Basically, Malaysia environmental management framework today is the consequences from EQA 1970s. During that time most of the work has been focused on providing related guidelines as well as standards particularly on clean water supply and pollution control. As the times gone, the framework evolve to meet the current demands.

Nevertheless, there have many issues and challenges in the formulation and execution process. We still reactive in many issues. For instance, highland tower tragedy was not serving any lesson to us and 15 years later we have faced the same disaster at Bukit Antarabangsa just 1.5km from the place. Could we simply say that all this happen by act god? This is really an escapism statement, indeed!

Above is one of the example from many hanky-panky environmental management issues in Malaysia. Nevertheless, all those obstacles must be overcome strategically by taking social and economic issues into consideration. In many turnarounds and transformation, the hardest battle is simply to make people aware of the need for the strategic shift. Lack of education and awareness has been identified as the main factors that the ‘green concept’ still has yet to gain full momentum amongst the organizations, whether privates or government. We are too obsess on technical while ignoring some ethical parts in managing our environment.

Besides the urgent needs for a holistic environmental policy, high commitment amongst the stakeholders which translated in their practises is paramount. Commitment will come with the sense of ownership. As my blogger colleague from Planet of Monyet, Dr Bala said, Instilling ownership is very important. Without instilling a sense of ownership amongst stakeholders, any plan will fail. After all, human capital development must be strengthened. No matter how good our objectives, skills, technologies and strategic planning are. But without knowledge-driven approach we will false picture in tailoring our future.

After WHO issued a level-five alert of pandemic, finally the virus reached Malaysia, make it to 36th country to be affected by the H1N1. Blaming towards intensive farming is spreading like the H1N1 virus itself. In fact now, there is the first legal action which target a pig farm in US. Husband of H1N1 victim in Texas (the late Judy Dominguez Trunnell, the 33-year-old special-education teacher who on May 4 became the first U.S. resident to die of H1N1 flu) has filed a petition against Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer, based in Virginia, and the owner of a massive pig farm in Perote, Mexico, near the village of La Gloria, where the earliest cases of the new H1N1 flu were detected.

In a report Avian flu: time to shut the intensive poultry flu factories? of 2006, Caroline Lucas outlined how bird flu has been endemic in wild birds in much of the world without leaping the species barrier and causing people any harm. But in damp and cramped conditions, a series of mutations can occur resulting in a highly pathogenic form. Within crowded chicken factory farms, the mild virus can evolve rapidly towards more dangerous and highly transmissible forms, capable of jumping species and spreading back into wild birds, which are defenseless against the new strain.

In Malaysia, technology for waste disposal in pig farming industry are still backward and not even environmentally- friendly in practice. This has created a bad perception towards industry. Although experts are increasingly warning that the practices of intensive farming must be reviewed and regulated, actions seems idle. Furthermore, illegal pig farms has worsen the situation where DOE can’t do any actions as the farms are not subject to EQA 1974 (Sewage and Industrial Effluent). Delay in action to address such an issue will undermine ‘One Malaysia’ effort as the matter can create not only environmental problems but social harmony may be affected too.

In reality, it will be difficult to reach any firm conclusions about this current outbreak of swine flu until more details emerge, it is crucial that the authorities undertake an urgent inquiry, in order to get a nettle grasp of the development and spread of animal-based epidemics which can be lethal to humans. However government should seriously manage this traditionally bad perception of piggeries in a wise manner as the issue is very sensitive to Malaysian especially Malay.

Piggeries should be modernized in order to reduce public health and environmental risk while taking the sensitivity of surrounded people in the adjacent places into serious consideration. As the technology is a bit costly, hence it need a sincere effort from investors upon realization to a modern and ‘green’ piggeries. H1N1 should serve a lesson that wealth is no meaning if at the end of our day, we just to suffer a poor health in our life.

Obama’s calm leadership style, his deliberative methods and his tight teamwork has winsome most of the commentators upon his 100 days of successful US presidency. Unlike others, Mr Farid Zakaria of Newsweek has pointed some specialties on Obama who has read the country and the political moment correctly. He understands that America in 2009 is in a very different place now. Newsweek magazine has reported that today, America is more liberal than it was two decades ago. In a detailed study for the liberal think tank the Center for American Progress, Ruy Teixeira and John Halpin point out that 67 percent of Americans now think favorably of the term "progressive," a 25 point increase in five years, which suggested that Barack Obama's success derives from his understanding of this shift—and his readiness to act on it.

In fact, shortly after his inauguration on Jan 20, Obama was choosing an Arab station, Al Arabiya, to give his first formal TV interview, widely interpreted as a signal that he wanted to improve relations with the Arab and Muslim world. He also called for peace and dialogue with Islam in a speech to Turkey's parliament on his first presidential visit to the Muslim world in April. Furthermore, his desire to cease a deplorable policy disagreement between Iran, Syria as well as Cuba has shown a positive sign that a striking move of closing the gap between the west and the rest (especially Islam) is under the progress, perhaps. Even in this coming June, Obama is expected to deliver a much anticipated speech to the Muslim world in Egypt, seeking to repair ties that were severely damaged under his predecessor George W. Bush.

