Green State Penang?

I read with dismay that my state Penang has not gazetted this rainwater harvesting systems (RHS). Not sure why. Is the Cleaner Greener Penang just a ploy to hoodwink the rakyat? Everything seems to show our state government is developer friendly rather than environmentally friendly. The Cleaner Greener Penang's banner with the rainbow is promising. However, the colors of rainbow could depict that of the politicians. Are the politicians showing their truly seven colors? 

 

When would Penang gazette?

 

Source: News from The Sun. Banner from greenstate.penang.gov.my

Mist Nets Horror

Two mist nets were found within PBA's water intake & pumps along Muda River. Looking at the bird carcasses, the nets should have been there for many months. How can such illegal trapping get away without anyone (eg staff working in PBA & JPS) noticing the mist nets?

The Botak Hill aka Bukit Relau off Bukit Gambier

 

If you are coming to Penang Island using the Penang Bridge, you will not miss this Botak Hill. Today my CM just said, "No one is above the law". Is it? Then why are you taking such a looong time to book the culprit? Already more than one week.... 

 

 



Curi-curi Gaharu Again - a mockery of CAT

Today after watching the youtube (below), I came to know that Penang CM only knew about this now. So what happen to the past few years when the illegal chopping was first reported in this blog? It seems after the reports and exhange of email to YB Phee Boon Poh which he subsequently forwarded to Forestry Department for immediate action, the illegal felling became more widespread. Infact after the first report (Link HERE) in Tukun, BM, more felling was seen 2 weeks later. Is there a corruption in the Forestry? Hello, where is the CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) the state government so talked about??



February 12, 2012
Smaller trees carted away whole
Star

A 10ml tube of agarwood oil, which is used as medicine and perfume, is priced at RM140. It is in high demand in countries such as the Middle East.

Gurdial added that he had noticed remnants of the chopped up gaharu trees in the forest at the Gardens since November last year, with the biggest tree felled measuring more than 1m in diametre.

“The thinner, smaller trees, which are less than 30cm in diametre, are quite light and can be carted away easily,” he said, adding that he has not encountered anyone cutting up the trees.

State Forestry Department director Shah Rani Ahmad Zailan urged those with information to alert the department.

“But if the activities are happening on private land, it is beyond our jurisdiction. We can only advise the land owner to lodge a report with the police,” he said.

State Botanic Gardens department assistant director Salasiah Yusop said security in the garden vicinity had been stepped up.

Penang Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environmental Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the state was aware of the illegal harvesting of agarwood.

“We have to control this abuse with new strategies. We have to get the police involved, and if needed, even the army,” he said in an interview.

Phee added that the syndicates were also believed to be felling trees at Cherok Tokun in Bukit Mertajam, Bukit Panchor in Nibong Tebal as well as at the border between Kedah and Penang.

“Now they are targeting Pulau Jerejak and the Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang.

“We have made headway in our investigations, made an arrest and have submitted the papers to the deputy public prosecutor to charge those responsible in court soon,” he said, declining to elaborate on the arrest.

I just tak faham why MPPP cut those trees

The BOTAK Ficus benjamina along Jalan Masjid Negeri, Penang (15 Jan 2012)

Healthy ficus trees (Ficus benjamina) along Jalan Masjid Negeri were not spare too. I just don't understand why the authority has to hack until BOTAK! Couldn't they just prune those branches that obstruct? These ficus trees will not pose any hazard during stormy weather as they are very sturdy and durable trees....beside they are hardly huge enough to endanger anyone. So what is the reason for the wide spread hacking of trees in Penang? I can only think of one answer. There are many road tarring and now the hacking of trees. It can only means that election is near and cronies must be given works to fill their pockets. Isn't it time to have a Green political party to voice our dissatisfaction? So much for the Pakatan's slogan, "Cleaner Greener Penang". Bullshit!



January 10, 2012
‘Tree killers’ at work in Penang
Star

GEORGE TOWN: The local authorities have come under fire over the pruning of the island's trees.

A reader called up The Star on Sunday to complain about how badly the trees along Jalan Tanjong Bungah, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Jalan Udini and Sungai Ara had been pruned.

“The trees have all been hacked and pruned until they are bald.

“Even the shrubs along Jalan Mesjid Negri and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah have not been spared,” B.S. Yeng said.

He added that the roots of the trees lining Jalan Gottlieb were exposed due to a road widening project.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president S.M. Mohamed Idris said SAM highlighted the problem in the media in 2003.

