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1. Interview session with Prof Maketab (Prof M)

Me : Assalamualaikum Prof. Thank you for spending some time with me today. I believe you
are a busy guy with lot of commitment; I really appreciate this session very much.
Prof M : Waalaikumussalam. Welcome. I am just free if you managed to book me early. For me,
education purpose is really important and I will fully support any students who want to
talk to me about anything.
Me : Ok, Prof., You are a well experienced guy to talk about our natural environment. As the
president of Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), what is your opinion on our environment?
Prof M : Let me begin with this example. When Apollo 9 was at the outer space, we have
snapped a picture of the earth and we realized that our earth is just a part of a very big
solar system. We just like an island that we should preserve it.
The issue of global warming has risen up later and it is related on governmental issue on
how they manage our resources. When we talk about domestic issue, it is on the
villagers or the people living there to take care of the issue there. We (MNS) are not
paid fighters that will be fighting on your side, we have our own side. If the people want
us to help, we will do our best to help and be with them in the issue. We are outside of
political scope.
When I have been elected as the President for Malaysian Nature Society, I feel honored
as I belief I can contribute more with this post. We in MNS work as volunteer, so nobody
paid us. I receive my wages from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. I am an expert in water,
but when stepped in MNS I learnt a lot on birds, wastes, insects etc. But my specialty is
in hydrology, river and sort of that.
MNS members are locally-bond. In MNS we try our hard to engage with as many people
as possible to change our peoples perception on natural resources and environment.
We focus on conservation and public education which are our 2 main cores. When
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talking about conservation we are referring on conservation of habitat and when talking
about conserving of habitat it is automatically referring to protecting our forest. Of
course forest a very big function in our ecosystem. First as habitat for wildlife and
second is as water catchment area.
Me : Just as to interrupt you Prof., what is the meaning of having Tapir as MNS trademark?
Prof M : A lot of people asked me why MNS choose Tapir as our logo. They said it is come from
species of swine and pig. It is actually totally different. We use Malayan Tapir as our logo
and it comes from different family and genus of swine. The family is closed to Unggulit
or cow. It is actually to encourage people to value our wildlife and to know that our
wildlife and natural resources are now depleting. They are now moving to extinction.
Me : So, is it necessary to use our natural resources in todays development?
Prof M : I did not say that we cannot use our natural resources in developing our country. It is
really important to have a well develop country, and for that aim we must use our
resources, but with proper manner. We can cut, but follow the rules and regulations.
Allah mentioned in the Al-Quran that we should not promote wrongdoing. When we
have been assigned as Khalifah by Allah, do not betray our responsibilities. It might
small things for you, but Allah will inculcate every single thing that we did here. We will
be questioned.
Me : Prof, a lot of people talk about lestari or sustainable. What is sustainable for you?
Prof M : For me sustainable is very simple. Sustainable means that what we have today will be
there the same for our next generation. It is for my grandchildrens child and yours. We
have to love our nature.
For me we should explore our forest then only we can know on how to love it. We start
from the very beginning of education for schools students. In MNS, we have been
engaging with a lot of private and public company in realizing the aim. For example,
BOH Plantation at Cameron Highland, FRIM at Kepong and our newly established center
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that cost about RM 4.2 million at Kuala Terengganu that been officiated by our Yang
Dipertuan Agong last year, Eco-Care Tourism near Sg.Kerteh, Kuala Terengganu.
Me : Nowadays people always try to Islamize also everything. So, what your opinion about
the topic of Islam and Environment?
Prof M : Islam and environment is one. We are compatible to each other. I am not a specialist in
this subject matter, but when dealing with seminar and forum here and there I noticed
that the history of prophet Muhammad s.a.w forbid his companions to cut any trees or
kill any animals without purpose in time of fighting really make sense. We should
preserve or environment and we are accountable to anything we did to our
environment carelessly.
Me : What is your opinion when there are some environmental issues that have been
politicize? Does environmental issue play big impact on politics?
