unease over temporary licences for Swiftlet farms

Reading this news report cautiously, Temporary licences for Swiftlet farms? , I just cannot help but feel that the State Government is, at best, taking the lazy way out of a serious problem, and at worst, 'pulling wool over our eyes' legalizing an issue that potentially causes much harm to our environment, thus abrogating its social responsibility.

How much licensing revenue can the State Govt. hope to collect? It will be a pittance, compared to the profits that will be made by the swiftlet business operators. The more important question the public should ask regarding this licensing move, is "How long have these operators been doing this illegal business, and have they been conducting their businesses in a manner that does minimum harm to the environment, and does not destroy the peace and equanimity of the areas from which they operate?" If no guidelines on swiftlet farming have existed till now, does it mean the State govt is condoning such activites, even though they damage the environment, and cause distress to the rakyat living close to the businesses. What will happen to those outlets that are now covered by 'legal' licences, but which when the guidelines are promulgated in 6 months' time, they are found to be in breach?

If one was to make a trip to Muar, or to Sitiawan, for example, one can actually see some of those ugly blocks of 'swiftlet outlets' all around the town, with swiftlet songs being piped into those buildings 24 hours a day.... You wonder if such outlets actually comply with the basic health requirements of a local authority, and more importantly, if the rakyat staying around those outlets are affected by the droppings and filth emanating from those outlets.

Then there is also the issue that if the swiftlet outlets were built in remote areas, will they cause a danger to aircraft flying nearby, as we know that "bird strikes" on aircrafts landing or taking off can be disastrous...

Let's hope the Selangor State Govt will be more circumspect in this matter.

unease over temporary licences for Swiftlet farms

Factual errors in History books.

After reading the letter in your papers, very well articulated by Dr. Ranjit Singh re:Factual errors in History books. I really feel that, unless those senior officials in the Government, those who decide on policy and strategy comprise of enlightened people, who are completely devoid of DISTRUST of the other races, and more importantly, who do not feel insecure facing the facts of civilization, Malaysia does not stand an iota of chance for success in its efforts to make the country a united and progressive nation, not in this century, or the next.

We know the Constitution and the Rulers provide more than adequate protection for all, especially for the Malays and Islam. Nothing will change that. Why then should senior Govt officials feel so insecure that they have to "bend" the truth so that the future generation will feel comfortable? If History is taught with understanding and love for the country, there is no need for the distortion of facts.

Watching the Classic historical movies in TV, you can see that despots in History want to change it as they feel insecure facing facts. Do we have to talk about helping the deprived, whether they are Malays or others, by first distorting facts? Will the Malays feel that their country is being "run over" by others, if we recognize the deeds of Kapitan Yap or Tan Siew Sin? Respecting the roles of all heroes of Malaysia, regardless of creed, will surely breed respect in return.

When will we learn to be magnanimous?

Why should Malaysia involve itself so much in F1, which is just a millionaire's playground?

I was glad finally someone expressed his views on Malaysia's involvement in the F1 Proton's RM2.4billion 'joyride' is a bad idea as I feel that our country's leaders and decision makers are just using our taxes to have fun and to boost their own egos. 'Disappointed', the writer of this letter expressed it very well. " We are already paying a high price for Proton cars here, much higher than similar size cars in other countries ", he said. it's really sad and it's true.{I have read that the Suzuki Alto from Maruti India, will be imported CBT (completely built up) into Malaysia and will be retailed around RM 55,000, BUT this car RETAILS in India at only USD6000}.

However, what really amazes us, the poor citizens of the nation, is that, Malaysia, a developing country trying to achieve a high income and developed status, is doing it the wrong way. I am sure we would have noticed that NOT LESS than 3 Malaysian parties are now involved, overtly or covertly, in "sponsoring" the F1, namely, Proton with its Lotus brand, AirAsia also with its Lotus brand, and then there is Petronas pushing the Williams car...

Are all these expenditure necessary? Air Asia, maybe I can see that it is a part of its aggressive global branding strategy, but does Petronas and Proton need to spend so much of our money for the same purpose?

I think Petronas has been doing well even without such extravagance, and Proton? Maybe it should just send its executives to Perodua, to learn a thing or three from them, how to make a successful car for the rakyat. Having 'good' advisers does not mean it will make a profit.

