Salam sejahtera, Salam Penang2030 dan Salam Malaysia Madani.
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to the organiser for inviting me to the Penang Green School Awards ceremony for the year 2023 on this auspicious day.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In the realm of education, particularly, the State Government is highly committed to ensuring that every child in the state has access to education and the pursuit of knowledge in a comfortable and conducive environment. I believe that quality education has the potential to cultivate a generation with a high level of knowledge in the community.
A green, safe, responsive, and loving environment is among the crucial elements to support the development of preschool children, students, and young individuals. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to provide spaces and opportunities for these children to engage in conservation efforts and environmental stewardship, thereby increasing their awareness in the face of the growing challenges threatening the Earth at present.
Children and youth play crucial roles in addressing the climate crisis and environmental issues as they will inherit this world one day. However, the challenges they face are not the same as those we experienced when growing up. Now, the entire world is feeling the impacts of climate change and increasingly concerning environmental pollution.
Recently, the global temperature has soared in recent months driven by rapidly growing El Niño conditions and is expected to persist until early-to-mid-2024. It is reported from World Meteorogical Organization (WMO) that the first three quarters of last year witnessed exceptional heat globally, marking 2023 as the warmest year recorded since the 1800s. In Malaysia, we also experienced flash floods in several states including Penang due to increased rainfall and alterations, posing threats that stem from climate change.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Realizing these challenges, the Penang State Government under my leadership has taken proactive steps by launching the Penang2030 vision in August 2018. The aim is to transform the state into A Family-Focused, Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation, covering development and preservation in all aspects.
Therefore, the State Government, through the Penang Green Council (PGC), places a primary focus on raising awareness about conservation and environmental preservation among the people in the state, regardless of age. The Penang State Government allocates approximately RM200,000 annually towards environmental education initiatives to support these efforts.
Furthermore, to empower and encourage the involvement of young individuals in these green efforts, the State Government, in collaboration with local authorities (PBT), has been running the Penang Green School Award program since 2010. Over RM700,000 has been allocated for this program since its introductory year, and I believe it has created a green educational environment for the children in Penang.
This annual audit program is open to both primary and secondary schools in Penang, aiming to educate students on waste, water, and energy conservation. The primary objective of the program is to instill a love for the environment in the hearts of students and the communities. In addition, the State Government has also launched the Penang Green Kindy Incentive, an audit program for all licensed preschools and kindergartens in Penang, inspired by the success achieved through the Penang Green School Award.
Today, we gather to commemorate the accomplishments of schools and kindergartens in 2023, celebrating the success of their dedicated efforts. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners who will be receiving awards and incentives on this special occasion.
Last year, a total of 92 schools took part in the award programme, whereby 50 schools registered under MBPP and 42 schools registered under MBSP. Among these, 7 schools, comprising both island and mainland, have been chosen as the winners in various categories. Additionally, for the Penang Green Kindy Incentive 2023, the top 15 registered preschools with the highest scores will be honored with incentives valued at RM 500 along with a certificate each.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, we are not only celebrating the achievements from the schools and kindergartens but we also will be celebrating the winning schools for Toray &+ (AND PLUS) Recycling Competition. This competition is based on a circular economy model which is a sustainable model for the environment, social and economic development. Congratulations to the dedicated schools and keep up the great work!
Overall, the importance of education and awareness in conservation and environmental preservation efforts for our children is unquestionably vital in ensuring their safety and the well-being of our beloved Earth. It is our responsibility to equip these children with the necessary skills and knowledge, enabling them to grow into becoming the responsible stewards of the environment. So, let us join forces in building a more sustainable Penang! Once again, congratulations to all the winners.