Article: Dying reefs

Tuesday August 4, 2009

INCREASINGLY acidic oceans and warming water temperatures due to carbon dioxide emissions could kill off the world's ocean reefs by the end of this century.

Scientists predicted that the pace of emissions means a level of 450 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere will be reached by 2050, putting corals on a path to extinction in the following decades.

Undersea forests: A snorkeller exploring coral reefs at Bunaken Marine Park in Manado, Sulawesi.

Oceans absorb large amounts of CO2 emitted by the burning of fossil fuels. But scientists say the oceans are acidifying as they absorb more carbon, disrupting the process of calcification used by sea creatures to build shells as well as coral reefs.

The world's 400,000sqkm of coral reefs – delicate undersea structures resembling rocky gardens made by tiny animals called coral polyps – are important nurseries and shelters for marine life.

They also protect coastlines, provide food, attract tourists and are potential storehouse of medicines. The scientists say governments should strive for a level of 320 ppm of CO2, saying 360 was a breaking point for reefs to survive. At the current level of 387 ppm of CO2, reefs are in serious decline, they said. – Reuters

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009

Article: Logging curbs

Tuesday August 4, 2009

DEEP in the world's tropical rainforests, workers are hammering thousands of barcodes into hardwood trees to help in the fight against illegal logging, corruption and global warming. The plastic tags, like those on supermarket groceries, have been nailed to a million trees to help countries keep track of timber reserves.

Helveta, the British company behind the technology, says the barcodes will help firms comply with tough laws on importing sustainable timber into the United States and Europe. They could also play a role in fighting deforestation, which accounts for about a fifth of global emissions of planet-warming carbon dioxide.

The company has put barcodes on trees in Bolivia, Ghana, Indonesia, Liberia, Malaysia and Peru. The computerised system is less prone to fraud than traditional paper records, carries live data and can help governments to collect more timber taxes, said Patrick Newton, Helveta's chief executive officer.

He said while the barcodes can't prevent criminals from chopping down trees, the system makes it hard for them to process, sell or export the wood. Foresters use handheld computers to scan the tags from the moment a tree is felled to its processing and export, and the live data is put onto Helveta's secure database.

Every tree above a certain size in a plantation is given a barcode. When a tree is cut down, another barcode is attached to the stump and more tags are nailed to the processed wood to allow customs officials to audit exports at the docks.

Officials and companies can track individual trees through the supply chain and view computerised maps of forests on the database.

Timber leaving a forest or factory without tags will immediately be viewed as illegal, Newton said. – Reuters

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009

Article: Back to the tap

Tuesday August 4, 2009

AN Australian town has banned bottled water for the sake of the environment. Residents of rural Bundanoon, a picturesque, tourist destination 150km south-west of Sydney, voted last month to rid the town of bottled water to combat the carbon footprint from bottling and transporting it.

Local businesses in the town of 2,500 people have agreed to replace all single-use bottles with reusable bottles that can be filled from water fountains and to bear the loss of sales.

The campaign has since spread beyond Bundanoon, prompting the government of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, to also look at ways to cut down on bottled water. – Reuters

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009

Article: Driven by a conscience

Tuesday August 4, 2009

By PATSY KAM

Going for a hybrid car is a conscious decision to save the environment and has little to do with rising petrol prices.

IT used to be that only publicity seekers or sanctimonious politicians bought green cars. But the auto landscape is slowly changing as fuel prices continue to be uncertain and people become more serious in their efforts to preserve the environment.

Though the price of hybrid cars remain daunting for most Malaysians, a small group has opted for them. There are now some 150 Honda Civic Hybrids zipping around the country. The car received lukewarm response when it was launched here in August 2007 but sales became brisk after prices were revised in March along with a facelifted 1.3L model. Unlike in the United States where celebrities like Leo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz were among the first to buy hybrids, the Malaysian owners are mainly urban folk who genuinely want to shrink their carbon footprints and not merely spout greenspeak.