“In the last few years, they've been more careful but lately the tree murderers' are back in action.

“What they are doing now is simply hacking away until there's nothing left,” he said.

Mohamed Idris called on the relevant authorities to engage experts to advise them on tree care and maintenance.

Tree maintenance on the island is under the purview of the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Public Works Department (JKR).

State Public Works, Utilities, Transport Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said the roads highlighted by Yeng were mostly federal roads monitored by the JKR.

“I immediately looked into the complaint and was told that the tree maintenance work was done by a private contractor.

“JKR will be monitoring the contractor more closely” he said.

Animal testing lab in Penang shrouded in secrecy

By SM Mohd Idris

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) part of the coalition group comprising the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV), the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE) and the Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) KL recalls an animal testing laboratory in Bukit Mertajam which has been in operation for sometime.

When and how did this research laboratory come into existence in our midst is clearly mind-boggling. The coalition group only became aware of its operations when it was mentioned in a media article last year, following public outcry over a proposed animal testing center coming up in Alor Gajah, Malacca.

However till today not much is known about this laboratory in Penang, and the kind of animal research carried out within the four walls of their fenced premises.

It is important to know why the laboratory is allowed to operate despite the non-existent laws concerning the use of animals in laboratories. Both the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the Animal Act 2006 are inadequate to address and regulate the treatment and use of animals in labs.

The group would definitely like to know the species of animals being used in the toxicology tests, and the countries they are imported from. In the case of primates there has to be greater awareness to their capture from the wild and the adverse impact of supply and demand on primate population. The use of primates who are so genetically similar to humans should not be permitted and the use of these animals should be phased out entirely.

SAM and the coalition groups are opposed to the use of animals in research and believe all procedures that entail animal use should be scrutinised carefully and authorisation for such use should take into grave consideration the harm it will do to the animals and the likely benefit to human health. It would be interesting to note who are the monitoring bodies in overseeing the tests conducted and the frequency of inspection visits to the research laboratory.

Animal research is highly controversial, for both ethical and scientific reasons. The value of it is being increasingly questioned.

This endless and absolutely senseless repetition of animal experiments over a period of years, leads neither to the reduction nor the replacement, but rather to the perpetuation of animal experiments which only bring immense and needless suffering to the unfortunate animals.

The key question asked is not whether something can be done, but should it be done. Why are animals used? How much can they suffer?

SAM and its coalition once again call for an end to animal experimentation due to the extent to which use of animals for research causes pain and suffering, and the capacity of animals to experience and comprehend them.

The writer is president of Sahabat Alam Malaysia

The Shame of Pulau Jerejak

SHAME of Pulau Jerejak. PSDC has a share in this resort thus making every Penangites guilty of this shameful acts. I can only say that the people are more interested in making money than to care for our pristine environment. Banning plastic in Penang while such shameful acts persisted really justified the hypocrizy in us. Shame to Penang! Do you want to visit the resort knowing that your food waste will be part of this shameful act?

Welcome to the Shame of Pulau Jerejak (Selamat Datang)

The last picture is from the Quarantine Camp, north of the Pulau Jerejak Resort. Foreign workers stay in this 1911's building, working at the PBA's new reservior

Coral in Penang

20 years ago there were soft corals and sea fans off Pantai Kerachut and at Pulau Tikus. Pulau Kendi is an island south of Penang Island that don't have proper beach for boat to stop and that could be the reason few people ever been there, me included. Glad to know that the corals are thriving at Pulau Kendi.

------

December 8, 2010
Expert: We must preserve corals

GEORGE TOWN: Pulau Kendi in Penang is one of many islands in the country that is rich in coral but has not been gazetted as a marine park.

Marine biologist Prof Zulfigar Yasin said there was no conservation work to protect the coral on these islands.

“If the situation persists, the fishes will lose their habitat and Malaysia will slowly lose part of its heritage,” he said during an interview at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Zulfigar, who is with the university’s School of Biological Sciences, was a presenter at a five-day training workshop on coral taxonomy at the university which ends today.

He cited other islands like Pulau Songsong in Kedah, some islands near Langkawi and Pulau Sembilan in Perak should be gazetted as marine parks to conserve their coral.

“Pulau Payar, for example, is providing the fishermen a sustainable source of fish after being gazetted as a marine park,” he said.

Currently, there are six marine parks in the country, which are made up of 42 islands in Kedah, Perak, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Sabah.