Prof M : For me environmental issue does play a very significant influence on politic. For
example we take on Kota Damansara where Hutan Simpan Sg.Buloh is located, when
Datuk Seri Dr. Khir Toyo (previous Chief Minister of Selangor) wants the location be as
high-class resident area before 2008 election. We raised our concern and movement on
saving Kota Damansara forest they did not pay attention on it and the consequence is
that Barisan Nasional lost at Kota Damansara. Alhamdulillah, currently the place have
been enacted as Kota Damansara Community Forest and locally managed by the people
there. There are trails, signage and use for biking etc.
One of the issues that have been very big problem is on our animals species. Like for
example Sumateran Rhino, which based on our data and figures will not be in our forest
more than 25 years. Zoo can keep the animal but in real forest they might extinct. Like
what happens in Sabah, we thought that the Rhino is on pregnancy, but what happened
is that it been impacted by Sysc that avoid it from pregnancy. That for sure, we have no
more Sumateran Rhino within our forest in past 2 years.
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Hence, it is our part and right to correct what is incorrect in our government policy and
system. There are NGOs and individual whom have put passion on effort for animal
protection and right like going to Copenhagen, London and back to Sabah to attend
convention and discussion but the last decision is on the government. If the government
refuse to accept what have been suggested, so it become a quite disappointment for us.
Tiger for example, people can make big money on killing and selling it. This includes of
aborigines whom can make profit of RM 50,000 per tiger that they can sell. There are
quite a number of Tok Batin who is now on trial at court charging of killing and selling
tigers. Unfortunately, I can tell you that not more than 200 tigers are still living in our
forest.
Tenggiling for example, people now make it as a lifestyle to eat Tenggiling. It cost you
about RM 300 per kilogram and frankly speaking people are not buying it for medicinal
purposes but just to tell others that they have more money that they could spend
buying this exotic animal as their meals. How sad that this really happens in our culture
and life system. Now, we rarely found Tenggiling anymore, we can just found it at Java,
its origin. For me environmental issues should be beyond politics.
Me : You have handled a lot of conservation and preservation work to our environment.
Would you mind to share some of them, maybe in Pahang or the East Coast areas?
Prof M : In Pahang we do a lot of thing. We have Puan Jihan (MNS staff) there working and
raising a lot of issues to higher authorities and to educate local people. For example
conservation of mangrove swamps forest at Cherating and Pulau Ular of Pahang. We
also do volunteer on breeding turtle at east coast area near Terengganu. Alhamdulillah,
we have Hijaz Kasturi, a private architecture company whom very kind to support our
program. Based on the project, the company will buy back turtles egg from villagers
there. Actually the area from Suria Cherating, Kuantan until Terengganu is a lay-man
area where villagers can collect turtles egg. We buy RM 3.00 per egg for rescue. It is
very sad when there are cases where turtle are found drawn in net and the age of the
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turtle is around 30-40 years, the age that is matured enough for breeding. Yet, people
still eat their eggs.
When MNS is in relationship, we act as professional. It might be bonded with political
party or any government agencies but we are professional. We always have dialogue,
forum and discussion with as much agencies as possible. This is to expand our
contribution and our education strategy to people out there.
Me : Some people ask, why would we bother to preserve or conserve our resources like wild
animal? Does it matter to our national heritage?
Prof M : Wild animal is very important for our national heritage. There are some animal species
which are only found in our rainforest. When we use endemic, it means that the
species can only be found in that locality. In Pahang rainforest near Merapoh we found
several species of Gecko-a type of lizard- that can only be found there.
It is sad when we here that the place will be developed for cement-manufacturing area.
For me, cement factory is not a light manufacturing factory. Once the factory is built;
there will be no reverse action can be taken. The problem will be faced not other than
the villagers there. Ashes, toxic gases, chemical effluent and some more dangerous
pollutant will affect their health and give bad impact to their flocks. If our people just
only think on money that they will receive from selling their soil, it will turn bad. This is
where education is very important.
Me : Prof., currently Selangor is having water rationing. Do we have problem with our water
catchment area?
