Awang Tengah (fourth left) and others give the thumbs-up to CMEA 2016 after unveiling its poster. Also seen are (from second left) Sudarsono, Len, Peter and Abang Abdul Karim (second right).— Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/04/07/cmea-2016-to-have-2-new-categories/#ixzz46u28E6qp
KUCHING: The 7th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Environment Award (CMEA) this year will have two new categories – Media and Individual – to encourage journalists and the public to play active roles in promoting environmentalism among the civil society.
This will bring to 29 the number of categories to be presented in CMEA 2016 including top honours to large industries, medium and small enterprises as well as local councils. Apart from manufacturing, the award also covers service industries, agriculture sector and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) among others.
Themed ‘Environmental Stewardship Begins With Me’, CMEA 2016 aims to promote environmental awareness and consciousness among all communities in Sarawak with the hope that the spirit of environmental stewardship will prevail among all the private and public entities as well as among individual citizens.
“This premier environmental award is fully supported by the state government which gives due recognition to those companies and industries that have shown outstanding environmental stewardship and advocate sustainable green initiatives in their daily operations.
“Similarly, entrepreneurs and the corporate sector should regard this biennial CMEA as the beginning of their long journey towards creating self-regulation in environmental compliance and management.
“The selected theme is therefore very appropriate in reminding all of us to start taking important steps towards achieving our long term sustainable development goal,” Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said when launching the 7th CMEA 2016 at Imperial Hotel here yesterday.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, SCCI president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg, Resource Planning and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datu Sudarsono Osman and NREB controller Peter Sawal.
CMEA is organised by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) together with Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) in collaboration with other government agencies.
Awang Tengah hoped that the number of participants in this year’s edition will surpass the 73 entries in 2014. He said entrepreneurs and others in the corporate sector should take the CMEA as an opportunity to review and renew their environmental commitment to help make Sarawak a clean, green and healthy state.
Meanwhile, Peter who is also the organising chairman of CMEA 2016 said this year’s award will see the launch of the CMEA logo. He pointed out that winners will receive a trophy and certificate of participation, as well as the eligibility to use the logo for publicity purposes and recognition as an exemplary organisation committed to environmental protection.
“Winners will also enjoy a 50 per cent discount for course fees for one environmental protection/awareness programme organised by NREB,” he added.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem is expected to grace the award night scheduled at the end of the year.
NREB, in encouraging the corporate and private sector to participate in this year’s CMEA, will release a guidebook to assist participants in submitting their entries for the award. The guidebook provides all related information as well as explains the submission requirements.
“Participation is open to all industrial and service sectors in Sarawak. It is my pleasure to invite business entities no matter big or small, local authorities and media companies to participate in this prestigious environmental award,” he continued.
For more information on CMEA 2016, contact NREB at 082-447488, 082-319500 or browse its website www.nreb.gov.my. Deadline for submission is July 29.