Reading this news on a gloomy Monday morning, Evaporated milk to cost 30 sen more in Janauary 2011, I immediately thought of my two good friends who are retired and single, living on their own and depending solely on their pensions of about than RM1000 a month. My friends each rent a small room for RM400 a month in different parts of the city, and drive 25 year-old dilapidated cars, as public transport is woefully inadequate. In order to make ends meet, one of them buys a loaf of bread every three days, and that was his breakfast and lunch for the period. The other one skips a meal a day, preferring to wake up late in the morning, have a brunch of two Roti Canai and a glass of teh tarik, which will see him through until dinner time.

With the announced increase in the price of milk, and the expected increase in price of oil, you can imagine the cost of their basic requirements will further increase. I am not sure how they will cope, but I can understand their feelings of bitterness, having worked for the Govt for more than 33 years, and seeing their country "taken over" by millions of immigrants who will work for almost nothing, and seeing out the remaining days of their lives living just above the poverty line.

Please don't think these are isolated cases; If the Govt would just commission an independent research to survey public opinion on the streets it would come as a surprise to the Govt that many more people are out there suffering in silence, going from one hungry day to the next, praying for the Almighty to mercifully "take them away". Not only pensioners and retired teachers, but the small businessmen who cannot afford to save at all for their old ages. Talk to the fishermen, the farmers and the hawkers, do not just interview the senior executives, fund manager, and the CEOs to find out if such price increases will affect them.....

It's going to be a sad New Year for many

Happy New Year, anyway

Govt must realise how price hikes are hurting many retirees

Here we go again... Raping Forest Reserves!!!

It is indeed bad news on a Monday morning, when I opened The Star and read this report, Issuing Permits to Log forest RESERVES in Sabah! Two statements stand out, one each from the Sabah Environmental Protec­tion Association(SEPA) and a reply from the Forestry and Wildlife Departments(FWD). Allow me to quote them for clarity.

The SEPA expressed its deep concern that 4000 hectares of RESERVES are targeted for 'limited' logging and they said.. " Our worry is that allowing logging in a forest will result in the area being degraded to an extent that the authorities will eventually convert it into another oil palm plantation...."

The FWD replied that..." the department had appointed three trustees – the Tambunan District Officer, Tambunan Forest Office and the areas Native Chief – to issue permits for the area. and also said that those who want to log the area would be required to replant the area with trees once they had completed their operations....."

The issue of destroying our limited forest reserves have been debated in your papers for some time now, and what is really upsetting us is the same reply the authorities have dished out again and again to justify the approval to log from a forest reserve. Obviously the authorities think that, the rakyat believe in what is begin said, and more importantly to them, they have responded appropriately to the problem by giving a press statement.

Anyone who has an interest in the future of our country and the preservation of our unique forests as part of a global program of protecting its biodiversity, should pursue answers to the following:

• What is the intention of the Government to declare and designate an area a FOREST RESERVE? Can we then just destroy it with the issue of a simple logging permit from a local authority?
• How can the planting of a sapling ever replace a 100 year old tree, taken from the reserve?
  
• Will the "extraction" of the 100 year old tree be done in a manner that NO other part of the forest or the undergrowth will be destroyed? In other words, will the 100 year old tree be the ONLY plant that is "extracted" and killed, under the licence issued?
  
• Can the peripheral areas around the felled tree, which is the natural habitat of our precious wildlife and other valuable plants be replaced by planting of "imported" saplings and seeds? What about the escalation of soil erosion in the denuded areas?
  
• In order to fell and to extract the tress from a limited area of the Reserve, will it be essential for the permit holder to destroy other parts of the Forest in order to build roads and storage areas, and to bring in heavy equipment to do his job?
  
• Have the FWD calculated the "collateral" damage a permit holder will cause to the rest of the reserves, while he is supposed to be only removing the 100 year old tree, for example.?
  

I think the Govt and all responsible citizens should clamour for a detailed answer to these issues, and ask that a proper national strategy be drawn up to articulate our objectives to protect our forests and allow them to regenerate for our future generations, and also for the World.

Don't procrastinate anymore for political expediency. Can we eat sand, when the last of our trees and rivers have gone?

Act now to save our Forests!!!!!!!!!!!