Pencinta Alam April 2008 - Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)

Apri 

ril l 2008 

BRANCH 

REMINDER 

Hard copy or soft copy? 

About the Pencinta Alam newsletter 

Words: 

Selangor Branch Committee 

Together with January 2008’s PA 

issue, we have attached a pre-paid 

postcard surveying your preference on 

whether to receive the PA in hardcopy 

or softcopy starting July 2008. (All PA 

from now up to June 2008 shall be in 

hardcopy). 

MNS Selangor Branch has 

deliberated over this and sees the 

following advantages of going 

electronic: 

1) to ensure that our members 

receive their Pencinta Alam before the 

start of the month so as not to miss 

any events scheduled early in the 

month; 

2) to reduce the environmental 

and monetary costs of paper, printing 

& postage; 

3) the softcopy allows colour 

incorporation at no extra cost hence 

enhancing visual quality; and 

4) enable us to expand the 

target audience at no additional cost, 

thereby broadening the impact of PA 

for environmental education, 

disseminating our conservation 

message, and informing people of our 

activities. 

As such, we strongly encourage 

members with regular access to e- 

mail to opt for the softcopy PA. For 

members without access to a 

computer, we will continue to send 

hardcopies of the PA for your 

enjoyment. However, we seek your 

understanding that they will remain in 

black & white as we are constrained 

by cost to bring you coloured version. 

If you haven’t already made 

known your choice to us, please 

respond either by sending an e-mail 

to membership@mns.org.my with 

your name, membership number 

and your e-mail address, or use the 

pre-paid postcard, or call Wee Chin 

at 03-22879422. 

We look forward to your 

prompt response to help us serve 

you better. 

Survey response counter: 

1,192 responses out of 3,000 

(40%). 

Total for e-copy - 770 out of 1192 

(65%) 

Total for hardcopy - 422 out of 

1192 (35%) 

Calling all birders! 

Malaysia is now part of Worldbirds family of e-base bird sighting storage and retrieval system. 

Login now (www.worldbirds.org/malaysia) and share your sightings online, worldwide! 

Keen to learn more? Then take part in MNS BCC Worldbirds National Roadshow! 

11 April Terengganu wadnan@streamyx.com 

Johor Bahru maketab@fkkksa.utm.my 

12 April Penang kandakum@tm.net.my 

Kuching, Sarawak antwong@pc.jaring.my 

26 April Selangor conservation@mns.org.my 

And bring your laptop. Reservation required as places are limited. 

Reply to one of the e-mails above. See you there!

Member’ 

er’s 

Report 

“Mengapa anda tidak patut 

makan sup sirip ikan yu” 

Marine SIG was invited to give a talk on why we should 

not eat shark’s fin soup at the Ministry of Natural 

Resources and Environment on the 12th of February 2008. 

This was following the move by Y.B. Dato’ Seri Azmi Khalid, 

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment who signed 

the Marine SIG’s Shark Fin Pledge, committing NRE to never 

serve shark’s fin soup at any of its functions. 

The talk started at 11.45am with only a few staff 

attending due to some miscommunication about the talk time. 

However, by noon, 26 NRE staff members filled the hall. The 

talk, given by yours truly, mainly covered interesting facts 

about sharks, their present status, threats faced and most 

importantly why we should not eat shark’s fin soup. During 

the talk, it was evident that many of them were not aware of 

the current situation faced by these special creatures. We 

also talked about the Marine SIG’s campaign of getting 

organisations to sign our Shark Fin Pledge to never serve/ 

eat shark’s fin soup. 

Sharks, as the top predator in the ocean food chain, 

contains the highest mercury content compared to the other 

Words: Khatijah Abdullah 

ija_02@yahoo.com 

marine animals lower in the food chain. This is due to 

the fact that our oceans nowadays are more contaminated 

with heavy metals, including mercury, which is commonly 

used in the production of plastics, paper and batteries. 

Shark’s fin contains the highest level of mercury 

compared to the rest of the shark. Mercury could cause 

detrimental effects to humans, especially to foetuses. It 

could affect learning ability, cause speech impairment 

and other sight and memory related skills. 

The session ended with a Q&A session with many 

interesting enquiries from the audience. Interestingly, they 

also suggested that the campaign be taken to a higher 

level, and also given more publicity in the national media 

and local airwaves. 

Marine SIG is also planning to take the campaign 

to the next level especially with the support of government 

bodies like NRE. We would also like to thank Ms. Mohala, 

the Special Officer to the Minister of NRE for her effort 

and hard work in arranging the talk. 

2 

Views 

Dear Editor, 

I would suggest that we have an e-mail address of the 

contributor of the article. This would enhance the newsletter 

from just information download to networking among MNS 

members on the particular interest of the article featured In 

Pencinta Alam. Love Life Love Nature. 

Loke CP 

Johor Branch 

Editor’s reply: The Selangor Branch committee, who 

oversees the publication of the Pencinta Alam, agrees with 

your suggestion. However, it’s up to the discretion of the 

contributors to include either his/her e-mail or the Branch/ 

SIG’s e-mail. 

Notices > Calendar For the latest updates, please 

contact the respective organiser. Events, talks & field 

trips Priority will be given to the organising branch’s 

members unless stated otherwise. Official receipts 

& refund policy Insist on official receipts for all 

payments. Members who don’t make pre-payments 

will be turned away for events that require you to do 

so. Some deposits are non-refundable. Membership 

card must be presented if required by the organiser or 

for discounts at The MNS Shop. New members may 

show their membership receipts. If you’ve misplaced 

your card, contact Wee Chin at MNS HQ. 

SPOTLIGHT ON... 

Words and photo from www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/ 

THE FOUR SPECIES of dugongs and manatees are 

members of the Sirenia order. Also known as sea cows, 

they are slow-moving aquatic mammals living primarily 

in tropical freshwater and marine habitats. Sirenians have 

less individuals than any other order, and suffer from 

hunting, habitat pollution and injury from boat propellers. 

The largest species, Stellar’s sea cow, was hunted to 

extinction less than 30 years after being scientifically 

described in 1741. 

Dugong, sea cow 

(Dugong dugon) 

It is believed mermaid 

legends may have 

originated when 

sailors from a 

distance glimpsed 

dugongs swimming in 

the water, and mistook 

them for half-human/half-fish creatures. 

Statistics: Dugongs grow up to 3m in length and weigh 

up to 400kg - as much as a cow! 

Continued on page 5

ECO 

KIDS 

Pitcher Plants of 

Malaysia 

To say that the pitcher plant is strange is not far 

from wrong. After all, how many plants have 

leaves that look like pitchers? Also, how many plants 

do you know of that like to eat 

insects? 

Unlike most plants, which 

survive on sunshine, water and 

the nutrients in soil, pitcher 

plants have jug-shaped 

containers that trap insects. The 

insects are then slowly digested 

to become nutrients for the 

plant. The lids of pitcher plants 

are designed to shelter the 

pitchers from rain, which will 

dilute their digestive juices. 

Like most carnivorous 

plants, pitcher plants are found 

in places where the soil is 

unsuitable for the other plants 

to grow (the soil is too poor or 

acidic). 

The insects trapped by the pitcher plants are 

gradually absorbed as another source of nutrient. 

Pitcher plants are also known as Monkey Cup or Periuk 

Kera in Malay because monkeys have been seen 

drinking water from the pitchers of these plants. 

Some of the pitchers are as tiny as your little 

finger, while others can grow to more than 10cm in 

length. Nepenthes rajah, found in Kinabalu National 

Park in Sabah, is one of the most well known pitcher 

plants species, because of its large size (25cm-60cm), 

globe-like shape and huge lid. A species of plant 

means a type of plant belonging to a certain family 

of related plants. 

There are around 117 species of pitcher plants 

in the world, and many natural and cultivated hybrids. 

They are vine-forming plants, and are commonly 

Words: Khor Hui Min, khor.hm@gmail.com 

Photo by Sandakan Rainforest Park 

found in Southern China, Indo-China, Thailand, Malaysia, 

Indonesia, and the Philippines. A few species are also found 

in Madagascar (2 species), the Seychelles (1 species), 

Australia (3 species), New 

Caledonia (1 species), India (1 

species) and Sri Lanka (1 species). 

The highest number of pitcher 

plant species is found in Borneo and 

Sumatra, where many endemic 

species are found. In Borneo, there 

are 31 species, of which 15 are 

found in Sabah. Endemic means that 

the plant can only be found in a 

certain place and nowhere else in 

the world. 

