eatingchaos: malaysia Archives

March 10, 2008

my favourite ceramahs

March 9, 2008

makkal sakthi

what happened last night is equivalent to a tight whip cracking on bn's ass, and it's stinging. it's history in the making. the rakyat are clearly dissatisfied with the way they have been ruling and the rakyat are slamming their fists down hard. the delicious keywords i found in today's papers - political tsunami, winds of change. shivers down my spine. the next four years, suffice to say, will be an interesting one for malaysia.

posted by nyx at 8:43 AM | comments (0)

March 8, 2008

to those voting today, vote wisely

posted by nyx at 12:53 PM | comments (0)

February 12, 2007

turtles and levels of endangerment

the categorization of whether a species is extinct or not is outlined by International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). they have a list to evaluate the risk, and the list breaks down like this:

240px-Status_iucn3.1.svg.png

Least Concerned (LC) - low risk
Near Threatened (NT) - likely to qualify as a threatened species in the near future
Threatened
- Vulnerable (VU) - high risk of extinction in the wild
- Endangered (EN) - very high risk of extinction in the wild
- Critically Endangered (CR) - extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Extinct in the Wild (EW) - known only to survive in cultivation or captivity
Extinct (EX) - last individual has died

there are seven species of sea turtles in the world, out of which five are endangered, and two species critically endangered. in malaysia, we can find four types - the leatherback turtle, the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle and the olive ridley turtle.

the leatherbacks (penyu belimbing), which are the biggest sea turtle species, are critically endangered. these are the ones that (used to) frequent rantau abang. they eat jellyfishes (these are the guys who will mistake floating plastic bags as jelyfishes, and will die choking on them when they try to eat it, so please please dont throw plastic bags into the sea). statistics from SEATRU (Sea Turtle Research Unit) of University College of Science and Technology Malaysia shows a drastic drop of nestings found in Terengganu - from 800 nests in 1986 to less than 10 in 1998.

the green turtle (penyu agar/penyu pulau) is endangered. it eats seaweeds and seagrass, and can be found in terengganu, perak, pahang, sabah and sarawak. if you snorkelled in perhentian or redang, and spotted a turtle, it's most likely a green turtle. selingan island, the turtle conservation island in sabah, takes great care of this species.

the hawksbill turtle (penyu sisik) - named such because of the jagged ridge on its shell, feeds on sea sponge and jellyfish (yes, you'd be killing this poor thing too if you throw plastic bags into the ocean). they can be found in terengganu, johore, malacca and sabah. 10% of the nestings in selingan island are hawksbill turtle nests. their efforts are recognised to be the biggest nesting concentration of hawksbill in the Asean region.

the olive ridley (penyu lipas) is the smallest of the malaysian sea turtle species. they eat jellyfishes, fishes and seagrass. they recently made news in penang, and are also found in terengganu, kelantan, and east malaysia.

the other species of turtles not found in malaysia are loggerhead turtles, flatback turtles and kemp's ridley.

given that the turtles are critically endangered/endangered, please please observe the following habits to help them survive:

please dont throw plastic bags into the sea!
please collect thrown plastic bags floating in the sea
dont buy turtle eggs/dont eat turtle eggs/kill your friends who are still eating turtle eggs

if you have the honour of encountering them in the wild, please:

do not hold on to their shells for a free ride
do not keep chasing after them or crowd around them like an imbecilic sakai, just observe from a distance and follow it gracefully
dont show off and play I Can Chase The Turtle, or I Can Dive To Touch The Turtle. Respect Wild Life, dont toy with them

if you see them laying eggs, please:

keep your distance
dont sit on the turtle's back like it's a free rodeo ride
dont use the flash if you have to take pictures, the light hurts the turtle's eye
dont flash your torchlight directly into the eye of the turtle, or even at the turtle, or around the turtle

if you're walking around at night on a beach where turtles might nest, please:

walk barefoot - you might crush a little hatchling
dont flash your torchlight towards the sea - you will discourage female turtles from coming to shore
dont make too much of a racket for the same reasons as above

i beseech and beg - please respect and protect turtles.

related posts:

posted by nyx at 12:12 AM | comments (1)

December 19, 2006

the picture that broke my heart

Bok House

posted by nyx at 4:37 PM | comments (8)

October 3, 2006

Turtle Conservation in Malaysia

I fell in love with turtles in Sipadan Island, Sabah, Malaysia. Hang around the jetty and you'll see turtles swimming up. When you snorkel, you're bound to see a handful. When diving, you stop counting how many turtles you've seen per dive - they are abundant, and everywhere. It was there that I first saw baby turtles nudging their inquisitive noses up from the nest, and clumsily flap their way to the ocean - their playground. It was on those shores that I learnt the cruel cycle of life - we saw birds swooping down on the scrurrying baby turtles. I saw the birds eat one alive. Acting purely on instincts, I ran to the turtle like a protective mother, wanting to shoo the bird away, but the tour operators held me back - "It's nature's way of life, let's not interfere", they advised.