Conscientious lot: (From left) Rahah Othman and husband Ahmad Mirza Hamzah; Ng Pei Theng, her father Ying Loong and brother Ng Wei Jien; and Lawrence Williams standing proud with their Honda Civic Hybrid cars.

Architect Ahmad Mirza Hamzah was second in line to sign up for the car when it was launched and actually had to explain to the salesman what the hybrid was all about.

"When the Civic Hybrid was brought in, I jumped at the chance to buy the car. I drove it for nine months. Now my wife Rahah drives it," he says.

Much of it has to do with government policies, which Ahmad says, hasn't done much to encourage green habits.

"There are no tax exemptions or rebates for companies which decide on adopting more environmentally friendly measures. For instance, I try to advocate green plans for my buildings but that's all on my own accord and there's no incentive at policy level, much less for buying a green car. In California, tax relief and longer warranty periods are offered for hybrids," adds Ahmad, 48.

He's kicking himself as the price of the hybrid has since dropped from about RM162,000 to RM129,980 thanks to the waiver on import duty and 50% exemption on excise duty for hybrid CBU (completely built up) vehicles below 2,000cc offered in the Budget 2009. Ahmad consoles himself, saying "what to do, that's my commitment to the environment."

The cheaper price was all Ng Ying Loong, who's in his 50s, needed to persuade him to buy the car for his daughter, Pei Theng.

"We were looking at the car last year but thought the price tag was too steep. When Honda dropped prices six months ago, it was a no brainer and we signed up immediately," says Ng, managing director of property developer Mudajaya Group.

The Civic Hybrid is the third car for the family, after a Mercedes S320 and Toyota Vios. Getting a hybrid is logical since the family is already on the green path. "We often take part in tree planting events and practise recycling at home. I am building my new office and trying to use solar panels and other green concepts. It's certainly not more cost-effective but it's what we believe in," says Ng.

Pei Theng, 24, who's also in the construction line, says: "It was never a matter of saving petrol costs but rather, saving the environment. People have questioned why we bothered with a hybrid and I tell them it's about reducing the carbon footprint. When I was studying in Britain, I was encouraged to recycle and adopt green habits, so it was a matter of carrying on now that I'm back home."

Lawrence Williams, 43, who works in a bank, followed the evolution of hybrid cars keenly before deciding to get the Civic three months ago.

"I thought about the interior of the car and the finishes, as well as how much plastic and environmentally-friendly materials were used. I had a Honda Accord preciously and the Hybrid was a logical decision when I wanted to change cars. The salesman tried to push a CRV to me though and didn't understand why I wanted a lower-performing car," he says with a laugh.

All the hybrid owners agree that driving a hybrid isn't about car performance or even better fuel consumption.

"A full tank lasts about a month," says Ahmad. "The car gives about eight to 14km per litre for town driving, depending on driving styles and about 18km per litre for long distances.

"It probably has a low resale value and while they say you get back your cost in eight years' time after saving on petrol, the battery would probably run out in about six years. And that costs about RM18,000. So really, there's very little performance to shout about and it is purely a conscious decision to be greener. I've no complains as driving is smooth and there are quite a few safety features thrown in. Starting the car is amazing and friends have marvelled at the silence," adds Ahmad.

Student Ng Wei Jien, 19, who sometimes drives his sister Pei Theng's car, finds he gets more mileage compared to her.

"You have to re-learn certain driving methods so that you can recharge the battery more efficiently. I also try to move at a constant speed while Pei Theng, who's stuck in jams more often, has to drive according to traffic situations," he says.

The Civic Hybrid was not Michele Lu's top choice but she gave in to her husband's selection. "When we first got the car, our friends asked us 'Why?' because like myself, they too have the perception that it is a low capacity car with only a 1.3L engine and has no power. My perception has definitely changed now. I am very impressed as there is pick-up and it gives good speed performance. In fact, it drives like a 1.8L vehicle and it is so much smoother and quieter," says Lu.

