Indonesian governor asks president to let timber firms drain peat in his province

mongabay : "Jokowi introduced the ban in the wake of the devastating 2015 forest and land fires, which burned an area the size of Vermont and sickened half a million people. The country’s vast peat swamp zones have been widely drained and dried for agriculture, rendering them highly flammable and prone to emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

Reports of timber firm PT Mohairson Pawan Khatulistiwa (MPK)’s activities in Sungai Putri, one of the last best coastal peat swamp forests on the island of Borneo, began to emerge last year. In March, the environment ministry visited the area; on Apr. 21, it ordered the company to stop operating and close the canal, which then stretched 8.1 kilometers long."

Fare-free bus and rail program still in force in Bangkok

Bangkok Post: news: "Nevertheless, the free services will be available for commuters until they are reviewed or renewed."

Beauty of Islam

A beautiful recitation of Surah al-Rahman by a partially blind girl in #Indonesia. #Quran pic.twitter.com/HU0V6jQ2iW

— Zahid Akhtar / زاهد (@AHudhayfah) May 6, 2017

Indonesia Transportation Society calls for expansion of #freepublictransport

Republika Online: "REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The public transportation subsidy being offered in several areas to serve the communities free of charge should be emulated by other regions, Indonesian Transportation Society observer Djoko Setidjawarno remarked here on Tuesday."

Shah Alam City Council launches free electric bus service

Free Malaysia Today : "“This environment-friendly free bus service has been introduced as part of the MBSA’s green initiative aimed at reducing carbon emission by 45%, which comes up to 31,914.54 tonnes,” he told reporters after taking a ride on board the electric bus here.
The bus can accommodate 67 passengers and is disabled-friendly, featuring LED panels, closed-circuit television cameras and WiFi.
He said the council was also planning to add more electric buses in the future.
The bus service operates daily from 6am to 10pm."