Organiser

Environmental Protection Society Malaysia

The Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM) was founded at a public meeting held at the University of Malaya on 11 January 1974 in direct response to the concerns of the UN Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, 1972. Its objectives are to prevent environmental degradation as a result of human activities; to control activities that contribute towards deterioration of our environment; to initiate measures for the improvement of our environment; to stimulate public concern for the state of our environment.

Over the years EPSM has highlighted various environmental issues; made representations to Government agencies; undertaken surveys and studies; and contributed towards environmental education and awareness and advocacy through talks, forums, seminars In 1997, the Society championed the introduction of 'Local Agenda 21' to Malaysia which was later taken up by the Government in 2000 with a pilot project supported by UNDP and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

EPSM is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers.

In Cooperation With

1. University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur

University of Malaya, or UM, Malaysia’s oldest university, is situated on a 750 acre (309 hectare) campus in the southwest of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. It was established in April 1949 in Singapore with the merger of the King Edward VII College of Medicine (founded in 1905) and Raffles College (founded in 1928). The University of Malaya derives its name from the term 'Malaya' as the country was then known. The Carr-Saunders Commission, which recommended the setting up of the university, noted in its Report in 1948: "The University of Malaya would provide for the first time a common centre where varieties of race, religion and economic interest could mingle in joint endeavour... For a University of Malaya must inevitably realise that it is a university for Malaya."

The growth of the University was very rapid during the first decade of its establishment and this resulted in the setting up of two autonomous Divisions in 1959, one located in Singapore and the other in Kuala Lumpur. In 1960, the government of the two territories indicated their desire to change the status of the Divisions into that of a national university. Legislation was passed in 1961 and the University of Malaya was established on 1st January 1962.

2. Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya

Malaysia's first planned new township, Petaling Jaya, better known as PJ , was developed in the early 1950's. It was managed by the Kuala lumpur District Office until 1954. Subsequently administrative control was handed over to the Petaling Jaya Authority. In 1964, the township's administration was placed under a Town Board with financial autonomy. With the ability to plan its own development, PJ became was of the richest townships in Malaysia within two decades. On January 1st, 1977, Petaling jaya was accorded the status of municipal council . On June 20th, 2006, another major milestone was achieved when PJ became a city and its Municipal Council upgraded to the Petaling Jaya City Council. The Council is currently responsible for the development planning and providing urban services to more than 480,000 residents living in an area spanning 97.2 square km which also includes 590 industries.