Indifference and Ignorance

We would like a bigger budget allocation for environmental conservation and protection, Dato Seri Najib Razak.

The authorities are urged to create greater awareness of the importance of taking care of corals in Johor.  Pic by Dato Dr Siow Kuang Ling.

by Chuah Bee Kim

JOHOR BARU: A 71-YEAR-OLD doctor and an award-winning inventor, Datuk Dr Siow Kuang Ling, recently called on environmentalists and the relevant authorities to create greater awareness of the importance of taking care of corals in Johor.

Dr Siow, who took up diving seven years ago, said most of the corals in the state, namely in Pulau Rawa and Pulau Sibu, are dead.

“When divers, whether foreigners or locals, see all these dead corals, they are not going to come again.

“Johor has the resources but this lack of awareness is killing the resources that nature has blessed the state with,” said Dr Siow who has been to Indonesian islands like Komodo Island, Raja Ampat, Manado Island, Bali and Lembek Straits, and also to the Maldives and Johor.

He said the dying corals have turned either blackish or whitish and appeared to have dried up.
When there is no movement or signs of life around the corals, it is also an indication that the corals are dying.

To spread awareness of corals and marine life, Dr Siow is organising an underwater photography exhibition at Sutera Mall here from Aug 15 to Sept 1.

“I will put up 300 pictures in A3-size hardboard for sale from RM200 to RM300 each. Part of the proceeds will go towards charity,” he said.

Dr Siow said he could produce 20 copies of each photo which was taken in all the countries he had visited over the years.

“I took up scuba diving in 2009 and became an open-water diver before becoming a speciality diver (peak performance buoyancy) several years later,” he said.

“I believe that if the Johor government were to take care of its straits, and the corals, it can draw more scuba divers to Johor.”

Dr Siow said that divers should not touch any of the corals when they are underwater.

However, he said he had seen many, namely, Asian divers who do not abide by this rule.
“One should also never go scuba diving alone. It is important to request for two instructors, one to lead the group ahead and one to be behind the group.

“It is good to go in a group of four to 12 divers,” said Dr Siow.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Nature Society (Johor branch) chairman Vincent Chow said corals which are found in rivers near industrial sites become the first victims of industrial pollutants which are discharged into the sea.

As in the case of corals found in waters near resorts, Chow said the corals could be dead or dying due to diesel discharge from boats, climatic change and silting accumulated over the years.

“The resort operators do make an effort to protect the corals but nature lovers and the MNS would appreciate it if the relevant authorities like the Marine Parks and Johor state executive councillors in charge of the environment can give us an update on the conservation efforts being made to protect marine life."

“The relevant authorities are seen to care so little for the environment, even in its budget allocation,” said Chow.

He cited the Sungai Kim Kim and Sungai Masai, both in Pasir Gudang, as two rivers that are carrying industrial pollutants into the sea.

“The water current causes the effect to get bigger and bigger until the pollutants reach the islands.
“Besides this, there are also sewage discharge from households and logging works which cause sediment to build up over the years in other areas.

“It is the corals that get smothered when the silt particles get accumulated over the years,” he said.

Chow said he would not say all the corals are dead as it would depend on the sea depth and the vastness of the sea.

However, he urged the relevant parties to come up with more proper planning measures before giving the green light for the building of industrial parks so that the river eco-system is protected.

“We are losing our unique and fragile eco-system due to ignorance and indifference,” he said.

Companion For Life

The tests came back positive for canine distemper, and chances of recovery is slim.

Wong U Ginn is seen here comforting the Rottweiler at the clinic. The dog is hardly moving. 

The 19-year-old lives next door to the Rottweiler's owner. He said the dog would wag its tail and appeared very happy whenever its owner came home from work everyday,  but the heartless owner would never bother to look at the dog.

Sometimes the man and his wife even forgot to feed their pet, according to U Ginn. The couple also did not come and visit the dog at the clinic.

Why keep a pet when you can't spare some time and some love for it? 

A sad sad day ...

Dogs are meant to be loved. All breeds, and not only when they are cute and cuddly like Micky here. 

We picked her up at an abandoned house, and Mary has adopted her. See how comfy she looks in the arms of Mary in this picture taken on July 13.

In the latest pictures, Micky's grown quite a bit. She's playful and so eager to explore her new world. 

Pray For This Rottweiler

Last December, I highlighted the plight of this dog

My Christmas Wish

The Rottweiler's story also came out in the Johor Streets, a pullout of the New Straits Times.

Today I received news that the dog may be suffering from distemper. The dog was also dehydrated, underfed and has maggots around its anus.

Johor Baru Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) deputy chairman Dr Edwin Singam is seen here treating the dog at his clinic.  It could only be confirmed tomorrow by the good doctor (I'm saying this with sincerity) whether it is distemper, a serious viral illness.

Enforcement officers from the Johor Veterinary Department ordered the Rottweiler's owner to surrender the dog to them today.  After that, the dog  was handed over to the SPCA, and a dog lover named Harvey has offered to pay the medical bill.

Another SPCA member had, a few months ago, gone to the house and spoken to the owner.  The owner said he loved the dog, but his wife wanted the dog to be chained up all the time.  And since the dog had a home unlike some homeless dogs, we thought the dog would be okay.

I wish I had done more for this dog before it came to this.