And it was the tour operators that taught me conservation through their love. They explained that turtle eggs are sensitive, one cannot expose them to direct sunlight. So in the middle of the night, as soon as the mother turtle leaves the shore, they painstakingly move the eggs into a turtle nesting sanctuary. They work in the dark lest they disturb the other turtles who might still be laying eggs. No one is allowed to wander about at night, torchlights are banned as the turtles who are not used to being on land have very sensitive eyes, and they just cannot bear having light shining directly at their pupils. They eyes tear to protect itself, that's why you see them "crying" as they lay eggs.

Each nest has an average of 100-120 eggs. Out of this, only 1 baby makes it to adulthood. So you average one adult per nest. In Sabah, we have another turtle sanctuary/hatchery, an official one called Pulau Selingan. This island is more of an education centre for tourists. It was there that I learnt how baby turtles climb up their deep nests, the mystery surrounding their childhood, what they eat, their mating patterns. And my love for these graceful creatures grew. However, I sensed indifference in the way that Pulau Selingan conserves. They are paid to do it, it's not something they do out of love - so there is a difference. Still - an effort to conserve exists, that in itself should be good enough.

My friend recently visited those islands and was very moved by the entire experience. It made him realise what a heritage nature is, and the fragile state of the ecosystem. He is a journalist and he now preaches responsible tourism in his articles. Observing his reactions of Pulau Selingan made me realise how important educating citizens are. It moves them to make changes. So tourism efforts like Pulau Selingan should be applauded.

I've had bad tourism experience in Pulau Perhentian, Terengganu, Malaysia, where turtles are concerned. I was snorkelling when my boatman pointed out to me a turtle in the distance. I swam lazily towards it. Before I could make it there, two groups of tourists were already rushing towards the solo turtle. I saw them surrounding him. I saw them diving very close to the poor dear. I saw them make a sport out of who can dive close enough to touch the doe-eyed darling. And it broke my heart to see people behaving like this. This is the danger of tourism, business is more important than eco-responsibilities.

I once saw someone who had a picture of himself sitting proudly on top of a turtle's back while the turtle was laying eggs. I had tears in my eyes as I scolded him. I imagined how the camera flash hurt this underwater glider's eyes.

Recently there was a report about turtles in West Malaysia - they are virtually extinct. I've heard even more cruel practices there, though I've never been to that area to witness it myself. I heard that the folks there cage up any turtles they find laying eggs and don't allow these gentle creatures back into the water. They charge RM5 (approx USD1.35) for any tourist who'd like to see the turtles. The effect is extremely adverse because of their mating pattern. The male turtles await the female turtles in the shallow waters. They mate immediately after she lays her eggs. If the female turtle doesn't return to the waters after laying eggs, she won't mate, she won't get pregnant, she won't return next year.

Also - female turtles are highly habitual creatures. They will always return to the same beach to lay eggs. If they feel that the area is not safe for them to go ashore, more often than not they die along with the eggs in them. So please, practise responsible tourism.

If you see the Pay Per View malpractice that I described, please don't support it. If you're in a beach vicinity where turtles are likely to come up ashore to lay eggs, do be careful with your torch light when you take a night walk - don't shine out at sea or at any turtles. If you see plastic bags floating in the sea, pick it up - turtles eat jelly fish, and floating plastic bags look like jelly fishes, the gentle giants will choke on it. When you stumble onto a mummy turtle laying eggs, please don't go flash crazy and snap pictures. If you need to take shots, be discreet and quiet, turn your camera settings to anti-flash (better still just leave the poor turtle alone).