Despite the remarkable sign, many Arab and Muslim nations are still anger by the reckless invasions of Afghanistan as well as Iraq, abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Bush’s reluctance to pursue Israeli-Palestinian peace. Human rights group such as Amnesty International has stressed that Obama should address about his commitment to being fair on the Israeli-Palestinian issue and others human rights concerns in the Muslim world.

In spite of exhortation, strengthening strategic alliance among muslim countries is crucially needed for a better future as most of the countries are robust in their economic growth. For instance, in terms of the Muslim countries list, by their GDP per capita (from IMF, 2008), Malaysia ranked in the top ten above Turkey and Iran while Qatar was on the top rank among others even in the world. It followed by Brunei, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Libya.

Among D8 countries as well, Malaysia prominently can play a role in bridging the West and Islam. However, recent political scuffle has put Malaysia in a skeptical condition. In current scenario of economic fidgety, both BN and PR should give their priority on harnessing economic growth while performing governance reform especially on the new venture such as nurturing creative minds among rakyat through the appreciation of diversity and do revamp in environmental as well as energy policy by encouraging R&D. There are many things to do locally and internationally. Just ask ourselves, how we are going to spur the West-Islam bridging mission, if we by ourselves can be able to wholeheartedly accommodate the diversity of thinking among us? After all ,muslim should be strong first in order to set a bold action in bridging the West and Islam instead of anticipating something magic to be happened.

Recently I was having time to attend an intellectual discourse namely Bicara Karya which discussing a book, title Mengangkasa Pengajian Tinggi. The speaker was the author it self- Prof Dato’ Ir. Dr. Zaini Ujang, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. He has raised up some important issues especially on idealism within today intelligentsia.- whether they are truly knowledge lover or vice-versa.

University should not be developed in obsession to physical matters per se but harnessing the first class mentality should be the priority. Historically, the establishment of university like Al Azhar just happen through an amazing consistence of knowledge culture. The lecturers was delivering their lectures with responsibility and sincerity. They have no salary until 19th century! This is how idealism above materialism which has been emphasized by Prof Zaini.

Today, we hope more scholars will struggle for such idealism. Knowledge culture expands through a printing culture rather than talking culture, indeed. Ironically, today, the man who talks more (by adding some bombastic words) will be simply conferred as an intellectual. This phenomena will gradually undermined the truly knowledge tradition which has been established by a truly scholar since for years in the society.

Thus the mechanism efforts in sustaining knowledge tradition should be start by printing. Print whatever thought that we think, then open it for debate. Luckily blog have made our life easier! Only that, a cordially- intellectual environment and camaraderie can be achieved not only in the university but in the blogsphere community as well. All of us have our own role, indeed.

Once thought about nasi lemak in KL, most of people will think that Kampung Baru is the right place to go. There are various of side-dishes to be eaten with nasi lemak and the most favourite dish is spicy-crispy fried chicken! In fact it becomes a common place for gathering old friends and even a family too. Having teh tarik in an “open table” space while chit chating with friends until mid night was the most memorable event that always make me smile alone in front of my lap top. Now Kampung Baru still does not change much. The atmosphere is still happenings with a lot of people come to enjoy their well known delicious nasi lemak during night time.

It sounds good for the sake of development, but the development should be redefined within the own context of Kampung Baru itself. This includes taking the existing residents interest into account such as culture and values like architecture and others heritage. Besides culture, ecosystem of the Kampung Baru should be seriously taken into consideration too. Traditionally, most rural urban where tight squeezed by surrounding rapid development (such as Kampung Baru) are facing four main problems thus: sewerage system, drainage system, limited open space and pedestrians as well as old building where possibly might cause hazard to the people.

As the population is escalating with time, all those problems should be seriously address as to prevent Kampung Baru from becoming an urban slump. Today, with more than 70% of people are living in congested and polluted city globally, it is timely for the government to balance both human and environmental factors in order to boost a new image of Kampung Baru as a convenient and enjoyable place while sustaining traditionally Malay image as well as integrated green design in providing solutions to peak oil, global warming, sewerage and solid waste management system.

The rising of global awareness on environmental issues have made green related agendas are becoming the most demanding business today. Recent US stimulus package has allocated US22.5 billion for renewal energy as well as US52 billion for energy efficiency initiatives. China and Europe also have set aside 350 million yuan and £12 billion for environmental projects and green infrastructure over the next three years respectively.All those initiatives manifest that today, the green economy is the path to the sustainable future. However, does the new boon will be able to close the wide rich-poor gap which has been suffered by the world since for ages? Current economic crisis should serve us a lesson, as said by one of the most inspiring social activist, Ghandi : The world is enough for every bodies need, but will not enough for any bodies need, indeed.

A combination of Japanese design, Europe specification and competitive Malaysian price, Proton has finally unveiled their new Exora- the country’s fully home grown MPV! This model has been developed from design to completion in 18 months and at a cost of RM450 mil.

Furthermore, the safety rating for Exora which equivalent to a four-star crash safety rating in the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has made the MPV is becoming more winsome .

As for fuel economy, (7.2L per 100 km) it cost approximately RM13 for every 100km of traveling distance (at steady rate of 90kmh). However, it needs some times to know well about the actual fuel efficiency performance when a full road-test is done.

New spacious Exora is hopefully encourage for carpooling as this is the simple way for Malaysian to participate in the climate change challenge while saving money and conserving energy along the way. Kudos to Proton!