential of generating 1,770 MW of power.[5]
Other type of organic waste is that of palm oil mill effluent (POME) which could potentially be harnessed to generate a total of 700 MW power from the conversion of the waste to gaseous methane, by anaerobic generation, from over 400 mills throughout the country. For instance, a typical palm oil mill with capacity of processing 60 tonnes per hour of fresh-fruit bunches (FFB) produces 237,000 cubic metre per year of POME, from which 6,600,000 cubic metre of biogas per year could be produced, and converted, to generate about 1.82 MW of power. This potential does not include the combustion of other biomass, namely, palm fronds, palm trunks, empty fruit bunches (EFB), meso-carp fibres, and shells, into electricity, since these “so-called waste” have competing demands as “materials” for agriculture and other industries.
Along the long shorelines facing the open seas, and at sea, Malaysia has yet to exploit the potential of wind energy, tide and tidal energy, and ocean thermal energy[6].
Wind energy is extracted from wind passing through a turbine, introduced into the traditional windmill design, which has become a power source for electricity generation. A wind turbine can generate from 30 kW of power with swept blade diameter of 10 metres to 3-4 MW with swept diameter of 100 metres.
Tide and tidal energy is the energy extracted from the rise and fall of tides, that is a result of tidal range. The total peak power available from tidal generation at optimum sites throughout the world is estimated to be about 100,000 MW. One major installation at La Rance, Britanny, France has been realized. With 10 square km of surface area of tidal basin, 10 metre of tidal range, the average power that could be generated is about 17 MW.
As highlighted in the February issue of MILENIA Muslim, Malaysia should be on the global map of world’s “ocean thermal energy” resources.
In summary, in order to close the gap that exists between the enormous potential of renewables and their current relatively low market share in energy supply and consumption, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has been founded in Bonn, Germany on 26 January 2009 (http://www.irena.org/). It is the first international organization to focus exclusively on the issue of renewable energies, addressing both the industrialized and the developing world. Its major functions will be to advise its members on creating the right frameworks, building capacity, and improving financing and the transfer of technology and know-how for renewable energies.
Again Malaysia, though its representative did participate at the Preparatory Conference in Madrid on 10-11 April 2008, was not a Signatory State nor in attendance at the Founding Conference of the International Renewable Energy Agency in Bonn in January this year. Over 120 official delegations from across the world attended the founding Conference, and a total of 75 nations, a broad cross-section of developing and industrialized countries, signed the Agency’s Statute.
The founding of IRENA is a key milestone on the road towards a future-oriented energy supply that is secured, reliable, affordable, green, clean, and sustainable. Thus, Malaysia must demonstrate its commitment towards these goals for its sustainability and prosperity.
It is, thus, high time for Malaysia to create its own “National Renewable Energy Agency (NERA)”.
Kandang, Melaka
6 February 2009
Note:
Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar, P.Eng., FIEM, FASc, received his first degree with honours in Engineering from the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia in 1972/3, and a Mechanical Engineer by profession (BEM: 12555), Master of Environmental Science (Miami) on the application of solar energy technology and hydrogen for pollution control in 1976, and PhD (Hawaii) in Marine Geography in 1984.
[1] Ninth Malaysia Plan (2005-2010). Economic Planning Unit. p.393 (http://www.epu.jpm.my/rm9/english/Chapter19.pdf, 1 February 2009)
[2] Ibid, p. 403.
[3] Jose Goldemberg et al (1988). Energy for Sustainable World. New Delhi: Wiley Eastern Ltd. p.489
[4] It is based on the average generation of waste at 0.8 kg per capita per day.
[5] This is based on refuse with an average heating value of 8.8 MJ/kg (Goldemberg et al (1988: 488))
[6] The treatment of this source of renewable energy has been covered in the February 2009 issue of MILENIA Muslim.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY
THE PROSPECTS OF GENERATING RENEWABLE ENERGY TILL ETERNITY: NOT NUCLEAR,
BUT FROM THE THERMAL-ENERGY DIFFERENTIAL OF THE WATER DEPTH OFF SABAH TROUGHby
Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar[1]
Malaysia is not yet on any global map showing the areas with the potential of generating ocean-thermal energy. However, with the completion of a recent marine survey in the South China Sea during the period 2006-08 (MyMRS)[2], it has been confirmed that indeed the temperature at the bottom of the North-Borneo Trough (and also known as “Sabah Tough”) at a water depth of 2900 metres (m) is about 3 degree Celsius (º C), compared to that of the surface at about 29º C. According to the popular scientific literature, any area with such a temperature-differential of over 22º C has the potential generating not only renewable energy but also freshwater[3].
Nonetheless, the latest technology using a highly efficient cycle called "Uehara Cycle” which has been developed by Dr Haruo Uehara, a former President of Saga University, can generate electricity with temperature difference of only 15º C and also desalinate seawater with 5º C temperature difference. As long as there is temperature difference, power generation and desalination are possible regardless whether or not the site is within tropical or subtropical region. That also implies that “waste heat” from industries can be recovered as energy source. This technology is called Discharged Thermal Energy Conversion (DTEC). DTEC system has been under operation at oil refineries in Chiba Prefecture[4].
Most of the planet, over 70 per cent of its surface, is covered by the oceans and their adjoining seas, and they absorb a staggering amount of energy from the Sun each day. Ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC, taps into this energy to produce electricity.
Ocean thermal energy conversion relies on the fact that water near the surface is heated by sunlight while seawater deep in the dark is much colder. OTEC plants use warm surface water to heat ammonia or some other fluid that boils at a low temperature. The resulting gas is used to drive turbines that produce electricity. The gas is then cooled by cold water pumped up from the ocean depths and the resulting fluid is recycled to help generate power[5].
In other words “OTEC is a power plant to use warm surface seawater to evaporate working fluid of ammonia-water, and then the ammonia vapor drives turbines to generate electricity. The ammonia vapor is cooled by cold deep seawater to be condensed and the re-liquefied ammonia-water is recycled as the working fluid.”[6]
In fact, the history of this technology is not that new; the basic of which was introduced by a French scientist Mr. A. D'Arsonval in 1881, over a century ago. Since then, there had been hardly any development or interest until the oil crisis in 1970s. Particularly, researchers in Japan, and in the USA as well, were strongly motivated for in-depth study of OTEC. The said professor at Saga University of Japan started in 1973 his OTEC study and since then, his study team has been tackling all sorts of theme needed for the realization of a commercial OTEC plant. They have built so far 11 experimental plants, acquired the necessary technical data and know-how, and have registered a number of patents both in Japan and in other countries.Xenesys Inc., Ltd., Japan, a company undertaking the commercialization of the Saga University's OTEC study, also took part in the research and development works at the university and was granted in January 2000 by the Japanese Ministry of Education to acquire all patents held by Saga University.
