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Geologist Prof Dr Joy Jacqueline Pereira was recently awarded the 2024 Merdeka Award for Environment for her work and extensive research on climate change, and for spearheading international collaborations to safeguard environments and communities.

At 58, Joy has dedicated nearly three decades of her life to climate change adaptation; disaster prevention and risk reduction (earthquakes, landslides, floods, etc); mineral resource management; science-policy interface; sustainable development; geology; as well as science, technology and innovation; and has been referred to as “the nation’s foremost communications expert on climate change”.

 

Her significant contributions include conceptualising the Kuala Lumpur Multi-Hazard Platform (KL-MHP), a dynamic, city-level selected weather and climate forecasting tool and leading the Task Force for the Board of Geologists Malaysia Strategic Plan 2023-2040 and the Climate Change Impact and Adaptation for the Water Sector Transformation Plan 2040.

Joy, who is a professor and principal research fellow at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)’s South-East Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative (Seadpri-UKM), is also the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III on Mitigation of Climate Change co-chairperson and the Asian Network on Climate Science and Technology (ANCST) director.

She is editor of the book, Climate Change Adaptation In Southeast Asia, a groundbreaking publication recording the status of climate change adaptation in all 10 Asean member states.

Despite her many achievements, Joy remains down-to-earth and practical.

 

“It’s such a pleasure to have my work recognised, and this acknowledgement is important to me to show my family that I’ve been doing something significant with my life, and not simply running away from household chores and family obligations,” she says lightheartedly.

Her tone turns serious as she adds: “I’m really grateful to my family, especially my husband, Dr Ng Tham Fatt, who is the ‘wind beneath my wings’; my parents – L. Kumar and Victoria Miranda – who have helped raise our daughter, Linah, well; as well as my two sisters, Margarete Sebastian and Jennifer Pereira, who constantly help take care of things on the personal front.

“It’s my family’s constant support, patience and understanding that has released me to soar in my career, and manage both my work and personal life.”

Joy built her career on environmental geology, and after obtaining her first degree in Earth Science from UKM, she was granted the British High Commissioners Award (now Chevening Award), to continue her Masters in Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology at University of Leicester. She then did her PhD in Universiti Malaya, working on gold mining and environmental impacts.

Joy joined UKM’s Institute for Environment and Development (Lestari) in 1996 and then moved on to the Seadpri-UKM, where she started leading multi-country international projects.

One of the biggest challenges she has faced is building trust and confidence in scientific findings.

“High levels of trust in the researcher and confidence in the findings make it easier for the uptake of evidence-based information for policy making,” she says, adding that “openness, transparency and communication is critical when conducting research in the science-policy interface”.

“Conceptualising and designing project implementation with the involvement of policy makers and stakeholders, as well as active involvement and communication as the products are generated, do help in the trust-building process.

“We published methodologies and validated our results in peer-reviewed journals as a means of quality assurance.”

Joy, who enjoys reading and watching television, especially movies on the experiences of real people and actual events, believes that success comes from “constantly striving for continuous improvement in one’s work and personal life”.

Her life mottos are: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts” (Winston Churchill) and “When you encounter setbacks and difficulties, be practical and rational, not sentimental or emotional.” (Anonymous).

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GOPENG – Projek perintis perlombongan unsur nadir bumi bukan radioaktif (NR-REE) di mukim Kenering berjaya melonjakkan Perak dalam peta industri mineral global yang sebelum ini dimonopoli China.

Menteri Besar Perak, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad berkata, penubuhan makmal analisis mineral Terra Mineral Lab Sdn Bhd (TML) pertama secara tidak langsung mengukuhkan kedudukan negeri sebagai pengeluar latanida yang telah menjana royalti sebanyak RM29.73 juta kepada kerajaan negeri.

 

Menurutnya, setakat ini lebih 85 peratus pengeluaran lantanida dunia dikuasai oleh China namun penubuhan TML membantu dalam menyumbang kepada kepelbagaian rantaian bekalan global, sekaligus mengurangkan pergantungan dunia kepada suatu sumber.