In a related matter, Prof Zulfigar said the government should incorporate a more specific policy to address coral bleaching as the issue would impact the coastal communities and the country’s tourism industry in the long-term.

He was commenting on the closure of nine popular snorkelling sites at marine parks in Kedah, Pahang and Terengganu in July for several months because of coral bleaching.

The Marine Parks Department had banned recreational activity and the sites were off limits to divers and coral enthusiasts.

Dr Zulfigar said Malaysia currently only has a general policy to protect bio-diversity and it was high time to rescue the coral reef by creating public awareness while adding that another factor related to coral bleaching was the rise in acidity levels of sea water due to human activities.

MNS: Protect first, then plant

September 18, 2010
By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG
Star

INSTEAD of planting new mangrove saplings in unprotected areas, the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) wants the state to first concentrate on protecting existing mangrove swamps.

One such critical area is the north Seberang Prai coastal belt, spanning about 2km to 2.5km long from Teluk Air Tawar to near Kuala Muda, said MNS Penang branch advisor D. Kanda Kumar.

He said the coastal swamp should be gazetted as a protected area.

“The mangrove trees have been there for a very long time. The size of the swamp varies from only a few strands to about 10m wide at some parts, and more than 100m wide at other parts.

“Natural reclamation and erosion have also occurred at certain places, and some of the trees have also been cut,” he said.

Kanda Kumar said the coastal mangrove was quite rich in terms of animal biodiversity, especially during the migrant bird season between September and March.

“At least four species of globally threatened migrant birds can be found there — the Asian Dowitcher, Chinese Egret, Nordmann’s Green-shank and Lesser Adjutant.

“It also has slightly more than 1% of the global population of Chinese Pond Herons, and 1% of the world population of Common Redshank,” he said.

He added that the coastal swamp in north Seberang Prai was globally recognised as an important bird area by Birdlife International and classified as an important wetlands area by Wetlands International.

He also said there were other mammals not commonly seen in Penang at the coastal swamp, such as mongooses and otters.

Kanda Kumar was speaking in light of the felling of six young mangrove trees of about 2m tall near the Gurney Drive roundabout, said to have been planted by the state on Aug 31.

He had said that it was a waste of time and money to plant the trees at Gurney Drive if it was not gazetted as a protected area.

Kanda Kumar said that in Penang, there were two known large protected mangrove forests — at the southern part of the National Park near the Pantai Acheh Village on the island and at the Byram forest reserve near the Pulau Burung landfill on the mainland.

He said: “Unprotected mangrove areas included the Gurney Drive, Tanjong Tokong and Bayan Bay areas, and there used to be other protected mangrove areas in Balik Pulau that had since been de-gazetted for aquaculture.”

State to take stern action

Thursday September 2, 2010
Star

GEORGE TOWN: The state government has issued a stern warning to those who cut down mangrove trees off Gurney Drive — “You will be prosecuted”.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said he had ordered rangers from the state Forestry Department to investigate who had chopped down six mangrove trees at the popular recreational area.

“The trees are Government property, planted in public places on government land by government officials. What do they think they are doing?” Phee, when contacted yesterday, asked.

Saying that the felling was illegal and a form of vandalism, Phee said there were provisions in the law to bring the fellers to book.

“They better stop (the felling) right now,” Phee warned.

It was reported on Wednesday that six young mangrove trees measuring about 2m high were felled. The six trees were among 300 saplings that the state had planted in the mud flat near the Gurney Drive roundabout last year.

On rubbish accumulated on the mangrove trees, Phee said it was proof that Government projects could not succeed without public participation.

“Some people dispose their rubbish without any regard for the environment. Those that end up in the sea get washed in during high tide and end up hooked on the mangroves,” Phee said in reference to the mangrove trees that had entrapped plastic bags and other colourful litter in their branches.

Polystyrene ban in Penang

July 12, 2010
Star

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will enforce a ban on polystyrene starting Jan 1 next year.

The ban will cover all food premises and temporary hawking sites owned by local councils on the island and mainland, state Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said.

“Come Jan 1, hawkers who do not adhere to the ruling will have their licences revoked. Starting Aug 1, all monthly and yearly licence application forms will have the clause stipulating the ban on polystyrene.

“Revocation is the last resort. We will try our best to advice and educate them first,” he told reporters after launching the “Cleaner Greener Penang” programme at Sunshine Farlim yesterday.

He said state Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh was looking at whether alternatives to polystyrene could be sourced at a cheaper price.