Among many events in the short history of the technology development is the experimental 1MW project by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennnai, India, that is worthy of special mention from the point of view of its output capacity. The plant, which has been put into operation since mid 2001, has been a stepping stone for a commercial use of OTEC: Prior to this, Saga University succeeded with 1 kW experimental plant in 1977; The Mini-OTEC project by USA was a success with 50kW gross power in 1979; Tokyo Electric Co., and its subsidiary undertook successful experiment of a 120 kW OTEC in the Republic of Nauru 1981; Kyushu Electric Co., of Japan succeeded with their 50kW OTEC in Tokunoshima island in 1982; A 75 kW experimental OTEC plant was installed at Saga University in 1985; USA completed their 210kW open cycle OTEC plant off coast of Kona,Hawaii, in 1993; and Saga University built another experimental 4.5 kW OTEC plant with a newly invented cycle in 1994.[7]
Further development in Japan since 2001 has been the completion in 2002 of Enzan Facility at Enzan City, Yamanashi Prefecture which is equipped with fully automated pressing and welding lines for the production of heat plate exchangers, the key device for the OTEC, thermal energy, and seawater desalination systems; the establishment in 2003 of the Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University (IOES) with the following activities: basic experiment facility for 30kW OTEC power plant utilizing “Uehara Cycle”; basic experiment facility for seawater desalination system utilizing spray-flash evaporation method (10tonne/day); basic experiment facility for production and storage of hydrogen; basic experiment facility for extraction of lithium from deep seawater; and simulation experiment facility for environmental impact study of deep seawater; and in 2004, the completion of the basic design of power generation system for DTEC to 4,000kW in winter, (and 3,300kW in summer), which is a joint research project undertaken by Chiyoda Corporation, Fuji Oil Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., with the support of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), and Sodegaura Oil Refinery of Fuji Oil Co. Ltd, Japan.
What’s the potential in Malaysia, off the Sabah Trough? Based more on the advanced “Uehara Cycle”, than on the classic Rankine Cycle, 1 MW of power could be generated by “pumping” 1.5 cubic metre of “cold water” from a certain depth per second. The size of the Trough is estimated to be about 60 km in width and 100 km in length with the depth of 2500 metres on average. Thus, the amount of energy that could be generated until eternity is well above 50,000 MW, that is about 25 times the size of the 2100 MW of the coal-fired power plant of TNB Janamanjung, in Lumut, Perak, or a challenging alternative nuclear power plant of similar size.
OTEC will be worth over US $50 billion, in terms of the size of the capital required, for its total energy development alone.
What will it take for Malaysia to move forward toward such a sustainable energy future? It would not be any difference from a standard approach that ought to be in place: legal and policy framework with strong political commitment, the necessary institutional arrangement and alignment, and of course, finance. The said technology will follow through … InsyaAllah, God willing!
Penaga, Seberang Prai
1 January 2009
[1] Former Director-General, Department of Environment Malaysia (1990-1995), Advisor to Malaysia National Committee on Continental Shelf, and Elected-Member of the UN CLOS Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (since 1997) (www.un.org/clcs)
[2] The survey has been conducted under the auspices of the Malaysian National Committee on Continental Shelf, Secretariat to the National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Department with the Technical Support of PETRONAS, Department of Survey and National Mapping Malaysia, the Hydrography Directorate of Royal Malaysian Navy, and the Department of GeoSciences Malaysia.
[3]http://www.nrel.gov/otec/markets.html; http://www.nrel.gov/otec/what.html
[4] www. http://www.xenesys.com/english/otec/area.html
[5] http://coolsciencenews.blogspot.com/2008/12/energy-debates-ocean-thermal-energy.html
[6] Nihon Keizai Shimbun, “Xenesys gets rolling for commercialization of its OTEC plant in Tahiti”, October 18, 2008.
[7] http://www.xenesys.com/english/otec/history.html
BUT FROM THE THERMAL-ENERGY DIFFERENTIAL OF THE WATER DEPTH OFF SABAH TROUGHby
Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar[1]
Malaysia is not yet on any global map showing the areas with the potential of generating ocean-thermal energy. However, with the completion of a recent marine survey in the South China Sea during the period 2006-08 (MyMRS)[2], it has been confirmed that indeed the temperature at the bottom of the North-Borneo Trough (and also known as “Sabah Tough”) at a water depth of 2900 metres (m) is about 3 degree Celsius (º C), compared to that of the surface at about 29º C. According to the popular scientific literature, any area with such a temperature-differential of over 22º C has the potential generating not only renewable energy but also freshwater[3].
Nonetheless, the latest technology using a highly efficient cycle called "Uehara Cycle” which has been developed by Dr Haruo Uehara, a former President of Saga University, can generate electricity with temperature difference of only 15º C and also desalinate seawater with 5º C temperature difference. As long as there is temperature difference, power generation and desalination are possible regardless whether or not the site is within tropical or subtropical region. That also implies that “waste heat” from industries can be recovered as energy source. This technology is called Discharged Thermal Energy Conversion (DTEC). DTEC system has been under operation at oil refineries in Chiba Prefecture[4].
Most of the planet, over 70 per cent of its surface, is covered by the oceans and their adjoining seas, and they absorb a staggering amount of energy from the Sun each day. Ocean thermal energy conversion, or OTEC, taps into this energy to produce electricity.
Ocean thermal energy conversion relies on the fact that water near the surface is heated by sunlight while seawater deep in the dark is much colder. OTEC plants use warm surface water to heat ammonia or some other fluid that boils at a low temperature. The resulting gas is used to drive turbines that produce electricity. The gas is then cooled by cold water pumped up from the ocean depths and the resulting fluid is recycled to help generate power[5].
In other words “OTEC is a power plant to use warm surface seawater to evaporate working fluid of ammonia-water, and then the ammonia vapor drives turbines to generate electricity. The ammonia vapor is cooled by cold deep seawater to be condensed and the re-liquefied ammonia-water is recycled as the working fluid.”[6]
In fact, the history of this technology is not that new; the basic of which was introduced by a French scientist Mr. A. D'Arsonval in 1881, over a century ago. Since then, there had been hardly any development or interest until the oil crisis in 1970s. Particularly, researchers in Japan, and in the USA as well, were strongly motivated for in-depth study of OTEC. The said professor at Saga University of Japan started in 1973 his OTEC study and since then, his study team has been tackling all sorts of theme needed for the realization of a commercial OTEC plant. They have built so far 11 experimental plants, acquired the necessary technical data and know-how, and have registered a number of patents both in Japan and in other countries.Xenesys Inc., Ltd., Japan, a company undertaking the commercialization of the Saga University's OTEC study, also took part in the research and development works at the university and was granted in January 2000 by the Japanese Ministry of Education to acquire all patents held by Saga University.
Among many events in the short history of the technology development is the experimental 1MW project by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennnai, India, that is worthy of special mention from the point of view of its output capacity. The plant, which has been put into operation since mid 2001, has been a stepping stone for a commercial use of OTEC: Prior to this, Saga University succeeded with 1 kW experimental plant in 1977; The Mini-OTEC project by USA was a success with 50kW gross power in 1979; Tokyo Electric Co., and its subsidiary undertook successful experiment of a 120 kW OTEC in the Republic of Nauru 1981; Kyushu Electric Co., of Japan succeeded with their 50kW OTEC in Tokunoshima island in 1982; A 75 kW experimental OTEC plant was installed at Saga University in 1985; USA completed their 210kW open cycle OTEC plant off coast of Kona,Hawaii, in 1993; and Saga University built another experimental 4.5 kW OTEC plant with a newly invented cycle in 1994.[7]
Further development in Japan since 2001 has been the completion in 2002 of Enzan Facility at Enzan City, Yamanashi Prefecture which is equipped with fully automated pressing and welding lines for the production of heat plate exchangers, the key device for the OTEC, thermal energy, and seawater desalination systems; the establishment in 2003 of the Institute of Ocean Energy, Saga University (IOES) with the following activities: basic experiment facility for 30kW OTEC power plant utilizing “Uehara Cycle”; basic experiment facility for seawater desalination system utilizing spray-flash evaporation method (10tonne/day); basic experiment facility for production and storage of hydrogen; basic experiment facility for extraction of lithium from deep seawater; and simulation experiment facility for environmental impact study of deep seawater; and in 2004, the completion of the basic design of power generation system for DTEC to 4,000kW in winter, (and 3,300kW in summer), which is a joint research project undertaken by Chiyoda Corporation, Fuji Oil Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., with the support of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), and Sodegaura Oil Refinery of Fuji Oil Co. Ltd, Japan.