I cannot imagine our oceans without them, so please Save the Turtles (they are endangered).

written originally for mankindnews.com

posted by nyx at 9:56 PM | comments (0)

August 16, 2006

coliseum remains

another good news - the coliseum affair that i blogged about earlier is another rakyat victory! just like broga, just like sipadan.

well well :) looks like we've gotta keep on fighting the good fight folks.

posted by nyx at 10:17 AM | comments (0)

August 15, 2006

no more broga incinerator

a few months back i wrote about broga. good news today, the incinerator project has been cancelled! proof that collective voices of the people is still effective and we the rakyat will be heard when we come together to fight for the causes dear to our hearts.

big cheers for the residents at broga who fought three years for this announcement.

posted by nyx at 9:06 AM | comments (0)

August 8, 2006

coliseum : what can we do about it

front page of Star today serves us with Government Wants Amicable Solution about acquirement of the coliseum cinema. flip a few more pages, and you read that the Owner Gets Notice To Vacate His Building.

head scratching affair trying to figure out what's going on.

Dr Chua Seong Siew who was served a 30 day notice to vacate the building yesterday afternoon nearly fell off his chair in shock. 30 days, for a building that has been with his family for 86 years. how is this fair? why does it feel as if he was legally bullied?

he's compensated 500k, an amount that at best insults the value of the building.

the entire affair is absurd. acquiring the building in the name of arts when the building itself is already an art icon and a living heritage. the cinema represents deep sentimental values, please dont touch it, let it remain.

i dont see justice here. i want to believe that we, as ordinary citizens of malaysia, still have the power of voice. that we will be moved to protect our legacies when need be.

so i ask - what can we do about it. please give suggestions, ideas, channels that we can go through, etc. petition, peaceful protests, media exposure - what else can we do? more importantly, are you with me?

posted by nyx at 11:32 PM | comments (0)

August 7, 2006

leatherback turtles effectively extinct in malaysia

read this piece of news in the papers over breakfast, sigh. in sadness, i offer a poem :

only after the last tree has been cut down;
only after the last fish has been caught;
only after the last river has been poisoned;
only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten.

- cree indian prophecy -

posted by nyx at 6:18 PM

July 27, 2006

article 11

this is a lengthy article. if you are a malaysian i beseech you, please read it through as it concerns the corruption of our fundamental rights.

what is the article 11 coalition
The coalition of NGOs known as Article 11 is committed to embracing, upholding and pursuing the realization of the following principles as guaranteed by the Federal Constitution and Human Rights Conventions:

no citizen shall be discriminated on the basis of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender
parents (both mother and father) are equal guardians and have equal say in all respects of the upbringing of children
children shall be protected from any form of discrimination on the grounds of religion and in all cases, the interests of children shall be paramount
the freedom of thought, conscience and belief for all persons shall be fully respected, guaranteed and protected
every citizen has a responsibility to condemn discrimination and intolerance based on religion or belief
every citizen has a responsibility to apply religion or belief in support of human dignity and peace

Article 11 is fully committed to upholding those fundamental rights for all Malaysians regardless of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender.

sounds fair and righteous. so why did article 11 ruffle so many feathers recently? why did its forums clash with obstacles such as depicted in the picture below?

who are the article 11?
Article 11 comprises of 13 NGOs:

All Women's Action Society (AWAM)
Bar Council Malaysia
Catholic Lawyers Society
Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship
Malaysian Civil Liberties Society, Protem Committee (MCLS)
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism & Sikhism (MCCBCHS)
National Human Rights Society (HAKAM)
Pure Life Society
Sisters In Islam (SIS)
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Vivekananda Youth Movement, Seremban
Women's Aid Organization (WAO)
Women's Development Collective (WDC)

why was article 11 coalition formed?
In April 2004, the civil High Court in Kuala Lumpur granted custody of 2 young boys aged 2 and 4 years to their Hindu mother. The judge imposed one condition - she was not to expose her sons to her Hindu faith. The 2 boys were previously, without her knowledge or consent, converted to Islam by her estranged husband, himself a recent convert to Islam. The same court has earlier dismissed an application by the Hindu mother for a declaration that the conversion of the 2 young children to Islam violated her parental right to co-determine the religious upbringing of the children. The reasoning of the court was that it had no jurisdiction, as the children were now Muslim and the correctness or otherwise of their conversion was a matter for the Syariah Court.

what are the objectives of article 11?

for the government and judiciary to uphold the supremacy of the Federal Constitution;
for the government to ensure governance in accordance with the Federal Constitution and premised on the universal values of all Malaysian peoples;
for the government to reaffirm that Malaysia shall not become a theocratic state;
for the government to recognise the proper position of the judiciary within the Constitutional framework, as an independent and equal arm of Government

how did the government react to this call?

a ban on talking about our own rights. this, in a "democratic" country that malaysia is. have we reached a stage where we malaysians are such an intolerant bunch that it has become too sensitive for us to get together to talk about our own rights? have we? if yes, there are very dark days ahead, and every single one of us mykad holders should fear for the social health and direction of this country.

there is also a media blackout, and the no mainstream paper would publish a press statement by article 11. well guess what, i'm going to publish it, and i'm going to publish it before the government's fingers stretches out to shut us bloggers up.