Globally, it is not only individuals who are buying hybrids. Some companies, in particular those that have adopted policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, are reaping the benefits offered by hybrids. In Britain, British Airways and Ikea are examples of companies that have shifted their fleet of vehicles to the Civic Hybrid.

In Malaysia, Honda aims to sell 300 units of the hybrid by the end of this year.

"With the reduction in taxes for hybrid vehicles, we will see more motorists opting for green vehicles as price is no longer prohibitive. Honda is committed to continuously developing technologies which are gentle on the environment yet fun to drive," says managing director and CEO, Toru Takahashi.

Meanwhile, Malaysians who want to drive ecologically will be happy to know that they will soon have another hybrid choice – the Toyota Prius will hit the local market this month.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009

Article: Upright gardens

Tuesday August 4, 2009

By TAN CHENG LI

Green walls and roofs not only hide ugly concrete, they also cleanse and cool city air.

A growing number of buildings worldwide are sprouting lush gardens not just on the ground or on roofs, but on walls. Plants, grown on vertical surfaces seemingly in defiance of gravity, are wrapping buildings in a live palette of green hues.

The Newton Suites in Singapore feature a narrow wall completely covered with greenery.

These hanging gardens are nothing like traditionally grown creepers. They are designed and engineered with a support structure, which allows for more adventurous designs. Take the Quai Branly Museum in Paris. Its 800sqm façade is created from 15,000 plants of 150 different species.

Green walls fall mainly within two types: green façades, where a structure fastened to the wall provides a trellis for vines and climbers planted in the ground or in containers; and the newer living walls (also called biowalls or vertical gardens), where a modular grid of wall pan­els – complete with live plants, growing medium, an irrigation and nutrient-delivery system, and a support structure – is attached to the building. In some of the more technologically advanced systems, the living wall is integrated with filters or beneficial microbes that remove air pollutants.

The grandfather of living walls is French botanist Patrick Blanc, who is responsible for a long list of buildings with such gardens. His basic system consists of a steel frame, waterproof backing material to keep water off the building, and felt fabric for the plants to adhere and grow into.

His vertical garden relies on a new way to grow plants without any soil. This reduces the weight, making it possible to set up the vertical garden on any wall, even those indoors.

Green walls have yet to take off in Malaysia but in Singapore, several buildings already sport them. The tallest vertical garden, at Newton Suites, goes up 30 storeys.

"The natural way is to allow plants to creep up walls but this takes time and there is concern that the roots may impact the wall," says Dr Wong Nyuk Hien, an associate professor at the School of Design and Environment at the National University of Singapore.

"The use of support structures, on the other hand, will aid plant growth and enable the plants to form a dense foliage."

In his two-year research on vertical greenery systems, Wong has documented their many benefits for both building occupants and the surrounding urban environment. He says through shading and transpiration, the vegetation reduces the urban heat island effect, thereby making cities cooler. Vegetated walls also naturally purify the air and insulate buildings from heat. And inside the building, he found the noise level to reduce by 10 decibels.

"The street itself is quieter as the traffic noise is absorbed by the wall and plants," says Wong, who was in Kuala Lumpur recently for a forum on green buildings.

The choice of plants is crucial since some plants just cannot grow on a vertical surface. "You need local studies to see what are the suitable plants," adds Wong. These gardens also need a good irrigation system as they generally do not retain rain water well. To cut down on water usage, Wong advocates combining the irrigation system with rain harvesting and water recycling.

The popularity of green walls, however, is stemmed by high costs, especially in their upkeep. Wong says it currently costs S$150 to S$300 (RM372 to RM744) per sqm. "Hopefully, more research can produce low cost and low maintenance systems, as have been done for roof gardens," he adds.

Costs aside, architect Baylon Tham is intent on incorporating a hanging garden into his proposed 27-storey condominium project in Jelutong, Penang.