What’s the potential in Malaysia, off the Sabah Trough? Based more on the advanced “Uehara Cycle”, than on the classic Rankine Cycle, 1 MW of power could be generated by “pumping” 1.5 cubic metre of “cold water” from a certain depth per second. The size of the Trough is estimated to be about 60 km in width and 100 km in length with the depth of 2500 metres on average. Thus, the amount of energy that could be generated until eternity is well above 50,000 MW, that is about 25 times the size of the 2100 MW of the coal-fired power plant of TNB Janamanjung, in Lumut, Perak, or a challenging alternative nuclear power plant of similar size.
OTEC will be worth over US $50 billion, in terms of the size of the capital required, for its total energy development alone.
What will it take for Malaysia to move forward toward such a sustainable energy future? It would not be any difference from a standard approach that ought to be in place: legal and policy framework with strong political commitment, the necessary institutional arrangement and alignment, and of course, finance. The said technology will follow through … InsyaAllah, God willing!
Penaga, Seberang Prai
1 January 2009
[1] Former Director-General, Department of Environment Malaysia (1990-1995), Advisor to Malaysia National Committee on Continental Shelf, and Elected-Member of the UN CLOS Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (since 1997) (www.un.org/clcs)
[2] The survey has been conducted under the auspices of the Malaysian National Committee on Continental Shelf, Secretariat to the National Security Council, Prime Minister’s Department with the Technical Support of PETRONAS, Department of Survey and National Mapping Malaysia, the Hydrography Directorate of Royal Malaysian Navy, and the Department of GeoSciences Malaysia.
[3]http://www.nrel.gov/otec/markets.html; http://www.nrel.gov/otec/what.html
[4] www. http://www.xenesys.com/english/otec/area.html
[5] http://coolsciencenews.blogspot.com/2008/12/energy-debates-ocean-thermal-energy.html
[6] Nihon Keizai Shimbun, “Xenesys gets rolling for commercialization of its OTEC plant in Tahiti”, October 18, 2008.
[7] http://www.xenesys.com/english/otec/history.html
Monday, January 26, 2009
ON LANGUAGES AND EDUCATION
THE RATIONALITY OF SCIENCE-RELATED SUBJECTS
TAUGHT IN ENGLISH AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FORMAL 3Rs + NON-FORMAL 3Rs
IN TOTAL EDUCATION
by
Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar
The policy that requires the subjects of science and mathematics be taught in English in all national-type schools has been well understood by the few involved in decision-making, but misunderstood by many, including those not in favour of such a policy. The proponents of the policy have been arguing inter alia that the future of Malaysia, in order to be competitive, will also rest with the competency of its citizens in keeping up with the rapid progress in science and technology that is largely communicated in English. It is also recognized that much of the world’s literature especially those relating to science and technology is indeed in English.
At least there is one convincing counter-argument not in support of the said policy, put forth by Prof Dr Shahrir Mohd Zin, is that in order to excel in the subject of mathematics particularly, it is best taught in the language of one’s mother tongue. This subject demands not so much one’s competency in language but more in thought-processes that are easily understood by one’s naturally-born instinctive images. For instance, according to Prof Shahrir, over 90 per cent of Nobel Laureates in Physics and Chemistry are not English-native speakers.
However, some confusion arises at least from the following questions:
· Are the subjects of “science and mathematics” are best taught in English in order to improve one’s competency in English?
· Should the subject of “history” or “general studies” be taught in English instead?
Explained by Tan Sri Datuk Dr Wan Zahid Nordin that “it is not quite true that the subjects of science and mathematics be taught in English, in order to improve one’s competency in English; actually, it is to ensure that the same scientific terms or mathematical expressions in English, not the translations thereof, be taught and used in all type-schools, as such there shall be no difficulties, or confusion arising from using such terms, whenever one is gaining access to the widely available scientific and technical literature in English. That would also save all the trouble of translating the original terms in English into Bahasa Malaysia.”
The writer would argue that if one were to improve one’s competency in English, either the subject of “history” be taught in English or specifically the subject of “creative writing in English” be introduced in all national-type schools. In history, one learns to “describe events, people, and places”, “to analyse the periods of such events”, “to draw lessons learnt”, “to state one’s position relating to such events”, and “to argue what the future events would hold”.
The writer would also argue that it is not so much one’s competency in a language that would bring about excellence; it is the quality of “thinking”. One might try to find an excuse for not having presented a good report in English by saying that his “English is poor!” The truth was his “Bahasa Malaysia was worse than his English!”
The trouble with formal education in Malaysia, the writer would argue that, too much emphasis has been given on the formal aspects of education, that is, the first three Rs: Reading, aRithmetic, and wRiting, but very little attention devoted to the non-formal aspects, that is, the second set of three Rs: obseRvation, Reasoning, and oRal presentation. For instance, the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong seemed to have missed the benefits of the first three Rs, but he had acquired his fame through excellence by having possessed the second set of 3Rs with high-skills, positive attitude, and extreme-aptitude. The other well-known Malaysian, none other than LAT, did admit that “arithmetic” was not his “best” subject. Nonetheless, with the power of his sharp-observation and strong reasoning, he has managed to express himself so well, not in person in the public nor in “normal writing”, but in quick-sketches that capture the imagination of most Malaysians, and residents of Malaysia alike, from all walks of life.
The challenge before the country is as much to attract the “best” back to teaching in schools, colleges, and in universities as to introduce multi-lingualism in all national-type schools, that is, mandatory teaching of four important languages: Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, and Arabic (for Muslims), Tamil (for Hindus), or any other UN languages (French, Russian, and Spanish) (for others too). In overcoming such a challenge, InsyaAllah, Malaysia would have a large citizenary who ought to be enlightened by the need for change, not only for the sake of change, but would demand as much for themselves as they would do for others.
Langkawi
5 November 2008
TAUGHT IN ENGLISH AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FORMAL 3Rs + NON-FORMAL 3Rs
IN TOTAL EDUCATION
by
Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar
The policy that requires the subjects of science and mathematics be taught in English in all national-type schools has been well understood by the few involved in decision-making, but misunderstood by many, including those not in favour of such a policy. The proponents of the policy have been arguing inter alia that the future of Malaysia, in order to be competitive, will also rest with the competency of its citizens in keeping up with the rapid progress in science and technology that is largely communicated in English. It is also recognized that much of the world’s literature especially those relating to science and technology is indeed in English.
At least there is one convincing counter-argument not in support of the said policy, put forth by Prof Dr Shahrir Mohd Zin, is that in order to excel in the subject of mathematics particularly, it is best taught in the language of one’s mother tongue. This subject demands not so much one’s competency in language but more in thought-processes that are easily understood by one’s naturally-born instinctive images. For instance, according to Prof Shahrir, over 90 per cent of Nobel Laureates in Physics and Chemistry are not English-native speakers.
However, some confusion arises at least from the following questions:
· Are the subjects of “science and mathematics” are best taught in English in order to improve one’s competency in English?
· Should the subject of “history” or “general studies” be taught in English instead?