Press Statement : Article 11 Unrelated to Inter-Faith Commission
A press statement by Article 11, a coalition of Malaysian NGOs committed to upholding the fundamental rights of all Malaysians regardless of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender.

Article 11 is very concerned that the Prime Minister’s statement reported in today’s press, calling for a halt to Article 11’s public forums, is based on the widespread but mistaken belief that the coalition’s activities are aimed at reviving the initiative to establish an Inter-Faith Commission (IFC).

Article 11 would like to take this opportunity to clarify that the forums, entitled “Federal Constitution: Protection for All”, are in no way related with the IFC initiative. Rather, Article 11’s forums focus on the rights that the Federal Constitution, as the supreme law of Malaysia, guarantees to each citizen. The forums are also intended to highlight the concerns of civil society resulting from the plight of various individuals who are unable to obtain legal redress and who therefore suffer as a result of the current jurisdictional uncertainty in the courts. There is no discussion about the IFC in Article 11’s public forums or other activities.

Article 11 will seek a meeting with the Prime Minister to request further information about his concerns regarding the coalition’s activities and to provide clarification on the misconception that links Article 11 with the IFC.

Article 11 takes note of the Prime Minister’s concerns. The coalition members will meet soon and will carefully consider his advice in its discussions of future plans.

Press Statement by Hakam
I am the current President of the Nasional Human Rights Society (HAKAM). HAKAM is a member of the coalition which calls itself “Article 11”. You would have read about the controversy surrounding the road-show currently underway. The forum in Penang held in May was disrupted by protestors. The forum in Johor Bahru held earlier this month was almost disrupted and was regrettably shortened, again due to protestors. There is a significant amount of material on the web in the Bahasa Malaysia language which, while doing many things, chiefly presents a distorted picture of not only what Article 11 is attempting to achieve but also the way things are. These distortions have perhaps unfortunately become the foundation of the Prime Minister’s caution as reported in the media on 26th July 2006. I believe it is essential to set the record straight, not only for the security of those concerned but also for the sake of the nation.

The Article 11 initiative is in no way connected with the Interfaith Commission initiative. They are separate initiatives, with very different objectives. Unfortunately, unscrupulous parties have twisted this state of affairs and presented the objectives of both initiatives as not only being highly objectionable but also as being connected. It should be borne in mind that the Interfaith Commission initiative was aimed at making the Government aware of the benefits in establishing a statutory non-adjudicative body which could through recommendations assist the Government of the day in shaping coherent policy pertaining to religious harmony. A draft bill was endorsed by a national conference in February 2005 and, together with a plenary statement, presented to the Government. That is where all formal efforts pertaining to the proposed commission ended.

The Article 11 initiative is however aimed at creating awareness of the Federal Constitution, the guarantees provided therein and the concept of the rule of law against the context of increasing assertions that Malaysia is in law an Islamic State. In presenting the Federal Constitution, the initiative has at no point sought to question the status of Islam as the official religion of Malaysia. That is what the Constitution says, after all. Neither has the initiative sought to challenge or attack the administration of Islamic Law nor the esteemed position of the Rulers.

The initiative has however shown that the provisions in the Constitution relating to Islam have a context and, amongst other things, are to be read in the light of the constitutional declaration that the Constitution is the supreme law of Malaysia. The context being suggested by Article 11 is not that of the members of Article 11, the organisers or even the speakers at the forums. The context being suggested is one which the courts of this country have recognised. The suggestion that Malaysia is a secular country has recently been wrongly attributed to persons who have unfairly been indirectly characterised as trouble makers intent on attacking the administration of Islam. That is wholly incorrect. The statement is one of declared law. In the 1988 Supreme Court decision in Che Omar Che Soh, the Supreme Court declared:

..we have to set aside our personal feelings because the law in this country is still what it is today, secular law, where morality not accepted by the law is not enjoying the status of the law...Until the law and the system is changed, we have no choice but to proceed as we are doing today.

