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Activities Report 1999 July Newsletter

From the Chairman’s Desk

Hi Everybody,

In a few weeks the branch will be holding its Annual General Meeting at the Ipoh Swimming Club and a new committee will be elected to run the branch and help achieve members’ aspirations for a more dynamic and focussed NGO. I shall offer my services to the branch again if members feel that the branch has achieved a reasonable level of performance during the past year. It is therefore vital that all members attend the AGM that will elect the right people to the committee to ensure that the branch keeps on improving despite current challenges and changes in the economic, technological and political environment. If you feel strongly for your society please make it a point to attend.
      More and more people realise the importance of Nature and its relation with our everyday lives but are they doing anything constructive about it. The MNS does and it does so in a scientific and professional manner so that we can confront our detractors with well-researched information to back our arguments. Our president has been most vocal in voicing our concerns to the authorities and so his comments have been reproduced in our newsletter to show members that the MNS has not kept silent on a number of issues. Members are also given the full stories as often our letters to the press have been edited and watered down “for space and clarity reasons”. An ex-MNS member felt we should
not publish “the rumblings of a silly old man” but I think the majority of you know better. Without him how many Malaysians of his wisdom and sagacity would care to comment on developments that affect our natural heritage, presenting well-researched and reasoned thoughts to back our stand.
      Donations are still coming in for the Building Fund which will help the branch to eventually own and operate a Nature Education Research and Monitoring Centre. To date it has accumulated more than RM5,000.00 with the profits from the sale of postcards and other items trickling in. I must admit that my professional work does not allow me to devote too much of my time for fund raising but I shall persevere in this direction by helping to generate ideas for fund raising and helping to create a conducive environment for them to bear fruit. Hence I hope the new committee will include new faces who will see to the successful execution and completion of such programs.
      Looking over the activities over the past year I am very satisfied with the performance of our branch although I must admit things could have been much better. A few activities met with poor response which may be a result of poor communication, the prevailing economic conditions and timing of the events (too close to other major events). Of course it would have been excellent if we were able to participate in the State development plans to safeguard our natural heritage — our forests, mountains and the seas. We are a small NGO without a strong financial base. Nevertheless we were still able to carry out almost an activity every week officially and many other activities which were not reported but contributed to the enhancement of the branch image and achievements. I would to specially thank Dr. Chan Kai Soon for starting an alternative homepage to complement the site started by Mr. Stewart Forbes. Special thanks to Ms. Lee Yuat Wah and all the volunteers for helping to organise the two nature camps. Running the “normal activities” of the branch is a handful — we need more helping hands (and funds) to run the branch and achieve great heights. Hence I take my hat to all who had sacrificed so much to make our branch a success.
      See you at the AGM!

Cheaw Hon Ming
20 June 1999


Index to Reports and Articles

  1. Miscellaneous announcements
  2. Caving Trip to Gua Kelawar, 16th May 1999
  3. Members’ Night (Sat.  8 May 1999) — Slide Show/Talk on Karakarom Highway
  4. Endau-Rompin (23 – 27 May 1999)
  5. Children Nature Camp (Saturday-Sunday 29-30 May 1999)
  6. Bird Race in Fraser Hill (Sat. – Sunday 5-6 June 1999)
  7. Member’s Night (Saturday  19 June 1999)
  8. Gunung Stong — A Trip for the Strong (By Dr. Kiew Chik Sang)
  9. The Connection of Lo Po Sang and Baba
  10. Protecting the Catchment Area
  11. Stranded Marine Mammals
  12. Protecting the dugong habitat
  13. Selangor's First State Park Proposal
  14. Open Zoos or Open Spaces?
  15. TANJUNG TUAN: NGO's VIEWS ARE WELCOME
  16. GAZETTEMENT OF HIGH ALTITUDE FORESTS AS PROTECTIVE FORESTS
  17. Gravel Extraction from Rivers
  18. Work Towards Cleaner Air
  19. Natural Heritage Sites Listing
  20. Who then is responsible?
  21. Still who then is responsible?
  22. Enforcing Sensitive Areas
  23. Theme from MNS World Environment Day: Water – Precious and Finite
  24. MNS HQ Secretariat news
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Created on 29th June 1999.