MIRI: Nobody and no place are immune from the effects of global climate change, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam.

Referring to global warming from climate change, he said Miri was on the receiving end of strong winds and heavy rains this week.

“Environment is on everyone’s lips and mind today, and I wonder why some countries with concrete jungles are not treating it as not an urgent issue,” he said when officiating at Malaysian Red Crescent-Shell tree planting project at MRC’s 3R Centre yesterday.

The state was striving to continue keeping its greens intake, including the planting of more trees and getting local councils to encourage planting trees along roads and housing estates to provide shed and oxygen, he said.

He also said that he would be requesting Miri City Council and Sarawak Forest Department to pursue the move seriously by providing technical advice to residents on the type of trees suitable for their roads and neighbourhood.

“If everyone plants a tree each, we would have another100,000 to 200,000 trees more in the city, and I hope the council will have a comprehensive plan for this,” he said.

He commended Sarawak Shell Berhad (SSB) for supporting and collaborating with MRC Miri in organising the tree-planting project at the MRC 3R centre.

Dr Chan commended SSB managing director Wee Yaw Hin for leading Shell’s many involvement and contribution towards social and community-based projects and activities throughout the state.

Among them were the MRC Kidney Dialysis Centre here and the Cancer Patients Care Centre in Kuching.

Wee meanwhile said the company had been closely associated with environmental protection issues although the nature of its business contributed to carbon dioxide emissions.

He pointed out that various steps had been taken to cap carbon dioxide emissions by Shell, and studies showed that the level was only half that in 1990 despite increased production of oil and gas.

Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Lee Kim Shin who is also MRC Miri first vice-chairman, second vice-chairperson Judy Morshidi, Dr Uma Devi, and volunteers from Shell, government departments and other NGOs were also present at the tree-planting project.

The project was held to mark World Red Cross/Crescent Day and also in conjunction with Miri City Day celebrations this month.