Mt Kinabalu which is located in 

Kinabalu National Park is thought 

to be the pitcher plant’s 

(Nepenthes) “cradle of evolution” 

because 12 of the species found in 

the world grow here. This is the 

highest concentration of pitcher 

plant species in one place. Three of these species are 

endemic to Mt Kinabalu - the Nepenthes rajah, Nepenthes 

burbidgeae and Nepenthes villosa. Kinabalu Park, officially 

gazetted in 1964, became Malaysia’s first Unesco World 

Heritage site in 2000. 

In Peninsular Malaysia, 10 species of pitcher plants 

are found, along with several natural hybrids that occur in 

the region. 

Further reading: 

Sandakan Rainforest Park - http:// 

www.sandakanrfp.sabah.gov.my/nepenthes.htm 

Pitcher Plant Paradise - http://www.cuti.com.my/ 

news.php?op=show_article&aid=102 

A Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Peninsular Malaysia - 

http://www.orchidsbooks.com/book.asp?id=1105 

3

MYCA 

CAT 

Watch 

Ex-tiger owner on the loose 

This letter was sent to major Malaysian newspapers, 

and the writer sent the MYCAT Secretariat’s Office a 

copy. Requesting anonymity, the writer penned it 

under a pseudonym. The letter is reproduced here, 

with permission. 

Dear Editor, 

I refer to recent news articles on Zaiton Arshad, a man in 

Kedah wanted for the serious crime of robbing an armoured 

car of RM3.19million in early February this year. 

This individual is not a stranger to flashy escapades. 

In 2003, he hit the headlines when he was photographed 

driving his red jeep around the town of Sik, with his pet 

tiger Charlie. He did not have a special permit to keep this 

animal, as is required by the Protection of Wild Life Act 

1972. No action was taken on him, despite him admitting 

to have obtained the tiger from Thailand and driving him 

across the river, which is also in violation of the Convention 

on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora 

and Fauna (CITES). 

He disappeared for a while, following the media excitement, 

with his pet tiger – and reappeared, only to call for a press 

conference to supposedly release Charlie into a nearby 

forested area. Whether this was nothing more than a stunt 

still doesn’t detract from the fact that he had illegally 

acquired and kept a totally protected species, but also, if 

the release was real, it raises a host of other issues, 

including public safety, and survival of that tiger. 

I would like to know why Zaiton Arshad was 

• Not charged for illegally keeping a tiger in 2003, 

• Not prevented from supposedly releasing this animal, 

and 

• Not arrested or charged when he re-appeared in 2003 

for any related offences 

In relation to the current case, I would like to know: 

• Origins of the animals in the current case: 

Were these captured from the wild, and if so, from where? 

(according to him in 2003, he got Charlie from Thailand ), 

• Were these obtained from a captive establishment 

within Malaysia or elsewhere, and 

• Apart from the charges faced in relation to the robbery, 

if he will be charged for the related wildlife offences. 

Wildlife crime should be treated as seriously as other crimes. 

This case is a perfect illustration of how often, there is a link 

between various criminal activity; i.e. wildlife offences, drugs, 

arms, gangsterism, tax evasion, robbery, even terrorism and 

threats to national security. 

One newspaper even reported that police had information of 

Zaiton keeping protected wildlife since 1993. Fifteen years 

is a long time to let someone go unpunished. 

If action had been taken in 1993, or even a decade later in 

2003, maybe we wouldn’t be talking about a robbery of 

millions of ringgit today? 

MYCAT 

The Malaysian Conservation Alliance for Tigers (MYCAT) 

is an alliance of governmental and non-governmental 

organisations working for the conservation of the Malayan 

tiger. MYCAT partners are the Department of Wildlife and 

National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (DWNP), the 

Malaysian Nature Society, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, the 

Wildlife Conservation Society and WWF-Malaysia. 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 

Talks 

Birding in Bali 

29 April (Tue) 

Khoo Swee Seng will talk on his 

experience birding on a recent trip 

to the Indonesian island of Bali. 

Were he and his birding companions successful in their 

search for the critically-endangered Bali Starling in the 

Bali Barat National Park? Come along and find out what 

birding and travelling conditions are like in Bali. 

Venue: Auditorium of Schmidt Marketing S/B, 5th Floor, 

Wisma Domain, 18A Jalan 51A/223, Petaling Jaya Time: 

8pm. Attendance is FOC. All are welcomed. Contact 

person: Khoo Swee Seng (013-3863663; 

swekhoo@yahoo.com) 

4

MOUNTAIN GOAL ADVENTURE CONSULTANT (742912-V) 

Website: http://www.mymountaingoal.com 

E-mail: goalus@mymountaingoal.com 

Mt Fansipan and Halong bay 

Expedition from 12/05/08 to 18/05/08 

Mt Rinjani (3726M) Trip from 14/08/08 to 

21/08/08 (7D6N) 

Everest Base Camp / Kalapattar trek 

from 17/10/08 to 03/11/08 (18D17N) 

Fansipan is branded “the Roof of Indochina” 

at the height of 3,143m; Fansipan is to be 

approved as one of the very few ecotourist 

spots of Vietnam, with about 2,024 

floral varieties and 327 faunal species. It 

takes 2 days to reach the 3,143m summit, 

the highest peak of the Indochina Peninsula. 

The Ha Long bay, dotted with 3000 

limestone islets rising from emerald waters, 

is the best known natural wonder of 

Vietnam. Because of their precipitous 

nature, most of the islands are uninhabited 

and unaffected by a human presence. The 

site’s outstanding scenic beauty is 

complemented by its great biological 

interest. 

One free Training trip will provided for the 

Fansipan trekking. Further info please sign 

in: http://www.mymountaingoal.com/ 

Vietnam_FanHasch.htm 

Mt. Rinjani forms the second highest volcanic 

peak in Indonesia, part of celebrated “Ring of 

Fire”. The dramatic landscape has been created 

over millions of year of cone - building, violent 

explosions, and erosion. Forested slopes rising 

directly from the sea create their own weather 

pattern and act as water - collectors for the 

hole of Lombok. 

A model for ecotourism in Indonesia, the 

community-based activities is focused on the 

Rinjani Trek Centre in Senaru, the most popular 

starting point for the tough trek. Developed with 

New Zealand Government assistance since 

1999, the Rinjani Trek Centre embodies under 

one roof the unique partnership of the National 

Park, tourism industry and local communities 

that has been forged to manage and protect 

the Rinjani mountain environment. 

One free Training trip will provided for the Mount 

Rinjani trip. Further info please sign in: http:// 

www.mymountaingoal.com/RinjaniRegion.htm 

Experience the culture of the Sherpas in 

route to Khumbu village. Enjoy a climb to 

the scintillating Kalapattar 5,545m. /18190ft, 

one of the most spectacular vantage points 

in the Everest region. 

Explore enchanting views of Everest, 

Pumori, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, 

Makalu and many other towering peaks. 

Two free Training trip will provided for the 

Everest Base Camp trip. 

Further info please sign in: http:// 

www.mymountaingoal.com/ 

everestkalapattar.htm 

For all trips, please contact : Thong at 

goalus@mymountaingoal.com H/P : 

016-6375622 Off : 03-40248896. 

SPOTLIGHT ON...Continued from page 2 

VOLUNTEER EDITORS WANTED 

The Pencinta Alam is seeking at least 2 individuals to 

share rotating editorial duties with the present 2 editors. 

Anyone out there want to get into the game? 

All you need is Internet access, your own computer 

and basic desktop publishing skills (e.g. Pagemaker, 

Quark Express, etc.) 

What does the voluntary job entail? 

- editing (if required) and laying-out the monthly 

newsletter, then e-mailing a softcopy (PDF file) to our 

printer 

- timeframe: the newsletter deadline for write-ups is on 

the 13th of each month, and softcopy has to be sent to 

printer within 3-5 days after that 

- you’ll only have to work on 3-4 issues per year 

Since everything is conducted online, this invitation 

is not limited to only Selangor branch members. If you’d 

like to try out, please e-mail Iska at 

iskauska@gmail.com. 

Distribution: They inhabit sea grass beds and shallow 

tropical waters throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Most 

of the world’s population of dugongs is now found in 

northern Australia between Shark Bay in Western Australia 

and Moreton Bay in Queensland. 

Diet: Dugongs are sometimes called “sea cows”, because 

they graze on seagrasses. These marine plants grow on 

a sandy sea floor in shallow, warm water. Dugongs eat 

large amounts, leaving behind feeding trails of bare sand 

and uprooted seagrass. 

