Dear Cheaw,

I guess double congratulations are in order! First, let me congratulate you on being elected Chairman of MNS Perak. This change has crossed my mind many times but being someone who is about to leave Ipoh at that time, I kept my opinion to myself. I guess it must have been a peaceful "revolution", with the old committee members still serving, except for Ooi and Swee Yean.

Secondly, my heartiest congratulations to you and the web server for coming up with the MNS Perak homepage. You can not guess the loneliness of being left out of MNS Perak news and activities. I can only imagine what you guys are doing. Now, I know what you people have done, especially the bird group. I am really, really happy about this. If you ask me, the MNS Perak home-page is much better than the MNS HQ web page. It's so dull and boring and it has not been changed for months (especially the bird group page). Lately I have not been getting it on the web. I hope they are improving on it.

One suggestion I would like to make for the bird group - please try to include bird lists of places. To do my part, I will send you my lists of birds I have observed at the different locations in Perak, namely: Kuala Gula, Maxwell's Hill, Kinta Valley (Ipoh/Batu Gajah), Kuala Kangsar/Grik, Malim Nawar, Temenggor (Belum) and Cameron Highlands (its only access being from various parts of Perak. I am also sending you the November copy of "WILDBIRD" magazine, which featured Malaysia as its cover story.

One suggestion for improvement - you can take a look at the web pages of "Birding In Indonesia" which can be accessed via Birdlife International. This web site is really fantastic, and which can be an example of what MNS Perak bird group can do. These days, bird lists are an important item to attract birders and people (foreigners or otherwise) to bird any place.

If you need any help in accessing other birding web-sites, do not hesitate to contact me and I can print out these web sites for you. I think I have not said too much so goodbye and keep up the good work. Please give my regards to everyone at MNS Perak.

Phon Kah Heng
53 Division St #3
New York, NY 10002 USA

(N.B. I have received the WildBird magazine from Phon who was an MNS Perak branch member and shall pass on to Ooi shortly. The cover story puts Malaysia in a very good light especially the rich diversity in Malaysian avifauna and the capability of Dennis Yong as a nature/bird guide. Members who are interested in reading it can contact me. Chairman)