The law stands as that decision of the Supreme Court has not been reversed or departed from. In fact, during the recent Lina Joy Federal Court appeal, the Court asked whether it was being asked to depart from the principle in Che Omar Che Soh. Counsel opposing the appeal answered in the affirmative, indicating an acceptance that declared law in this country is as it stands in Che Omar Che Soh.
We must not confuse the crucial distinction between a country in which the majority are Muslims, and thus an Islamic Country, and a country in which the supreme law is the syariah, an Islamic State. In Che Omar Che Soh, the Supreme Court stated:

"If it had been otherwise (an Islamic State), there would have been another provision in the Constitution which would have the effect that any law contrary to the injunction of Islam will be void. Far from making such provision, (the Constitution), on the other hand, purposely preserves the continuity of secular law prior to the Constitution..."

As an illustration, the Pakistani constitution has provisions which declare the syariah law as the supreme law of Pakistan, and any laws inconsistent with the syariah as being void. The Malaysian Constitution does not. Furthermore, our constitutional history clearly reflects that the thinking of the alliance leaders and all key stakeholders in the period leading to the establishment of the Federal Constitution. That while Islam was to be given protected status, as a matter of law and the application of law, Malaysia was to be a secular, Westminster Style Democracy. This thinking, having gone to the establishment of the free nation of Malaya and then later, Malaysia, with its gloriously pluralist, multi-racial, multi-religious make up, cannot be dismissed as being mere opinion.

In view of this, it is grossly unreasonable for various parties to have characterised Article 11 as having challenged the status of Islam as the official religion and the status quo. Article 11 has not done so, it has championed the law including the declaration of Islam as the official religion of the Federation. Conversely, it is its detractors who have, through distortions and by preying on religious and racial sensitivities, sought to challenge the status quo. Perhaps because it is this very process of mixing religion, politics and the rule of law and the ensuing confusion that Article 11, has been cautioning against. Regrettably, this process is gaining ground.

This is not say that I or Article 11 condemns those who aspire to put in place around them a complete system based on syariah principles. That aim should however be achieved through constitutional process, that is constitutional change. The Federal Constitution, in as much as it is a living document, cannot be subverted through reinterpretations inconsistent with the objectives underlying the Federal Constitution when it was introduced in 1957. That would be amount to a hijacking of the Federal Constitution and the social contract it put in place.

for more press statements and better understanding of the events that lead up to the gag order, please visit article 11's website.

lay off sipadan!

two months after the sipadan mishap, our prime minister finally decides to have a say - and he says LAY OFF!

a relief for me - finally a call that shows care for the island's pristine condition. a clubhouse is really unnecessary, the less time people spend on the island the better.

next - maybe he'll say the same for the forest reserves of sabah?

posted by nyx at 11:00 PM | comments (0)

June 29, 2006

baby rhino tracks found!

more good news for rhinos! baby tracks were found recently in the heart of borneo's jungles (they didn't specify where exactly in borneo but i'm inclined to think sabah because the SOS rhino are based there).

this rises the hopes for its survival as there are only 13 rhinos left in borneo, and only five species of rhinos left in the world.

these five species are the asian one-horned rhino, the white rhino, black rhino, javan rhino and the sumatran rhino.

posted by nyx at 12:05 PM | comments (6)

June 15, 2006

kongsi raya is blasphemy?

when i read that a muslim ulama wanted kongsi raya to be re-reviewed because he thought it to contaminate the purity of their religion, i snickered. shockingly small minded. an insecure view expressed in complete disregard of non-muslim's feelings.

kongsi raya can be said to be an epitome of our multi-racial community living together under an umbrella of peace. it is the sharing of celebrations, a rich fusion of our culture. it is a uniquely malaysian icon of racial understanding.

his ridiculous statement spurred a flurry of responses all echoing varying degrees of disgust and shock.

Najib responded by saying he will look into the ulama's views.

Bernama published an article titled Liberalism And Pluralism Taking Roots In Malaysia.

question - how worried should we be, not as muslims, not as hindus, buddhists, christians, etc, but as malaysians if we cannot celebrate together?

posted by nyx at 8:33 AM | comments (8)

June 14, 2006

wild rhino picture captured in sabah

the first wild rhino picture has been captured recently using a motion-trigger sensitive camera. these cameras are planted in the heart of borneo jungles since february 2006 by a full-time rhino monitoring group established in end of 2005. when animals walk by, infrared signals are triggered and the photograph is captured.

the Sabah Wildlife Department and WWF announced the rhino to be a subspecies of the Sumatran Rhinoceros, a critically endangered species whose existence is threatened by poaching and loss of habitat.

picture credits:Raymond Alfred/US Newswire Photography

rhinos being very shy animals are rarely seen alive in the wild. they spend most of their lives deep in dense remote forests. this picture gave assurance that the rhinos are indeed roaming the jungles of borneo. healthy ones too.

