Research collaborative was initiated by LESTARI when representatives from LESTARI visited the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) New Zealand on 8-11 November 2011 at Wellington, New Zealand. The purpose of this visit was to learn how EPA New Zealand manage and regulate chemicals via the implementation of Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act. Meanwhile, representatives from LESTARI have shared their experiences by presenting their research findings, this include presentations entitle ‘Overview of chemicals management in Malaysia’ by Prof. Dr. Mazlin Mokhtar, ‘Update of GHS implementation in Malaysia’ by Dr. Goh Choo Ta, ‘Mercury management in Malaysia’ by Mr Mahathir Amir and ‘Risk-based assessment for ecosystem protection’ by Mr Nazren Leman.

The 12th Asia Pacific Responsible Care Conference (APRCC) with the theme ‘Road Towards Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management / World Summit Sustainable Development (SAICM/WSSD) Goal 2020 through Implementation of Global Product Strategy (GPS) was held on 24-28 October 2011 at Bali, Indonesia. At the same time, the APRCC also celebrating the International Year of Chemistry (IYC) where year 2011 has been declared as IYC by the General Assembly of the United Nations in January 2011. Prof. Dr. Mazlin Mokhtar was invited as a speaker to deliver a paper entitles ‘Striving for a Sound Chemical Management System for Economic, Ecological and Human Sustainability’ in the APRCC.

By Dr. Goh Choo Ta

Pada 13 Oktober 2011 bertempat di Bilik Mesyuarat 1, Fakulti Ekonomi dan Pengurusan, Prof. Dr. Mazlin bin Mokhtar selaku Pengerusi Nic Pembangunan Lestari Wilayah (PLW) telah dijemput oleh UKM-Graduate School of Business bagi menyampaikan penerangan berkenaan Nic PLW kepada ahli akademik dan pelajar UKM-GSB. Penerangan ini bertujuan bagi memperluaskan skop silang multidisiplin bidang penyelidikan dan pengajaran di UKM-GSB. Sesi penerangan mengenai Nic tersebut telah dipengerusikan oleh Dekan UKM-GSB merangkap Timbalan Naib Canselor Hal Ehwal Akademik dan Antarabangsa, Prof. Datuk Dr. Noor Azlan Ghazali dan disertai oleh pensyarah-pensyarah serta pelajar siswazah GSB dan LESTARI.

The 7th Round Table Dialogue of the Malaysian Network for Integrated Management of Chemicals and Hazardous Substances for Environment and Development (MyNICHE-7) was held at Pullman Hotel & Resort, Putrajaya on 13th July 2011. The MyNICHE-7 was jointly organised by Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Environmental Management & Climate Change Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE). ‘Transforming the Systems to Manage Chemicals’ was selected as the theme for MyNICHE-7 and participants include representatives from government agencies, chemical associations, NGOs and academia. Issues discussed are mainly on the needs of having a safety evaluation system on chemicals in Malaysia.

by Nurliza Ahmad

Pembukaan Permohonan PROJEK ARUS PERDANA 2010

Simposium Kebangsaan Warisan dan Pemuliharaan yang bertemakan ‘Pemuliharaan Warisan dalam konteks Pembangunan Lestari Wilayah’ telah dianjurkan di Awana Porto Malai, Langkawi pada 26 hingga 28 Februari 2010. Ia adalah persidangan pertama seumpama ini dan berjaya membawa hampir 40 orang penyelidik, pembuat dan pelaksana dasar serta peminat warisan untuk bersama berkongsi pendapat, pengalaman dan pandangan mengenai pelbagai aspek warisan dan pemuliharaan untuk pembangunan lestari. Simposium ini dianjurkan oleh Kelompok Warisan dan Pemuliharaan dalam Nic Pembangunan Lestari Wilayah, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Congratulation to Associate Prof. Dr. Mohd Talib Latif for his appointment as Head, Environmental Science Programme, School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, FST, UKM

The visit by Professor Garnett was chaired by Prof. Dr. Mazlin bin Mokhtar, Director of LESTARI, attended by Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Hood Salleh, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ibrahim Komoo, Dato’ Shaharuddin Mohamad Ismail, Dr. Norzaini Azman, Dr. Saiful Arif Abdullah and Ms. Sharina Abdul Halim. Three main points of discussion were highlighted, primarily to celebrate the first product of RIMBA collaboration on the book entitled RIMBA: Sustainable Forest Livelihoods in Malaysia and Australia, published in LESTARI. Subsequently, way forward for the collaboration was proposed by Professor Ibrahim Komoo to have the next RIMBA Seminar in Langkawi Geopark sometime in October 2010. Matters pertaining to financial support for RIMBA were also examined. The discussion also looked at the Visiting Research Fellowship that will be undertaken by Ms. Sharina for three months in CDU.

by Sharina Abdul Halim

Tahniah

NIC PLW ingin mengucapkan tahniah kepada Prof. Dr. Salmaan Hussain bin Inayat Hussian yang telah di lantik sebagai  Dekan Fakulti Kesihatan Sains Bersekutu (FKSB) bermula 29 November 2009 bagi tempoh 3 tahun.

Workshop on Preparation of Strategic Plan for Sustainable Ecosystem Management Research Group

Activity by Governance and Heritage Conservation Research Group

The Governance and Heritage Conservation Research Group, headed by Prof Dr Rahimah Abdul Aziz, organised a workshop on 20 November 2009 to discuss matters pertaining to the declaration of Langkawi as a Geopark. The venue for the workshop was Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya. Among the members who attended were Prof Dr Rahimah Abdul Aziz, Datin Paduka Dr. Halimaton Saadiah Hashim, Puan Sarah Aziz, Dr Geraldine Chan, Assoc.Prof.Dr Ong Puay Liu, Puan Sharina Abdul Halim, Encik Chan Kai Yip, Puan Nurhafiza Yusoff and Encik Muhd Ridhwan Sarifin.

Membina Keupayaan Kumpulan GRA Gemilang, Cemerlang dan Terbilang

Review Meeting for the WHO Human Health Risk Assessment Toolkit