Penang Boleh...courtesy of Barisan Najis

June 12, 2010
Animal lab operating on the quiet for three years
By DERRICK VINESH and S.S. YOGA
Star

BUKIT MERTAJAM: While animal lovers are up in arms over the setting up of an animal testing laboratory in Malacca, a similar facility is believed to have been operating on the quiet here for the past three years.

According to the company’s website, it is an independent contract research organisation offering toxicology services to the worldwide pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agrochemical and industrial chemical industries.

It claims to conduct toxicology tests on a range of animals. It said some animals were used for regulatory pre-clinical toxicity testing of pharmaceuticals and certain chemicals, such as agrochemicals and biocides.

The RM52mil facility includes a state-of-the-art dog unit, purpose-built to provide the highest standards of animal care and advanced study procedures.

There were also 15 animal rooms, each designed to hold up to 40 dogs and enabling the housing of one study per room, the company said in its website.

The company also said its non-human primate building included eight animal rooms.

It added that the primates would be supplied from the company’s own biosecure breeding facility.

The website stated that the company had a 3,200 sq m barriered rodent facility for short-term toxicity, carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity studies.

The existence of such a laboratory comes as a surprise to the state Wildlife and National Parks Department, which wants to investigate the company operating at the Penang Science Park in Bukit Minyak.

Penang-based Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is shocked that the company is operating in its own “backyard” without its knowledge.

Department director Noor Alif Wira Othman said it had not issued any permit for primates to be bred for research purposes in the state.

“Breeding primates for research requires several permits such as for catching, keeping, breeding, selling or buying of the primates. We will conduct an inspection on this premises to find out if they have the necessary documentation,” he said.

SAM president S.M. Mohd Idris expressed shock and disappointment when informed about the facility.

“We have been actively fighting with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Selangor against the animal testing lab in Malacca.

“Little did we know there was a lab conducting similar activities here in Penang,” he said.

A state official-cum-animal lover, who declined to be named, said he was disappointed with the previous administration for allowing the facility to be set up in Penang.

“I believe the company had once mentioned that it chose Penang to set up the facility because the laws on animal testing in European nations were more stringent,” he said.

Former state executive councillor Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said: “The issue should not be over-politicised as I am sure proper procedures are observed to avoid causing unnecessary discomfort to the animals.”

British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research said about 115 million animals were used in scientific research globally in 2005 based on official national figures and estimates from the number of scientific papers published involving animals.

Only Liechtenstein and San Marino have banned animal testing.

A check by The Star yesterday showed that there were fewer than 15 cars parked in the compound and CCTV cameras installed around the two-storey building.

There were hardly any activity in the compound except for a few people believed to be suppliers and contractors going in and out of the premises.

When met at the entrance, a security guard claimed that the company had not started formal operations yet.

He said his boss was busy and could not see any visitors.

Although he took down the name and contact number of the reporter, and said his boss would telephone, no call came from the company.

Penang state government set to create a greener public realm

Wednesday May 19, 2010
By WINNIE YEOH
Star

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is launching a green initiative, roping in the private sector, non-governmental organisations, the media, government agencies and other stakeholders to work towards making George Town an international city.

The “Cleaner Greener Penang” initiative, to be launched on Saturday, is pioneered by the state government and Star Publications (M) Bhd and supported by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) and Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP).

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, who heads the initiative, said the objectives of the one-year campaign were to improve the quality of life and create a greener public realm.

“We also want to raise awareness on the importance of looking after the environment,” he told reporters at Komtar here yesterday.

“We have to derive creative solutions to meet the needs and concerns of the community,” he said.

To monitor and evaluate the success of the initiative, Chow said four key result areas have been set – creating cleaner and greener neighbourhoods, achieving waste minimisation through 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), transforming mindsets towards responsible citizenship and empowering and building community structure for sustainable living.

He added that the public were encouraged to provide suggestions.

The Star’s regional operations manager (north) Chung Chok Yin said the company was more than pleased to participate in the campaign.

“We hope other media companies will also work together for a more sustainable environment,” he said.

