Tag: Elizabeth Wong

BY NAZLI IBRAHIM

KUALA LANGAT, AUG 18: Past experience and early preparation are the mian factors allowing the 235 hectares of fire in Kuala Langat Utara Forest Reserve to be contained and put out faster than the incident in 2015.

Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco, Elizabeth Wong said the fire which started on August 3 was extinguished yesterday evening after a 13-day operation since August 4.

“Several contributing factors that helped were having a more effective action plan and better equipment compared to 2015, when we did not have tube well, water source was more difficult compared to how fast we get water now to douse and flood the area.

“This time we could ensure a high water-level. In 2015, we took approximately 45 days with a force of about 1,000 men from various agencies including more than 300 Fire and Rescue workers from many states,” she said.

She said that to the media after the briefing by Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), South Selangor Zone Deputy Head, Abu Bakar Kadir when she went to see the fire-fighting operation at the Kuala Langat Utara Forest Reserve yesterday.

She said, besides continuous extinguishing effort, the fire break method or ditching were also effective to stop fire from spreading, four tube welds to pump up underground water to flood the surface and water the ditches, drones and water bombing for six hours.

Wong said, in 2016, there were no forest fire recorded as the same methods were applied.

She said, the operation led by JBPM ran for 24 hours non-stop involving nine agencies in total.

Besides JBPM, the other agencies were Selangor State Forestry Department, Kuala Langat Land and District Office, Local Authority, Mineral and Geoscience Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcment Agency (APMM), Malaysia Royal Police Force, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), Gamuda and more.

BY ERMIZI MUHAMAD

SHAH ALAM, JUL 24: A total of RM1.87 million have been collected by businessmen throughout the state, from the RM0.20 cents charge for usage of plastic bag in Selangor.

Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco, Elizabeth Wong said, that amount is derived from the collection by businessmen who have sent their reports to the State Government, until last May.

“As of May, a total of RM1,871,547.55 have been collected by businessmen in the state, who have file their reports regarding the RM0.20 charge for plastic bag.

“Meanwhile, the revenue collected based on percentage are, 63.98 percent from supermarkets and 36.02 percent from food premises,” she said.

Wong also said, the State Government has spent RM148,000 for the campaign on the ban of plastic bag, since it was launched early last year.

She said, it involves cost of social media, multi-lingual posters, buntings and free bags as promotional items.

In the same development, the State Government encourages businessmen and business associations who charges for plastic bag to send reports to them.

“As at now, the State Government has no plan to penalise businessmen who did not register.

“However, for the long-term, those who fail to send their reports will face difficulties when renewing their licenses,” she said answering the verbal question posed by Kuala Kubu Baru Assemblyman, Lee Kee Hiong, during the fifth term of the 13^th Selangor State Assembly.

Selangor introduced the ban on usage of plastic bag by charging RM0.20 for each bag as an initiative to educate the public to conserve the environment.

The collection is channeled to welfare bodies or consumerism as well as environmental programmes.

BY LIZAWATI MADFA

SHAH ALAM, JUNE 9: Accusations by Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, Tan Sri Noh Omar regarding the illegal landfill in Sungai Merab, Sepang is clearly unfounded and malicious.

Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco, Elizabeth Wong said, the State Disaster Unit has coordinated and helped bomba in the three-acres site since last May.

She said, the initiative is carried out through Operasi Bersepadu involving other agencies such as Sepang Municipal Council (MPSP), Malaysia Royal Police Force (PDRM) and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM).

“80 officers are involved in this operation and RM360,000 have been spent to rent machinery, pumps, mobile toilets, excavators and a special extinguishing substance called the PeatFireX.

“The Selangor Environmental Department (JAS) has also started investigating and reports have been handed over to Attorney-General for review in order to take legal action against the land owner.

“The Operasi Bersepadu ended last May 26, but until today (yesterday), the State Disaster Unit is monitoring the site, everyday,” she said in a statement.

Wong said that there are no more waste being dumped on the site since May, however on June 3, there were underground-burning residue which was under control and succesfully extinguished by the agencies.

She said, the State Government has also drafted short and long-term solutions including issuing Form 7A to land owners to make them clean and restore the lot.

“Of the land owners refuse to act, the State Government will takeover the land. At the same time, we hope the AG’s office can bring this case to court as soon as possible,” she said.

Wong also advised Noh to refer to the Local Government, New Village Development and Illegal Factory Legalisation Exco, Ean Yong Hian Wah to get further details on the landfill issue.

“I also would like to advise Noh to change his attitude that is always slandering Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.

“He needs to be more professional in accordance with his status as a cabinet minister,” she said.

Last May 7, Noh who is also Tanjong Karang Member of Parliament was reported to slam Dato’ Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali whom he claimed to be silent on the illegal landfill issue.

BY: ERMIZI MUHAMAD

SUBANG JAYA, JAN 20: Retailers who are charging RM0.20 for each plastic bag can use the money for corporate and social responsibility (CSR) development.

Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco Elizabeth Wong said although the proposal is yet to be furthered into a resolution, it can still be implemented to fulfil social responsibilities of retailers.

“The State Government is asking retailers to do their own accounting and implement CSR programmes in accordance with their respective businesses,” she said.

However, Wong said this recommendation is not yet a resolution in this state as implemented in Penang and other developed countries, for CSR programmes.

Prior to this, only the Penang Government had formalised the implementation of CSR programmes in an effort to collect money for the purpose of social responsibility services.

Wong was speaking to reporters when met during the Tourism Selangor and Firefly Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing Ceremony in Subang Skypark Airport on January 19.

The State Government has earlier introduced a campaign banning plastic bags and polystyrene usage as an initiative to encourage sustainable and green living in Selangor.

BY: ERMIZI MUHAMAD

SUBANG JAYA, JAN 20: “The State Government is targeting a huge increase of Singapore tourists for 2017,” said Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco Elizabeth Wong.

She is confident that the increase will be driven by Tourism Selangor’s commitment in implementing various tourism programmes with the neighbouring country.

“We already have long-term plans with Singapore to attract more tourists from that country into Selangor.

“I am optimistic that it can be achieved after Selangor had participated in the tourism conference in Singapore, which was also attended by Tourism Selangor General Manager.

“Coupled with the national currency’s volatility, it is very favourable for Singaporeans to come to Selangor,” she said.

She said that in her speech at the Tourism Selangor and Firefly Airlines Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signing Ceremony, held in Subang Skypark on January 19.

Wong had mentioned that Singapore was recorded as the third highest number of tourists to Selangor in 2016.

In the same development, she said Selangor had received a total of 7.21 million tourists in 2016, and the number is expected to increase this year.

“2017 will witness the beginning of a more positive image in Selangor’s tourism industry, with greater increase in the projected number of tourists,” she said.

BY: NAZLI IBRAHIM

SUBANG JAYA, DEC 19: The State Government has allocated a total of RM213,000 for churches in Selangor, to fund communal and religious activities.

The money was presented by Tourism, Environment, Green Technology and Consumer Affairs Exco Elizabeth Wong who represented Dato’ Menteri Besar, Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali at the Selangor State Level Christmas Day Celebration 2016 at Dataran Summit USJ on December 18.

Meanwhile, the celebrations by the Christian community which had started at 6 pm, was lively with over 3,000 visitors who started arriving since afternoon.

Besides entertainment by the Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra, the attraction main of thhe event was the variety of food prepared for the visitors.

Among the interesting and popular dishes, which attracted the visitors of various races and communities, were the bihun Singapore (Singapore noodles), kebab, cendol, fried kuew teow and almost fifteen other delicacies.