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1. Letter to the Editor of the Star from Gan Cheong Ann
Dear Editor,
I read with very mixed feelings your report entitled
"Selangor to take back Taman Alam" on page 14 of The
Star today.
First, I am most delighted that the Selangor State Government
had the vision and foresight to support the Malaysian Nature
Society's ("MNS") proposal ten years ago to turn a
piece of what many regarded as wasteland into what is now Taman
Alam Kuala Selangor, a rich, natural heritage that every
Malaysian should be proud of. I am also pleased with the
Selangor State Government's assurance that it intends to continue
to preserve Taman Alam as a nature haven instead of sacrificing
it as a tourist site.
In your report, the Selangor State Government praised MNS for
doing a good job managing the park. Yes, MNS did do a good
job for they have the expertise needed to manage and develop the
park as a nature haven. Their other resources may be limited, but
you don't take a baby away from his parents just because the
parents have "limited resources".
Taman Alam would not have been possible without the blessings and
support in all forms from the Selangor State Government. I
wish to appeal to the State Government to continue with this
support by allowing the experts to do what they do best.
MNS should continue to manage and develop the park. If they
lack funds, help them to raise funds. If action needs to be
taken against those who steal mangrove logs from the park, ensure
that the relevant law enforcers are there to play their
part. Far-sightedness is what we need, together with the
wisdom to manage the expertise and resources that are already
available. I am confident that the Selangor State
Government has both.
Thank you.
Gan Cheong Ann
Residential Address:
10, Lorong 3/57A, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
2. From Dr. Loh, Chief Executive Officer, MNS Time 7.00 p.m. 3rd Feb. 2000
Dear friends,
Good news. (1) Dato' Salleh received a call on the 1st February
from YB Ch'ng who explained that he was misquoted in the STAR
article and that the State does not want to take KSNP from
MNS. (2) Rajan reports that at a meeting with SUK on 3rd
Feb, SUK indicated that they would be willing to issue a letter
stating their intent to have MNS continue in KSNP. The letter is
expected after Chinese New Year.
Until the matter is further clarified and the content of the SUK
letter is known, Dato' Salleh has directed the HQ not to take
further action in the press. Members are also asked not to write
any letters to the press that reflect the State Govt and
politicians in a bad light as this may make the State's effort to
rectify the misquote difficult.
Once again, thank you for all your concern. For now, please be
patient.
Regards,
Dr Loh
Note
Lutong Kelabu says, "We still need to be vigilant."
3. Letter to the Editor of Malaysian Naturalist, MNS (10th February 2000)
Kuala Selangor Nature Park
I must start with a very big congratulations to all those members of MNS and the KSNP staff, especially Mr Rajan, who have contributed to developing the nature park marvelously into one of the best-managed parks I ever visited.
It seems that efforts put in over the years since the official opening in 1987 has resulted in visitors, local and foreign, enjoying a great deal of improvement. I noticed that a new bird tower had been erected near the headquarters, the boardwalk improved, a new education and interpretation building, ample parking and a wide variety of accommodations to suit a variety of budgets. What really surprised me was that there was a milky stork breeding programme site not far from the main lake. KSNP has served its objectives very well where conservation is concerned.
Wetlands or in the case of KSNP, mangrove forest have been treated with such hostility by human societies over so many years that their conservation seems almost counter-cultural. In year 1996 the cabinet discouraged future development and agriculture activities in the mangrove forests. As much as we laud the government’s decision, this move will not mean very much if there is no comprehensive legal mechanism to provide the relevant state agencies to effectively enforce it. While states remain unconvinced of the benefits of mangroves and do not take action to protect them, destruction continues in the form of prawn farms and other developments.
During our visit on 15 January 2000, my wife and I were quite amazed at the high turnout of students to KSNP. Later I came to know that they were from the local university. I can really say that they demonstrated a very high spirit and commitment to wetland conservation. Mr Rajan has shown his responsibility by providing the students with good service to ensure that they get the message about the importance of preserving mangroves and their wildlife. I believe that this park has its own long-term management plan and whoever planned it should be given credit. I hope to see this park turned into a well-managed, internationally-recognized nature park like that of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in the UK.
However KSNP still has plenty of room for improvement, and I was quite worried about the lack of manpower. It seems that the park is currently managed by Mr Rajan, two staff and not many volunteers. My wife and I stayed there for three days and two nights, and we really sympathized with Mr Rajan for running almost the whole show. As a park manager, he should be in the office doing planning, monitoring birds, recording data and other essential tasks.