it is believed that only 300 sumatran rhinos are left in this world, out of which about 13 resides in borneo. this was concluded in an elaborate field survey carried out in may 2005 by a group of 120 people split into 16 teams. the rest of the rhinos live in Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sumatra.

they are hunted for their horns. almost all their body parts are valuable in the black market.

this rare photo of the nearly extinct species is an encouraging sign of conservation works in Sabah, which is spearheaded by WWF-Malaysia's AREAS (Asian Rhinoceros and Elephant Action Strategy) Project.

posted by nyx at 8:48 AM | comments (0)

June 13, 2006

alternative malaysian news

for more varied angles of news coverage in malaysia (meaning news apart from the mainstream press), include these into your daily reads :

the sun
malaysiakini
malaysia today
malaysian bar
newskini (collects feeds from various news sources, local and international)
police watch malaysia
the cicak (non-profit political and popular culture webzine)
jeff ooi
lim kit siang
chow kon yeow

i'd love to see this list expand.

posted by nyx at 11:30 PM | comments (8)

May 30, 2006

kaamatan

it's a two day holiday in sabah! *green with envy*
a tajau of tapai would reallllllyyyyy hit the spot right now, sigh.
kotobian tadau tagazo do kaamatan to those who celebrate :)

posted by nyx at 7:11 AM | comments (1)

May 20, 2006

sipadan update

five days after the environmental catastrophe in Sipadan, my CM, Musa, gave an official reaction - he was furious.

he ordered a full probe and immediate suspension of all works in the island. the construction company responsible is Kumpulan Surati Sdn Bhd, named in this article. the CM claims that he had no prior knowledge of the approved construction.

a day before the CM gave his reaction, the Deputy CM Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, said in an article "The contractor has admitted to the mistake and has been cooperating with the authorities". He also told Sabah Parks to take action but not to the extent of cancelling the contract.

the opposition, Parti Keadilan Rakyat Sabah, lashed out at the government demanding to know why there are plans for construction, whether the earlier evacuation of the chalets had a hidden agenda, and questioned the careless monitoring of Sipadan's well being. the Deputy Chairperson of PKR, Christine Liew, also commented that yes, restoration can be done, but it will probably take a few hundred years.

this might be an exaggeration. but the results of the restoration would definately not be seen in my lifetime, or my kids. the damaged area is relatively small - but are crucial sites.

all the reports mention Andrea and Antonella Ferrari, the two who first blogged of their shocking reactions to the incident. it was from their reports that alerted the world of the barge accident in Sipadan. Christine Liew even said, to her shame and chagrin, it was from there that she first heard about what happened.

which makes me wonder, if they had not voiced out, would we even know the tragic accident happened?

posted by nyx at 1:06 PM | comments (1)

May 18, 2006

is this how you care for Sipadan?

after many territorial disputes between Indonesia and Malaysia (since as early as 1969), Sipadan Island was finally awarded to Malaysia in 2002 by the International Court of Justice. one would think that the victorious government would take better care of the island to demonstrate, and prove to the world that Malaysia is worthy of this ownership. and indeed, in 2004 the Sabah Government gave orders to vacate the island of its resorts and clear all man-made structures from Sipadan, a move that showed how serious they were in this islands' pristine preservation.

i was comforted to see this move, glad that the island's well being is not compromised in the name of money. i approved that the government did not treat this precious gem like a cash cow.

i have been there only twice, yet i am deeply attached to Sipadan. it is like no other. and when i say that it is like no other, i am not merely spewing adjectives. Sipadan is as close to heaven as I've ever gotten. thousands of others who have been there echo my words. even Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the father of scuba diving, raved of his awe for this tiny island's breathtaking beauty. a high endorsement, not that Sipadan needed any in the first place. nature in a pure state as found among her shores, is a moving unforgettable experience.

the news that i read about a barge accidentally scraping the reefs of Sipadan pierced my heart, and brought tears of rage. the area affected is not confirmed but reported by witnesses to be the size of several tennis courts. we are talking about corals - that grow at a delicate rate of one inch per year. wiped out in a careless instance, or in the words of the eyewitnesses themselves, "the barge's flat steel hull has wiped corals away like a titanic knife edge spreading butter on toast".

the barge was reported to have been around the island for three days before the mishap happened. ample time for authorities to react and prevent this environmental catastrophe.

spilling from the barge are tonnes of massive building materials and machinery including cranes and bulldozers. are these intended for the Sipadan? if yes, what was to be built? were the chalets cleared away in 2004, done in the name of conservation, carried out to make way for another structure?

