At a capacity building programme organised by the Malaysian Nature Society and the Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia on Nov 4, it was impressed upon the participants that no less an authority than the deputy premier himself had strongly supported preservation of the environment.

Just the day before, Najib Abdul Razak was quoted by the Sun in a story headlined Decentralise development to protect environment: Najib as saying: 'We can't accept excuses any longer that since the value of the land is high the local council should give the approval we can't accept this.

'The guidelines and regulations are very clear and should be followed by all local councils.'

Yet not more than two months ago, he had said of another hillside problem: 'We have to study what is practical because it may be very difficult if we want to guarantee that all the places are free from landslides or other problems. It may also result in costs which are too high.'

That was following the Gua Tempurung landslide and the subsequent identification of 105 potential landslide spots along the North-South Expressway. The story in the Star headlined PLUS still a safe haven, captured the quote, obviously to assure investors of the highway concessionaire's business prospects.

Apparently, where the highway is concerned, the deputy premier can only think of the concessionaire's interest. The interest of the people, the cost in human lives, is not factored into the 'costs which are too high'.

Civil society groups grasp at the headlines that give them hope, cut out the news reports meticulously and file them in folders in hope that they can be brought up as public record to bind the decision- makers to their promises.

Are the politicians who spout such statements so easily (and the media who report them) conscious of the import of their words to the reading public? Do they also know that people no longer have short memories, thanks to the advent of the wired society?
On another note, it was a really good programme that day on Nov 4. Particularly illuminating was the second session by Derek Fernandez, advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, on residents' rights in the planning process.

The media should have been there to help spread the word.