In the heart of Selangor lies the newly established Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark, a 112,955-hectare area that integrates natural beauty with community-centred conservation. Officially launched by the Sultan of Selangor, this Geopark is an evolving effort toward UNESCO Global Geopark status. We explore this journey with Noina Baharuddin, the Coordinator of the AJ Rimba Collective, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sharina Abdul Halim, the Deputy Director of LESTARI UKM, who have been working together to promote the Geopark, and who want to ensure that the Geopark’s diverse landscapes, from forests to geosites, remain protected and appreciated.



Image credits: Shutterstock, Tourism Selangor / Selangor.travel

In the heart of Selangor lies the newly established Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark, a 112,955-hectare area that integrates natural beauty with community-centred conservation. Officially launched by the Sultan of Selangor, this Geopark is an evolving effort toward UNESCO Global Geopark status. We explore this journey with Noina Baharuddin, the Coordinator of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ajrimba.org/home-en">AJ Rimba Collective</a>, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sharina Abdul Halim, the Deputy Director of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ukm.my/lestari/ms/">LESTARI UKM</a>, who have been working together to promote the Geopark, and who want to ensure that the Geopark’s diverse landscapes, from forests to geosites, remain protected and appreciated.Image credits: Shutterstock, Tourism Selangor / <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://selangor.travel/geopark/">Selangor.travel</a>

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

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Conservation, Community, and the Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark

Across Malaysia, questions about Orang Asli land rights have been back in the headlines, from the detention of villagers in Pahang over a land dispute, to communities facing displacement, environmental damage, and development carried out without meaningful consultation. One of the latest flashpoints is Pulau Carey in Selangor, where the Mah Meri community in Kampung Sungai Kurau says a proposed port expansion could threaten their fishing grounds, cultural heritage, and way of life. We speak with Lanuza Layon, Chairperson of the Kampung Sungai Kurau Village Development and Security Committee, and Sarah Amer, a Community Organiser from Gerimis Art Project, about what is happening on the ground, and what it reveals about the broader struggle for Orang Asli land rights in Malaysia.



Read more about the issue here and here.

Across Malaysia, questions about Orang Asli land rights have been back in the headlines, from the detention of villagers in Pahang over a land dispute, to communities facing displacement, environmental damage, and development carried out without meaningful consultation. One of the latest flashpoints is Pulau Carey in Selangor, where the Mah Meri community in Kampung Sungai Kurau says a proposed port expansion could threaten their fishing grounds, cultural heritage, and way of life. We speak with Lanuza Layon, Chairperson of the Kampung Sungai Kurau Village Development and Security Committee, and Sarah Amer, a Community Organiser from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.gerimisart.com/">Gerimis Art Project</a>, about what is happening on the ground, and what it reveals about the broader struggle for Orang Asli land rights in Malaysia.Read more about the issue <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-westport-expansion-save-the-mah-meri-of-pulau-carey">here</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/artivismforoa">here</a>.

Development and Displacement in Orang Asli Lands

Illegal e-waste is not a new issue in Malaysia, but recent events have brought it back into the headlines in a big way, from enforcement raids to high-profile investigations and new policy measures. In our previous episode, we spoke about the situation here in Malaysia and the recent developments that have brought the e-waste issue into sharp focus. In this second part of our two-part series on Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia, we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, including the global systems that drive the e-waste trade and the longer-term solutions that might help break the cycle. Helping us to unpack these and more are Mageswari Sangaralingam, the Honorary Secretary of both Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), and Wong Pui Yi, a researcher with the Basel Action Network.


Listen to Part 1 HERE.



Image Credit: Shutterstock

Illegal e-waste is not a new issue in Malaysia, but recent events have brought it back into the headlines in a big way, from enforcement raids to high-profile investigations and new policy measures. In our previous episode, we spoke about the situation here in Malaysia and the recent developments that have brought the e-waste issue into sharp focus. In this second part of our two-part series on Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia, we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, including the global systems that drive the e-waste trade and the longer-term solutions that might help break the cycle. Helping us to unpack these and more are Mageswari Sangaralingam, the Honorary Secretary of both <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://foe-malaysia.org">Sahabat Alam Malaysia</a> and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://consumer.org.my/">Consumers Association of Penang</a> (CAP), and Wong Pui Yi, a researcher with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://ban.org/">Basel Action Network</a>. Listen to Part 1 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/illegal-e-waste-in-malaysia-part-1-a-problem-exposed">HERE</a>.Image Credit: Shutterstock

 Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia Part 2: A System Revealed

Malaysia’s illegal e-waste trade has been making headlines in recent weeks, from major enforcement raids and large seizures at ports to corruption investigations involving senior officials. Authorities say the scale of the problem runs into billions of ringgit, raising serious concerns about pollution, public health, and enforcement gaps. In this first of a two part series on Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia, we take a closer look at what’s been happening with Wong Pui Yi, researcher with the Basel Action Network, and Mageswari Sangaralingam, the Honorary Secretary of both Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) to explore these developments, and what they have revealed about the scale of the problem, and also the risks faced by communities and the environment. 



Listen to Part 2 HERE.


Image Credit: Astralis Technology

Malaysia’s illegal e-waste trade has been making headlines in recent weeks, from major enforcement raids and large seizures at ports to corruption investigations involving senior officials. Authorities say the scale of the problem runs into billions of ringgit, raising serious concerns about pollution, public health, and enforcement gaps. In this first of a two part series on Illegal E-Waste in Malaysia, we take a closer look at what’s been happening with Wong Pui Yi, researcher with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://ban.org/">Basel Action Network</a>, and Mageswari Sangaralingam, the Honorary Secretary of both <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://foe-malaysia.org">Sahabat Alam Malaysia</a> and the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://consumer.org.my/">Consumers Association of Penang</a> (CAP) to explore these developments, and what they have revealed about the scale of the problem, and also the risks faced by communities and the environment.&nbsp;Listen to Part 2 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/illegal-e-waste-in-malaysia-part-2-a-system-revealed">HERE</a>. Image Credit: Astralis Technology

Conservation, Community, and the Gombak-Hulu Langat Geopark

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