Behaviour: Dugongs swim using their whale-like fluked 

tail for propulsion and their front flippers for balance and 

turning. Their movements are often slow and graceful. 

Dugongs have poor eyesight but acute hearing. They find 

and grasp seagrass with the aid of coarse, sensitive 

bristles, which cover the upper lip of their large and fleshy 

snout. Small tusks can be seen in adult males and some 

old females. During the mating season, male dugongs 

use their tusks to fight each other. 

Conservation status: Their status is listed as Vulnerable. 

Dugongs only live where there is seagrass, which is being 

destroyed by dredging and farm soil being washed into 

the sea, as well as pollution. Dugongs, like dolphins, are 

also accidental victims to large net fishing. They can live 

for 70 years, but a dugong might reach the age of 17 

years before breeding. 

5

6 

Courses 

Introduction to Birdwatching 

at KL Lake Gardens 

13 April (Sun) 

Come and have a taste of what 

“birding” is like. Join us in the 

popular recreational park, Lake 

Gardens, in the middle of KL city and be captivated by 

our feathered friends. 

This introduction is suitable for everyone, including 

families and non-members. (It is advisable to wear a hat 

and bring along your own drinks.) 

Meet at 

Bukit Aman carpark, Lake Gardens, at 7.15am. Contact 

Jasmine (before 10pm) on 012-3020887 for additional 

information. 

Annual Basic Caving Course 

13 April (Sun) & 18-20 April (Fri-Sun) 

Join us to have fun whilst learning about the wonders of 

caves. Give yourself the chance to experience something 

different! 

You will learn the geology, flora and fauna of caves; 

try out knot- tying and also do a spot of abseiling, vertical 

climbs and crawls while appreciating the cave formations! 

LAND FOR SALE 

Size: a) 0.4169 hectare (b) 0.417 hectare 

Lot No: a) Lot 3007 (b) Lot 3008 - two adjoining 

lots 

State: Selangor District: Kuala Selangor 

Mukim: Mukim Pasangan Place: Kampung 

Asahan 

Location at 38km milestone to Batang Berjuntai. 

3.5km from the Firefly station in Kampong 

Kuantan. Both lots South-West border river reserve 

and Selangor River. Lot 3007 North-West borders 

oil palm small-holding. Lot 3008 South-East borders 

natural attap palm/mangrove. 

Accessibility: Accessible by car on laterite bund 

road at south-east, 500 meter from Kuala Selangor- 

Batang Berjuntai trunk road. 

Status: Free-hold, under 15 year old oil palm, long 

left unattended now covered with undergrowth and 

shrubs. 

Suitability: For nature study, riverside retreat, 

organic/fish/goat farm etc. 

Interested parties please contact Mr. Koh at 

012-319 5593 

The Basic Caving Course will be conducted in 2 sessions: 

theory & practical. The theory session will be on Sunday, 

April 13 at MNS Auditorium (slides, presentations and sharing 

sessions) followed by a knot-tying session and introduction 

to caving equipment. On the following Friday night (April 18), 

we’ll leave for our 2-day practical caving in Kota Gelanggi 

Caves in Pahang. 

Cost is RM320 for MNS members & RM390 for non- 

MNS members and includes lunch for the theory session 

and 2 night’s chalet accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 1 tea & 

1 BBQ dinner for the practical session, group fund and d&d 

insurance. Transportation is via car-pool. 

As safety is a priority, all participants would need to 

get their own helmets & torches (we will guide you on 

purchasing them). 

So do join us! To register, call or e-mail any of the 

facilitators: Tony Yap (013-3809118, 

tony.yap@mnscavers.org), Ryan Loke (012-2327418, 

ryan.loke@mnscavers.org) or Felicia Hooi (012-2183556, 

felicia.hooi@mnscavers.org). 

Beginners Birdwatching Course (Selangor) 

9-11 May (Fri-Sun) 

Where there are birds, there are birdwatchers! Come along 

to Fraser’s Hill for this 2 day/2 night course, especially 

designed to get the beginner/novice birder off on the right 

foot. 

Starting Friday evening, in a fun classroom-type 

environment, you will learn basic skills (such as using 

binoculars, bird topography and identifying birds using field 

guides) coupled with enjoyable practical fieldwork and much, 

much more. 

Join us and find out why so many people are 

completely enchanted with the world of these winged wonders. 

Cost: RM270 covers course materials, transport, 2 nights 

accommodation and meals. 

Registration (at Fraser’s Hill) begins from 4.30pm on 

9th May. For more details and to book, contact Alan Yu at 

016-3322991 or alanyu01@gmail.com. Closing date is 25th 

April 2008. There will be a meeting for participants prior to 

the course. There will also be a follow-up trip for course 

participants on 25th May. 

Meetings 

Kuching Branch Bird Group 

AGM 

April 20 (Sun) 

The Annual General Meeting will 

be at Sama Jaya Nature Park, 

Tabuan Jaya Kuching. A bird 

watching activity will be carried out in the morning before the 

AGM. Contact Sue Teal – e-mail sueteal@streamyx.com 

or call 013-8016433. 

For participation in the activities listed herein, priority 

will be given to the organising branch’s members unless 

stated otherwise.

HAVE YOU WRITTEN YOUR WILL YET? WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY UPON YOUR UNTIMELY DEMISE? 

LOVE YOUR FAMILY, WRITE YOUR WILL TODAY AND ENJOY A PEACE OF MIND wherever you maybe…Travelling, 

Trekking, Caving, Mountain Climbing, Diving, Biking, Camping, etc. 

If you pass on without having a VALID WILL….this is what happens….. 

1. Your Family 

• Your spouse and children will face cash flow problem because all your bank accounts including joint 

accounts will be frozen. 

• Your children’s welfare may not be taken care of by the people of your choice 

2. The legal Process 

• Delay in distribution due to the legal administrative process (2 - 6 years) 

• 2 guarantors / sureties required (amount equal or more than deceased’s estate) 

3. Your Asset Distribution (As per Distribution Act 1958 amended in 1997) or (Distribution under Faraid) 

• The law will decide on the distribution of your estate such as house (s), Businesses, bank accounts, shares, 

etc. 

Why leave to chance….for more information, please call…… 

MARY OOI 

Professional Estate Planner (Rockwills Corporation Sdn. Bhd.) 

Islamic Estate Planner (Salihin Trustee Sdn. Bhd.) 

H/P: 012-3379906 or e-mail: mary_3_ooi@hotmail.com 

In the 

field 

Trees for Life 


The Kuching Branch of the 

Malaysian Nature Society is 

continuing with its community 

based activities in Sama Jaya 

Nature Park, Tabuan Jaya, Kuching, that focus on the 

ecology and biodiversity of this small patch of forest and 

how the forest reduces, reuses and recycles. Activities 

will take place from 2-5pm. Contact Sue Teal – e-mail 

sueteal@streamyx.com or call 013-8016433. 

Herping in FRIM 

19 April (Sat) 

Members are invited to join the Herpetofauna SIG in Forest 

Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) for an excursion to 

search and look for our reptilian and amphibian friends 

from 6pm - 9pm. 

As a matter of convenience, we need to limit the 

number of participants to 20 members and as a measure 

of safety, it is advisable that participants are 6 years old 

and above. 

Confirm your attendance by sending an e-mail to 

mns_herpetofauna@yahoo.com.my. Attendance fee is 

charged at RM10 for adults and RM5 for kids, which will 

be channeled to the group’s fund. Further details will be 

provided later. 

Birding/Hiking at Telapak Buruk and Jeram Toi, Negeri 

Sembilan (N.S./Malacca Branch) 


Meeting place at Air Keroh exit toll at 8am. Confirm with coordinator 

by 18 April 2008. Co-ordinator - Ms Kok Chow Hioong 

(013-2929618) 

Photography trip to Lolo, Ulu Langat 


Lolo in Ulu Langat is nice for photography and picnics. April is 

still flowering season and there are flowers along the trails. 

This is a photography outing and I encourage beginners 

to join us with your camera and tripods as we will be able to 

guide you on the finer points of photography. 

Please bring along your packed lunch with you. For 

those who like the streams and waterfalls, bring along your 

swimwear. We shall meet opposite Cuepac, Cheras 9th mile 

Police Station at 8am before we convoy to Lolo. Please contact 

Alan Ng (019-2381319) if you need help to get to this place. 