The initiative will be launched at the Prangin Canal at 8.30am. The public can provide feedback at its website www.cleanergreenerpenang.com or call MPPP at 04-263 7637 04-263 7637 or MPSP at 04-537 2658

Mismanaging of Heritage Botanic Gardens Penang

This morning, I attended this so-called Natural Heritage Programme at Penang Botanic Gardens also known as Waterfall Gardens or Monkey Gardens. Botanic Gardens is actually a collection of mini gardens within this big garden. In 1884, Charles Curtis, a horticulturist and a keen gardener developed this ex-quarry into a garden famous throughout the world. It was known to have collected many species for the Kew Gardens then. It was a hush hush programme as invitation was only sent out within 24 hrs. There were not enough chairs for nature lovers to sit. We were actually called just for the sake of showing to the public that such an event was done. I didn't see any reporter too. Panelists were green horns or most were ignorant. The architect can't even answer a simple question "what is the concept for the two arches?". The master plan (dated 1987!) includes a pond inside the present garden, a canopy walk at the waterfall (which is only open for visitors once a year), a monkeys feeding area (and thus causing more monkeys problem later) and more stupid development that of course make some cronies very rich. It was a very sad day for Botanic Gardens. The Federal Government with all our taxpayers' money just spent, spent, spent for her cronies......and our local State Government just couldn't careless, afraid of jeopardizing the funding from the Barisan Najis. This is real SHIT! Shit to all of us as Penangites. Shit to our heritage! Gone forever!

Ugly arches taking shape at the Botanic Gardens. Beside some other smaller trees, I know of two huge raintrees were chopped to make way for this unsustainable fountain. Unsustainable because a nearby stream from the quarry garden was diverted into the drain instead of using the water for this pond. Energy and water resources will cost taxpayer money. They just know how to build without understanding the function of a botanic garden. Perhaps changing Botanic Gardens into Botanic Recreational Park would suit this mismanagement.

If you use the new side walk between Bambusetum and Lower Circular Road in the Botanic Gardens, you would pass these clumps of Nibong palms. Unfortunately, they were being burnt. Perhaps they are going to axe them as burning away the torns will make chopping easier. Let see whether they are going to chop them soon. Botanic Gardens are important sanctuary for the preservation and conservation of plant species. And here at Penang's Botanic Gardens, idiots are destroying them instead. And these Nibong are at least 80 years old.

Many years ago, there were 11 gardens in Botanic Gardens. I know of Bougainvilla Garden which had been replaced with a gazebo. Today, Fern Rockery suffered the same fate. Look at the miserable ferns. So badly damaged. If Charles Curtis is alive today, he would have f**k these idiots that destroy this heritage garden. Is it for the scrap steel?

I was shocked to read that the Master Plan exhibited was dated 1987! More than 20 years ago this plan was rejected because of unnecessary development that does not comform with the concept and function of botanic gardens. How hopeless this people in managing our Botanic Gardens. Can't even produce an updated and proper Master Plan. And they are management our valuable heritage. Sad indeed.

No Plastic Day - Penang to penalise outlets

January 2, 2010
Penang to penalise outlets that ignore 'No Plastic Day’ campaign
The Star

By MANJIT KAUR

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will become the first in South-East Asia to take action against outlets that do not observe the “No Plastic Day” campaign this year.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the action included the imposing of a fine or the rejection of licence renewal applications by the local authorities.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that for the first three months, the state would create, awareness and education on the matter, and at the end of March make a decision whether to extend the campaign or to start enforcement strictly.

He, however, said the enforcement such as fines, issuance and renewal of business licenses and penalties would start this year with a date to be announced later.

Lim said that even though the state hoped to become a green state quickly, they would not impose unbearable burdens on businesses and would proceed progressively.

He hoped that businesses could familiarise themselves and support this important green initiative for the benefit of the future generation.

Lim said Penang had decided to take the bold step to promote a state-wide campaign to reduce plastic bags consumption last year.

“I know that this decision will not please everyone especially the plastic bag manufacturers, but we are ready to expect criticism.

“The state government also expects to lose popularity, however, for the sake of our children and unborn grandchildren we are willing to face such risks.

“We are willing to lose our popularity but not our next generation,” he told a press conference after launching the extension days of the “No Plastic Day’ on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the state from Jan 1 at Komtar Walk here Saturday.

It was reported on Nov 28 last year that the state government had decided to extend its ‘No Plastic Monday’ campaign against the use of plastic bags to three days in a week.

Lim said all stores (not including hawkers) must observe at least one day a week without plastic bags, while hypermarkets and supermarkets must abide by the ruling three days a week.

He said those who wanted plastic bags would be charged 20sen per plastic bag, which would then be channelled to the state government’s ‘Partners Against Poverty’ (PAP) fund to wipe out hardcore poverty.

“To date we have collected RM27,000 for the PAP fund from the proceeds,” he added.