“Dengan adanya (pengeluaran mineral) di Malaysia, bukan sahaja di Malaysia mungkin ada di negara lain seperti Myanmar, Kemboja, Vietnam, kita telah memberi peluang kepada pengguna supaya tidak bergantung kepada satu sumber di dunia

 

“Jadi Malaysia, di Perak khususnya ada menawarkan sumber ini kepada dunia,” katanya pada sidang media selepas menyempurnakan Majlis Perasmian TML dan Pusat Kecemerlangan Penyelidikan Mineral (CoE) di kawasan Perindustrian Gopeng di sini, pada Khamis.

Hadir sama, Exco Sains, Alam Sekitar dan Teknologi Hijau Perak, Teh Kok Lim dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Perbadanan Menteri Besar (MB Inc) Perak, Anuar Zainal Abidin.

Dalam pada itu, Saarani berkata, pembukaan makmal analisis mineral di negeri ini memberi peluang kepada kerajaan negeri lain dan pihak swasta untuk memanfaatkan sepenuhnya demi pembangunan industri mineral negara.

“Negeri lain tidak perlu membuka makmal yang sama kerana mahal. Mereka boleh datang untuk mengguna pakai makmal sedia ada dan boleh dan memperluas mengikut keperluan semasa.

“Sebelum ini, pelbagai kos diperlukan untuk dibawa ke China atau ke negeri lain melibatkan pengangkutan, logistik dan proses yang perlu dilalui termasuk kastam, imigresen dan sebagainya.

“Bagaimanapun, dengan adanya makmal ini, kita tidak perlu mengeluarkan kos untuk tujuan itu dan hanya membayar yuran perkhidmatan sahaja,” jelasnya.

Kerajaan negeri Perak melalui Perbadanan Menteri Besar (MB Inc) Perak mencipta sejarah dengan penubuhan makmal komersial pertama di Malaysia iaitu TML dan CoE bernilai RM12 juta di kawasan Perindustrian Gopeng, di sini. – MG Perak

 

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MELAKA – Jalan berlubang yang didakwa lubang benam di Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz, Melaka Raya di sini petang tadi disahkan bukan berpunca daripada tanah mendap di kawasan tambak laut itu.

Pengarah Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) Melaka, Ir Mohamad Salzeli Mokhtar sebaliknya berkata, kewujudan lubang sepanjang 3.5 meter, satu meter lebar dan 1.7 meter dalam itu akibat culvert atau pembetung kekotak yang pecah.

“Kejadian ini berlaku kerana kegagalan culvert di tapak berpunca daripada muatan yang lebih melalui jalan itu.

“Ia mengakibatkan runtuhan jalan sehingga menampakkan longkang besar selebar lima meter di bawahnya,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita di lokasi kejadian petang tadi.

 

Terdahulu tular di media sosial mengenai kejadian itu kononnya dikaitkan dengan lubang benam berpunca daripada tanah mendap di kawasan tambak laut sejak lebih 40 tahun itu yang merupakan laluan utama ke pusat bandar Melaka .

Difahamkan, kejadian itu turut mengakibatkan sekurang-kurangnya dua penunggang motosikal cedera ketika cuba mengelak daripada terjunam ke dalam lubang sedalam 1.7 meter itu.

 

Mengulas lanjut Mohamad Salzeli berkata, pihaknya akan segera melakukan kerja-kerja pembaikan jalan persekutuan itu bagi tempoh jangka pendek dan panjang.

“Ini termasuk membuat laluan kontra menggunakan jalan bersebelahan selain menghadkan muatan sehingga 10 tan sahaja.

“Esok kita akan buat permohonan peruntukan segera daripada Ibu Pejabat JKR untuk membolehkan kerja-kerja pembinaan kekal,” tambahnya lagi.

 

Sementara itu mangsa kejadian, Izzat Irsyaduddin Daud, 36, berkata dia bernasib baik apabila sempat mengelak daripada terjunam ke dalam lubang terbabit ketika melalui jalan itu sekitar 11 pagi tadi.

“Masa itu saya nak hantar makanan kepada pelanggan dan tiba-tiba nampak lubang besar depan mata dan terus mengelak ke kiri bahu jalan sehingga terlanggar tebing menyebabkan luka ibu jari kaki,” katanya.