What we need here urgently is volunteers from MNS, the Bird Group especially. I have read Enggang, and it seems that most of the columns were about identifying birds from site visits and not much in the way of encouraging people to preserve the habitats of the birds. Nobody would like to admit that they were bird twitchers, fighting through the crowd to tick a lost and bewildered rare bird in a padi field. There are other joys in birding than just spotting the rare ones. Volunteers could take turns in habitat management, park maintenance, biological recording, working with visitors in hides or on trails and managing the shop, the booking and registration of visitors and providing information. Volunteers can gain a better understanding of nature conservation, the park and the need for nature reserves. Some may learn new skills, and some already have valuable skills that they can use. Learning the skills of park management is more vital and challenging indeed than merely spotting the birds.
Other improvements such as signs to identify the birds, other wildlife and plants in the park by Malay and English names would help as indirect education. Day trips organized by volunteers to Kg. Kuantan to see fireflies or to Kapar Power station to watch waders could also be arranged.
Finally, I encourage people to visit KSNP and support its work, as long as the visitors and the facilities they require do not affect the conservation of the mangrove habitat or its surroundings.
T.S. Tan, Kajang, Frequent visitor to KSNP
Editor’s Reply
From its inception until now KSNP has been sustained by the spirit of volunteerism among MNS members and through dedicated staff. It has indeed become an internationally known model for nature park management.
Since this letter was received, we have learned that the Selangor State Government will be taking on an expanded role in the management of KSNP, with MNS remaining as a member of the park management committee and in charge of day-to-day operations.
The society welcomes the state’s increased involvement and interest in the park as it can bring greater resources to the maintenance and improvement of the facilities. We trust that this partnership will enable KSNP to reach new heights while ensuring that the hallmarks of the park – nature conservation and education – will remain as priorities over excessive development and mass tourism.
4. Feature Report from the Star - 29th February 2000
This is a good report from the Star. Please visit this address http://thestar.com.my/online/pastnews.asp?ppath=\2000\2\29&psect=Features
5. From: "Khang Tsung Fei" tfkhang@tm.net.my
Subject: gov to take back park
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 13:17:26 +0800
Question is...are the people going to manage the park are as dedicated as the present staff?I know MNS is handicapped by funding problems but why can't the gov simply fund MNS if they say MNS cannot function well due to funding problems?clearly there is a motive for the take over.State management will be better than MSN?I doubt so.From the numerous observation I've made in those so called state managed forest parks,the situation is just as bad.Take Sg.Congkak forest reserve for example,the camp sites are literally rubbish sites,what had the officers been doing??I would say that MNS, being a non-profit organization,has staff which are genuinely concerned with MNS's cause.If we let the state manage it,all we get are bunches of bureaucrats!and we al know bureaucrats are incompatible with nature! So i'm one against the take-over.I say let the state give MNS the fund to continue managing the farm.
Yours sincerely,
T.F.Khang
6. Letter from John Castleman (jrjy@pd.jaring.my)
18th May 2000
In response to your update in the April newsletter I would like to add my strong support for continuing joint involvement of MNS with the State Government in running the Nature Park. There are still too many examples of poorly conceived "developed" parks throughout the state. For example, in Taman Pertanian, Mimaland and Commonwealth Park, visitors come across ugly memorials where forest has been stripped out and replaced by concrete or tiled areas and in the case of C.P., set up for a single opening event. Because of neglect and/or the inability to know what the public wants, these places are totally underutalised. To those who love the environment, these projects at best show that many administrators and planners are totally out of touch with the relationship between those who love and use such parks and the natural environmental which attracted them there in the first place. At worst, usually a few years later, the man-made construction develops into a neglected, tatty symbol of desecration for no good reason. Those entrusted to manage parks need to have clear and strong policies on conservation of nature resources and be able to demonstrate long term consistent track record of responsible nature park management. The public are also gaining in nature appreciation as these resources become more scarce. The loss of these areas is still occurring with unannounced destruction, which cannot be undone. While the risk of something similar happening at KSNP is even a slight fear, then continuing involvement of MNS which has both the necessary credentials and commitment should be valued and supported. Please keep up the good work,
John Castleman
Reply
Dear Mr. Castleman,Thank you for your encouraging letter. Let us work together to keep KSNP with MNS.
At the moment it appears that the State have decided not to take back KSNP. However, the Government would like to see MNS draw up a long term plan for the area. We are currently preparing the plan. If you have any ideas for improvement, please e-mail me.
Lutong Kelabu