Lim said it was the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the environment was protected.

He said the consumption of plastic bags was so enormous a heap of plastic bags as big as Borneo were floating in the Pacific Ocean.

“Therefore, Penang has start the ball rolling to make changes to our lifestyle,” he added.

Penang marts must observe ‘No Plastic Monday’ from Jan

November 21, 2009
The Star
By TUNKU SHAHARIAH

GEORGE TOWN: Effective January next year, all hypermarkets, supermarkets and minimarkets will have to comply with the ‘No Plastic Monday’ if they want to get their licences renewed.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said those applying for new licences will also have to abide by the ruling.

He added, the state was aware that there were irresponsible supermarkets and minimarkets that had flouted the ‘No Plastic Monday’ ruling and had discreetly provided plastic bags to their customers.

He added, the state government was considering extending the four-months ‘No Plastic Monday’ introduced in July so that more people will get used to not using plastic bags.

“According to the data provided by 45 supermarkets, hypermarkets and other retailers, it is estimated that Penangites had saved over one million plastic bags in four months.

“Imagine if we had not embarked on this effort, one million plastic bags would now be contaminating our landfill, drainage and rivers,” he said at the prize-giving ceremony of the ‘Go Green Campaign” at Queensbay Mall Saturday.

Lim said there were 44 other “No Plastic” countries or cities like Penang, which was the first state in the country to cut down on plastic bag consumption through a voluntary programme.

“Even the Federal Government has announced that they will follow suit. All of us in the global community must realise the importance of preserving, protecting and promoting our environment not only for the investors, tourists but also for our future generation,” he added.

Lim said apart from this, other green projects by the state included the planting of 38,635 trees that accounted for 77% of state’s objective for this year.

Earlier, Lim presented a sofa set worth RM6,000 to lucky draw grand prize winner of the “Go Green Campaign” contest, Kam Gaik Mooi, 47 from Penang.

Queensbay Mall advertisement and promotions manager Wendy Wong said the mall was proud to initiate the ‘Go Green Campaign’ where customers who shop with an eco bag and spend a minimum of RM20 at the mall were entitled to participate.

She added that a total of 18,679 contest forms were received between July 6 and Sept 30.

Apart from Kam, six other shoppers received shopping vouchers worth RM100 each as consolation prizes.

Wildlife Smuggler from Penang

August 21, 2009
Report lodged against convicted wildlife smuggler, two govt agencies
By JOSHUA FOONG
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of non-governmental organisations has lodged a police report against convicted wildlife smuggler Anson Wong, the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and the Customs Department.

Speaking to reporters after lodging the report at the Brickfields Police Station, Malaysian Animal Rights Society president R. Surendran said:

“The reason we are lodging the police report is because, over the years Perhilitan has failed to take any action against Wong for smuggling and has even given him special permits to catch and keep animals.

“We know that one of the modus operandi of wildlife traffickers is to get permits to keep animals and later declare them dead, when in actual fact they have been smuggled out of the country,” he said.

Last Friday, Surendran lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on possible corruption involving Perhilitan.

The report lodged was also based on the book The Lizard King that exposed the existence of such a trade in the country.

He cited page 192 of the book by American Bryan Christy that highlighted a relationship between Wong and a “second-ranked Customs official” in Penang.

He called on the police to investigate Wong’s activities since the 1990s.

Also present with Surendran Friday were representatives from the Malaysian Animal Welfare Society, Pet Positive and the Independent Living and Training Centre.

Two Members of Parliament -‑ S. Manikavasagam (Kapar) and M. Manogaran (Teluk Intan) ‑- accompanied the group.

Manikavasagam said that he would raise the issue in Parliament during the October meeting.

---------------
August 17, 2009
Author: Wong downplayed smuggling role
By HILARY CHIEW
Star

PETALING JAYA: In Philadelphia, 15,200km away from here, author of The Lizard King, Bryan Christy is keenly following recent news on infamous wildlife trafficker Anson Wong Keng Liang — one of the key characters in his book.

Christy uploaded the Starprobe stories on Malaysia being an illegal wildlife trade hotspot on his blog (www.thelizardkingbook.com/blog) and expressed his feelings on Wong’s comment about him.

Amused, he wrote: “As for his remembering our time together as only a 15-minute assignation followed by an offer of a lift home, I feel cheap…yet pregnant.”

Wong had downplayed the intimate information of his smuggling activities detailed by Christy in the book released last September.