Prof M : The problem with our water catchment area is that it has not been enacted. We have 5
classes of water in Malaysia and only class 1 until 3 are allowed to be used as drinking
water. Class 4 is for agricultural purposes like at paddy field. It is just ok if you live
somewhere are rural area near Bachok, Kelantan, so that when there is shortage of
water you can just dig your own well and have your natural mineral water. What how
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about if someone live at KL, they cannot simply dig well there. If and only if they could,
the water would be very bad. This is due to pollution at earth water down there.
Natural resources management is actually across the political divide.
Me : What about our tropical rain forest? Can it withstand as a good water catchment area?
Do you have any suggestion on that?
Prof M : Normal forest will serve as water catchment area. If we could say a barely 3 month
with no rain is recorded, there is water sources. So, my suggestion is that we should
preserve our water catchment area. Soluble waste will not be removed from normal
water treatment; it is actually within the water with certain quantity. It might present in
very low quantity, but continuous taking up of the water by human will turn our bodies
to accumulate high amount of toxicant after a long period. Later on, cancer is the
consequence that we will face.
Me : As for my last question, what is your hope to people out there regarding our
environment?
Prof M : My hope is very simple. The world will not be destroyed by those whom do not know,
but by those who watch them without doing anything. Allah will asks those who are
knowledgeable for why they are not giving full effort on protecting our environment.
The rest is just on whether we want to change our attitude or not.
Me : Thank you very much Prof., I hope we can meet again after this.
Prof M : Welcome.

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2. Interview Session with Dr Azir Salleh (Dr Azir)

Me : Assalamualaikum Dr. Thank you for spending some time with me today. I believe you
are a busy guy with lot of commitment; I really appreciate this session very much.
Dr Azir : Waalaikumussalam. Welcome. I really appreciate your effort for choosing me as you
guest in this interview.
Me : Ok, Dr., You are a well experienced guy to talk about our natural environment. You are
an experts in you field, what is your opinion on our environment?
Dr Azir : I will try my best to answer your question. When we say about environment, it is
almost every single thing that built our daily view. It might come from sound of lorry,
haze and gaseous from car and other vehicles, not to be neglected like trees, rocks, sky
and many more. So, that is why we are very concern about our environment. It deals
with us every day.
Me : Does todays problems on our environment are real? Or it is just our media is too
overwhelmed?
Dr Azir : Although some of us might think that environmental problems are small issues, you
might get it wrong because it relates to other things as well. When we face flash flood
couple of months before at Kuantan, my house became like an island. 2013 flash flood
was very bad since it is recorded the serious flood since last 40 years of the same
tragedy.
This is actually of the result of our natural ecosystem been disturbed without
strategically planned by the authorities. You can go to Balok area near Cherating where
the mangrove forest been changed into housing and industrial area.
For me, when we lost our water catchment area, the result is the flood water will go to
our neighborhood drainage system and block them all. The impact of the situation is
becoming serious. Last 40-50 years the situation never happened.
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Me : Dr., what does sustainable really means?
Dr Azir : Sustainable development for me comprises of 3 aspects. First is on economic, second is
on social, and third is on environment. Whatever we do on industry that we built, we
must be very responsible to these 3 aspects of sustainability. Steps in achieving a
balance between all these three is what means by sustainability.
Sustainability is very important, because todays world is actually being rent upon us for
next generation. What currently happened is very bad. For example flood. It is actually
due to uncertainty in worlds climate. So, global warming is the result. We are facing
deficit of green environment. It leads to increment of carbon dioxide that has not been
recycled back to our environment.
In this life, let us try to question ourselves on what is our demand? Our demand in life is
to live happily, living with a good facilities and comprehensives development that can
enable us to live in green environment and to breathe fresh air every day. It is simple.
Me : Dr., what your opinion when people say that we lack of law to control environmental
problem in our country?
Dr Azir : I am not a lawyer; I have been trained as environmental analysis. Law is a minimum
requirement that we can serve to handle any impact or problem that might happen. It is
because we are not more capable to comply with sustainable development. The
solution is not only from macro view which is by enacting laws but what is far more
important is on micro based solution. As individual what we can do?
