Here, Member of Parliament Tony Pua was speaking to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng before the latter took the stage to address the crowd in Kuching. The CM is a crowd-puller while the MP is one of the minds behind the DAP machinery here.
How big was the crowd?
The opposition is definitely on the offensive here in Sarawak.
The mantra of ecotourism is take only photographs and leave only footprints. Due to far too frequent violations of that principle, I maintain the position that the term ecotourism in Malaysia has been perversely interpreted. While in other countries ecotourism means divulging oneself in nature without damaging it, on the contrary in Malaysia it means building a multimillion-ringgit resort on a remote island while damaging its prized coral reef, constructing a posh hotel in the middle of jungle complex while cutting down the trees and having a tiger park in the middle of the city with no history of tiger population.
When the Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng announced in the name of ecotourism a proposal to set up a 40-hectare tiger park on Penang Island, I found myself putting my face in my hands saying, “here we go again.”
Here we are with yet another politician with a brilliant idea, proving the point that brilliance — or lack of it — is no monopoly of any side.
I can only be thankful for whatever free speech and backbone to not succumb to blind partisanship we have left in this seemingly forsaken country. I am thankful because this is exactly one of those times when it is required of us to raise sensible objections to insensible ideas. And I will not waste that opportunity.
In light of other options, the tiger park is an insensible idea. George Town has already been granted the status of World Heritage by the UNESCO. As far as tourism is concerned, that is the unchallenged comparative advantage of Penang. Resources should be channeled to that aspect instead of into area of questionable potential.
If Penang really wants to promote ecotourism in the state, perhaps Penang should preserve and rehabilitate its degraded mangrove swamp. Prof. Gong Wooi Khoon of Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2003 estimated that Penang may lose its mangrove swamp by 2020. Do something about that instead of bringing mammals foreign to the local environment into Penang. Or cleanup those dirty rivers of Penang, like what the Selangor state government valiantly plans to do with its rivers.
More than being insensible, Mr. Lim really went on to stretch an already twisted green washing definition of ecotourism as applied in Malaysia. Whereas in the past in this country, at least the so-called ecotourism happened in natural settings albeit the destruction it brought, the Chief Minister seeks to artificially import tigers to entertain children like how a distasteful circus would present freaks to entertain the public while treating them inhumanely.
He dares call such gross pretension as ecotourism. It is an insult to one’s intelligence as well as to those who truly care for the environment. Such green washing is despicable.
The act of promoting ecotourism should not be so twisted and flawed as currently utilized with respect to the tiger park or in Malaysia generally. Ecotourism should be — as it was defined originally and used in developed countries with heightened sense of responsibility to the world we live in — about conserving and enhancing the environment while using it responsibly. That includes the protection of the habitat of various endangered species, like tigers.
The truth is that the tiger park is merely about conventional tourism. While perhaps the experience of the tiger park could be packaged as an educational experience to raise awareness, the tiger park does not help in conservation.
A proper ecotourism project revolving around tigers should be about large tiger sanctuary with tigers living in their natural habitat, not in some small enclosure in the middle of a developed island full of household cats that fight endlessly in the middle of the night.
Even the idea of a 40-hectare tiger park sounds exceedingly cruel to the tigers. How could such cruel move be part of ecotourism?
If any of us have not notice, tigers are large mammals. It needs large area to live in and to put them in small enclosure is similar to imprisoning any one of us in a cell.
For those unfamiliar with the unit hectare, 1 Ha is 0.01 km2. To put it into perspective, 40 Ha is only 0.40 km2, slightly smaller than Zoo Negara located in Ulu Klang, Selangor. Not to forget, facilities for both administrators and visitors would require erection. That would further reduce space for the large mammals. It is unclear if the tigers would live in cages but given the size of the park, that is likely the case.
I am not advocating for equal rights for animals but at least have a heart. Tigers are living beings and that much is for sure. Be humane and do not put these tigers in small enclosure. Please, and pretty please, Mr. Lim.
The only serious benefit that I could think of is potential the park might have in alleviating acute tigers overcrowding problem in Zoo Melaka, which is operated by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN). That particular zoological park is the place where PERHILITAN keeps all captured tigers due to tiger-human conflicts in Peninsular Malaysia.
If you want an emotional experience when it comes to tigers, then visit to Zoo Melaka. Ask the administrators to show you where they keep all the captured tigers and you will fast discover how sad the situation there is.