Explained by Tan Sri Datuk Dr Wan Zahid Nordin that “it is not quite true that the subjects of science and mathematics be taught in English, in order to improve one’s competency in English; actually, it is to ensure that the same scientific terms or mathematical expressions in English, not the translations thereof, be taught and used in all type-schools, as such there shall be no difficulties, or confusion arising from using such terms, whenever one is gaining access to the widely available scientific and technical literature in English. That would also save all the trouble of translating the original terms in English into Bahasa Malaysia.”
The writer would argue that if one were to improve one’s competency in English, either the subject of “history” be taught in English or specifically the subject of “creative writing in English” be introduced in all national-type schools. In history, one learns to “describe events, people, and places”, “to analyse the periods of such events”, “to draw lessons learnt”, “to state one’s position relating to such events”, and “to argue what the future events would hold”.
The writer would also argue that it is not so much one’s competency in a language that would bring about excellence; it is the quality of “thinking”. One might try to find an excuse for not having presented a good report in English by saying that his “English is poor!” The truth was his “Bahasa Malaysia was worse than his English!”
The trouble with formal education in Malaysia, the writer would argue that, too much emphasis has been given on the formal aspects of education, that is, the first three Rs: Reading, aRithmetic, and wRiting, but very little attention devoted to the non-formal aspects, that is, the second set of three Rs: obseRvation, Reasoning, and oRal presentation. For instance, the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong seemed to have missed the benefits of the first three Rs, but he had acquired his fame through excellence by having possessed the second set of 3Rs with high-skills, positive attitude, and extreme-aptitude. The other well-known Malaysian, none other than LAT, did admit that “arithmetic” was not his “best” subject. Nonetheless, with the power of his sharp-observation and strong reasoning, he has managed to express himself so well, not in person in the public nor in “normal writing”, but in quick-sketches that capture the imagination of most Malaysians, and residents of Malaysia alike, from all walks of life.
The challenge before the country is as much to attract the “best” back to teaching in schools, colleges, and in universities as to introduce multi-lingualism in all national-type schools, that is, mandatory teaching of four important languages: Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, and Arabic (for Muslims), Tamil (for Hindus), or any other UN languages (French, Russian, and Spanish) (for others too). In overcoming such a challenge, InsyaAllah, Malaysia would have a large citizenary who ought to be enlightened by the need for change, not only for the sake of change, but would demand as much for themselves as they would do for others.
Langkawi
5 November 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
ON NATIONAL POLITICS IN MALAYSIA: STRAIGHT FRONT
The writer was fetched from Kuala Terengganu airport normally by a regular driver in a Proton Perdana, but during the most recent trip to this State Capital, there was a new one and accompanied for the first time by a new lecturer. Both were complete strangers to the writer; but the question posed to the writer even before the fast moving car left the compound of the airport which was under busy construction was rather strange too:
“Dato’! What do you think of the politics nowadays?”
Responded the writer, “I am the last person you should be asking.”
“Surely, Dato’ has something to say”.
“Well, if you insist, let me say the following”:
“For a long time, we had only one “Barisan” that is “Barisan Nasional” (National Front), of course. Now we have another one, “Barisan Alternatif” (Alternative Front). But we can no longer call them by this name, as they are already in Government; it has been known even before the last General Election as “Barisan Pakatan Rakyat” (Citizen Partnership Front). As far as we should be concerned too, there should be a third Front!”
“What is that Dato’? What do you call it?
“Barisan Lurus”(Straight Front), and not by “lurus barisan” that is simply not by forming a straight line only, or “terikut-ikut macam kambing biri-biri; seekor lompat, yang lain pun semuanya melompat. Samaada ada pagar atau pun tidak!” (Do not be a like a herd of sheep; if one of them at the front were to jump, the rest would jump irrespective of whether or not there is a fence before them.)
“If that is the case, Dato’, you should run for the presidency of the Third Front!”
“Well, if one were to do that, who would vote for him or for her? Most supporters were “bengkok” (not straight)!)
That was the end of a quick conversation, as the Perdana had already reached the writer’s regular destination. The writer was also pleased to seeing the regular driver in the same Perdana later in the day back to the airport, but had been wondering since then who was that new driver!
But here in New York during this time of the year, one could not help but to observe keenly a run up to the next Presidency of the United States of America by November 4, 2008. The issues have not been about “you and me! To be in power? But the about the people, the welfare and the well-being of the average households and families, the majority of the “Rakyat” (the citizens), and the local communities.
The key to a great nation is not really as to how the great wealth of the country ought to be distributed or spent on infrastructure which is at times can be so lopsided to the needs of the people, but it what way it would make a difference to the life of every citizen and resident with given equal access and opportunity to be useful, productive, innovative and creative. To do this, it would require greater investment not in the buildings but in the building of tertiary educational institutions and also in pre-school education and in attracting dedicated, committed and good quality teachers. The role of the head of every household or family can not be underestimated.
A closer look at every Olympian and every Olympic Medalist would reveal the immense power of his or her sheer commitment, strong will toward excellence, and total focus, with the support not only from the State or the community but more importantly from the parents and family member(s).
It would also take “a talent to identify other talents”. The success of Michael Phelps, for instance, the only 8 Gold Medalist with 7 World Records in swimming, stems from his talented coach-Manager who has spotted him at his very young age. Of course, there are equally revealing stories of every other Olympian and of other great winners and champions.
Back in Malaysia, one could be certain that there is no shortage of talents. But do we have enough talents to spot on these talents and to continue nurture them toward excellence: from sports to civil service, businesses, and political leadership. Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is such a talented and exemplary leader of Malaysia; but one wonders whether or not he has the talent to have identified his three but plus one Deputy being the eventual successor as Prime Minister of Malaysia.
As Muslims, whenever we are just about to begin performing our Friday and other jumaah (group) prayers, our Imam would remind one and all present not only to straighten our respective safs or “barisan” (rows) but also not to keep one next to another apart but rather “rapat-rapat” (almost touching each other). This is to reflect our continuous efforts of reminding ourselves to be “straight”, and together, to be united as a “team” in order to face all challenges ahead toward a sustainable future.
New York
1 September 2008
NOTE: Dato' Bakar Jaafar is a retired but “Recyclable” ex-Director-General of the Department of Environment, Malaysia, (1990-1995) who has been promoting since 2004 “Indifferent Consumers-pay (ICP)” Principle as a complementary enviro-economic policy instrument to solving the waste problem once for all.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
ON AGRICULTURE: POVERTY ERADICATION AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
“WHAT OUGHT TO BE ON THE TABLE, NOT UNDER … “
No amount of promotion, opening, and closing of pseudo-political gatherings, conferences, exhibitions, seminars, and workshops will make a significant dent to the economics of boosting rural development through agriculture for foods, fruits, vegetables, meats, and other perishables, unless there is an affirmative action by all agents of the Government to continue ensuring that the local produce make up significant portions of the daily menus of all Malaysians and other residents. Although old habits die hard, at least the menus for catering official functions reflect the fruits of local labour, blood, sweat, and tears. New recipes based on local produce and products need be developed and introduced as fast as the other fast food place. Facts, figures, pictures, and images on health and nutrition need be revised or re-edited to reflect the local contents. Pictorial news, advertorials, and the print-media should be sensitive to the need for the promotion of locally grown natural crops of the tropics.
The promotion of "kuih baulu", for instance, by an agriculture agency at an international chain of supermarket is short of the necessary sensitivity. Most of the ingredients including sugar, flour, butter, milk, and quite likely, the eggs, required to make the "kuih" are imported. At a State Expo, a picture of the State's EXCO for Agriculture pulling "teh tarik" was captured by a local newspaper. Again, almost all the ingredients for that so-called national drink are imported. A Ministry promoting "Family Health" in full coloured advertisement page chose to use the image of a glass bowl full of "green apples" presuamably all imported, but why not local bananas, guavas, papayas, and other tropica-exotica.