In his latest entry, Christy said he was pleased that the Malaysian public are speaking up as shown by the letters to The Star, calling for investigations into the allegations of the involvement of a high-ranking officer in the Department of Wildlife and National Park (Perhilitan) in Wong’s trafficking activities that led to his incarceration in the United States in 2001.

Wong was lured by an undercover agent to Mexico in 1998 and later extradited to the US at the end of 2000.

He pleaded guilty to some 40 counts of smuggling, conspiracy, money laundering and violations of US wildlife protection laws and was sentenced to a 71-month jail term and fined US$60,000.

The three-year Operation Chameleon infiltrated Wong’s network which imported and exported more than 300 protected species by concealing them in express delivery packages, airline baggages and large commercial shipment of legally approved animals.

The ring also trafficked in several extremely endangered reptile species in the wild, including the Komodo dragon and the rarest tortoise species on earth, the Malagasy ploughshare tortoise.

The Starprobe articles also attracted the attention of local bloggers including one who is acquainted with Wong.

Zeek (http://zeeknotgeek.blogspot.com) said he remembered Wong fondly as the Ah Liang uncle that he used to hang out with when he was younger.

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August 13, 2009
Ministry to review Wong’s special permits
Star

PETALING JAYA: The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will review former wildlife trafficker Anson Wong’s special permits and licences, and probe allegations that a high-ranking officer has been involved in his smuggling activities in the past.

Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas said he had instructed officers to gather all the relevant documents from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) immediately to facilitate investigation into allegations of special permit abuses.

“We will check the background of Wong’s tigers. We will get to the bottom of this matter.

“We are concerned about the reputation of Malaysia being a trafficking hub and we are doing our best to curb this menace,” he told The Star yesterday.

He said Perhilitan had acknowledged that in the 1990s, auctioning of confiscated specimen was one of the disposal methods but that this practice had since been stopped.

Wong was convicted of trafficking in highly endangered species by the US government in 2001 and sentenced to 71 months in jail.

On Tuesday, the Penang Government demanded to know details of the special permit and licences issued to Wong over two Bengal tigers.

Pablo Escobar of the wildlife trade of Penang

August 12, 2009
Tell us about the tigers, says exco man
By HILARY CHIEW
Star

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Government wants the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) to reveal details of the special permit and licences it issued to convicted wildlife trafficker Anson Wong for his two tigers.

Wong’s two Bengal tigers were previously kept at the Bukit Jambul Hibiscus, Orchids and Reptile Farm but have been moved to a private location near the Teluk Bahang Forest Reserve.

They will eventually be housed in a reptile garden in the forest reserve.

State exco member Phee Boon Poh said that since tigers were a protected species, the state government wanted to know how the tigers came about.

“We want to know the origin of Wong’s tigers as they will eventually be placed at the reptile garden which is a state project,” he said.

Phee said Wong had claimed he had authorisation to transfer the tigers, which were moved on July 29, and criticised Perhilitan for its lack of supervision during the relocation.

Wong, dubbed the “Pablo Escobar of the wildlife trade” after the Colombian drug lord, was convicted of trafficking in highly endangered species by the US government in 2001 and sentenced to 71 months in jail.

He spoke exclusively to Starprobe detailing his involvement in the trade.

He was released on parole in 2004, and the 51-year-old businessman now runs an air cargo delivery service in Penang.

Many conservation groups have questioned how Wong acquired his tigers, a totally protected species in the country that has been banned from international trade since 1975.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has stressed that the tiger park project in Relau proposed by the current Pakatan state government has no link to Wong.

Meanwhile, Nik Naizi Husin reports Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup as saying that the Government would never tolerate the trafficking of wildlife.

He said the Government was in the process of amending the present Wildlife Act and this would allow more stringent action against traffickers.

“The amendment process would take time and currently its draft is in the Attorney-General’s office,” he said after launching the Rakan Alam Sekitar programme for Maran Parliamentary Constituency here yesterday.

Aye to green campaign

Tuesday July 7, 2009
Aye to green campaign
By ANDREA FILMER and CHRISTINA CHIN
Star

THE Penang Government launched the ‘No Plastic Bags Day’ yesterday with one aim — no more free plastic bags to shoppers on Mondays.

Over 300 hypermarkets, mini-markets, departmental stores, pharmacies, pet stores and other participating stores and shops in the state pledged their support for the initiative with the objective of cutting down what the state estimates to be 2.1 million plastic bags distributed in the state each month.

