
Towards
Environmental
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Development & Planning
NGOs respond to Gamuda Bhd
This is a joint statement by the Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Consumers’ Association of Penang and Penang Forum, in response to the statement released by Gamuda
May 17, 2023

Development & Planning
PSR project requires a new EIA report
As there has been a change in the development concept, both in the design and the statement of need, our view is that a new
May 12, 2023

Development & Planning
2,500 acres of reclamation are unacceptable
The Chief Minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow announced on 11 May 2023 that three island reclamation project would be reduced by 49% to 2,500
May 11, 2023

Marine & Fisheries
SAM is outraged over approval of EIA of the Penang South Reclamation project
Sahabat Alam Malaysia is shocked and outraged after learning that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the proposed reclamation and dredging works for the
April 26, 2023

NGOs respond to Gamuda Bhd
- Publication Date | May 17, 2023
- Document Type | Media Statement
- Programmes | Development & Planning
- Issues | Coastal Development, Development, Fisheries, Food Sovereignty, Planning, Reclamation, Urban Development

PSR project requires a new EIA report
- Publication Date | May 12, 2023
- Document Type | Media Statement
- Programmes | Development & Planning
- Issues | Coastal Development, Development, Fisheries, Food Sovereignty, Mining & Extractives, Planning, Reclamation, Urban Development

2,500 acres of reclamation are unacceptable
- Publication Date | May 11, 2023
- Document Type | Media Statement
- Programmes | Development & Planning
- Issues | Biodiversity, Coastal Development, Coastal Ecosystem, Development, Fisheries, Reclamation

SAM is outraged over approval of EIA of the Penang South Reclamation project
- Publication Date | April 26, 2023
- Document Type | Media Statement
- Programmes | Marine & Fisheries
- Issues | Coastal Development, Development, Reclamation, Urban Development
What We Do
- Advocacy & Campaigns
- Community Mobilisation
- Education & Awareness
- Legal Support
- Media & Publicity
- Networking
- Research & Publication
- Sustainable Solutions
What We Achieved
since 2000
90000
+
Trees planted in mangrove & degraded forests
0
+
Books & reports published
30
+
Media statements released in a year
900
+
Number of major environmental issues taken up
0
+
Community territories mapped
0
+
Community organisations established
0
+
Communities represented in the courts
1
Agroecology facility set up
100
+
Trainings, workshops & conferences conducted
Testimonials
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.

During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar.
Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara.
SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.

SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.

Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.

My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?

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