by NOOR SYAHHIRA HADY & SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA
SATOK assemblyman Datuk Ibrahim Baki has asked the Ministry of Education (MOE) to make environment preservation a subject in schools.
Besides educating students on the impact of climate change, teaching the subject in schools would help to reduce carbon footprints, he said.
“When we direct our efforts to develop a technology driven society that is adaptable to the changing landscape of the world, the culture of innovation must be cultivated at an early stage. Thus, our emphasis on the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.
“While there are concerted efforts by the Sarawak government, the federal government as well as other nations to preserve the environment, it is also our duty to ensure this awareness is being spread to the younger generation and the rest of the society,” Ibrahim said when debating on the motion of appreciation for the head of state’s address on the fifth day of the 19th State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (May 19).
He said it was rather disheartening to see noble efforts, particularly in the adoption of Energy-Efficient Vehicles (EEV), and strides towards hydrogen economy were not well understood by all members of the community, even to the extent of being ridiculed.
“Climate change is real and it is happening due to the burning of fossil fuels. That is why EEV are the future along with improvements to the public transportation facilities.
“The state government is working on this and we must support initiatives that are done in the cause of the environment.
“Along with that, we must also ensure ample training and opportunities to the newer generation for them to serve in this area of the new economy – the area of green technology as it is an emerging sector which is gaining prominence throughout the world,” he said.
