Campaigns to minimise the use of plastic and awareness programmes urging the people not to throw their waste into drains, rivers and the sea have yet to see impact, said Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah.
Raja Nazrin said failure to care for the environment would result in paying a heavy price later on.
Society should also be educated on the best practices to dispose of garbage, especially industrial waste.
“Lately, flash floods occurred in the state that also affected areas that were previously not flood-prone.
“Soil erosion, coupled with piles of rubbish and plastic materials, had prevented the smooth flow of water in ditches, drains and rivers,” he said at the 179th Perak Islamic Council and Malay Customs Conference at Kompleks Islam Darul Ridzuan here yesterday.
Raja Nazrin added that many trees were felled as a result of various economic activities such as logging, mining, quarrying, industrial development; and for the construction of housing and infrastructure projects.
Therefore, he said, balancing the ecology was a necessity that cannot be postponed.
“It is a responsibility that needs to be implemented. It is a development component that cannot be sacrificed in order to guarantee the quality of life of the people,” he said.
Raja Nazrin said local authorities, mosques, suraus, schools and government offices should be given incentives to plant trees and undertake other activities to green the planet.
In approving residential and commercial development plans, the element of population density should be given serious attention; and a balanced ratio between open area and a population density should be compulsory.
Raja Nazrin said the agenda of greening the earth should become a permanent agenda of the state development committee, adding that it cannot be done on a seasonal basis.
The conference also recorded its condolences to the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah and Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun, on the demise of their second son Raja Kechil Sulung of Perak, Datuk Seri Raja Ashman Shah, on March 30.
