BY: NANTHINI DEWI

The West and the East of Malaysia contains a rich and vast amount of resources over the land, air and sea making the nation tremendously blessed and causing us to be the envy of so many other nations around the world.

But the nation must not take these blessings for granted. Malaysia’s resources while multiple and vast are not infinite. This is why it is important to put in place comprehensive long term plans on managing our resources.

Whether it is fisheries, mines and minerals, agriculture or forests reserves, whatever the resource there must be proper planning and management on how best to utilize a resource to ensure the country and its people get maximum benefit.

It is not enough to collate data and gather information on our nation’s resources. What is more important is how to make sure these resources don’t deplete quickly and whether it is possible to enhance and increase the use of these resources.

Some Malaysian groups and organizations as well as environmental activists have made claims from time to time that there are resources in this country that are mismanaged, plundered and looted.

This clearly means the Malaysian government and states must be vigilant and introduce and enforce laws to deter those who have ill designs in wanting to abuse and misue our resources as it will mean that as a nation there is no sense of responsibility over our good fortune.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher