Martin Carvalho The Star 11 May 11;
PETALING JAYA: Emerging ecological consciousness has led several non-governmental organisations and individuals to form the country’s first green movement in the People’s Green Coalition.
Coordinator Dr Pa Khim Ghee said the groups and individuals met in Kuala Lumpur on April 16 to form the coalition aimed at strengthening the country’s green agenda.
“The coalition is not linked to any political party and accepts support from any individual or group,” he said yesterday.
He noted that the coalition differed from that of “green parties” in Europe and merely wanted to enhance the green political agenda in the country.
“The coalition will remain a community-based movement to render support to communities facing ecological and environmental issues,” he said.
Currently, Dr Pa said, the coalition’s focus would be to stop the Lynas rare earth processing plant in Gebeng, Pahang. He cited the recent protest by some 400 people on Mother’s Day in Kuantan as an example where the coalition had rendered its support.
He said 10 groups had joined the coalition with more expected to join in future.
The groups that have joined the coalition so far are Persatuan Penasihat Keselamatan and Kesihatan Pekerjaan Pulau Pinang, Save Malaysia! No Radioactive, Pahang Doesn’t Need Hazardous Projects (Facebook), cleanmalaysia.wordpress.com, Sembang-sembang Forum, Coalition for Good Governance Penang, and Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement.
