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Sep-Oct 2000 Newsletter

From the Chairman's Desk

Hi Everybody,

Again I must thank everybody for having faith in me leading the branch another year. The Branch AGM also saw some new faces elected to serve the branch – a new secretary and a new treasurer and a few new committee members. Some promising members were proposed but unfortunately they turned down their nominations citing heavy commitments as an excuse. If work commitment is a reasonable excuse to decline nomination to serve then I should be the first to do so but my solemn promise to some well-wishers and supporters to serve the MNS and see through certain projects made me reconsider my stand. My professional work requires a lot of paperwork and with the organisation’s current effort to gain ISO 9002 certification I will be constantly under considerable heavy pressure to conform to quite exacting standards of performance and constantly be up-to-date on paperwork. Hence it would be very difficult for me to continue giving the same level of energy for the branch in every aspect. I hope the new committee will give me all the support and energy to make the branch a dynamic one and continue to raise the quality of the branch in terms of membership and activities. Alone I cannot do anything other than to be a voice in the wilderness.
      Over the last three years I have strived to lead the Perak Branch into the information age by first setting up the website to bring the branch into the forefront of Nature appreciation and conservation which to my mind can only be accomplished if we have the facilities and the will to achieve greater heights in tandem with the fast pace of technological and economic advancements. At the same time we have to constantly appeal to the government and political leaders to set aside important natural sites for conservation. Perak has many areas still rich in wildlife and natural attractions. I hope to impress upon the Perak government to consider our appeal for conservation of our natural heritage as a strategic plan for our future generations.
      We will be celebrating our 30th anniversary soon and we hope to do it in a natural environment – Taman DR Seenivasagam, tentatively on 12 November 2000. It would be a celebration with nature – a celebration of our 30 years in helping to appreciate and conserve nature in Perak. It would be a fun day with nature with a view to fund-raising for our branch building (please refer to page 2). Please volunteer your time to make this a success especially in helping to sell coupons for food and plant sale.
      Perak will see a few developments which may or may not benefit nature lovers and of course MNS is involved in all these going-ons. We are monitoring the opening up of Temenggor forest in North Perak to sustainable logging together with other NGOs. Efforts are in the way to get the state authorities to start a Nature Park in Batu Gajah. In Ipoh itself the Gunung Lang area has been built over for a people friendly park but fortunately most of the flora has not been cut down and some trees have in fact been planted. Last Sunday (27 August) Kuan Yaow and I had a surprise when we went to see what had been done. Near the new toilet not far from the cave entrance we saw a Forest Wagtail (Dendronanthus indicus) at about 7.14 p.m. on the ground and later up a tree. But my gut feeling tells me that this may be the last time the bird will be sighted – it will never be the same again when the park is opened to the public.

Love Life. Love Nature.

Cheaw Hon Ming
30 August 2000


Index

    Reports
  1. Announcements
  2. Teluk Intan Fireflies (1-2 July 2000)
  3. Introduction to Birdwatching in Fraser Hill (Saturday-Sunday 8-9 July 2000)
  4. Mystery Tour (Sunday 16 July 2000)
  5. Six-Mile Tunnel (Sunday 23 July 2000)
  6. Bidor (Gapai) Waterfall (Sunday 6 August 2000)
  7. Visit to Organic Farm (Sunday 13 or 20 August)
    Nature Notes and News
    (Articles received are the personal views and observations of the writers who bear the sole responsibility of the accuracy of their reports. The Editorial Board will try their level best to edit the articles for accuracy, grammar and clarity. Please write in to inform us if there are any inaccuracies. Some comments may inadvertently impinge on the sensitivities of some members – our sincere apologies as these may be overlooked in our haste to produce this newsletter in time.)
  1. GUNUNG BUBU By Dr. Kiew Chik Sang
  2. VISIT TO ENDAU-ROMPIN STATE PARK - (10/6 TO 15/6/2000) By Helen Cheah
    MNS President Speaks Out
  1. Cleanliness is Everybody's Business
  2. Kudos to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government
  3. Mining Licences at Maliau Basin, Sabah
  4. A Hazy Situation




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Created on 12 Sep 2000