Thank you mr speaker .

first and foremost i would like to wish a very good morning to the judges, teachers and friends. I stand here today to talk about something which has been a very hot topic recently. the tourism ministry introduced an innovation of tourism sector , a new campaign, "1Malaysa Green, 1 Malaysia Clean" which aims to instill the beauty and cleanliness among the people of Malaysia, especially in places that always attracts local and foreign tourists. This campaign is based on "Think Tourism Act Tourism" has been executed by the tourism minister Dato Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen on July 18, 2010 with the launch of the logo and mascot Mr. Bin, along with a theme song. The campaign also succeeded in raising awareness of the implications on the tourism industry and open the minds of all Malaysians to both hygiene and ensuring a clean and beautiful country. initiatives of tourism ministry is also in line with the government and prime minister of Malaysia targets to improve Malaysia's position to be in the list of top 10 countries in terms of contribution of tourism to Gross Domestic Product of RM115 billion in 2015 and provide employment opportunities to 2.7 million Malaysians . for the success and realization of the"1Malaysa Green, 1 Malaysia Clean travel keenterian also collaborate with the ministry of housing and local government, natural resources and Environmental ministries, youth and sportsministry, and ministry of education. apart from these four ministries, several non-governmental organizations, privateclub, student travel programs and City Hall were invited to plan and organize a number of ongoing programs in kuala lumpur and nationwide. between the activities undertaken include the

a.) Plant a Tree project in all homestays throughout the country registered with the ministry of tourism, which encourages foreign tourists to each plant a tree before they return to their homeland.

b) mutual assistance activities in places of tourist attractions

c.) cooperation with food and drinks associations and stalls to have a contest of the cleanest and most attractive dining places.

d.) cooperation with taxi associations to launch The Cleanest Taxi contest besides the friendliest and most knowledgeable taxi drivers.

e.) cooperation with the Giant hypermarket to place logos of 1m1c on their output bags

f.) cooperation of the mass media to spread the campaign of 1m1c.

As Malaysians we have much to be proud of, and thankful for. We share a rich cultural heritage, a peaceful existence, and a stable political and economic climate. But more importantly, we live in a beautiful land, endowed with a wealth of remarkable natural wonders that has become the source of awe, admiration and inspiration of people from all over the

world. This land is truly blessed. It is imperative that we do not take our blessings for granted. It is vital that we play an essential role as custodians of this land not only for the benefit of all mankind, but also for our children and future generation. It is time for us to take action. This is not the job for one person or organisation. We all have to take equal responsibility as Malaysians, in an equal and One Malaysia. It is important that we keep our tourist sites clean, litter free and ever enchanting not only for our visitors, but also for our children. I call on you to help us in our endeavour. Let us now stand together, with one aim, as One Malaysia, to clean up the mess. Let us Think Tourism, Act Tourism towards a clean and green Malaysia. The government has started a campaign called "1Malaysia Green, 1Malaysia Clean" in order to let tour operators and travelers understand the need to protect nature areas while promoting eco-tourism. fter all Malaysia is one of the countries with the richest biodiversity in the world, prized with 16 million hectares of tropical forest area, which covers 60 per cent of the countrys land area. Preservation of this asset is key to sustainability and I am proud of the fact that over 73 per cent of the total forest area in this country is currently protected as national parks.

4. In truth, moving forward towards environmental sustainability are not without its unique obstacles and Malaysia certainly faces a fair share of the challenges that lie ahead. For one, the lack of awareness about the impact of irresponsible activities to our environment is disheartening. This has led to environmental degradation and destruction by the very beneficiaries of the environment ie ourselves. There is still a lot of work to be done in convincing people to own up for their actions and attune their behavior for the benefit of the environment.

5. Another equally daunting impediment is finding a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuels that are gradually depleting. As we know, this is a resource that will become increasingly scarce, escalate in price and will eventually run out. Whether we realize it or not, we are in a race with the world to wean ourselves from dependence on this resource. And the only way forward seems to be the currently costly migration to renewable energy.

6. The third hurdle is the technology gap. There is still a high level of dependency on developed countries for access to cutting edge green technology. In addition, most of these technology applications are too expensive and impedes wider usage. For instance, despite the abundance of sunlight in Malaysia, the use of solar power is still limited due to the colossal cost involved. Typically a rooftop photovoltaic system that powers a four room house costs more than RM150,000. Although improvements in technology and economies of scale are driving the price down, as it stands, it is still largely beyond the reach of the average household.

7. To sum up, the three biggest challenge we face with regards to environmental sustainability are environmental awareness, renewable energy and cost effective green technology.