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Activities Report
November 1999 Newsletter

From the Chairman's Desk

Hi Everybody,

      As the second millennium draws to a close and the MNS plans for the next millennium it is timely to look back at our achievements and to take an audit of our strengths and weaknesses in order that we will continue to achieve greater heights. Although our membership has shown a slight decline over the last two years, indicating our failure to attract more people to be involved in the fight to preserve our natural heritage, it has heightened our resolve to find ways and means to strengthen our beloved society.
     Thus it is most unfortunate that we will lose the services of Dr. Low Hin Yang, MNS Chief Executive Officer, who has tendered his resignation effective end of November 1999. His short stint with the MNS has been most invaluable in instilling a new sense of urgency and a greater level of efficiency. He applied his intelligence and experience in the corporate sector to improve the secretariat and steer it through these trying times. Losing him at this juncture will make the search for a replacement a daunting task and a drain on our scarce financial resources. However, it is not possible to retain a person once he makes up his mind to leave. I therefore wish him all the best in all his future undertakings and hope that his stated commitment to the cause of Nature Conservation remains unwavering and shall continue to contribute as best as he can as a volunteer.
      The 22nd BirdLife International World Conference and Global Partnership Meeting has just concluded on a successful note. At the last AGM in Kuala Lipis I was proposed and appointed as a representative of Council in BCC (Thank you to all council members who have so much confidence in me to represent Council). As it was difficult for me to get leave for this most important event which is held only once in four years in one of the 80 or more participating countries I could only attend the conference which was held on 14-16 October. Before the conference there was an exhibition by the participating countries which was opened by Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan. Arriving at the Awana Resort’s Eco Centre at about 6.30 p.m. Kuan Yaow and I went straight to the exhibition area which was like a mini United Nations as it exudes such an international flavour. The Arab countries and Israel were grouped together while China, Hong Kong and Taiwan shared great enthusiasm in bird conservation without the usual political overtones. Cocktails (Tiger beer, red and white wines, etc) were served to spice up the atmosphere. T-shirts, books, cards and all sorts of souvenirs were on sale but many posters, cards and literature were given free. I made many foreign friends who extended their warm invitation to us to bird in their country.
      Since then I have been receiving email from the delegates praising MNS for having done a wonderful job of organising the conference and giving the delegates a very pleasant stay and an enjoyable time. The resounding success of this conference is testimony to the organisational ability and the trust that has been placed with the MNS. All these would not have been possible without the availability of funds from the sponsors (especially the JFGE) and sacrifice by the MNS volunteers and Secretariat staff. This has brought not only pride to the MNS but also to the nation as it will surely reap benefits in the future for the country as the birding fraternity world-wide is growing at a steady pace, giving an added boost to the government’s efforts in attracting tourists to this country. It also means that we must conserve our fast dwindling forests and ensure that this promise will continue to hold true for as long as we cherish that dream to get the tourist dollar.

Cheaw Hon Ming
26 October 1999


Index to reports and articles

  1. Miscellaneous Announcements
  2. National MNS Annual General Meeting (Saturday  Sunday 28 - 29 August 1999)
  3. Birding in  Malim Nawar (Sunday 5 September 1999)
  4. Boating Trip to Pulau Sembilan (Sunday 12 September)
  5. Clean Up the World  Kledang Hill (Sunday 26 September 199)
  6. Members’ Night (Saturday 18 September 1999)
  7. Gua Tempurung (Sunday 19 September 1999) - cancelled
  8. Birding and Camping in Fraser's Hill (2-3 October 1999)
  9. Members’ Night  Orchids (Saturday 9 October 1999)
  10. Tree Identification in Taman DR, Ipoh (Sunday 10 October 1999)
  11. Endau-Rompin Trip (23 – 27 May 1999)
  12. Birding with MNS Selangor Bird Group (In conjunction with the 52nd AGM 28-31 August 1999)
  13. DIVING AND FISHING IN PULAU SEMBILAN By Sharon Chan
  14. Of Forest Segmentation, The Third East-West Link, And Conservation.
  15. Step up efforts to capture tigers
  16. "Ten Eco-tourism Sites Where Migratory Birds Stop Identified"
  17. Secretariat News
  18. [ Back to MNS Perak Home ]

Created on 11th November 1999.