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Jan-Feb 2001 Newsletter

From the Chairman's Desk

Hi Everybody,
      I have put off writing this till the last minute of the year 2000 hoping to get some inspiration as to what to write partly as a message and partly a resolution for the coming year and beyond. First I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and to all Muslims a belated Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fithri. A Merry Christmas to all Christian members. It is interesting to note the significance of these two festivals ? one celeb-rating the birth of someone great giving rise to a world religon and the other celebrating the end of a period of great personal and group sacrifice and self-deprivation.
      We celebrated the birth of our beloved society ? the Malaysian Nature Society last year. It serves to remind us that we have come a long way compared to others. We are the oldest NGO in Malaysia but our membership has stagnated although there was some lack-lustre effort to recruit new members many members did not renew only after a short term with us. We ask the question why? I try to look at the problem from a business/marketing point of view and wonder whether the MNS as a product is at the end of its product life cycle. If so then the trend has to be arrested by new marketing techniques like repackaging it in a suitable user friendly form. I will continue to pursue this line of thought at council and hopefully all will benefit in a stronger MNS, well-equiped with more and better facilities to serve members to bring it to a higher level of competence and efficiency. Professionalism must come into the picture as the branch committee can only do so much. There are so many issues and environmental problems to take care of especially in Perak which takes a lot of the limited time of the branch office bearers and in particular the Chairperson who will be the first person the press, politicians and other societies/NGOs refer to when ever something pertaining to the environment/Nature crops up. If the society were to do a credible job and uphold its image there is no alternative but look at the professional aspect.
      The month-long fasting month directed my attention to the significance of Ramadan. A lot of sacrifices and self-deprivation were made for over a long period in order that the general good (objective) can be obtained. During the difficult period routine and necessary work continued to be carried out. While there are reasons to celebrate for  sacrifices made I was made to believe it should be done in moderation lest aspersions be cast upon the intentions and the quality and quantity of work done.
      The Perak MNS still has a long way to go before we can truly raise our hands and shout in jubilation. I believe in the Japanese style of Total Quality Control (TQC) of making continuous improvements. Of course we can a quantum leap in improving our facilities but our financial resources especially at HQ level is at its break-even point and sometimes at the brink of breaking the piggy bank to keep the Society afloat during the financial crisis period of 1997-1999. Fortunately our financial wizards provided sound advice and donations and other sources of funds have stated to come trickling in. In view of this the Millenium Fund has been started whereby large corporate bodies are requested to “lend” the MNS funds interest-free while MNS carry out activities and pay back over 10 years.  The funds have startewd to come in so we have to soldier on and continue to “sacrifice”.
      Best Wishes to all.

Cheaw Hon Ming
01.01.01


Index

    Reports
  1. Announcements
  2. Fun Day in Taman DR Seenivasagam (Sunday 12 November 2000)
  3. Trekking up a Limestone Ridge (Saturday 26 November 2000)
  4. Teluk Intan Fireflies (Saturday 2-3 December 2000)
  5. Camping at Batu 24, Pandang Menara, Cameron Highlands (30-31.12.2000)
  6. Camping to Celebrate the New Millenium 2001 (Sunday 31 December 2000)
    Nature Notes and News
     
  1. MNS Perak Branch 30th Anniversary Fun Day
  2. ANCAMAN TERHADAP TERUMBU KARANG
  3. AIR DAN KITA
    MNS President Speaks Out
  1. Gazettement of catchment reserves essential towards securing safer & cleaner water supply
  2. Cleanup of Melaka River by State a Good Move
  3. IMPORTANCE OF GREEN SPACES
  4. Pre Budget 2001 Interview by the Presses
  5. Cameron Highlands on the Titiwangsa Range-best to have minimal development


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Created on 1 Jan 2001