Categories
Environment

[1715] Of a World Heritage Site in Malaysia under threat

The mainstream media is celebrating the status of Malacca and George Town as the new World Heritage Sites. The Star for instance is giving the news a front page treatment.[0] I on the other hand am less than happy. If news of the award could be called a victory, I would call it a hollow victory. What is the point of having new World Heritage Sites when an existing site is under threat?

Late last month, a plan to build dams across Sarawak was leaked to the public. One of the proposed damn would sit on the Tutoh River. According to that plan, part of the Gunung Mulu National Park would be inundated as part of the dam on Tutoh.[1]

If any of us has forgotten amid the celebration, the National Park is one of the three World Heritage Sites in Malaysia.

I would prefer to have the UNESCO to postpone any decision to grant the two cities World Heritage status until the future of the Mulu has been ascertained. If Malaysia cannot guarantee the well-being of Mulu, I am unconvinced how Malaysia could maintain George Town and Malacca in the list in the long run.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

[0] KUALA LUMPUR: The citizens of Malacca and Penang rejoiced as they celebrate the inscription of their state capitals as World Heritage Sites. [Malacca, Penang cheer listing on world heritage site. The Star. July 9 2008]

[1] National treasures such as the world-renowned Mulu National Park may also fall victim when parts of it will be submerged under the planned 220 megawatts dam on the Tutoh river in northeastern Sarawak.

The Mulu National Park is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) as a world heritage site because of its biodiversity and its extensive network of caves. [Sarawak’s 12 new dams alarm environmentalists. Fauwaz Abdul Aziz. Malaysiakini. June 19 2008]

Categories
Events Photography

[1714] Of my Sunday’s afternoon in Kelana Jaya

After all the hype, it was as dull as The Phantom Menace.

Some rights reserved.

Metblogs KL has more (please do not take it too seriously).

Categories
Humor Pop culture Sci-fi

[1713] Of watch me frakking naked

[youtube]YatjlSJNRHM[/youtube]

Naked cylon!

Categories
Humor

[1712] Mengenai kembali kepada agama

Kesesakan lalu lintas adalah satu kebiasaan bagi Lebuhraya Persekutuan. Kehadiran pemandu-pemandu yang tidak sopan yang sentiasa memotong barisan juga tidak asing. Tambahan lagi, Jumaat semalam bagi saya merupakan satu hari yang dipenuhi dengan permintaan yang tidak munasabah langsung. Mujurlah ada radio sebagai teman yang sentiasa cuba mengalihkan perhatian saya daripada sumber-sumber yang menimbulkan kemarahan. Di radio terpasang frekuensi 93.9FM. Radio 24 yang dikendalikan oleh Bernama sedang menimbangi pandangan orang ramai tentang cara mengatasi kos sara diri yang meningkat dan salah seorang yang berkongsi pendapat berjaya menghiburkan hati saya yang gelisah.

Pengacara bertanya, “Ya, bagaimanakah encik mengatasi peningkatan harga-harga makanan serta minyak?”

Dengan yakinnya, dia menjawab, “Kita mesti kembali kepada agama.”

Sebelum ini, ada pandangan-pandangan yang boleh diterima pakai. Seorang penelefon berkata rakyat tidak perlu panik dan patut terus berbelanja untuk menjana ekonomi negara semasa kesihatan ekonomi terancam. Seorang penyokong Keynesianisme, mungkin.

Ada yang berpendapat yang inilah masanya untuk kita melipat-gandakan usaha untuk menambahkan pendapatan. Seorang lagi menyaran supaya rakyat meneliti perbelanjaan seharian dengan menyediakan bajet tahunan. Perbelanjaan yang kurang penting haruslah dipotong.

Boleh dikatakan rata-rata, kebanyakan pendapat yang dikongsi biasa didengari, kecuali apabila agama ditawarkan sebagai ubat kepada kos sara hidup yang tinggi.

Pengacara rancangan radio itu jelas kurang berpuas hati dengan pandangan itu dan kemudiannya meminta penjelasan lanjut tentang pendapat kembali-kepada-agama.

Tanpa teragak-agak, jawapan yang diberi: “Ini semua satu cubaan daripada Allah.” Dia berasa jika kita bersungguh-sungguh yakin dengan Allah, semua masalah ini akan dapat diselesaikan.

Bagus. Teruskan berdoa tanpa melakukan apa-apa. Buatlah sembahyang hajat dan yakinlah dengan hebat yang agamalah penyelesaian kepada masalah kamu. Tuhan akan menjawab doamu! Yakinlah!

Hahaha. Komedi hari Jumaat.

Categories
Humor Politics & government

[1711] Of tailgate party in front of the Kelana Jaya Stadium tomorrow

The mercury is rising out there. With the Deputy Prime Minister has been accused of being linked to murder, a former Deputy Prime Minister accused of having too much fun while rumor of the announcement of emergency tomorrow, I think it is time to chill out a bit. There will be a huge gathering tomorrow. Initially supposed to bitch about greater fuel prices, Anwar Ibrahim is expected to make some big announcement. But us commoners should just let the big boys play the slugfest. We should just go up and enjoy the Sunday.

Tomorrow in front of the Kelana Jaya Stadium, let us drive our MPV, set up the grill and have a tailgate party prior to an announcement by Anwar Ibrahim that, according to a friend which heard from a trusted source which in turn was informed by the American intelligence, may set in motion a coup d’tat.

Bring a tent too. It will be hot tomorrow. Or rain. It is Malaysian weather after all. It is worse than Malaysian politics as you can imagine. In any case, you certainly will not want to miss the drama.

Forget not to marinate your chicken and beef and lamb and other edible stuff. And some turkey too, just in case we need to visit the Turkish embassy. But please, please, do not bring cat, dog or any exotic meat. Maybe some paddy chicken is alright since we expect a lot of human-sized frogs on Sunday.

And oh, if you plan to have a barbeque tomorrow, marinate your stuff today!

We could throw some balls too and play catch. And maybe, get your children to fly the flags of PKR. You know, like how they do on every football Saturday?

A coup d’tat? Sounds like a French delight, do you not think so? We must celebrate with clam chowder soup with french fries and maybe with some croissants with cheese. Haha. Instead of a civil war, we would probably go to war with the French over this. Aux armes citoyens!

And oh yes. Do not forget your “I Oppose Fuel Subsidy” banner tomorrow! Or “Change Your Lifestyle!” Or “Tian Chua for Prime Minister!”