An affirmative action on BATIK has proven to be of help to many in such a cottage industry. Why not on a range of other local produce?
Should such an action is a hit, then there must be accompanied by a follow-through. Otherwise, whatever is produced will end-up either in the milky water or into the deep forest. Small and Medium producers, as individuals, will have difficulties in penetrating the existing well-established distribution networks and their retail-outlets. A lot of expectations is not what is on the table, but under. There are no buyers like MARDEC for rubber, FELDA for oil-palms, and BERNAS for padi. The thought of having "Sogashosa" as a major buyer and distributor need be re-visited. How about review the current procurement policies of the Armed Forces, and the boarding Schools, colleges, universities, and other Government-linked institutions? It would be a boost to the agro-based industry of Malaysia, as did the initial supply of Coca-Cola to the US Army and that of Pepsi-Cola to the US Schools. The rest ... were history for these two beverage Giants.
Thus, should all relevant agencies are serious about developing rural economy through agriculture and agro-based industry, as part and parcel of a strategy for rural-poverty eradication, there ought to be in place a nation-wide Policy on menu or procurement that calls for locally grown produce and locally processed products."
Dato' Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar,
No amount of promotion, opening, and closing of pseudo-political gatherings, conferences, exhibitions, seminars, and workshops will make a significant dent to the economics of boosting rural development through agriculture for foods, fruits, vegetables, meats, and other perishables, unless there is an affirmative action by all agents of the Government to continue ensuring that the local produce make up significant portions of the daily menus of all Malaysians and other residents. Although old habits die hard, at least the menus for catering official functions reflect the fruits of local labour, blood, sweat, and tears. New recipes based on local produce and products need be developed and introduced as fast as the other fast food place. Facts, figures, pictures, and images on health and nutrition need be revised or re-edited to reflect the local contents. Pictorial news, advertorials, and the print-media should be sensitive to the need for the promotion of locally grown natural crops of the tropics.
The promotion of "kuih baulu", for instance, by an agriculture agency at an international chain of supermarket is short of the necessary sensitivity. Most of the ingredients including sugar, flour, butter, milk, and quite likely, the eggs, required to make the "kuih" are imported. At a State Expo, a picture of the State's EXCO for Agriculture pulling "teh tarik" was captured by a local newspaper. Again, almost all the ingredients for that so-called national drink are imported. A Ministry promoting "Family Health" in full coloured advertisement page chose to use the image of a glass bowl full of "green apples" presuamably all imported, but why not local bananas, guavas, papayas, and other tropica-exotica.
An affirmative action on BATIK has proven to be of help to many in such a cottage industry. Why not on a range of other local produce?
Should such an action is a hit, then there must be accompanied by a follow-through. Otherwise, whatever is produced will end-up either in the milky water or into the deep forest. Small and Medium producers, as individuals, will have difficulties in penetrating the existing well-established distribution networks and their retail-outlets. A lot of expectations is not what is on the table, but under. There are no buyers like MARDEC for rubber, FELDA for oil-palms, and BERNAS for padi. The thought of having "Sogashosa" as a major buyer and distributor need be re-visited. How about review the current procurement policies of the Armed Forces, and the boarding Schools, colleges, universities, and other Government-linked institutions? It would be a boost to the agro-based industry of Malaysia, as did the initial supply of Coca-Cola to the US Army and that of Pepsi-Cola to the US Schools. The rest ... were history for these two beverage Giants.
Thus, should all relevant agencies are serious about developing rural economy through agriculture and agro-based industry, as part and parcel of a strategy for rural-poverty eradication, there ought to be in place a nation-wide Policy on menu or procurement that calls for locally grown produce and locally processed products."
Dato' Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar,
Rural-Urban Business Incubator (RUBI)
ON THE ENVIRONMENT: CLIMATE CHANGE AND RESPONSE
"In the Summary of UNDP Human Development Report 2007/2008, Malaysia is not only ranked 26th in the top 30 of global CO2 emitters but most notably as the country with the highest rate of growth in CO2 emission, that is 221%. Over a period of almost 15 years, it emitted 177 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 in 2004, compared to only 55 Mt in 1990. Thus, its per capita emission has increased from 3.0 tonnes in 1990 to 7.5 tonnes in 2004. If it were to be ranked on the basis of per capita emission, Malaysia would have been in the top 17, that is "ahead" of even France with an emission of 6.0 tonnes per capita only. By the way, the latter depends 75 per cent of its electricity supply from nuclear energy.
Short of relying, from now onwards or far into the future on virtually carbon-free nuclear energy, Malaysia should re-examine its current policy, legal and institutional framework, and organise itself with the following necessary lines of action by one and all:
1. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
1.1 On negotiating fronts at bilateral, regional, and international levels, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Wisma Putra shall assume the leadership and co-ordinate Malaysia's position in matters relating to climate change with the support of a Steering Committee and its consultative group(s);
1.2 At national level, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) shall assume the leadership on the Assessment and Management aspects of Climate Change. The MMS Department of MOSTI should take the lead on the Assessment; and the Department of Environment (DOE) of NRE on the Management. However, the roles of other agencies should not be overlooked: Treasury on economic instruments and other fiscal measures; Economic Planning Unit (EPU) on economic development plans and programmes, including the pricing of energy; RISDA and Lembaga Getah on natural rubber double density planting; the Academy of Science Malaysia and Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) on R&D; Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), and Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) on Policy Research; Ministry of Energy, Water, and Communications (MEWC) on electricity generation, consumption, and tariff-structure; and Ministry of Housing and Local Government on town and country planning; Malaysia Energy Centre (PTM) on renewable energy; Petronas RSS on Energy-to-Materials; The ABC of Palm Oil (PO): MPOAssociation, MPOBoard, and MPOCouncil on sustainability of palm oil, and Department of Agriculture and Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), and Rubber Reseach Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) on Carbon Sequestration
1.3 There shall be a close co-ordination between Wisma Putra, MNRE, EPU, Treasury, and the Attorney-General Chambers; and these key agencies are jointly responsible to a Cabinet Committee on Climate Change.
2. FINANCE
2.1 Other than relying on the existing funding mechanisms that are available under the Kyoto Protocol and other voluntary mechanisms, National Carbon-Trading Mechanism should be introduced as much to promote the energy-efficiency of our industries and services, and thus, increase the level of national competitiveness, as to have greater leverage at international market place for better pricing of national carbon surplus.
2.2 "Carbon Emission Reduction" as well as "Carbon Sequestration" should be treated as tradable commodities by the Malaysian Commodity Exchange. For instance, the excessive carbon generated from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Independent Power Producers' fossil-fuel plants should give credits to smallholders engaged in double-density planting and replanting of natural rubber, as carbon sinks, and thus, help utilize "idle" and "degraded" lands, and raise the income of rural households.
2.3 Carbon-levy should be imposed on purchase of fossil fuels, including petroleum and diesel, and the funds generated be utilized for improving public transport and the development of water-mode of transportation. (Note: In Physics, we learn that it would require less energy to transport goods and services by water than by land, roads, highways, bridges, and causeways).
