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In the current session of Parliament, we have raised the motion: That this House debate the National Policy of Environment on all aspects including prevention of pollution, soil erosion and landslide, economic, social and cultural growth as well as sustainable development. That an Action Plan must be drawn up to make the Policy a success. That the number of disasters such as landslides in Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands and Pos Dipang were connected with human negligence and that effective measures must be taken to prevent similar tragedies.

We shall continue to ask for a National Policy of Environment and to encourage campaigns to make people more conscious of the environment. We shall keep an eye on government departments connected with environment.

On 22 April 1970, a former U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson began demonstrations on the pollution of Earth. Thirty years later, Earth Day still witnesses environmental destructions: growing population, development, industries and human greed have devastated jungles, rivers, seas and atmosphere.

Information technology, IT, is spreading more messages on environmental protection. More people in the world learn about nature, biodiversity, wildlife conservation, oceans, population, climate, and freshwater or the lack of it.

If the people in developed nations know about environment and want those in the developing world to know better, that is fine. Those in the developed World should show good examples. For example, can they cut down on the nations' major contributions to pollution in all aspects? For hundreds of years, vast jungles were destroyed in the West. While it is true that the East or the South should not emulate the wrongdoings, the West should do more. Can the transnasionals take more environmental measures to protect the Earth?

Dr Tan Seng Giaw