"There is just no land available to create a garden of this size on the ground," he says of the 580sqm of wall to will be planted over in his project, which will also have a rooftop garden.

Tham is opting for the cheaper and easier-to-maintain green façade system, comprising horizontally placed planter boxes and climbing cables.

"When I first decided to do the green wall, many people told me it cannot be done. But I eventually found a landscape designer who agreed with me. It will not be easy to install and the plants must also be maintained, but we have to do it. We need to recreate the green areas that we have destroyed and building green walls is one way," he says.

Now, if only more builders shared his sentiments.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009

Article: How to start reducing waste production from home

Friday June 19, 2009

IF EVERYONE took a small step to start reducing waste production from home, that huge sum of money could be used for better social and physical developments.

A simple way to do so is to make your own eco enzyme that acts as an effective cleaning agent, replacing soaps and detergents made of chemicals that pollute underground water, then rivers, and eventually the entire ecology.

This eco enzyme is simply made from water, brown sugar and unwanted fruit peels or vegetable dregs before being evenly mixed and fermented for three months. This "wonder" enzyme can then be used as a detergent, dish cleanser, natural antiseptic, air freshener and even for pet care and pest control.

Well, you can learn how to do just that from the Justlife Group at a public demonstration on Saturday, June 20th at The Star's Studio V in the 1 Utama Shopping Centre. The company together with the Beautiful Gate Foundation will be conducting the demonstration from 11am to 1pm. This is part of The Star's efforts under the "Go Green, Live Green 2009" Campaign.

The first 100 people to come for the demonstration will each take home a complimentary bottle of eco enzyme. Registration starts at 10.30am so be there and do your bit for the environment! Admission is but is limited to 100 pax on first-come-first-serve basis.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009

Article: Natural way

Tuesday August 4, 2009

By HILARY CHIEW
Photos by ART CHEN and ONG SOON HIN

hnchiew@thestar.com.my

Farmers are learning ways to cultivate without relying on chemicals.

INDIAN rice farmers might be uncommon in Malaysia but if all goes well, 300 of them in Sekincang, Selangor, will be pioneers in producing organic rice commercially.

Toiling in the Tanjung Karang granary (one of the country's eight granaries) since Independence, these farmers from Kampung Baru Sekincang and Kampung Parit Empat in the Kuala Selangor district have been attending workshops on vermi-composting and are eager to produce pesticides from natural ingredients.

Spoilt lands: Two farmers of Kampung Baru Sekincang in Selangor showing soil that has been degraded by long-term use of agrochemicals.

Under the guidance of trainers from the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), they are learning ways to farm without chemicals and plan to apply the methods on their 440ha of rice land.

Sustainable agriculture has been alien to these farmers who have used agrochemicals for as long as they could remember.

S. Paranthaman, 45, a second generation rice farmer from Kampung Baru Sekincang, says he and his friends are primarily attracted to the promise of cheaper alternatives.

"Last year, due to the increase in oil prices, agrochemical prices shot up. Even with the government subsidy, we felt the pinch. We spend RM240 on pesticide, fungicide, herbicide and synthetic fertiliser for every tonne of rice while the subsidy is only RM230 for 1.2ha of land that yields an average of nine tonnes. This means we've to top up an additional RM1,930," says Paranthaman, the community leader for 50 farmers in his village.

Farmers in Sekincang follow a biannual rice planting programme that includes a 120-day growing season and a fallow period of 60 days. Besides rice, Paranthaman and his neighbours grow vegetables which they sell to the Selayang wholesale market.

Usage of agrochemicals in vegetable plots are intensive given the shorter growth period. For example, a chilli plant is sprayed five times at 10-day intervals throughout its growth period of 50 days.

Guidance: K. Sanmargam demonstrating to rice and vegetable farmers in Sekincang the making of an organic growth promoter called panchakavya that is both a fertiliser as well as an insect repellent.

