Kasa targets 100 green houses of worship nationwide next year

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Environment and Water (Kasa) is targeting to carry out the Green Houses of the Worship programme at 100 premises nationwide next year, said its Minister Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man,

He said all departments and agencies under the ministry have selected 12 houses of the worship in eight states to be used as foster houses of the worship and to implement the programme.

He added the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC) is also fine-tuning a more inclusive and sustainable implementation mechanism by introducing the foster houses of the worship initiative.

“The initiative is to encourage agencies, departments or corporate bodies to collaborate with selected houses of worship and give their commitment in the form of time, energy and financial contributions to the premises.

“The objective of the Green Houses of the Worship programme as a catalyst for environmental sustainability by fostering a green lifestyle among parishioners is to make the community more energy and water-efficient, environmentally friendly and to cut carbon emission,” he said in a written reply during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He was replying to a question by Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS-Kuala Krai) on the latest development in the Green Mosque programmes.

Tuan Ibrahim said the Green Houses of Worship programme emphasises on four green elements namely electricity and water saving especially during ablution at mosques and suraus, reducing waste generation and proper waste disposal and encouraging the purchase as well as usage of green products.

He added the government is planning to expand the Green Mosque programme nationwide.