3. TECHNOLOGY
3.1 Malaysia should promote its indigenous technologies, such as energy-efficient buildings developed by Lucas 'works Sdn Bhd using waste-rubber tyres(www.smartandcoolhomes.com); methane-capture by anaerobic digestion of palm oil effluents (www.envirolift.com.my), and dehydration of foods, fruits, other agriculture crops and industrial products (www.fruits4u.com.my & Tech-Dry International Malaysia Sdn Bhd; vessels, boats, and other types watercraft. Perhaps, PROTON, even not in Joint Venture with Volkswagen, to develop amphibious vehicles: cars that can float. There shall be no worries, should we be caught in flash floods!
3.2 Malaysia should identify carbon-free technologies and enter into some-sort of arrangements and cooperation including joint-venture or acquisition, through Technology Assessment Programme of MOSTI and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
4. POLICY
4.1 Sustainable Energy Development should be promoted through Energy Efficiency Programme, as a prerequisite to Renewable Energy Development, including development of Ocean Thermal Energy, in the Sabah Trough, off the island of Borneo!
4.2 Priority should be given to the development of renewable energy: solar, biogas, biomass, wind-wave, tidal, and ocean-thermal energy;
4.3 Any carbon generated from the utilization of any type of fossil fuel should be offset by carbon-sequestration, through agro-forestry and natural rubber re-planting, and by carbon reduction in other sectors of the economy.
4.5 There shall be systematic and progressive removal of every fiscal or economic barrier to carbon-free economy, and accelerated introduction of attractive fiscal and economic incentives to the development and application of carbon-free activities and measures.
4.6 The mode of transport to the public should be in the following order of availability or access: first, by walking, by walklators, by cycling, by boating, by boat, ferry, or vessel, by rail, by clean-fueled buses, by Trams-MonoRails-Light Rapid Transiit-Mass Rapid Transit, and last, by private vehicles and trucks.
4.7 The industries should opt for the most energy-efficient processes. The "dehydration" technology should be preferred over "refrigeration";
4.8 For residential and commercial buildings "smart and cool construction" should be promoted and widely used over the conventional method of construction that would demand excessive use of "energy-guzzling air-conditioning".
5. CAPACITY BUILDING
5.1 All textbooks, training materials, and syllabuses that are not sensitive to the cause for the environment should be withdrawn or re-edited;
5.2 There shall be a circular introduced that every group that goes for a meeting or negotiation shall comprise a team of three official-experts: the most senior for the wisdom, the senior one for the knowledge and information; and the junior one for the skills, data, and facts. (As they say "... age should be before the beauty ...". Of course, the "brain" and the "beauty" can be the same person.
5.3 There shall be a dedicated website for "Climate Change and Malaysia" for consultative- members and others to interact and to exchange notes or blogs on continuous basis, wherever and whenever it matters most.
5.4 Think-tanks such as ISIS, MIER, MIMA should be engaged in Policy Research on Climate Change; if not, a newly introduced Non-Private, Non-Profit Making Organisation for Climate Change(NP2OCC) should be launched by the Government with an initial grant and funded through some proceeds from Carbon-Levy.
5.5 There shall be a champion in every place, within any space or time, for Malaysia to "shine" again. (Note: If not, what we see around are "shining" examples only; those who are fast becoming bald-headed guys like me!")
Hoping the above recapitulation of the current affairs and expectations relating to the global commons would be of help in our joint endeavour toward a sustainable future."
A. Bakar Jaafar
Mobile: +60 12 320 7201
The global e-mail: bakar.jaafar@gmail.com
p/s May I suggest a mosaic of carbon-free economies by showing some photos: more on public and water-mode of transport; solar Photovoltaics, wind mills, Ocean waves and currents, hydroelectric, hydrogen-fueled vehicles, and rubber planting etc, biogas plant (www.envirolift.com.my).
December 31, 2007
Short of relying, from now onwards or far into the future on virtually carbon-free nuclear energy, Malaysia should re-examine its current policy, legal and institutional framework, and organise itself with the following necessary lines of action by one and all:
1. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
1.1 On negotiating fronts at bilateral, regional, and international levels, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Wisma Putra shall assume the leadership and co-ordinate Malaysia's position in matters relating to climate change with the support of a Steering Committee and its consultative group(s);
1.2 At national level, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MNRE) shall assume the leadership on the Assessment and Management aspects of Climate Change. The MMS Department of MOSTI should take the lead on the Assessment; and the Department of Environment (DOE) of NRE on the Management. However, the roles of other agencies should not be overlooked: Treasury on economic instruments and other fiscal measures; Economic Planning Unit (EPU) on economic development plans and programmes, including the pricing of energy; RISDA and Lembaga Getah on natural rubber double density planting; the Academy of Science Malaysia and Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) on R&D; Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER), and Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) on Policy Research; Ministry of Energy, Water, and Communications (MEWC) on electricity generation, consumption, and tariff-structure; and Ministry of Housing and Local Government on town and country planning; Malaysia Energy Centre (PTM) on renewable energy; Petronas RSS on Energy-to-Materials; The ABC of Palm Oil (PO): MPOAssociation, MPOBoard, and MPOCouncil on sustainability of palm oil, and Department of Agriculture and Malaysia Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), and Rubber Reseach Institute of Malaysia (RRIM) on Carbon Sequestration
1.3 There shall be a close co-ordination between Wisma Putra, MNRE, EPU, Treasury, and the Attorney-General Chambers; and these key agencies are jointly responsible to a Cabinet Committee on Climate Change.
2. FINANCE
2.1 Other than relying on the existing funding mechanisms that are available under the Kyoto Protocol and other voluntary mechanisms, National Carbon-Trading Mechanism should be introduced as much to promote the energy-efficiency of our industries and services, and thus, increase the level of national competitiveness, as to have greater leverage at international market place for better pricing of national carbon surplus.
2.2 "Carbon Emission Reduction" as well as "Carbon Sequestration" should be treated as tradable commodities by the Malaysian Commodity Exchange. For instance, the excessive carbon generated from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Independent Power Producers' fossil-fuel plants should give credits to smallholders engaged in double-density planting and replanting of natural rubber, as carbon sinks, and thus, help utilize "idle" and "degraded" lands, and raise the income of rural households.
2.3 Carbon-levy should be imposed on purchase of fossil fuels, including petroleum and diesel, and the funds generated be utilized for improving public transport and the development of water-mode of transportation. (Note: In Physics, we learn that it would require less energy to transport goods and services by water than by land, roads, highways, bridges, and causeways).
3. TECHNOLOGY
3.1 Malaysia should promote its indigenous technologies, such as energy-efficient buildings developed by Lucas 'works Sdn Bhd using waste-rubber tyres(www.smartandcoolhomes.com); methane-capture by anaerobic digestion of palm oil effluents (www.envirolift.com.my), and dehydration of foods, fruits, other agriculture crops and industrial products (www.fruits4u.com.my & Tech-Dry International Malaysia Sdn Bhd; vessels, boats, and other types watercraft. Perhaps, PROTON, even not in Joint Venture with Volkswagen, to develop amphibious vehicles: cars that can float. There shall be no worries, should we be caught in flash floods!
3.2 Malaysia should identify carbon-free technologies and enter into some-sort of arrangements and cooperation including joint-venture or acquisition, through Technology Assessment Programme of MOSTI and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
4. POLICY
4.1 Sustainable Energy Development should be promoted through Energy Efficiency Programme, as a prerequisite to Renewable Energy Development, including development of Ocean Thermal Energy, in the Sabah Trough, off the island of Borneo!
