SIBU, March 28: The first ever state level Earth Hour next year will take place here.
This was revealed by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting at the Sibu Virtual Earth Hour last night.
Ting said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian had consented to his proposal to organise the event next year.
“SMC has been organising this event since 2009. Next year on March 27, we will do the same but this time it will be on a grander scale which is for the whole state,” he said.
By taking up the challenge, Ting said they wanted to show Sarawak how the town is aware of the importance of conserving the environment and keeping Sibu clean.
Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007. It is an annual event to encourage individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights, for one hour, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on the last Saturday of March, as a symbol of commitment to the planet.
SMC, Ting said, started having the event 12 years ago, as it acknowledged the importance of preservation and conservation including cleanliness in the society.
“The past administration did very well in the organising of the event,” said Ting who took over the helm two years ago.
Explaining further on the event, he said the switching of light for one hour symbolically
helps to encourage the younger generation to do the necessary to protect our Mother Earth.
“We, the older ones should tell the younger generation on the importance of keeping the environment and house clean, and inculcate a healthy lifestyle because when they grow up, they will have new priorities,” he said.
Earth Hour 2019 organising chairperson Kapitan Connie Loh, who was among the speakers at the one-hour livestream, said they had managed to raise public awareness on environmental protection and climate change.
“This is a meaningful event as it inspires us to love our Mother Earth as a precious thing. As we are dependent on the earth, we need to take good care of it including, living creatures,” she said.
Loh noted that the one-hour event could make a substantial difference as it makes people more aware of global warming.
Those who shared their thoughts on the event were Social and Community Development chairman Cr. Zaiton Abdul Kader, SMC deputy chairman Cr. Bujang Abdul Majed, Market and Petty Trader chairman Cr. Albert Tiang, senior health inspector Chua Hock Siong, Building Control & Town Beautification chairman Cr. Joseph Chieng, Public Health chairman Cr. Rhoda Ting, Public Health deputy chairman Cr. Jenny Ting, JCI Sibu president Mike Yong (on UN Sustainable Development Goal) and Persatuan Perlindungan Alam Sekitar Sibu chairman Patrick Ling. Cr. Andy Ting was the moderator for the event. — DayakDaily
