10
6,000 killed in road crashes
Learning from Seoul’s
riverside restoration
experience
by Isaac Hiew
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
THE Seoul metropolitan govern-
ment’s Kie-Wook Kwon recently
shared his experience in the
Cheong Gye Cheon riverside
development and restoration
with about 450 participants at
the World Class Sustainable Cit-
ies 2009 (WCSC 2009) here.
Cheong Gye Cheon involved
the removal of 6km of a major
highway that covered the river
the past 40 years, with sewer-
age system improvement,
riverside restoration and public
access.
This project was launched
in July 2003 and completed in
October 2005.
Within the first two months
of its opening, the riverside at-
tracted over 10 million visitors,
making it the favourite destina-
tion for residents and tourists
alike.
WCSC 2009 co-organising
chairman Lee Chor Wah said:
“The removal of the highways
that carried 170,000 cars per
day to reveal and revive the
riverside that had been covered
for many years was certainly an
inspiration to many of us, with
respect to the treatment of our
own rivers in Kuala Lumpur.
“This is certainly ‘Blue Ocean’
thinking.”
Organised by Real Estate
and Housing Developers’
Association Wilayah Perseku-
tuan (Rehda KL), the Malaysian
Institute of Planners (MIP)
and the Malaysian Institute of
Architects, WCSC 2009 was the
first international conference to
be jointly organised by the three
parties.
“Following the overwhelm-
ing success of this conference,
we are already planning to col-
laborate again for WCSC 2010,”
said Rehda KL representative
N.K.Tong said.
“Kuala Lumpur City Hall
(DBKL)’s support and endorse-
ment of this conference has
helped us attract a wider audi-
ence. Upon our request, they
also sponsored the participation
of some NGOs and residents’
associations.”
“I was very pleased with
the turnout. We expected 300
people to come and we had
450 participants. An hour of
Q&A for both panel sessions
wasn’t enough and this shows
that there are many people
who are passionate about
Kuala Lumpur’s future,” said
MIP president Norliza Hashim.
“It is good that we had this
opportunity to both participate
in a one-day conference on
world class sustainable cities
and then, in today’s round-
table discussions, to further
formulate some of the ideas
and issues that can help Kuala
Lumpur.”
theSun | WEDNESDAY APRIL 1 2009
every year
KL mayor by Yee Jie Min
Datuk newsdesk@thesundaily.com
Ahmad
Fuad Ismail
sounding
the gong
ABOUT 6,000 people are killed and
360,000 seriously injured in road
accidents every year in Malaysia.
to officially
open the
Although many campaigns and
initiatives have been carried out,
World Class
Sustainable
Cities 2009
road accidents are still a major
problem as the attempt to change
the behaviour of the public is an
Changing
road user
behaviour ...
conference. uphill task. Klein with
A workshop titled “Road User Suret
Behaviour Change Professional De-
velopment Programme” was held
for the first time in the world here The four-day workshop at learning from the best experience.
in Malaysia with the collaboration One World Hotel addressed four There’s so much we have benefited
of the Global Road Safety Partner- themes: Risk Injury and Preven- as a result from this collaboration.
ship (GRSP), private organisations tion, Public Education, Campaign Without collaboration, we will only
and government agencies. Development and Campaign As- be learning from our own mistakes
“Malaysia is a wonderful place sessment. here in Malaysia but because of all
for this trial programme because The aim of the workshop was the experts of road safety available
there has been an enormous to provide basic knowledge to the and the consultations, we are able
amount of work in recent years 36 participants and to help them to learn from their experiences,”
undertaken by the Road Safety develop effective education cam- said Road Safety Department direc-
Department and the government,” paigns to influence the public to tor-general Datuk Suret Singh.
said GRSP regional director Robert observe road safety. The GRSP has carried out
Klein. Participants were provided similar workshops, campaigns and
He said Malaysia is one of the with an organised, step-by-step initiatives in Thailand, Vietnam,
leading countries for road safety in system to plan and implement Cambodia and Laos.
the region and thus able to under- an effective road safety campaign GRSP is a hosted programme of
take the trial programmes which that would prompt public behav- the International Federation of Red
would be refined and delivered to iour change. Cross and Red Crescent societies
other countries. “It is all about partnership and based in Geneva.
Karpal supports tiger park proposal
by Himanshu Bhatt which is now closed down. He wants the Karpal, who is also DAP chairman, said
newsdesk@thesundaily.com tigers to be given bigger space. criticisms against the proposal would be
He also said the state was willing to ap- taken into account.
BUKIT Gelugor MP Karpal Singh has come point noted conservation groups to advise “Elaborate safety measures will be
out in support of the tiger park project and monitor the project. “There is no doubt taken to ensure the tigers do not escape
proposed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. in my mind that Lim has the welfare of the from where they are confined,” he said.
“I appreciate Lim’s proposal to have the tigers at heart,” Karpal said in a statement. He pointed to the success of Singapore
park in my constituency which will certainly “Tigers ought not to be caged but ex- in having a well-equipped zoo together with
promote tourism which is a vital industry tended a habitat conducive to their welfare a night safari to attract tourists.
for the state,” said Karpal. which is available in Bukit Gelugor. “Lim has assured me that this project
Lim had said that the idea came about “Both of us know what being caged will not be undertaken in haste. His commit-
after he saw two tigers caged in the Bukit and confined entails as we were victims of ment to this project should be appreciated
Jambul Orchid, Hibiscus and Reptile Garden Operation Lallang in October 1987.” and respected.”
South Korean scholarships
for 10 Malaysian students
THE South Korean government awarded scholar- to pursue a programme in chemical engineer-
ships worth a total of RM600,000 a year to 10 ing.
Malaysian students pursuing tertiary education Kyle Tan Jin Soon, who is keen on biotechnol-
in South Korea recently. ogy, said the scholarship gave him a chance to
The scholarship presentation ceremony was pursue a quality tertiary education.
held in the embassy of the Republic of Korea “I did extensive research about South Korea
hosted by minister counsellor Choi Dong-Gyou. before applying (for this scholarship). I hope to do
The scholarship covers five-year programmes, well and return to contribute to the nation.”
comprising one year of Korean language course Last year, the Korean government offered
and four years of undergraduate programme. a total of 47 scholarships amounting to about
Benefits of the scholarship include round-trip RM10.3 million for Malaysians to further their
airfare, monthly allowances, settlement and re- studies in South Korea.
patriation allowances, lan-
guage training expenses
and medical insurance as
well as tuition fees.
Upon completing the
language course, students
will apply for courses of
their choice from various
prestigious universities
in South Korea, such as
Seoul National University,
Yonsei University, Korea
University and others.
“The scholarship gives
me a very good opportu-
nity to learn the Korean
language and technology
in South Korea,” said At-
tiya Mokthar, who hopes Choi (centre) with the 10 scholarship recipients.