When we talk about dumping site, you might say that it is on the authorized party or
government to take care on the management of the waste, but far more important is on
how we train ourselves to manage domestic waste. Non biodegradables like plastic bags
and bottle should be used minimal. It goes the same for chemical-based products like
shampoo or body cream that we used, it should be treated well and not dump at
drainage system or nearby river.
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Me : Nowadays people always try to Islamize also everything. So, what your opinion about
the topic of Islam and Environment?
Dr Azir : Islam is a religion of peace and touches a comprehensive aspect of life. It teaches the
followers to discipline themselves as small as reading prayer when entering toilet till on
how to manage a government. All of us need to understand that Islam is the governing
principle in every aspect of a Muslims life to a degree seldom seen in the adherents and
practitioners of other religions. Islam is not just a matter of rituals and worship but it is a
complete way of life.
For me, the Islamic input that we can get from managing waste and resources actually
come from the history of Prophet Adam alaihissalam where the story of Habil and Qabil
took placed. The plot where Habil is buried by Qabil showed us that it is important to
keep crop and any sort of waste in good management.
Me : What is your opinion when there are some environmental issues that have been
politicize? Does environmental issue play big impact on politics?
Dr Azir : If you could remember what happened on 1991 when Highland Tower was collapsed.
Right after the tragedy, the government instructed local government to stop any kinds
of project at hill or highland areas, ironically, after just couple of years later we could
find lot of housing project are still taking place. So, is this the supremacy of politics and
laws that we can be proud of? What we could find is that there is still death recorded
near Bukit Antarabangsa areas. This is very sad. No means of having law to obstruct it.
Me : So Dr., what can we do?
Dr Azir : In protecting our environment from individual aspect also, the most powerful action is
by start from ourselves and influences others to follow. This is referred as role model.
Role model for example in recycles, using green products, carpooling to office or school.
It might sounds like utopia, but it can be realized if we serious on protecting our
environment. It is based on how aware are we to our environment.
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I am trained to run a factory. In dealing with chemicals and some other waste, efficiency
in product processes should be an alert to every industrial player. If the emission of
carbon or chemical is around 100 tons now we might reduce it to 40 to 50 tons. Efficient
is development or industry does not mean we have to closed the industry that bring lot
of money and investment to our country, but the most important thing is on how we
manage it. We should play great effort in playing our individual roles.
We have to view it through positive perspective. If not, we can do nothing. Sit and just
blame our technological advances. The result is we will be left out behind other
industry.
Me : Dr., what is the solution to all of these environmental problems?
Dr Azir : It is relative. Solution to environmental problem is very vast. You can just simply make
and individual effort to stop using plastic bags when shopping in hypermarket or the
most might goes up to enforcement of the existing law to the polluters.
I have told you just now on the individual effort quite much, on the other hand when we
say about enforcement of laws it means that if we have 10 laws that have been enacted,
ensure that all of them are strictly followed by every citizen. Neither big company nor
small company can carelessly play around with the laws or being run away from the
enforcement.
Secondly is by providing rewards and incentive to those who protects our environment.
This is like having promotion on good sustainable development. Green technology
initiative taken by our government to corporate sectors should be proud of. This is not
just to get capital or profit in return, but it is based on the basis of loving our nature and
to provide a better live to our next generation.
Alhamdulillah, from government side also I have heard that they currently have Rakan
Alam Sekitar at school level in promoting the means.
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Me : As for my last question, what is your hope to people out there regarding our
environment?
Dr Azir : Our life gets better not by chance, but by change. It is about transformation. We have
to start from now. Starting from the very beginning of primary and secondary schools,
we have to be very committed in ensuring our current generation is well educated. For
me, our responsibility is very huge.
Me : Thank you very much Dr. for your cooperation, I hope we can meet again after this.
Dr Azir : Welcome.

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Prof Maketab Mohamed Dr Azir Salleh