Continued on page 10 

7

Please select the package that you wish to participate: 

PERSATUAN PENCINTA ALAM MALAYSIA 

(MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY) 

JKR 641, Jalan Kelantan, Bukit Persekutuan, 

50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Tel: 603-22879422 Fax: 603-22878773 

E-Mail: membership@mns.org.my 

Package Program Package Inclusive Member Non-Member 

Package 1 

Cooltek, Endau Rompin (Selai) & AGM Visit to Cooltek 

2N Seri Malaysia, 2N Endau Rompin RM550 RM650 

23/8/08 – 27/8/08 (5D4N) 

Endau Rompin (Selai) 

4B, 4L,3D, 3T 

AGM 

Package 2 

Endau Rompin (Selai) & AGM 

24/8/08 – 27/8/08 (4D3N) 

Package 3 

Cooltek & AGM 

23/8/08 – 25/8/08 (3D2N) 

Package 4 

AGM (with accommodation) 

24/8/08 – 25/8/08 (2D1N) 

Package 5 

AGM Only 

24/8/08 (Day Trip) 

Endau Rompin (Selai) 

AGM 

Visit to Cooltek 

AGM 

AGM 

1N Seri Malaysia, 2N Endau Rompin 

3B, 4L, 3D, 2T 

2N Seri Malaysia 

2B, 1L, 1D, 3T 

1N Seri Malaysia 

1B, 1L 1D, 2T 

RM430 

RM320 

RM195 

RM530 

RM420 

RM295 

AGM Lunch & Tea RM60 -------- 

Note: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, T = Tea. Hotel: Seri Malaysia Melaka, Ayeh Keroh 

Important Note as below: 

Accommodation is priced on twin share basis. 

20% discount for children (5 –12 years old), share room with parents. 

Package 1 and 2 requires a minimum of 10 persons. The Endau Rompin (Selai) inclusive of lodging (twin sharing), meals, permit, insurance, 

4WD fees, and guide fees. 

---------------------------------------------------------- Detach Here (PLEASE FILL IN BLOCK LETTERS) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Member Detail: 

Name: ___________________________________________________ Title: ________________ Membership No. ______________ 

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Tel No: ____________ (O) _________________ (H/P) ____________________ (Hse) _______________ Email: ______________________________ 

Others participant detail: 

Name New I/C No. Phone No. Email 

1. 

2. 

3. 

No. of Pax Order Member Amount Non-Member Amount 

Package 1 (5D4N) RM 550 x ( ) RM 650 x ( ) 




Package 5 (1D) RM 60 x ( ) 

Total Amount 

I enclosed herewith Cheque/PO/MO No: ____________________ for RM___________________ 

PLEASE READ: I understand that this is non-refundable once a place has been booked for me. I confirm that I am participating in this trip/event at my own 

request, and hereby release and discharge the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and their agents or other persons authorized by MNS from all claims that I, 

my personal representatives and/or dependents may have for any injury (including injury resulting in death) however caused or sustained by me, for loss of 

and/or damage to me or my personal belongings suffered at any time during this trip/event. 

Signature: _______________________ 

Date: __________________ 

Cheques/PO/MO should be made payable to “MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY” (Pls indicate name and package at the back of chq) 

Please return this form by 20 th June 2008 to Membership Officer at JKR 641, Jln Kelantan Bukit Persekutuan, 50480 KL. 

26 

8

Itinerary 

Date Time Program 

23/8/08 

(Day 1, Sat) 

2pm 

3:30pm 

4:30pm 

5:30pm 

6:30pm 

Night 

Package (1), (3) 

Check in Hotel Seri Malaysia Melaka 

Visit to Cooltek, Tiara Melaka Golf and Country Club 

Guided tour by Harry & Stephanie Boswell 

Refreshment at Club House 

Back to Hotel 

Free & Easy 

24/8/08 

(Day 2, Sun) 

25/8/08 

(Day 3, Mon) 

26/8/09 

(Day 4, Tue) 

27/8/09 

(Day 5, Wed) 

7am 

8am 

9am 

11am 

11:15am 

1pm 

2pm 

4pm 

4:15pm 

6pm 

7pm 

Night 

8am 

11am 

6:30am 

7:15am 

7:30pm 

10am 

10:30am 

12pm 

1:30pm 

5pm 

7:30pm 

9pm 

7:30am 

8:30am 

3pm 

7:30pm 

8am 

10am 

11am 

12pm 

Breakfast 

Registration 

EGM (tentative – separate written notice will be issued to members) 

Tea Break 

EGM (continue) 

Lunch at Hotel Seri Malaysia 

Package (2) & (4): Check in during lunch time 

AGM 

Tea Break 

Group Breakout Session 

Group Photo 

BBQ Dinner at Hotel Seri Malaysia 

Free & Easy 

Breakfast 

Package (3) & (4) & (5) : Check out and SAYONARA. 

Package (1) & (2): 

Breakfast 

Meet at Lobby 

Drive to Endau Rompin * 

Arrived at Endau Rompin Selai office followed by registration. Park your 

car here. 

Transfer to 4WD ** 

Lunch 

Trek to Pandan waterfall or similar 

Back to Chalet followed with own activities like swimming, snorkeling, 

water tubing or bird watching etc. 

Dinner 

Night Walk 

Breakfast 

Trek to Tinggi Waterfall. Packed Lunch. 

Back to chalet followed with own activities 

Dinner 

Breakfast 

Aboretum tour followed by blow pipe demo 

Lunch 

SAYONARA to all 

* Use North-South Highway and exit at Yong Peng. From Yong Peng follow Labis/Segamat road 

and after small town Chaah turn right to Bekok town. The traveling time from Ayeh Keroh to 

Bekok town is about 2 to 2.5 hours. 

** Each 4WD can accommodate 5-6 persons (Pajero). Those who want to drive their own 4WE 

and willing to take in passengers will be compensated. 

Things needed for Endau Rompin(Selai): 

- Sleeping bag and small pillow 

- Floor Mat 

- Personal Toiletries 

- Torchlight 

- Swimsuit 

9

In the 

field 

Bukit Nanas Forest Walk, 

Kuala Lumpur 


Please refer to last month’s issue for 

more information. 

Trek: Tapis (rainbow) Waterfall, Sungai Lembing, 

Pahang 

26 - 27 April (Sat – Sun) 

Grade: Class 1-2 (Easy - Moderate). Sungai Lembing, 

located 42km northwest of Kuantan in Pahang, was known 

in its heydays as “El Dorado of the East” and housed the 

largest underground tin mine in the world. With the mines 

closed and shafts flooded, this serene historical town is 

endowed with its unique natural history. 

The Tapis Waterfall, or popularly known as Rainbow 

Waterfall, located near Sg Lembing, is probably touted as 

the most beautiful waterfall in Malaysia and can be reached 

by lorry/4WD via a 10km laterite track followed by another 

30mins to an hour to the camp ground. The 160m high 

waterfall drops vertically and as it splashes down, water 

droplets and sunlight create a rainbow at sunrise. 

This is an overnight camping trip organised by 

Pathfinders SIG. Please contact the following co-ordinators 

or e-mail pathfsel@yahoo.com before/by 15th April for further 

information and reservation. 

Places are limited. Estimated cost 2D1N: RM110 

for Group Fund, car-pooling and land transport to camp 

ground. All payments issued are non-refundable. Contact 

KJ Mok (016–2758739), Sidney Seok (019–2221123) 

between 9pm-11pm. 

Payment method (upon confirmation of reservation 

by co-ordinators): Direct credit to Bank - (a) Account No.: 

Maybank 1122 2303 8585 (Lim Sock Teen) (b) Please fax 

bank-in slip stating your name, membership number, 

contact number/e-mail, trip: “Rainbow Waterfall - 2008” and 

to 03–77262098 OR e-mail to pathfsel@yahoo.com. 

Trip to Air Hitam Dalam, Sg. Dua, Seberang Perai 

(Penang Branch) 


This trip is to look at how this small recreational park has 

faired after the re-construction of the boardwalks and aerial 

walkways. We also want to monitor the return of the bird 

diversity. More importantly, we want to monitor the presence 

of the Mangrove Pitta and other rare species. Contact Kanda 

at kandakum@tm.net.my or 04-2273673. 

Birdwatching at Templer’s Park 


Why not join the Selangor Branch Bird Group for a morning 

of ‘birding’ in the lowland forest of Templer’s Park, about 

25km north of KL? Meet in Templer’s Park carpark by 

7.15am. Wear dull coloured clothes suitable for outdoor 

activities. Drinking water and a sunhat are advisable. 

