First Lynas, Next Beluga.

Welcome to Bolehland, land of many possibilities! 

Beluga caviar (is the roe or eggs delicacy), the highly priced gourmet's wishful dish. And it is coming to Malaysia. But wait, it is so expensive that locals will probably don't have the opportunity to feast on it.  

Malaysia will be exporting the roe from the beluga fish (sturgeon) in the near future. A large scale farming in the river of  Malaysia's oldest national park is happening right now. The project claims it provides locals with jobs - is just a wishful thinking as all low paying jobs have always been taken up by immigrants. Beluga is a large predator that feed on other smaller fish and it will be introduced at Kuala Tahan, the main gateway to the National Park. According to officials, there is nothing to worry about the farm in the pristine river. Yes, nothing to worry if there is no accidental release into the river. But how can we guarantee that these predators do not escape into the wild? Accident can happen and in Malaysia, it will. Imagine a scenario of a large scale flood with huge floating logs rushing down that could easily knock off the cages and cause the release of the beluga fish. It will eventually caused local endemic fish to be wiped out. The lessons from snake heads destroying the ecosystem of U.S.A. is not going to worry our local politicians. Money are to be made and make them before their days are up. 

Lynas is a time bomb. Beluga will be the next. Welcome to Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

When National Park is becoming Theme Park

Happy New Year 2008 to you, you and you.

But Sad New Year 2008 to the ecosystem, environment and nature – everywhere!
I just spent my holiday in one of the marine park of Thailand and was looking forward to a great 2008.

Just when I thought National Park is the best place to protect nature, I was surprised by the finding at Taratao National Park of Thailand. It’s the same – in Bolehland or HSland, where tourist dollars are the main attractions. The money comes in abundant. Tourists come by doves. Rubbish too.

Because riches come easily, recycling plastics, cans and papers become insignificant although there were different recycling bins. They were all for showcase only.

Almost 10 years ago, there was this hermit crabs’ project at Koh Adang, Taratao National Park, Thailand. We could see many hermit crabs crawling over the island. They are protected.

Rubbish Everywhere at Koh Adang

Today, there are still many hermit crabs crawling near the chalets and at rubbish dump. I am beginning to wonder what will happen to the few hundred hermit crabs at the dumpsite when it is set to flame or land filled. All the hard work of conservation of the hermit crabs will be a waste. Anyway I presume the project was just an attraction for tourists. They have successfully attracted tourists so the conservation part is now secondary.

A Hermit Crab at Koh Adang

Right now, Koh Adang is on a mass development stint. When we were there, there were not enough room for tourists. Too many tourists flocking to the national park is destroying the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Many trees were trimmed for unknown reason. These same fruiting trees gave me the urge to visit Koh Adang as they were home to slow loris, geckos and other night creatures. But alas, the tourist dollars have killed the very attraction that attracts tourists.

I think I am paying my tourist money to the custodian of the national park so that they can “destroy” the ecosystem.

Why should I care about Thailand when right here in Malaysia, it is just as bad? For me, I think I owe my life to the future generation. Destroy nature and environment now and our future generations will have none. Isn’t this simple enough to make us think? Nature has no border, ok.

Poaching In Kiasuland

I would like to share with you our neighbour seriousness on poaching by Sheralyn Tay. Can Bolehland be as tough?

NParks gets tough as poaching is on the rise here
By Sheralyn Tay
USING one bird as bait, Masod bin Mohamed had hoped to lure and catchmore, but the 33-year-old was nabbed in February by the authoritiesinstead. Masod was arrested at the Mayflower Crescent playground by a NationalParks Board (NParks) ranger and, on Sept 11, became the first person hereto be charged and convicted of poaching, in a magistrate's court. He wasslapped with the maximum penalty - a fine of $2,000.

Wildlife experts here say that Masod's case is not an isolated one. Animal activists believe poaching is a problem as wildlife numbers arediminishing.

But the authorities are getting tough.

Since 2000, NParks have issued compound fines to more than 300 people forcapturing fishes and animals in parks and nature reserves. Compound finesare meted on the spot, like parking fines.

In August, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) - for the firsttime - fined a poacher $500 for trapping birds in Changi.

Masod's conviction is a signal that they take a firm stand against against trapping, especially when it is for personal gain, said Ms Sharon Chan, NParks' assistant director of the central nature reserve.

"Much effort has been put into conserving our natural heritage for the public to enjoy and to make Singapore a unique urban city rich in bio-diversity. We have to take a strong stand against poachers who are destroying all these for their own short-term profit."

The AVA only allows the house crow, feral pigeon, purple-backed starling, Philippine glossy starling, common myna and the white-vented myna to be trapped and kept without a licence.

Hot spots for poachers include Pasir Ris Park, Khatib Bongsu and Seletar Airbase, and common targets for poachers are freshwater fish, flying lemurs and water monitor lizards as well as songsbirds, which are either sold or kept as pets.

But small animals are not the only ones being trapped. Last weekend, Mr Ben Lee, founder and head of Nature Trekker, a non-profit organisation, discovered a large boar trap in the foliage on Pulau Ubin.

On Saturday, he found a second trap (picture) large enough to hold 25 men.

"I mistook it for someone's house," he said, adding that in most cases, boars were often caught to be eaten. However, Mr Grant Pereira, head of the Green Volunteers Network, noted that the traps may have been set by farmers to control the large boar population, which wreak havoc on crops. "But it's a slippery slope; once you start trapping, it can … become exploitative," he said.