 

Menurutnya, difahamkan sebelum itu sebuah lori hampir terjunam ke dalam lubang berkenaan namun berjaya meneruskan perjalanan selain seorang lagi penunggang motosikal turut cedera.

– MalaysiaGazette

screencapture thesun my opinion news technology can help prevent sinkholes and enhance public safety JE13067709 2024 10 03 08 36 47

 

THE recent sinkhole incidents, including the tragic case at Jalan Masjid India and the sinkhole found at KLIA's Bunga Raya Complex, highlight the need for better management of underground systems.
This is why the deputy works minister's announcement that all public and private sector construction projects worth RM10 million and above are to adopt Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a step in the right direction.


BIM, while often used for buildings, can also give a better understanding of what is happening underground by creating 3D models of pipes, sewage systems and other critical infrastructure.
To make these models more effective, BIM can be combined with other tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and ground-penetrating radar. These technologies can help to map out underground systems accurately, even for older infrastructure that was not originally designed using modern tools.


However, creating a static 3D model is not enough. This is where Digital Twin technology comes in. A Digital Twin is like a live, virtual copy of the infrastructure, updated in real-time by data from sensors placed throughout the underground system.


For example, if a pipe starts to develop a leak or weaken, the sensors will detect it, and the Digital Twin will alert engineers to the issue before it gets worse. This means we can fix problems early and reduce the chance of sinkholes forming.


In addition, artificial intelligence (Al) adds another layer of safety by analysing all this data to predict future problems. Al can look for patterns, such as when certain pipes or areas are likely to fail, and suggest preventive actions to stop major incidents like sinkholes from happening in the first place.


GIS is also a key tool that helps us see the bigger picture. It provides important information about the environment around the infrastructure. such as soil conditions. water flow or even about the environment around the infrastructure, such as soil conditions, water flow or even how much traffic passes over certain areas.


By combining GIS with the insights from BIM and the Digital Twin, authorities can focus their maintenance efforts on high-risk areas.
Usage of these technologies is the way forward to ensure best practices and safety in the construction industry in the county. It is encouraging that the government is also exploring Al and other digital tools across various industries, including infrastructure.


With a collective effort and continuous commitment to safety, these technologies can greatly improve how we manage infrastructure, prevent sinkholes and enhance public safety while strengthening the durability and resilience of our systems.


This article is contributed by Ng Teck Wei, an associate dean of the Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Built Environment at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.
and other digital tools across various industries, including infrastructure.
With a collective effort and continuous commitment to safety, these technologies can greatly improve how we manage infrastructure, prevent sinkholes and enhance public safety while strengthening the durability and resilience of our systems.


This article is contributed by Ng Teck Wei, an associate dean of the Department of Construction Management, Faculty of Built Environment at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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KUALA LUMPUR: The unity government's decision to allow Lynas Corporation to continue operating in the country is due to differences in its operational terms compared to when the Australian rare earth mining company began in 2011, said Rafizi Ramli.

The Economy Minister, who is also the PKR deputy president, said this while explaining Pakatan Harapan's changed stance on Lynas's presence in the country.

Previously, he said, Malaysia was reduced to dumping grounds for waste by-products with little added value.

"In the past, we were only a dumping ground and there was little added value since the industry is being developed in Australia.

"Compared to now, when the government is restructuring the rare earth industry, our decision is that any processing must be done here, with the raw material sourced from Malaysia, and there must be value added in Malaysia.

"It is not the same concept as what happened when it was brought in 2011."

Rafizi said this during the latest episode of the Yang Bakar Menteri podcast, hosted by blogger "Liam Sian See," who is actually former Barisan Nasional (BN) strategic communications deputy director Datuk Eric See-To.

The episode was moderated by Sayed Munawar Sayed Mustar.

Last year, Science, Technology, and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang said Lynas is allowed to operate with the updated terms until March 2026.

The updated terms include the permission to import raw materials containing natural radioactive materials (NORM) until its license expires.

"This consideration also allows the continuation of Cracking & Leaching (C&L) activities, subject to the condition that Lynas must ensure the radioactive content in the Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue is below 1 Bq/g through supervision by local experts," Chang had said.

Lynas rare earth materials are used in many high tech and future facing applications, including electronics, wind turbines and hybrid and electric vehicles.

 
 

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