We are heading to oblivion

We are heading to oblivion.

Sabah Environment Protection Association (SEPA) forged a smart partnership with the government through the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry to form EAC in 1997 with the aim of initiating a joint responsibility between the government and the people to carry out environmental activities that can contribute towards enhancing environmental quality.

Unfortunately this smart partnership had run aground when a Police Report was made by SEPA in April, 2105 after the due process of settlement of an accounting function of EAC failed and the Police Report appears to have not been pursued after 2 years.

I had been the founder member of SEPA since 1984 together with Mayor Datuk Yeo and an EAC member since 1997 with much concern in environment and this ongoing “crisis” on Bring Your Own Bags (BYOB) is indeed a black mark for environment activities for a few years since BYOB was implemented. The joint project of SEPA with the Ministry in BYOB was reported to have collected very much money of up to RM1m or lesser sums as reported in the press.

The crux of the “crisis” was that the accounts of BYOB project had not been audited for years.  There is an allegation that the said money had not been properly accounted for while there was a shakeup in the management team of BYOB. 

As it is with the alleged missing Tun Fuad Foundation since 1980s without any answer or off the radar, BYOB under EAC is in similar straits like “missing in action” even only very recent event.  

Just in passing, I wonder why a press article in page 2 of Daily Express on 17 April, 2017 headed “ Hidden Accounts: NGO under probe” after a Police Report was lodged with the name of NGO missing?

So I hope appropriate action by taken to bring the “crisis” in BYOB to a resolution to enhance environment activities especially now we the State Policies on the Environment just launched on 13 April, 2017 at the Sabah Legislative Assembly. We need to bring back the confidence of the public in all environment matters.

Joshua Y C Kong. 18/4/2017