Poaching, he added, has affected wildlife numbers. In the last 30 years, the numbers of birds and fishes have been diminishing. According a recent study by bird watchers, 44 bird species have become extinct.

"We need more awareness, and more incentive for people to report traps when they see them," Mr Pereira said.

Seen a trap or a poacher? Report it to the NParks Helpline at 1-800-4717300 or the AVA at 6227 0670.

Bullshit Ecotourism

In Bolehland the concept of ecotourism is building luxury walkway every few years.
This has been proven in our National Park at Kuala Tahan, Pahang.

They talked about building structures that blend with the environment - Bullshit!
They talked about sustainable ecotourism whereby natural environment will not be decimated - Bullshit!

This is the partial summarized definition of ecotourism:
Ideally, true ecotourism should satisfy several criteria including affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury. The concept of ecotourism is widely misunderstood and, in practice, is often simply used as a marketing tool to promote tourism that is related to nature. Critics claim that ecotourism as practiced and abused often consists of placing a hotel in a splendid landscape, to the detriment of the ecosystem. According to them, ecotourism must above all sensitize people with the beauty and the fragility of nature. They condemn some operators as "green-washing" their operations — that is, using the label of "ecotourism" and "green-friendly", while behaving in environmentally irresponsible ways. (http://www.answers.com/topic/ecotourism?cat=technology)


Before 2000, there was no luxury walkway to Bukit Teresek. We were very happy. We enjoyed the natural trail. We have no problem. We didn't ask for a walking platform.

Then they started to build wooden steps. They said the wood blend with the environment and so they were eco-friendly. But they didn't know that the wood used could be harvested from some illegal logging of virgin jungles. We have no say, so they built.

Within months, fallen big trees damaged part of the wooden steps. Then termites. Then wood decay. That was between 2002 and 2005.

Now, they rebuilt it with PLASTICS! Yes, they were plastics. I don't know about the initial understand of the concept of using wood (before) versus the use of plastics (now)! Have they forgotten their very own reason for using wood?

I have all the while do not agree about the use of wood as they have been proven unsustainable and a wastage of natural resources. But with plastics...this is hypocrisy!

BEFORE : 2004 - Trail to Bkt Teresek. The wooden steps showing signs of "fatigue".

BEFORE : 2004. The wooden platform - unnecessary elevated platform.

NOW 2007 - Wooden platform missing and replaced with plastic steps. No metal used. The silts made of concrete. The plastics beams resembled galvanised iron. How long can they last?

The plastic steps. Is there a neccessity to build a luxury walkway in this part of the trail?

The left is the natural trail and the right is the artificial trail.

And do you know that hikers prefer the natural trail than the luxury trail!

This luxury trail serves no purpose but a wastage of resources. A wastage of taxpayers' money. The destruction of natural environment. A mockery of the concept of ecotourism. But a bonus for someone's pocket! That's the beauty of Bolehland! Everything also CAN!

War Zone at National Park

Who don't know that the government's duty is to develop?

Develop it must but it was on the expense of nature.

And then when certain officials neglected their duties, we the citizens have to pay for more development.

At Kuala Koh

Already the canopy walk had been closed. A new one to replace the depleted canopy is under negotiation. The bridge across the river was locked unless a ranger accompany you. This has been the 3rd bridge built after the 2 previous bridges were washed away by floods. Trails were overgrown and inaccessible to trekkers. And so there are not much activities one can do at Kuala Koh except fishing.

The Locals

And so eco-tourists avoided this part of the National Park. The local nature guides were without guiding assignments. And to supplement their income, they become boatmen ferrying anglers to fishing locations. Anglers are welcome but eco-tourists are left without much to do.

Previously - 2004

Back then in 2004 under different supertainent, chalets and hostels were neglected. Fungi and mosses were seen on pillows, blankets and mattresses. Fans were thick with soot. The canopy walk was useable then but lack upkeep. Thing was messy. Tourists avoided this place for lack of maintainence on the accomodations. I avoided it for more than two years.

Now - 2007

Lodging is now privatised. Chalets and hostels are now conducive to sleep. The food at the canteen is now palatable. But tourists are not coming. They are not coming because of lack of trekking activities. And so to increase the flow of people coming to the park, fishing was encouraged. Fishing permit is not necessary infront of the park office. Bathers could not swim at that fishing site.

War Zones

The beach infront of the park office at Kuala Koh is now like war zone.
Notice the amount of rubbish and anglers with the messy "war zone" lookalike.
The water pump intake is situated at the center of this photo. With so many anglers, I am not sure about the water quality.


I saw a plastic container drifting down the river. I wondered how many of these rubbish were dumped into the river by anglers. I believe there was no control of food wrappers taken into the park and no control of pollution.

Who is at Fault?

It is not the fault on the present park administrators. The problems were passed down from the previous park authority. To help the local guides and boatmen, fishing were widely encouraged by the present authority. Trails were not clear for nature tourists. Trekking to Kuala Pertang was cut off. Even the rubber tubing which started from Kuala Pertang was shortened to Lata Sinar. And so eco-tourists were turned away. Anglers are welcome at the expense of the fish.

Imagine a national park to encourage the destruction of fauna (ie fish). This can only happen in Bolehland! Now they have to decide between eco-tourists and anglers.

Sorry fish, your life are numbered!
People, go there to support ecotourism!