explanations were given by the deputy CM of Sabah. a 5 million project for a central rest area and quarters for park rangers and security personnels was to be built in Sipadan. the contractors were not approved to use a barge, he says.

not enough measures taken, i say. the barge was hanging around Sipadan for three days - there is no excuse.

he went on further to say that Sipadan may be closed.

may be?! what about definately! where are talks of careful removal of the barge? that massive freight is resting on Sipadan's fragile ecosystem, the island might not be able to handle that weight. the barge has to be extracted immediately, and done under extreme care with all measures taken. that is what i want to hear from the government.

from the articles i read, i spot the turtle cavern among the sites that are affected. these are delicate caves, and cannot suffer weight whatsoever. it is so unique, that documentaries have been made solely on it - perhaps you have seen one in national geographic - about turtle tombs. i hope its chambers remain intact. but every day that passes with the barge lying upon the shores of Sipadan, the chances of it remaining intact diminishes.

what about black-listing the contractor. where are talks of ensuring severe action is taken upon all who are responsible in this disaster. what about scraping the plan of building whatever on the island. what about immediately forming a team of experts to study and analyse the extent of damage, short term and long term, on the island's underwater ecosystem and outlining what steps can be taken to nurture, and ensure of its ongoing health.

this is what i want to hear from my government.

first blow - the loss of the corals
second blow - the building of another structure on the island
third blow - that the government is considering closing the island, and not immediately sealing it off for damage control.

this is how the drop off point looks like now.

the fishes are without their garden.

read about first hand accounts here.

i am enraged with the seeming lack of care and control to the island's well being in the first place. i am immensely disappointed with the government's reactions. above all, i am inconsolable for the loss.

update: reactions from Malaysian Nature Society and several dive masters in Sipadan can be read here

posted by nyx at 10:21 PM | comments (8)

April 26, 2006

i want this to be heard - part 2

imagine that you're in the house of worship revering your chosen deity. you go through the usual motions of veneration when all of a sudden you heard a ruckus outside.

imagine your suprise when you are greeted by a group of blue uniformed enforcement officers and policeman. and imagine the shock you'd feel when they tell you this - that you and the rest of the devotees have fifteen minutes to bugger off because they are about to demolish your house of worship, otherwise you'd be arrested for public disorder.

this happened just last friday, 21st april 2006. it happened at Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Hindu Temple, Kuala Lumpur. the temple is 100 years old.

and it probably will happen again in Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu temple in Section 11 Shah Alam - due to be demolished tomorrow morning, 27th april 2006. this temple is 107 years old.

extracted from the police report lodged against the Mayor of KL for the above incident:

Today 17th April 2006 about 300 devotees of Kuil Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Temple had been performing prayers and yagam (rituals) in the temple premises since 6.30 am. At about 9.30 am a group of about 40 Police officers, 50 DBKL enforcement officers, 20 workers from TNB and JBA (electricity and waterworks) and numerous unknown individuals who were behaving suspiciously came with bulldozers and excavators to demolish our temple.

The devotees were in complete shock when the authorities gave us 15 minutes to leave the place or else we would be arrested for public disorder. All the devotees pleaded and most of them were in tears trying to persuade and beg the Police and DBKL enforcement officers from demolishing our temple. Our pleas fell into deaf ears as the Police threatened to use high handed tactics (arrest) if we don’t leave the premises. Mr.Arumugam our Treasurer immediately contacted our Lawyer Mr.Uthayakumar who had requested to speak to the Head of the enforcement unit at the site but the officer refused to speak to our lawyer. Mr.Uthayakumar then asked us to inform the officer to hold on until he arrives as he was attending to a matter at the Shah Alam Session Court but that too fell onto deaf ears. We even pleaded for a one(1) day halt to the demolishment but our pleas were ignored when they started tearing the temple and defiling the 90 steps leading to the temple which was situated on a hill top more that 300 feet hill.

We were forced to stop our prayers and yagam (fire ritual) half way as they proceeded to tear down the temple and demolish temple structures. Our lives were in serious danger as their violent demolishment of the temple using excavators, bulldozers and other heavy machines was a threat to us as we risked being bulldozed from the hilltop ourselves. We could have also fallen more than 300 feet to the ground. Senior citizens and children slipped in the mud which was caused by the defiling of the 90 steps leading to the hilltop temple.

Persistent begging by some senior citizens who were in tears and horrified by the inhumane acts of the authorities saw some fruits when the officers assured us that they will not deface the deities but the buildings and structures. However when they completed their mission of “cleansing the temple” which took about 1 ½ hours, they told us that they will come back in 3 days to demolish and destroy/deface the deities if we don’t do it ourselves.