Kudos to Dr Edwin Singam and Harvey and the enforcement team from the State Veterinary Department.  At least, the dog had been rescued.  Now, let's pray that the dog will be able to get through this.

If you notice any form of animal cruelty, do not keep quiet.  Act swiftly.

But no cruelty can beat this kind of cruelty "Chinese police beat stray dog to death in front of its owner" A barbaric and uncivilised group of lunatics. The human race is becoming a disgrace.  Please don't be like them.

Don't be like me either, "all talk and no action".

Be like Dr Edwin Singam, Harvey and all those who actively took part in the rescue of the Rottweiler.

Toll hike detrimental to Johor

Former state executive councillor Datuk Jimmy Low Boon Hong, 72, who held numerous portfolios such as tourism and local government, shares his views on the toll hike.

He is now the president of the  Kluang Chinese Association and chairman of the Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (Jaro).

THE toll hike at the Causeway has brought back a flood of memories of the good old days for me.

  In 1984, both the toll plazas at the Senai highway and the Causeway were put up at the same time for northbound and southbound traffic respectively.

  In March 2004, the Senai toll was abolished by the Federal Government.

  The question is how much money has been collected through the toll and how little upgrading have road users seen over the past decade?

  When I was the state executive councillor helming the public works portfolio, I was always at loggerheads with the then Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu over the toll issue.

  Singapore has announced that it would also be coming up with new rates in the next few weeks.

  This is in line with the republic's long-standing policy of matching its toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia.

  My suggestion is for the toll booth to be moved away  from the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex.  

  This will save Singapore the trouble of having to implement revised toll charges.

  If the government wants to collect tolls for the 8.1km Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL), then impose a toll fee on all the 180,000 to 220,000 motorists who ply it daily, instead of only the 60,000 who use it to get into Singapore.

  Collecting RM3 each from 200,000 cars would amount to a bigger collection than collecting RM16.50 from 60,000 motorists.

  But of course, the better solution would be to just do away with the toll at the CIQ and concentrate only on imposing the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee for Singapore-registered cars.

  When I was in office for more than two decades, the Federal Government had twice proposed that a  VEP be implemented but the proposals were rejected by the state government.

. This time it was the state government that had asked for it, and our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak gladly agreed to it on July 16 when he was in Johor Baru.

  Do you all still remember the three-quarter petrol tank ruling which Singapore had imposed on Singapore-registered cars, and how the republic had fervently highlighted all the crimes in Johor Baru?  Do you know why Singapore had to resort to this?

  Because Singaporeans were flocking to Johor for everything from food to Brylcreem.  Need I even say more?

  And Johor welcomes this tourist influx from across the Causeway.

  I remembered how Johor, with the help of former Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, had set up green lanes to make it convenient for the tourists to come here.

  This new toll hike, in my opinion, is going to bring short-term detriment to Singapore.  But in the long-term, it is the Johor economy that will bear the brunt.

  In the past few days, traffic flow across the Causeway has been smooth.  It is not the toll hike that is scaring the Singaporeans away.  I have friends who tell me they are fearful of another strike at the Causeway like the one that occurred on Aug 1.

  In fact, some Singaporeans who have come here in the last few days have said that they don't mind the toll hike and were happy because the smooth ride has enabled them to save time and petrol.

  If lorry operators were to go on strike, Singapore can always get their vegetables and poultry from places such as Vietnam, Australia and Batam, Indonesia.

  Lorry operators may contemplate this move because they are imposed toll charges per trip, unlike the case of Singapore where they have to pay monthly toll charges, which enables them to come in and out as often as they like.

Doing Their Bit for Gaza

PASIR GUDANG: A total of RM4,225 has been collected by the Pasir Gudang Wanita Umno to ease the plight of the people of Gaza.

A pledge to hand over the collection was held during the Hari Raya open house gathering of Pasir Gudang member of parliament Normala Abdul Samad at the Pasir Gudang Indoor Stadium here on Saturday.

Normala is also the Pasir Gudang women wing's chief.

Mary and I represented Harian Metro and New Straits Times respectively.

The Tabung Kemanusiaan Palestin (Palestine Humanitarian Fund) Media Prima Bhd was launched a week before the gathering," said Normala.

A handshake with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who witnessed the pledge.

Media Prima Bhd launched the Palestine Humanitarian Fund in November 2012 with the collaboration of Mercy Malaysia.

Media Prima reactivated the fund on July 10, with the latest partner being the Perdana Global Peace Foundation.

"We appeal to caring Malaysians to help the people of Gaza in this trying time," Media Prima said in a statement.

For more info, go to  PALESTINE HUMANITARIAN FUND or TABUNG KEMANUSIAAN PALESTIN

Imperial Indulgence at Qing Palace

THE award-winning Qing Palace Chinese Restaurant at Pulai Springs Resort in Johor Bahru welcomes guests to its "Imperial Indulgence" promotion from now until next month.

Guests are assured of an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Meals from the Imperial Indulgence promotion can be savoured for both lunch and dinner.

Master chef Lim Ming Chong said there are over 80 authentic Szechuan main courses including rice, noodles, seafood as well as mouthwatering desserts.

The menu mixes classic Szechuan and signature flavours with some of the chef's latest creations.

Lim recommends his signature Szechuan hot and sour soup, sauteed diced chicken with dried chillies served in yam ring, Peking duck and his famous camphor and tea smoked duck.