How to get there: From KL, take the road (NOT 

highway) towards Rawang. About 8km from Rawang, watch 

for houses on left, and a Shell petrol station on right – 

take the next u-turn available. Now heading back in 

direction of KL, take the first left turn into Templer’s Park. 

Follow ‘kawasan perkelahan’ sign to carpark. 

For more information or a map, please contact 

Jasmine at 012-3020887 (before 10pm) Suitable for 

beginners to advanced; binoculars or scopes; walking 

optional! 

Endau Rompin National Park 

1-4 May (Thurs-Sun) 

The Nature Guides is organising this 4D/3N trip entering 

from Kahang. The park covers a span of 870 sq. km. 

and is the second largest national park in the Peninsular. 

This lowland rainforest is renowned for its richness 

in species and complexity in structure, pristine rivers 

and varied wildlife. Volcanic crystal can be seen on the 

surface of rapids and waterfalls along slopes of hills. 

You can expect to: Trek with a group of 40, 

navigating the dirt roads in a convoy of cars from Kahang 

to the park; stay 4 days in a campsite accessible by a 

30-minute trek and river crossing; encounter bloodsucking 

leeches; cross rivers and fish sanctuary to the 

many falls in the park; float and bodysurf down the river; 

bathe at the nearby campsite waterfall; hike up Gunung 

Janing and be captivated by the large fan palm, pitcher 

plants and the endemic ant plants; and most importantly, 

you are under the care and hospitality of the Jakun or 

Orang Hulu and can savour their delicious meals. 

Costs per person is RM380 and covers the park 

fees, guides fees, boat transfers, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 

3 dinners and evening tea. 

The transportation costs for car-pooling from Kuala 

Lumpur/Petaling Jaya are born by all passengers, 

payable to the drivers. 

A pre-trip briefing will be held at MNS HQ on 23 

April 08, Wednesday 8pm. To book a place kindly 

contact Gary Phong e-mail garyphong@time.net.my or 

call 013-3836288. 

10

In the 

field 

Tanjung Piai, Johor 

(N.S./Malacca Branch) 

10 - 11 May (Sat-Sun) 

This is a 2D/1N trip. Meeting place 

at Semabok Caltex Station, 

Melaka at 8am. Confirm with coordinator 

by 5 May 2008. Co-ordinator - Mr Lau King Lian 

(06-3153091). 

Photo trip to Sungai Selai, Endau Rompin, Johor 

17-19 May (Sat to Mon) 

Sg. Selai is situated on the south side of Endau Rompin 

National Park, Johor. This less explored side of Endau 

Rompin has a number of waterfalls which the Photo Group 

hopes to photograph. 

Although this is not a camping trip (the park has a 

number of hut-type chalets) we still need to do our own 

cooking. As the last stretch is only accessible by 4WD, 

priority of place will be given to those who have 4WDs. 

The cost per person is RM280 plus food and carpool. 

Places are limited to 28 members. Those who are interested 

can contact Alex Foong (012-2893133) or Bernie Chin (012- 

6928356) or Yap Kok Sun (013-2087418) strictly after 6pm 

office hours. 

17-25 May (Sat-Sun) 

Sarawak – Bako National Park 

The Pathfinders SIG is planning a 9D/8N nature 

appreciation trip to Sarawak that is graded Class 1-2 (Easy- 

Moderate). Highlights will include Bako National Park, 

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and Kuching. 

Due to Bako National Park’s (BNP) extensive trail 

system and spectacular landscape of steep coastline cliffs, 

weather eroded rock formations and wave beaten sea 

stacks with abundant flora and fauna, wildlife and a thriving 

mangrove swamp, the Group will plan to stay a minimum 

4D/3N at the Park and the activities will include hiking to 

some of the jungle trails which offer opportunity for 

members to do nature-oriented activities such as 

photography, birdwatching, mammals observation etc. 

along the way. 

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre - a centre with 

resounding success, caring for almost 1,000 endangered 

mammals, birds and reptiles from dozens of different 

species especially its orang utan rehabilitation programme. 

As this is an extended trip, the Group will endeavour 

to prepare participating members thoroughly in all aspects 

of trip logistics. The estimated cost for members will be 

RM1,550 (Malaysian), RM1,750 (Non-Malaysian) which 

includes group fund, land transportation, park fees, guides 

charges, boat rides, 3 basic meals at Park and budget 

accommodation at Park or city/town. Please note the 

above estimated cost EXCLUDES personal porter, airfares 

from KL-Kuching-KL and pre-trek/training trips. 

If you’re interested in this trip, please call or e-mail 

pathfsel@yahoo.com and register with the following coordinators 

latest by 31st March with a deposit payment of 

RM800 and full payment shall be made by 20th April. 

Please note that all payments shall be non-refundable. 

Places for the trip are limited. 

Payment Methods: 1. Cheques – Cheques shall be 

made payable to “Lim Sock Teen”. Please include your 

name, membership number, trip: “Bako National Park” and 

contact number/e-mail onto the back of cheques and send 

to: PATHFINDERS GROUP – MNS SELANGOR BRANCH, 

C/O MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY, JKR 641, Jalan 

Kelantan, Bukit Persekutuan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. 

2. Direct credit to Bank - Account No.: Maybank 1122 

2303 8585. (Lim Sock Teen). Please fax bank-in slip stating 

your name, membership number, contact number/e-mail and 

marked trip codename: “Bako National Park 2008” to 03– 

77262098 or e-mail to pathfsel@yahoo.com. Contact Sidney 

Seok (019–2221123) between 9pm-11pm or KJ Mok (016– 

2758739). 

Kenong Rimba Park Adventure (N.S./Malacca Branch) 

24-26 May (Sat-Mon) 

This is a 3D/2N trip. Meet at Seremban toll rest area on 23/ 

5 at 1400hrs. Car-pool encouraged. We will stay one night 

in Kuala Lipis on 23/5 or you can meet us at Kuala Lipis 

railway station at 0700hrs on 24/5. Activities: Trekking, 7- 

steps waterfall, caves, birdwatching etc. 

Lodging: Twin-share jungle hut (limited numbers) or 

dormitories. Cost: RM250 per person all inclusive (lodging, 

meal, guide fees) except the night stay in Kuala Lipis. Half 

price for children below 12-years old. Closing date: 20/4/08 

with non-refundable deposit of RM100. Co-ordinator: Saffe 

Mohd Yusof (N.S.) 012-6740054. 

Branch Trip to Dark Caves 

15 June (Sun) 

The Selangor Branch Cave Group 

would like to invite you to join us for 

our Dark Caves tour! Every 3rd Sunday 

of the month (with the exception of 

April & May 2008), we conduct a trip 

to Dark Caves (located at Batu Caves). 

Join us for this 4-hour adventure 

session to gain an understanding of 

limestone cave formation and be introduced to the type of 

formations that can be found in the caves such as stalactites, 

stalagmites, columns, pillars, etc. 

You’ll also be exposed to the types of fauna that can 

be found in the caves such as cave cockroaches, millipedes, 

and bats on their contribution to the eco-system. 

There is approx. 2km of passages on several levels. 

The main attractions of these caves are their size and 

formations, and their ecology. Some large passages are 

enough for airplanes, and others’ are so tight that even 

crawling through poses a challenge! 

The caves consist of seven major sections: Cavern A 

to Cavern F and the Great Cavern, named in the 1920’s by 

the leaders of the first major scientific research group and 

they’re still retained today. We’ll be exploring a few Caverns, 

and we’re sure you’ll have a good time. 

Continued on page 12 

11

IN THE FIELD, continued from page 11 

The cost is RM35 for MNS members & RM80 for 

non-MNS members for the adventure tour. So come along 

with your adventurous spirit! Please contact Chee Min 

Er (019-3148408, miner.chee@mnscavers.org) or K.K. 

Lee (016-2617622, kokkiet.lee@mnscavers.org). 

Branch Trip to Dark Caves 

20 July (Sun) 

Please refer to 15 June entry on page 11. 

Nature Appreciation Trekking Trip - Nepal 

27 Sept – 12 Oct (Sat-Sun) 

The Pathfinders is organising this trek graded Grade: 2 – 

3 (Moderate to Strenuous) for members. We will be 

walking about 6 – 8 hours a day with altitude varying 

from 3,000m—5,000m. 