Shoppers in participating outlets were charged 20 sen for each plastic bag yesterday with all proceeds directed to the state’s Partners Against Poverty Cam- paign in aid of the poor.

A visit to Sunshine Square hypermarket in Bayan Baru saw a number of administrative personnel standing by at checkout counters to provide assistance and explain to customers regarding the policy.

Periodical announcements on the green initiative were also broadcast in English, Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin and Tamil over the loudspeaker at the store.

“The policy is new, so explanation has to be done. The cashiers and officers have all been briefed on the policy so they can explain it to customers,” said Sunshine Wholesale Mart general manager Yee Kam Ming.

“Generally, the response has been good especially from foreigners from places like China who have similar policies implemented in their home countries,” he added.

Stacks and stacks of empty cardboard boxes were also seen near checkout counters.

“To start off the policy, we are offering the extra boxes for people to carry their purchases back.

“However, we hope people take well to the initiative and bring their own bags for shopping to help save the environment,” Yee said.

Large shopping chains also took the initiative to offer trendy and sturdy reusable bags to encourage people to use less plastic.

Eye-catching yellow Sunshine shopping bags were on sale at RM2.80 (in comparison to RM3.50 on days other than Mondays) at all Sunshine outlets in the state while Tesco Penang offered two attractive reusable bags — The Big Green Bag (which is blue in colour) and the Natural Green Bag made of jute.

“Our famous ‘Bag for Life’ shopping bags are also on sale for RM0.99 with a promise that they can be exchanged for new ones free of charge if they become torn or damaged,” said Tesco Penang loss prevention manager M. Bhoopalan.

Visits to several participating hypermarkets and departmental stores in the state showed that public response was quite positive to the no plastic bags policy despite a number not being aware that it had started.

“I used to have a friend who was a fisherman and he used to pick up so many plastic bags that were discarded into the sea.

“Since then, my family and I have tried to be vigilant to try and reduce the number of plastic bags we use,” said a retired businessman, who requested to be known only as Goh, 56, at Sunshine Square.

At Parkson Gurney Plaza, two siblings, who only wanted to be known as Havinash and Devesh, said they were unaware of the programme but lauded the move.

“However, it all boils down to the individual’s initiative. Whenever I go shopping, I’ll bring a big bag to dump everything in.

“If I do use a plastic bag, I’ll ask the cashier to pack everything into one bag even if I’m buying several items from different departments,” Havinash said.

Devesh said to discourage the use of plastic bags, participating outlets must stop giving out any sort of bags.

“Malaysians have a ‘tidak apa’ (don’t care) attitude. Making them pay 20 sen for a plastic bag won’t make a difference. We must not give them an option so that they will be forced to bring their own bags,” he said.

Speaking to reporters before distributing ‘No Plastic Bags Day’ pamphlets to shoppers at Pacific Komtar, Gama and Billion Sebe-rang Jaya, state Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said he was “very satisfied” with the response as this was the first time the programme was held.

“The number of participants are increasing even as we speak.

“I’ve received calls not just from retailers but even private hospitals and even a pet shop owner who wanted to participate.

“Some people may say that one day of not using plastic bags won’t make a difference but if it can get people to start thinking about the environment, then that’s something good,” he said.

Phee urged entertainment outlets and cineplexes to show their support by allowing the screening of ‘No Plastic Bags Day’ messages at their outlets.

“We have prepared a 10-second message in Bahasa Melayu, Chinese, Tamil and English for that purpose and are now working on a jingle,” he said.

Penang to go green every Monday starting next month

June 5, 2009
Star
By ANN TAN

GEORGE TOWN: Penang will make every Monday a “No plastic bag day” from next month in a bid to become the country’s first ‘green’ state.

It is learnt that shoppers who do not bring their own reusable bags will be charged 20 sen for each plastic bag when making purchases from shopping complexes and hypermarkets.

The money collected from the sale of plastic bags will go to the fund to help the state’s hardcore poor, a state government source said.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said shopping complexes and hypermarkets have agreed to the state government’s initiative but there must be wide publicity to make it a success.

The state had distributed declaration forms to shopping complexes and hypermarkets to secure their commitment to the “No plastic bag day”, he told reporters after chairing a meeting with some 20 shopping centre representatives.

Phee said the first batch of “No plastic bag day” posters would be handed out to shopping centres a week before the end of the month.

Among the issues raised during the meeting were the high cost of giving out eco-bags and whether it was appropriate to use them for fresh produce.