PERHILITAN of course is not to be blamed because they are operating the best they could with limited resources. They are, at least, trying to save the tigers from death sentences.
But is there a guarantee that the proposed tiger park in Penang would help Zoo Melaka address that problem? What guarantee there is that it would not end up like Zoo Melaka?
The best bet to the problem comes back to the establishment of tiger sanctuary in their natural habitat, not a small park. Before anybody gets any funny idea, that sanctuary should not be in Penang. It should be located within the large jungle complexes on the mainland, in Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor, capable of naturally sustaining tiger population.
Nevertheless, despite my opposition to the idea and multiple criticisms mounted against the DAP-led Penang state government by local and international influential environmental groups, the state government should be commended for its effort to solicit public opinion.
Yet, soliciting does not automatically mean listening and that much is clear from the dreadful process of Draft Kuala Lumpur 2020 City Plan. The meaningless solicitation process of the KL 2020 City Plan appeared merely a public relations act. The KL City Hall was roundly criticized because of that. The whole process, without any overemphasis, was a failure.
That mistake must be taken to heart: the Penang state government should not repeat the same mistake done in KL by unelected officials. Why?
The wrong move could quite possibly turn the small tiger park into DAP’s PGCC.
First published in The Malaysian Insider on March 23 2009.
Today:
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has ”roared” at critics of his proposed tiger park project, saying they should come up with constructive criticisms. [Criticisms against tiger park not constructive, says Penang CM. The Star. March 26 2009]
I think, when he says constructive criticism, he means supportive criticism. Sorry brother, you will get none of that from me. And I can bet, none of that from green NGOs.
”If non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are so concerned about the matter, then they should push for the closure of zoos.
”This is an eco-tourism project where tigers will be able to roam freely. If the animals are caged up, they will lose their natural instincts,” he said. [Criticisms against tiger park not constructive, says Penang CM. The Star. March 26 2009]
If others commited wrongdoing, that does justify your wrongdoing?
Besides, how exactly a 0.4 km2 (Mr. Lim, apparently, prefers, to use the unit acre because 0.4 km2 is equivalent to about 100 acres; 100 acres sounds big, eh?) will not encourage the tigers to “lose their natural instincts”?
What kind of reply is that?
Roam freely, he said. Eco-tourism, he said.
At least for zoo, those promoting it have the honesty not to package their product as an eco-tourism effort. On top of that, zoo plays a unique role. Zoo Melaka, for instance, with respect to tigers, is meant for conservation effort.
Lim said the state government was still receiving feedback on the proposal. [Criticisms against tiger park not constructive, says Penang CM. The Star. March 26 2009]
With all due respect, are you looking for feedback or Pak Turut, sir?
After ridiculously touting a golf course as the future of Penang, they want a tiger park in Penang.
PENANG, March 15 (Bernama) — The Penang government plans to open a tiger park at Relau Community Park aimed at attracting more tourists to the state.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the ecotourism project would only be implemented after considering views from non-governmental organisations (NGO) and the local community. [Penang Plans A Tiger Park At Relau. Bernama. March 15 2009]
If the project goes through, I would like to have the CM of Penang together with the tigers in the cage. Now, that would be real entertainment.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Nature Society responds to the proposal:
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has been advised to reconsider its intention to build an ambitious tiger park in the state.
Malaysian Nature Society Penang Branch chairman Kanda Kumar said setting up the park would not be right as Penang had no record of the animal’s existence.
”Most tourists would rather spend on heritage and food, not see animals in cages. Land-stressed Penang can do with more houses and recreational parks instead,” he said. [Rethink plan to build tiger park, Penang urged. Priscilla Dielenberg. The Star. March 17 2009]
I concur. I concur not because I am a member of MNS, but I concur because it is right.
Besides, it is exceedingly cruel to put tigers in cages or in small area. Tigers require large space to roam free. Have you been to the National Zoo near Kuala Lumpur to observe these large mammals behave in small enclosure?
It is a sad affair there. The situation is worse in Malacca Zoo for tigers though I am sure the management over there is trying hard to make do whatever they have to help those tigers, which are mostly captured from the wild after confrontation with humans.
What we need instead is a proper tiger sanctuary, not another zoo, tiger park, etc.
If the CM wants to promote tourism in Penang, he could do better by directing the money to clean up the dirty rivers of Penang.