Due to this challenging environment and terrain, 

the Group will endeavour to prepare participating members 

thoroughly in all aspects of trip logistics including being 

well prepared physically and mentally for the trek 

(especially if this is your first expedition trip). 

All participating members MUST attend the pretrek 

physical conditioning organised by the group coordinators 

which will be held at least 2-3 times per month. 

More details will be published in the next issue of 

the Pencinta Alam or on the website by early April. Coordinators: 

KJ Mok 016 – 275 8739 or Sidney Seok Tel: 

019–2221123 (Time: 9pm-11pm). 

12 

Give your used printer 

cartridges to MNS 

Printer cartridges in our landfills 

can be an environmental hazard. Dispose 

of them properly by sending them to 

MNS for recycling and help us raise 

funds for conservation work. 

If possible, try not to damage them. 

Pack them properly/in their original 

boxes. We accept the following printer 

cartridges: laserjet, bubblejet, 

inkjet, dot matrix ribbon, fax dry 

toner, and electronic typewriter ribbon 

cartridges. Send them to MNS HQ (opens 

weekdays from 9am-5:30pm or any MNS 

Branch (call beforehand to make 

arrangements). 

Thank you for helping us 

save the environment! 

Special 

event 

MNS BCC Worldbirds 

National Roadshow 

11, 12, 26 April (Fri, Sat, 

Sat) 

Calling all birders! Malaysia 

is now part of Worldbirds 

family of e-base bird sighting storage and retrieval 

system. 

Login now (www.worldbirds.org/malaysia) and 

share your sightings online, worldwide! 

Keen to learn more? Then take part in the road 

show in the following states: 

11 April – Terengganu (wadnan@streamyx.com) 

& Johor Bahru (maketab@fkkksa.utm.my) 

12 April – Penang (kandakum@tm.net.my) 

& Kuching, Sarawak (antwong@pc.jaring.my) 

26 April – Selangor (conservation@mns.org.my). 

Reservations required as places are limited. Reply to 

one of the e-mails above and bring your laptop. See 

you there! 

New Natural Resources and Environment 

Minister 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi 

announced his new administration on March 18, 

2008 downsizing his Cabinet from 32 to 27 seats, of 

which more than half featured new faces. 

Helming the Natural Resources and 

Environment Ministry is Datuk Douglas Unggah 

Embas, previously the Deputy Transport Minister. His 

parliamentary seat is Betong, Sarawak. The deputy 

NRE Minister is Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh who won 

uncontested in Kalabakan, Sabah. 

GREEN 

LIVING 

5 Ways to Reuse 

Newspaper 

Words: Donna 

Garlough 

I 

n my daily life, I try my best to recycle (cans, bottles, 

cardboard, everything) and reduce (I’m weaning 

myself off shopping bags, which is harder than it seems 

unless I carry a cloth bag with me on the train every 

day). 

Lately I’ve been challenging myself to heed that 

other R: reuse. Whether an item is destined for the 

trash can or the recycling bin, I’ve been trying to use 

things one more time before they get tossed for good. 

Newspaper has been an easy place to start. 

Not only is it ubiquitous—I, for one, have piles of it in 

the foyer, most of which never gets read—it can also 

be repurposed in a multitude of ways. (Disclaimer: Like 

a good green consumer, I read my news online. But a

neighbor of mine is a reporter, and she gets a paper 

delivered every day.) Here are five ways to give your daily 

news a second life: 

1) Clean your windows. Don’t ask why, but crumpled 

newspaper makes mirrors and glass shine. Just spray 

the surface with your favorite glass cleaner and use them 

as you would regular paper towels. One caveat: Since 

newspaper isn’t terribly absorbent, it’s best to use less 

cleaning spray. You won’t need much, anyway. 

2) Substitute shredded or crumpled paper for 

Styrofoam. Instead of using non-recyclable, petroleumbased 

Styrofoam peanuts to pack items for shipping, run 

sheets of newspaper through a paper shredder to create 

stuffing material, or just crumple them into loose balls for 

extra padding. 

3) Store fragile dishware. When putting away fine china, 

place folded squares of newspaper between plates and 

bowls to protect them. Wrap the whole stack in another 

sheet before placing them in fabric cases or boxes. 

4) Start a barbecue. Charcoal chimneys are inexpensive 

and make lighting the grill a breeze. But instead of soaking 

the briquettes in chemical lighter fluid, as many do, try 

lighting them using newspaper instead. Just crumple a 

few sheets and stuff them in the bottom section of the 

chimney, then fill the top portion with charcoal. Light the 

paper and the briquettes will light themselves. 

5) Make “tablecloths.” Sloppy meals (in my house, 

boiled lobster makes a legendary mess) and kids’ art 

projects call for casual table coverings. Just spread out a 

few sheets of the Sunday comics, set your fixings on 

top, and feel free to leave your manners behind. 

Source: www.thegreenguide.com 

E C O 

NEWS 

Bukit Gasing court case: 

Residents win review 

Words: Danutcha 

Chelliah 

Kuala Lumpur, March 18, 2008: The High Court 

yesterday granted a leave for judicial review to 108 

Bukit Gasing residents, allowing them the right to express 

their concerns for a development project in the area. 

The residents were also granted leave to quash 

the decision of the Kuala Lumpur mayor not to hold a 

public hearing on the application by Gasing Meridian Sdn 

Bhd (GMSB) for a development order. The mayor’s decision 

was conveyed to the residents in a letter dated Dec 31, 

last year. 

Judge Lau Bee Lan directed the mayor, who is the 

respondent in the case, to forward a copy of the reports 

and documents pertaining to the application by GMSB to 

the residents at least a month before the next court 

hearing. 

The documents would include reports from a 

geological survey, soil structure and soil stability 

evaluations, proposed geohazard monitoring, hydrology 

report, environmental impact assessment (EIA), traffic 

impact analysis and social impact analysis from the 

authorities. 

Also to be submitted are proposed site and layout 

plans, the earthwork plan with sections, the 

development report and documents produced by experts 

or consultants engaged by GMSB. 

In their grounds of application, the residents, 

represented by counsel R. Sivarasa, said the mayor 

had erred in law and acted in excess of his jurisdiction 

when he wrote the letter stating that the procedure for 

hearing objections would not be implemented as it would 

violate existing rules and regulations. 

The residents claimed the mayor had failed to 

take into account that they had a right under common 

law to be given due notice and to be given a chance to 

voice their opinions in the decision-making process of 

planning. 

They stated that the mayor had acted in contrary 

to the policy and intent of the Federal Territory (Planning) 

Act 1982 (Act 267). 

The Act required the preparation of a local plan 

for Kuala Lumpur, which would have given not just 

adjoining owners, but all persons in the Federal Territory, 

a right to be heard in respect of the development plan 

for their area. 

The residents said the proposed development of 

71 bungalows would be on steep hill slopes. 

They also claimed that the 13 major landslides 

which had occurred in the Klang Valley and nationwide 

since 1993 provided ample proof of the real dangers in 

carrying out development projects on such steep slopes. 

According to the residents, there had been a few 

landslides in the area. These included a landslide which 

was apparently caused by hill slope development in 1971 

which severely damaged six government owned 

bungalows along Jalan Tanjung, Bukit Gasing. 

They said the existence of a 23 million litre water 

reservoir situated just above the proposed development 

site and a large underground pipeline on its western 

boundary, coupled with large scale earthworks from the 

development project, could weaken the soil structure 

and cause potential danger to the retaining structures 

at the reservoir. 

The residents claimed that the proposed 

development would result in 15.52ha of hilly and 

secondary forest to be cleared and re-sculpted with an 

estimated 760,000 tonnes of excess earthwork to be 

relocated. 

Lau set April 23 for an inter-parte hearing for the 

residents’ application to stop all further proceedings and 

actions by the mayor in respect of the application for 

planning permission by GMSB, pending the disposal of 

the inter-parte hearing for judicial review. 

Source: www.nst.com.my 

13

directory of mns branch commitees 2007/08 

JOHOR BRANCH 

c/o Prof. Madya Dr. Maketab Mohamed, No. 

90, Jalan Pulai 50, Taman Pulai Utama, 83100 

Johor Bahru. Website: www.mnsj.org.my 

Chairman: Prof Madya Dr. Maketab 

Mohamed | 019-3519866, 

maketab@fkkksa.utm.my 

Vice Chairman: Dr. Lum Wei Wah | 019- 

7838388, jefflum@tm.net.my 

Secretary: Sim Feng | 012-7122515, 

fengsim@gmail.com 

Treasurer: Dr. Joy Veronica Mak | 012- 

7091504, joymak@tm.net.my 

KEDAH BRANCH 

103A Jln Saga Ria 5, Tmn Saga, 05400 Alor 

Star. 