4.2 Priority should be given to the development of renewable energy: solar, biogas, biomass, wind-wave, tidal, and ocean-thermal energy;
4.3 Any carbon generated from the utilization of any type of fossil fuel should be offset by carbon-sequestration, through agro-forestry and natural rubber re-planting, and by carbon reduction in other sectors of the economy.
4.5 There shall be systematic and progressive removal of every fiscal or economic barrier to carbon-free economy, and accelerated introduction of attractive fiscal and economic incentives to the development and application of carbon-free activities and measures.
4.6 The mode of transport to the public should be in the following order of availability or access: first, by walking, by walklators, by cycling, by boating, by boat, ferry, or vessel, by rail, by clean-fueled buses, by Trams-MonoRails-Light Rapid Transiit-Mass Rapid Transit, and last, by private vehicles and trucks.
4.7 The industries should opt for the most energy-efficient processes. The "dehydration" technology should be preferred over "refrigeration";
4.8 For residential and commercial buildings "smart and cool construction" should be promoted and widely used over the conventional method of construction that would demand excessive use of "energy-guzzling air-conditioning".
5. CAPACITY BUILDING
5.1 All textbooks, training materials, and syllabuses that are not sensitive to the cause for the environment should be withdrawn or re-edited;
5.2 There shall be a circular introduced that every group that goes for a meeting or negotiation shall comprise a team of three official-experts: the most senior for the wisdom, the senior one for the knowledge and information; and the junior one for the skills, data, and facts. (As they say "... age should be before the beauty ...". Of course, the "brain" and the "beauty" can be the same person.
5.3 There shall be a dedicated website for "Climate Change and Malaysia" for consultative- members and others to interact and to exchange notes or blogs on continuous basis, wherever and whenever it matters most.
5.4 Think-tanks such as ISIS, MIER, MIMA should be engaged in Policy Research on Climate Change; if not, a newly introduced Non-Private, Non-Profit Making Organisation for Climate Change(NP2OCC) should be launched by the Government with an initial grant and funded through some proceeds from Carbon-Levy.
5.5 There shall be a champion in every place, within any space or time, for Malaysia to "shine" again. (Note: If not, what we see around are "shining" examples only; those who are fast becoming bald-headed guys like me!")
Hoping the above recapitulation of the current affairs and expectations relating to the global commons would be of help in our joint endeavour toward a sustainable future."
A. Bakar Jaafar
Mobile: +60 12 320 7201
The global e-mail: bakar.jaafar@gmail.com
p/s May I suggest a mosaic of carbon-free economies by showing some photos: more on public and water-mode of transport; solar Photovoltaics, wind mills, Ocean waves and currents, hydroelectric, hydrogen-fueled vehicles, and rubber planting etc, biogas plant (www.envirolift.com.my).
December 31, 2007
ON THE ENVIRONMENT: FROM WASTE TO RESOURCE
WASTE TO “RECYCLABLES” IN COMMODITY EXCHANGE,
AND NOT IN BACKYARDS
by
Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar[1]
There has been a New Year Resolution that does not easily escape a global attention; the Government of China has announced that from June 1, 2008, all retail outlets including supermarkets and department stores shall charge customers for plastic bags (The Star, 19 January 2008, p. N43). Such a Policy has been contemplated in other parts of the world, but its effectiveness has yet to be fully realized. In Malaysia, as outlined since the 8th Malaysia Plan (2001-2005), “Polluters’-pay” Principle has been contemplated: the more one generates waste, the more one has to pay. This Principle has been successfully implemented in the management of toxic and hazardous waste, where should industrial waste generators find that it would no longer be economical to treat fully their own waste, they have a legal obligation under the Environmental Quality Act of 1974 and related Regulations made there under (www.doe.gov.my) either to export their untreated or partially treated waste to approved facilities in developed countries, and not in other developing countries, or to treat them the fully at the only integrated waste treatment facilities for Peninsular Malaysia operated by Kuaiti Alam Sdn Bhd in Bukit Nenas, Negeri Sembilan.
However, this Principle has yet to be considered in the management of non-toxic and non-hazardous waste, namely, domestic and commercial waste. Even it were to be implemented for the domestic waste particularly, it would raise an equity issue, due to the fact that the poor generate as much, if not more, waste that is largely perishable than the rich do. It would tantamount to the poor would subsidise the rich in waste management. Thus, an innovative economic instrument that is sensitive to the question of equity especially in developing economy, like Malaysia, has to be explored.
This column would advance such an instrument based on the newly proposed “Indifferent Consumers-pay” (ICP) Principle. The focus of this ICP Principle is primarily more on the consumers, like you and I, than on the industries, manufacturers and other producers of goods and services. Under this proposed enviro-economic instrument based on this newly introduced Principle, of mine, consumers have the options: either to recycle their own generated waste, to receive some credit points equivalent in monetary value to a levy, and to redeem these credit points when purchasing new goods; or if not, to pay a certain levy. The immediate effect of this instrument would be translated into a simple practice. One would have three waste bins: the first one for “recyclables”; the second one, for “perishables”; and the third one, for the waste that are “toxic and hazardous”. The “recyclables”can be transported and returned, from time to time, to recycling centres, and the recyclers be rewarded with “handsome” credit points equivalent to predetermined amount of levy. The “perishables” can either be taken away by the designated waste management concessionaire, such as Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, Southern Waste Management Sdn Bhd, or others, or be turned to composting materials, especially by those with landed property.
The success of this proposed Government Policy based on the economic instrument derived from this highly innovative ICP Principle would also depend on a set of other supporting Policy instruments derived from the following “key success” factors:
· firstly, the return by consumers of their own collection of toxic and hazardous waste to any recycling centre would be rewarded monetarily, by having made use of the levy collected or the net proceeds from the sales of such “materials”;
· secondly, the collected “recyclables” be traded in the Malaysia Commodity Exchange[2], and not in the backyards prone to floods and flash floods;
· thirdly, production of new goods must contain certain amount of “recyclables” as much to create demand for “recycables” as to produce cheaper or more competitive new goods containing “recyclables”;
· fourthly, special and higher tariff be given to electricity generated from “renewables”, including the waste that can no longer be economically or technically recycled; and
· last and not the least, in addition to the distinctive role and functions of the new Department of National Solid Waste Management, as a Regulator, and that of the proposed national solid waste corporation, as the “business” arm of the federal Government, there is a need to create another institution: “Blue” Foundation supported by a Non-Private Non-Profit Making Organization (NP2O), whose major function is to manage the collected levy.
The continuing search for an “organized programme” in the past and current 21st Century in tackling the garbage, considered as the long outstanding 18th Century issue, can not easily be dismissed. For instance, in the Malaysia Report to the UN Conference on Human Environment, Stockholm, June 1972 states that “Solid waste collection is satisfactory but the disposal system is largely by controlled tipping and burning. The disposal of solid waste is a problem like those in any countries and an organized programme in this direction is needed. The local authorities in many cases are hampered by lack of trained experienced personnel, financial resources, and knowledge of the effects of health.”
The time has come for Malaysia to face this ever growing problem squarely. “Garbage littered on city streets can be not only unhealthy but also politically hazardous” as currently faced by the City of Naples (The Economists, 12 January 2008, p. 40). Otherwise, it would be a need to establish another body: “Royal Solid Waste Commission”. In Bahasa Malaysia, it would sound very unpalatable, “Suruhanjaya Sampah DiRaja”.
A similar body, Royal Sewage Commission, was created by Queen Victoria in order to establish the cause of so many thousand deaths of Londoners in the 18th Century.
