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Activities Report 1999 May Newsletter

From the Chairman’s Desk

Hi Everybody,

The state of our Malaysian natural heritage has taken a serious battering with the reports of the deaths of several dugongs (especially Si Tenang which tugged at our heart strings) and the slow death of  Tasik Chini with the interference of man with the simple thought that it would encourage tourism. Selangor’s thirst for more water resulted in the state government’s proposal to make a dam to satisfy the ever growing demand for water in the years ahead. MNS Secretariat has responded to the EIA (a copy was inserted in the Naturalist and sent to all members). Similarly the Perak Government has also proposed a dam in Ulu Kinta for the Kinta Valley and an EIA will be carried out soon. Hence we have to be more vigilant if we are to continue to enjoy our natural heritage.
      This brings to focus the need for a permanent place to be used as a Nature Education Research and Monitoring Centre (NERMC) which I feel seriously needs to be established if we are to continue in our mission to appreciate and conserve our natural heritage. It is my contention that appreciation begins with education. We have to reach out to schools and the general public and give talks and seminars to teach them how to appreciate our natural heritage. Many of our loyal core members are willing to help but a more effective approach must be adopted and made available to them as volunteerism has its limits. Some have creative ideas but lack the facilities to give form and substance to their thoughts. We need a place and facilities to plan slide shows, monitor the various activities of the public and government that will have an impact on our natural environment, carry out field studies and library research, write up project papers and reports, give training and talks frequently and to store (and later present) our vast store of knowledge accumulated over the past 29 years.
      We need at least a temporary home until our objective of acquiring a building is eventually achieved. Acquiring our own building will take some time as the present Malaysian economic climateis still not conducive to carry out any ambitious fund-raising scheme but nevertheless we shall persevere in our endeavour. Menno Riegstra keeps on reminding me not to give up despite what others may say or do. Meanwhile our financial position is not strong enough to allow us to rent a premise to be used as an NERMC.
      However, there is some light at the end of this long tunnel we have been groping along. A personal friend and a member of the MNS (Selangor Branch), Mdm. Teh Siew Keng has generously offered to me the first floor of her shop house in Taman Endah Jaya (near the Kek Lok Tong cave temple complex) to be used as the Perak Branch NERMC cum office until we get our own building. I cannot thank her enough for her kind gesture except to wish her all the best in life.
      Should everything fall into place as we have hoped and if our plan and proposal for the premise is acceptable to her the branch will see a new milestone in its achievements. I hope members will volunteer their time and energy to make it a place branch members and the owner will feel proud to be associated with. Hopefully membership will increase with the use of the premise as an NERMC albeit temporarily. As it is near the limestone hills and caves that Ipoh is famous for, I hope members will come and make use of the facilities available and help the branch achieve a higher level of performance for the MNS and our country’s natural heritage. Truly then this would be a fitting start for the MNS in the new millennium. Now I see a brighter light at the end of the tunnel.

Cheaw Hon Ming
22 April 1999


Index to Reports and Articles

  1. Miscellaneous announcements
  2. Fellowship Night (Saturday 6 March)
  3. Caving in Anak Tempurung (Sunday 14 March)
  4. Birding and Camping in Fraser's Hill (Sat. - Monday 27 – 29 March 1999)
  5. Members’ Night (Saturday 10 April 1999)
  6. Trekking, Camping up Gunung Stong, Jelawang Waterfalls, Kelantan (16-19 April)
  7. Camping in Pos Slim (Saturday/Sunday 24-25 April)
  8. EXPLORING THE DARK CAVE, K.L. (By Helen Cheah)
  9. The History of Roses [ Notes by Carl Walker]
  10. In Response to "Nature Society is Making Baseless Claim, Says Botanist", 18 March 1999
  11. Message from MNS on World Day for Water- Everyone Lives Downstream Theme
  12. "Our Claims Not Baseless, says Nature Society"
  13. Environmental Disaster Could Have Been Avoided
  14. MNS Secretariat news
  15. 1999 Firefly Survey
  16. IS THE HIGHLAND RESORTS ROAD NECESSARY?
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Created on 26th April 1999.