Chairman: Phang Fatt Khow | 012- 

3116420, fkphang05@yahoo.com 

Vice Chairman: Kalaimani a/l 

Supramaniam 019-4733505, 

maniria@yahoo.com 

Secretary: Tengku Badrillah bT Abdullah | 

012-4880090, tbadril@hotmail.com 

Treasurer: Tan Dek | 019-5102328, 

cptps@tm.net.my 

KELANTAN BRANCH 

204, Jln Sultan Yahya Petra,15150 Kota 

Bharu, Kelantan. E-mail: shown@tm.net.my 

Chairman: Mohd Razali B Che Ali | 017- 

9386015 

Vice Chair: Tan Kee Leong, Michael | 

mike1958@streamyx.com 

Secretary: Wong Mei Lin | 

wmeilin@tm.net.my 

Treasurer: Evone Lim | 

evone2meng@yahoo.com 

NEGERI SEMBILAN / MALACCA BRANCH 

581-A Taman Aman, Ujong Pasir, 75050 

Melaka 

Chairman: Lim Ming Hui | 012-2760327, 

lmh75@tm.net.my 

Vice-Chair: Saffe Mohd Yusof | 012- 

6740054, 

safe.mohdyusof@exxonmobil.com 

Secretary: Tan Bee Wah | 012-2760324, 

bwtan98@yahoo.com 

Treasurer: Lee Ah Geok | 06- 

3345666x2116, ahgeoklee@hotmail.com 

PAHANG BRANCH 

F-4-4, Jalan Padang Golf, 25050 Kuantan, 

Pahang. E-mail: mnspahang@yahoo.com 

Chairman: Mohd Roslan Bin Mohd Rais | 

019-7124595, mroslan@swss.com.my 

Vice Chairman: Ray J Crehan | 019- 

9647448, raybeth.crehan@gmail.com 

Secretary: Kua Chui Neo, Patricia 019- 

9313668 

Treasurer: Ho Chin Leong | 09-5668240 

PENANG BRANCH 

Nature Information Centre (NIC), 673-B 

Jalan Kebun Bunga, 10350 Penang 

Tel/Fax: 04 2273673. Open Mon-Sat 7.30am 

- 11.30am (Please phone before visiting). 

Website: www.geocities.com/mnspenang/ 

Chairman: Kanda Kumar | 04-2273673, 

kandakum@tm.net.my 

Vice-chairman: Hymeir Kamarudin | 019- 

4428926, speleocorp@myjaring.net 

Secretary: Lai Ee May | 012-5385642, 

eemaylai@yahoo.com 

Treasurer: Foong Swee Yeok | 012- 

5529694, foong_sy@yahoo.com 

PERAK BRANCH 

PO Box 34, Ipoh Garden Post Office, 

31407 Ipoh, Perak 

Chairman: Leow Kon Fah | 019-5634598 

| leow_kingfisher@yahoo.com 

Vice-Chair: Ooi Beng Yean | 017- 

5082206 | obybeng@streamyx.com 

Secretary: Neal Nirmal | 012-6195432 | 

kghijau1@tm.net.my 

Treasurer: Har Wai Ming | 019-5724113 | 

wm.har@klk.com.my 

SABAH BRANCH 

Lot F-4-18, Block F, 4 th Floor, Plaza 

Tanjung Aru, Jln Mat Salleh, Tanjung Aru, 

88100 Kota Kinabalu 

E-mail: mns_sabah@yahoo.com.sg 

Chairperson: Omar Abdul Kadir | 019- 

8110125, omar_kadir51@yahoo.com 

Vice-Chairperson: Anna Wong | 016- 

8346808, anna888@ums.edu.my 

Secretary: Zarinah Waheed | 019- 

8329329, zarinah@ums.edu.my 

Treasurer: Muhammad Ali Syed Hussein 

| 016-2398111, tilan@yahoo.com 

SARAWAK (KUCHING) BRANCH 

E-mail: mnskuching@gmail.com 

Chairman: Rebecca D’cruz 

aonyx@pd.jaring.my 

Vice-chair: Cynthia Hazebrock 019- 

8364231, cynthlob@mail.com 

Secretary: Chan Mei Ching, 

Zora Sharon | zorachan@hotmail.com 

Treasurer: Tay Yit Ping 

019-8178878, yitp97@yahoo.com 

BIRD I-WITNESS 

MAL 

ALAYSIA 

www.worldbirds.org/malaysia 

Share your bird sightings with the rest 

of the world and help bird conservation! You can store 

and manage your observations, extract reports and view, print 

or download maps and checklists. You can also view other 

people’s records. The following Q&A is compiled by bird i- 

witness Malaysia. If still in doubt, why not join the national 

roadshow? (See page 1 for more info.) 

1. Who can submit sightings and use the data in the bird i- 

witness Malaysia? 

Anyone who has done birding in Malaysia can submit his/her 

sightings. Just register with the site and the administrator will e- 

mail you your username and password. 

2. Who should submit the sighting if it is observed by a group? 

Nominate one person to submit the sighting. This will avoid data 

duplication. If the rest of the observers are registered, the data 

can also be linked to all observers by checking their names in 

the “other observers” section. Otherwise, their names can be 

mentioned in the “Note” section. 

14 

3. Should I submit 1-2 sightings or the full list? 

Full Checklists for sites will be more beneficial and provide 

better quality data than ad hoc data. 

4. I saw a glimpse of the bird, but not sure of the ID. Should I 

submit the sighting? 

To maintain the database to its highest quality and credibility, 

please only enter sightings that you have definite identification 

for. 

5. Some bird species’ names and/or scientific names are 

different from the “A Checklist of the Birds of Malaysia” 

(2005). 

Yes. The Taxonomic sequence has been changed and updated 

in the Worldbirds lists. There are additions, deletions and 

changes that will differ from the 2005 A Checklist of Birds of 

Malaysia. The Worldbirds list also includes escapee and feral 

populations. The checklist will grow as sightings of rare/new 

birds are submitted. 

6. Since I’m submitting the bird sightings to bird i-witness 

Malaysia, do I still need to submit to Suara Enggang? 

No. The editor of Suara Enggang will download the sightings 

from the bird i-witness Malaysia worldbirds site. The editor will 

Continued on page 15

directory of mns branch commitees 2007/08 

SARAWAK (MIRI) BRANCH 

c/o EPA-T-DGP, 

Sarawak Shell Berhad, 

Jalan Pantai, 

98100 Lutong, Sarawak. 

E-mail: mnsmiri@yahoo.com 

Chairman: Lee Bor Seng | 085-454916 | 

borseng@yahoo.com 

Vice-chair: Nazeri Abghani | 085-453185 | 

nabghani@yahoo.com 

Secretary: Sim Wan Chee | 85-452056 | 

kee6699@yahoo.com 

Treasurer: Tan Cheng Yam 

borseng@yahoo.com 

Committee Member: Yuh Thin Sim 

SELANGOR BRANCH 

JKR 541, Jalan Kelantan 

Bukit Persekutuan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur 

Website: www.mns.org.my/selangor 

E: mns.selangor@gmail.com 

E-group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ 

mnselangor 

Chairman: Gary Phong 

013-3836288, garyphong@time.net.my 

Vice-chairman: Lim Teck Wyn 

016-3619148, twlim@rescu.com.my 

Secretary: Gan Li Li 

012-207 4840, pat_ganll@hotmail.com 

Treasurer: Bernadette Chin 

012-6928356, berniechin118@yahoo.com 

Committee Members: 