In short, with the proposed Policy in place, any litter in the streets or drains will be picked up by any “poor” soul and be recycled in return for the reward of valuable credit points. Should the value of the levy, and thus, the credit points, be reviewed annually and be increased, the credit points accumulated, if not redeemed would become another “tradable commodity” in the national economy. The only downside of the proposed Policy would be perhaps an increase in petty thefts. However, such a problem could be easily mitigated by having to scan and check the identity and authenticity of every “recycler”, or to limit the nature and extent of recycling among those with MyKad or passports.
As a private remark, I bet the proposed concept would work. When it does, please do not apply to yourself. When contemplating of having a new spouse, please do not think of returning the old one!
Monday, January 28, 2008
New York
[1] Former Director-General, Department of Environment, Malaysia (1990-95).
[2] The Chicago Board of Trade “set up the first electronic bulletin board — accessed by computer — that enables buyers and sellers of trash to find one another. The system lists buy and sell offers for most of the major goods that have recyclable value, including paper (office paper, computer printout paper, newspaper), glass (broken bottles, furnace-ready "cullet") and plastic (soda bottles, milk jugs). These goods meant big business in the year before the exchange opened — roughly $5 billion — according to Edgar Miller of the National Recycling Coalition. Miller was instrumental in creating the exchange.” Edward Field, who lives in Chicago, is a reporter in the Midwest bureau of The Economist. His previous article for Illinois Issues was about federal agriculture policy.
Illinois Issues February 1996 * 35
AND NOT IN BACKYARDS
by
Dato’ Ir Dr A. Bakar Jaafar[1]
There has been a New Year Resolution that does not easily escape a global attention; the Government of China has announced that from June 1, 2008, all retail outlets including supermarkets and department stores shall charge customers for plastic bags (The Star, 19 January 2008, p. N43). Such a Policy has been contemplated in other parts of the world, but its effectiveness has yet to be fully realized. In Malaysia, as outlined since the 8th Malaysia Plan (2001-2005), “Polluters’-pay” Principle has been contemplated: the more one generates waste, the more one has to pay. This Principle has been successfully implemented in the management of toxic and hazardous waste, where should industrial waste generators find that it would no longer be economical to treat fully their own waste, they have a legal obligation under the Environmental Quality Act of 1974 and related Regulations made there under (www.doe.gov.my) either to export their untreated or partially treated waste to approved facilities in developed countries, and not in other developing countries, or to treat them the fully at the only integrated waste treatment facilities for Peninsular Malaysia operated by Kuaiti Alam Sdn Bhd in Bukit Nenas, Negeri Sembilan.
However, this Principle has yet to be considered in the management of non-toxic and non-hazardous waste, namely, domestic and commercial waste. Even it were to be implemented for the domestic waste particularly, it would raise an equity issue, due to the fact that the poor generate as much, if not more, waste that is largely perishable than the rich do. It would tantamount to the poor would subsidise the rich in waste management. Thus, an innovative economic instrument that is sensitive to the question of equity especially in developing economy, like Malaysia, has to be explored.
This column would advance such an instrument based on the newly proposed “Indifferent Consumers-pay” (ICP) Principle. The focus of this ICP Principle is primarily more on the consumers, like you and I, than on the industries, manufacturers and other producers of goods and services. Under this proposed enviro-economic instrument based on this newly introduced Principle, of mine, consumers have the options: either to recycle their own generated waste, to receive some credit points equivalent in monetary value to a levy, and to redeem these credit points when purchasing new goods; or if not, to pay a certain levy. The immediate effect of this instrument would be translated into a simple practice. One would have three waste bins: the first one for “recyclables”; the second one, for “perishables”; and the third one, for the waste that are “toxic and hazardous”. The “recyclables”can be transported and returned, from time to time, to recycling centres, and the recyclers be rewarded with “handsome” credit points equivalent to predetermined amount of levy. The “perishables” can either be taken away by the designated waste management concessionaire, such as Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, Southern Waste Management Sdn Bhd, or others, or be turned to composting materials, especially by those with landed property.
The success of this proposed Government Policy based on the economic instrument derived from this highly innovative ICP Principle would also depend on a set of other supporting Policy instruments derived from the following “key success” factors:
· firstly, the return by consumers of their own collection of toxic and hazardous waste to any recycling centre would be rewarded monetarily, by having made use of the levy collected or the net proceeds from the sales of such “materials”;
· secondly, the collected “recyclables” be traded in the Malaysia Commodity Exchange[2], and not in the backyards prone to floods and flash floods;
· thirdly, production of new goods must contain certain amount of “recyclables” as much to create demand for “recycables” as to produce cheaper or more competitive new goods containing “recyclables”;
· fourthly, special and higher tariff be given to electricity generated from “renewables”, including the waste that can no longer be economically or technically recycled; and
· last and not the least, in addition to the distinctive role and functions of the new Department of National Solid Waste Management, as a Regulator, and that of the proposed national solid waste corporation, as the “business” arm of the federal Government, there is a need to create another institution: “Blue” Foundation supported by a Non-Private Non-Profit Making Organization (NP2O), whose major function is to manage the collected levy.
The continuing search for an “organized programme” in the past and current 21st Century in tackling the garbage, considered as the long outstanding 18th Century issue, can not easily be dismissed. For instance, in the Malaysia Report to the UN Conference on Human Environment, Stockholm, June 1972 states that “Solid waste collection is satisfactory but the disposal system is largely by controlled tipping and burning. The disposal of solid waste is a problem like those in any countries and an organized programme in this direction is needed. The local authorities in many cases are hampered by lack of trained experienced personnel, financial resources, and knowledge of the effects of health.”
The time has come for Malaysia to face this ever growing problem squarely. “Garbage littered on city streets can be not only unhealthy but also politically hazardous” as currently faced by the City of Naples (The Economists, 12 January 2008, p. 40). Otherwise, it would be a need to establish another body: “Royal Solid Waste Commission”. In Bahasa Malaysia, it would sound very unpalatable, “Suruhanjaya Sampah DiRaja”.
A similar body, Royal Sewage Commission, was created by Queen Victoria in order to establish the cause of so many thousand deaths of Londoners in the 18th Century.
In short, with the proposed Policy in place, any litter in the streets or drains will be picked up by any “poor” soul and be recycled in return for the reward of valuable credit points. Should the value of the levy, and thus, the credit points, be reviewed annually and be increased, the credit points accumulated, if not redeemed would become another “tradable commodity” in the national economy. The only downside of the proposed Policy would be perhaps an increase in petty thefts. However, such a problem could be easily mitigated by having to scan and check the identity and authenticity of every “recycler”, or to limit the nature and extent of recycling among those with MyKad or passports.
As a private remark, I bet the proposed concept would work. When it does, please do not apply to yourself. When contemplating of having a new spouse, please do not think of returning the old one!
Monday, January 28, 2008
New York
[1] Former Director-General, Department of Environment, Malaysia (1990-95).
[2] The Chicago Board of Trade “set up the first electronic bulletin board — accessed by computer — that enables buyers and sellers of trash to find one another. The system lists buy and sell offers for most of the major goods that have recyclable value, including paper (office paper, computer printout paper, newspaper), glass (broken bottles, furnace-ready "cullet") and plastic (soda bottles, milk jugs). These goods meant big business in the year before the exchange opened — roughly $5 billion — according to Edgar Miller of the National Recycling Coalition. Miller was instrumental in creating the exchange.” Edward Field, who lives in Chicago, is a reporter in the Midwest bureau of The Economist. His previous article for Illinois Issues was about federal agriculture policy.
Illinois Issues February 1996 * 35
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