Towards a greener Malaysia.

Malaysia is a green and beautiful country. It is also one which aspires to be green in the modern sense of the world: its politicians speak of leading the world in creating a green society. Now, this is most admirable, but is it true of Malaysia on the ground? Is there anything not being done that should be done?

Well, yesterday, I saw something I have frequently seen in Malaysia: a vehicle spewing black clouds of smoke out the back of its exhaust. In this case it was a bus, WAJ 5268, if I remember correctly. The clouds of smoke were so thick as to threaten to obscure the vehicle itself. I found myself disgusted with the vehicle's owner: how could they drive such a polluting bus around? Why didn't they service the engine? This bus alone must be producing the equivalent pollution of hundreds or thousands of other vehicles. It was obscene. Yet, it is not alone. Malaysia is defiled by tens of thousands of such vehicles. That is something which must change.

I am impressed with the publicly expressed intentions of Malaysia's leaders to move towards a green society, one that other nations might aspire to be like. It is a good aim. However, they are overlooking problems on the ground which could easily be corrected. There should not be thousands of heavily polluting vehicles in Malaysia, there should not even be one. Getting rid of them would be easy to do. Every time a policeman sees such vehicle the driver should be stopped and the vehicle impounded. The owner should then be given a choice: pay for the repairs to the vehicle - upfront - or have the vehicle scrapped and recycled - with no compensation. Furthermore, the owner should be fined for being in possession of such a polluting vehicle. Were this regime to be implemented the air around KL would become a lot cleaner in a matter of weeks.

The first step to the solution of a problem is its recognition. I have have done that. The next step is to structure penalties - and enforce them - to eliminate the behaviour. It is not difficult and would be another good step on the green pathway that Malaysia has, very vocally, chosen for itself. I hope that it is a step that is soon taken, for I tire of breathing clouds of venomous smoke, on KL's roads.

(If you would like to learn more of Ainan Celeste Cawley, 10, or his gifted brothers, Fintan, 6 and Tiarnan, 4, this month, please go to:
http://scientific-child-prodigy.blogspot.com/2006/10/scientific-child-prodigy-guide.html

I also write of gifted education, child prodigy, child genius, adult genius, savant, megasavant, HELP University College, the Irish, the Malays, Singapore, Malaysia, IQ, intelligence and creativity.

My Internet Movie Database listing is at: http://imdb.com/name/nm3438598/
Ainan's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3305973/
Syahidah's IMDB listing is at http://imdb.com/name/nm3463926/

Our editing, proofreading and copywriting company, Genghis Can, is at http://www.genghiscan.com/

This blog is copyright Valentine Cawley. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited. Use only with permission. Thank you.)