Eugene Lee | 012-3160954 

eugene.t.lee@aya.yale.edu 

Jack Teoh | 012-3157933 

jackteoh99@gmail.com 

Lillian Danielle Khoo | 012-273 7316 

wiccanlilly@hotmail.com 

Loretta Soosayraj | 012-310 0594 

loret22@yahoo.com 

Rhett Harrison | 014-8934631 

rgregory@pd.jaring.my 

Rick Gregory | 013-363 0126 

rhett_d_harrison@yahoo.co.uk 

Rusyanti Abdul Ghani | 012-225 3585 

yantyghani@gmail.com 

BIRD GROUP 

Khoo Swee Seng 

013-386 3663, swekhoo@yahoo.com 

http://mnsselangorbirdgroup.blogspot.com/ 

CAVE GROUP 

Yee Yoke Chuan 

019-278 8815, yeeyc@yeeyc.com 

www.mns.org.my/caving.php 

FLORA GROUP 

Mariam Jutta 

017-5027584, fedupferret@hotmail.com, 

waldelf@gmail.com 

GREEN LIVING GROUP 

Wong Ee Lynn 

016-288 6812, gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com 

HERPETOFAUNA GROUP 

Hurnain Hamid 

019-3405394, hurnain@hotmail.com 

MARINE GROUP 

Khor Hui Min | 017-8817714, 

khorhmin@yahoo.co.uk 

Khatijah Abdullah | 013-7708204, 

ija_02@yahoo.com 

http://mnsmarine.blogspot.com 

MYCAT (Malaysian Conservation 

Alliance for Tigers) 

Loretta Soosayraj 

012-310 0594, 

malaysian_cat2003@yahoo.com 

NATURE GUIDES GROUP 

Gary Phong 

013-3836288, garyphong@time.net.my 

www.mns.org.my/artsig.php?aid=89 

PATHFINDERS GROUP 

Soong Wye Ping 

Mok Kim Jin | 016-2758739 

pathfsel@yahoo.com 

PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP 

Alex Foong | 012-2893133 | 

afoong@ku.com.my 

TERENGGANU BRANCH 

1926 Bukit Kubang Jambu, 

20050 Kuala Terengganu. 

E-mail: mnsterengganu@gmail.com 

Chairman: Hj Wan Md Adnan | 

017-9861926, wadnan@streamyx.com 

Vice Chair: Anuar Abd McAfee | 

017-9864177, anuar@ms.kusza.edu.my 

Secretary: Dr Hing Lee Siang | 

hingls@umt.gov.edu.my 

Treasurer: Wee Seng Whatt | 

019-9363828, swwee@pc.jaring.my 

Get it on time! From July 2008, 

Pencinta Alam will shift gear to being 

predominantly an online newsletter, 

with hard copies made available for 

members without access to a 

computer. See page 1 for more info. 

Bird i-witness, continued from page 14 

highlight interesting sightings and analyse the data and publish 

reports in the bulletin. However, please send your photos or 

drawings to the editor. 

7. Do I still send field trip reports, birding sites article, bird ID 

article, etc to Suara Enggang? 

Yes. Please continue to send in your write-up. The quality of the 

bulletin is what you BIRDERS want it to be. 

8. How about rare and new bird sightings? Who should I submit 

to? 

After you have submitted your sighting to the bird i-witness 

Malaysia, please continue to submit your report to the MNS-BCC 

Records Committee. For the submission guidelines please go 

to http://birdiwitness.blogspot.com/ for details. 

9. Can I download and use the data from the bird i-witness 

Malaysia site? 

The use of data from this system is encouraged for conservation 

purposes. Individual contributors and the system administrator 

reserve the right to comment on the accuracy and interpretation 

of data. Any commercial use of the data should result in a financial 

contribution to the maintenance and development of this system. 

In using data from this system you should follow good practice: a) 

all users should acknowledge Tracking Malaysian Birds and its 

contributors. 

b) if more than 10% of the data you are using comes from a single 

contributor or user group, then that contributor should be 

acknowledged. 

c) if more than 40% of the data you are using comes from a single 

contributor or user group, then you should contact that contributor or 

group to ask for permission to use the data and offer to add their 

name to any publications. 

d) you should inform the administrators of Tracking Malaysian Birds 

on the uses of the data. The administrators and contributors to the 

system take no responsibility. 

10. Is the data submitted verified? By whom? 

All data will be reviewed by the Validation Team which is composed 

of experienced birders and some committee members of MNS Bird 

Conservation Council and MNS-BCC Records Committee. The 

Records Commitee’s responsibilities in reviewing rare/new records 

still remain. 

11. I have problems with the site, who should I enquire? 

Please e-mail to the administrator of the site: 

worldbirds.malaysia@gmail.com 

15

Pencinta Alam is a monthly newsletter made possible by 

dedicated volunteers and contributors from the Malaysian 

Nature Society. Accuracy is the contributor’s responsibility. 

The Editor reserves the right to edit for length and content. 

Advertising rates: Classifieds: RM5 per column inch. Quarter 

page ad: RM30. Half page ad: RM60. All payments 

must be made to “Malaysian Nature Society Selangor 

Branch”. Please bank in cash or cheque to Maybank MBB 

account no 014150307352. After banking in, please scan 

the slip and e-mail it to Bernadette Chin at 

berniechin118@yahoo.com or fax her at 03-51928191 (Attention: 

Bernie Finance). 

Submissions: Articles including the author’s name and e- 

mail, and photographer’s name (max. 500 words), advertisements, 

digital images (100 dpi & no larger than 640x480 

pixels & separately from article), etc. must reach the Editor 

by the 13 th of each month (unless noted otherwise) 

via the following e-mail address: tapir2005@gmail.com. 

Editors 

Iska Hashim | 03-20732355 (o) 

Leong Hon Yuen | 03-22742328 

mns hq directory 

JKR 541, Jalan Kelantan, Bukit Persekutuan, 50480 Kuala 

Lumpur (just before the Seri Perdana turn-off on Jalan 

Mahameru). M-F 9am-5:30pm. T: 03-22879422. F: 03- 

22878773. E: mns@mns.org.my | W: www.mns.org.my. 

Membership: Leong Wee Chin, membership@mns.org.my. 

mns library 

A modest collection of books and periodicals is housed at 

the MNS Headquarters. Only fully paid up members may 

borrow books for a period of two weeks. This period is 

renewable. Periodicals are for use only in the library. Readers 

wishing periodical articles may have them photocopied. A 

small, but growing collection of books for young readers is 

also available. 

mns centres and a park 

Dark Caves, Batu Caves 

T: 03-2287 9422 | F: 03-2287 8773 | E: mns@mns.org.my 

EcoCare – Kertih River Mangrove Rehabilitation Project 

and Environmental Education Centre 

T: 09-8307218 | F: 09-8307797 | E: ecocare@mns.org.my 

FRIM-MNS-SHELL Nature Education Centre (NEC) 

T: 03-62771703 | F: 03-62754376 | E: 

frimnec@po.jaring.my 

Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP) 

T: 03-32892294 | F: 03-32894311 | E: ksnp@tm.net.my 

HOTLINES 

Report environmental pollution: 

Complaints Line: 03-8889 1972 

Jabatan Alam Sekitar: 

1-800-88-2727 

Treatment/advice for injured/ 

abandoned birds: 

03-8946 8340 or 03-8946 8317 (Dr Jalila Abu, Hospital 

Universiti Veterinar, Universiti Putra Malaysia) 

Mistreatment of wildlife: 

Enforcement Unit, Dept. of Wildlife & National Parks 

(PERHILITAN): 

Johor 07-223 0580 

Kedah 04-730 2245 

Kelantan 09-744 1844 

Melaka 06-283 3734 

Pahang 09-296 1267 

Perak 05-243 6645 

Perlis 04-976 1813 

Penang 04-261 3039 

Selangor 03-5519 3915 

Terengganu 09-622 1460 

Negeri Sembilan 06-761 6998 

Taman Negara 09-266 4152 

Taman Negara Pulau Pinang 04-881 2016 

Zoo Melaka 06-282 4054 

MNS-BOH Field Study Centre 

Bookings and enquiry: T: 03-2287 9422 

For emergency: T: 05-493 1257 (Mrs Moorthy’s house) or the 

Centre T: 05-493 1255 

E: mns@mns.org.my 

UM-MNS Rimba Ilmu 

T: 03-79674690, F: 03-79676150, E: eep@um.edu.my 

mns shop 

T/F: 03-2287 3471 

E: natureowlet@yahoo.com 

Open Mon-Fri 0930-1730 hrs, Saturday 1000-1300 hrs. 

Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays as well as during 

major MNS events (e.g. Raptor Watch etc) 

Offers a growing selection of books for the nature lover 

(kids included) and MNS Publications The Malaysian 

Naturalist and Suara Enggang; MNS apparel; outdoor 

gear (from Coleman, Maglite, Campingaz, Leatherman, 

Deuter); sport optics and supports (from Leica, Minox, 

Meade, William Optics & Manfrotto) and more. 

Members receive a discount for most items. 

APRIL 

22 - Earth Day 

http://ww2.earthday.net/~earthday/

Pencinta Alam April 2008 - Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)

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