This temple has its history of more than 100 years when the Indian Laborers began settlement in Malaya during the British Colonial time and the current temple was part of a rubber estate known as Latex Estate. Over the last 30 years this temple has been managed by the Long House (Rumah Panjang) settlement community and has more than 10,000 devotees who frequent the temple weekly.

The action by DBKL in demolishing our temple is an inhumane, violent, degrading act and against our peaceful and quiet practice of our religion . This ancestral worship which has been going on for more than 100 years has come to an abrupt end as a result of the unlawful act of the Mayor and DBKL.

also read the letter from HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) to our prime miniter here

pictures of the Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Temple being demolished here, and pictures of the Kuil Sri Mahamariamman due to be demolised tomorrow here.

i am shocked at this seemingly careless act of demolition of a sacred building. i am disgusted by how callous the authorities are. i cannot fathom why, or how the government can order for such an insensitive, downright heinous act to be done.

this does not feel like malaysia.

i am also disturbed that none of the local papers have reported the demolition. surely this is news? but look - media outside of malaysia have caught wind and certainly found it worthy enough to publish a say :
the hindu
chennai online
kerala online
outlook india

our local bloggers have also wrote their piece on it:
jeff ooi
balajoe
bawang merah
ktemoc
lucia lai
ducky
lainie

forum discussions at USJ

this cannot be left unheard.

update - priya has written her say with more careful research.

posted by nyx at 9:28 PM | comments (5)

March 31, 2006

i want this to be heard

have you heard of broga.

broga is kuala lumpur's little green lung. a quiet little town 40km from kl with rubber estates, durian orchards, palm oil plantations, a lake, a dam. broga is also the chosen site for a RM2 billion project - the building of a 1500 tonne incinerator.

what is an incinerator? it is a furnace that burns rubbish. it burns and burns waste until nothing is left but ash and gas. these residues are highly toxic. the chemical by products are dioxin and furan. exposure to dioxin damages the immune system, causes birth defects and is a class one cancer causing agent.

broga is also where the semenyih dam is. this water catchment area serves 333 residential areas in klang valley, including bangsar, pj, puchong, subang, klang and shah alam. 2 million people drink from this reservoir.

the incinerator is to be built here - practically straddling our water source.

shocking?

not quite yet. observe the manner in which our government handled the project.

the proposed site was originally kampung bohol, puchong. met with strong protests and political pressure from the residents against the project, the government relented and named a new site. it took them two months to name broga. two months - almost as if decided without deliberation or in-depth study. observe the facts that they disregarded -

the nearest residential area from the chosen site is a mere 2 kilometres away, the incinerator is practically at their backyard.
within a 5 kilometre radius there are 260,000 people living.
project work has began even before acquiring an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) approval.

even if none of the above facts stand - one would think that an environmentally sensitive area such as a dam would be the last place to be considered as a site for an incinerator. let alone the world's largest incinerator.

naturally the people of broga protested. they urged the government to answer their questions. issues like the how the massive amount of waste is to be transported to the site (estimated 350 trucks a day). whether the highly noxious residue of ash resulting from the incineration is properly and responsibly disposed of. why the blatant disregard of the project's obvious environmental impact. their concerns are met with a stony wall of silence. instead of proper information dissemination from the government to placate the rightful wrath of its citizens, they ordered a media blackout.

the fight has been going on since 2003.

the community brought the selangor government to court. despite the pending lawsuit, the selangor land and mines department have diligently began acquiring land around the site in a rather disreputable manner - they issued letters to broga landowners and urged them to collect cheques from the department, they harrassed and called the residents up insisting for their account numbers to bank in the cash.

my eyes were opened by a video - a documentary of the community and its struggle filmed by ong ju lin titled "alice lives here". it used to be known as "clean shit". alice is a courageous heroine, a furniture factory clerk turned activist. alice who, despite being a devout christian, has no time for church now - her fight is all consuming. alice who spent all her pay cheque on land act law books. alice who tirelessly compiled information about incinerators and educated herself and her neighbours.

three years and her stamina is still bright.

alice who, despite the five times postponed court case, despite the media blackout, despite the giants she has to face, is still staunch in her fight against the cancer factory that sits upon our water source.

it remains to be seen what will unfold in broga. their next hearing in court is in may. till then - i hope their voices are heard loud and resoundingly.

posted by nyx at 8:43 PM | comments (4)

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