Despite an average input of RM5,000 on agrochemicals for one cycle of planting, Paranthaman says yield has decreased by 30% since farming of long beans, string beans, cucumber, egg plant and chilli started in Sekincang 20 years ago.

"There are all sorts of chemicals that we have to apply. On top of the chemicals that the Government provides, we have to buy more from shops to protect the plants from insects and fungi attacks. Those that we buy are of better quality as they can really kill the problems," he says.

When asked if farmers have encountered health problem associated with the use of agrochemicals, Paranthaman appears not to know much aside from complaints of skin diseases and occasional discomfort.

At a recent workshop conducted by two farmers who are supporting the CAP initiative to promote sustainable farming nationwide, 25 farmers from Sekincang were shown how to produce an organic growth promoter called panchakavya.

The trainers, T. Kaniappan from Kulai, Johor, and K. Sanmargam from Lunas, Kedah, had switched to organic farming six years ago after learning the methods from CAP.

Kaniappan shared his story of turning around his ailing lime orchard: "I was struggling to produce 500kg of fruits but after I applied vermi-compost and pancakavya, my yield increased to two tonnes and the trees constantly fruit now."

After his success story became the talk of the town, Kaniappan no longer needed to sell his limes at 80sen per kg to Singapore through a middleman.

Chemical-free fertiliser: Hulu Yam Fresh Sdn Bhd managing director Choo Kok Hing collecting an organic liquid fertiliser made by fermenting a mixture of fish- and plant-based material for a month.

"Now, I'm selling them for RM3 to RM3.80 per kg in Kulai where there is demand. I'm also happy that I'm able to produce good, non-toxic fruits for the local population," he says proudly.

Sanmargam and Kaniappan have their hands full these days trying to meet the demands for their vermi-compost and pancakavya from kitchen gardeners and both small-time and commercial farmers.

A cursory calculation shows that farmers can produce their own fertiliser, insect repellent and growth promoter at a mere 10% of what they are paying now for agrochemicals.

While economic reasons drove the Sekincang farmers to embrace chemical-free external inputs for their farms, a group of vegetable farmers in Hulu Selangor are conscious of the environmental costs of agrochemicals.

The 12 farmers got together to form Hulu Yam Fresh Sdn Bhd to implement organic methods of growing vegetables. They have adapted the effective micro-organism technology from South Korea by using indigenous microbes.

Managing director Choo Kok Hing, who runs a 2.9ha plot, says the group has mastered the method of producing an organic liquid fertiliser by fermenting a mixture of fish- and plant-based material for a month. The use of this home-made fertiliser has reduced their costs of fertiliser by half.

"The farm lands in Hulu Yam began to show nutrient deficiency after five years of heavy chemical applications. Awareness about sustainability is growing and consumers are demanding for safer products. The measure of a successful farmer now, if you ask me, is one who takes care of the health of his soil," says Choo who realised the magnitude of the problem 10 years ago and began to look for alternatives.

But Choo points out that his group cannot claim to be producing 100% organic vegetables yet as they are only gradually replacing chemical fertiliser with the organic one.

"We can only say that we're moving towards sustainable agriculture practices. But we're strict about following guidelines on dosage and observe the maximum residue limit," he asserts.

The company began exporting its produce to Singapore this year but a month ago, a shipment was rejected for violating the maximum residue limit.

Choo takes the setback positively. "I think this is a good thing to happen. It told us that there are flaws in our system and we need to resolve them. That's our responsibility as producers," he says, adding that only 1% of the harvest goes to Singapore.

The company has a joint land size of 80ha with individual plots ranging from 1.8ha to 9.1ha and produces between 10 and 15 tonnes of vegetables each day.

Choo points out that the farmers now have the opportunity to move away from agrochemical-based farming now that they have secured land tenure. Located within the Selangor Vegetable Park scheme in Hulu Yam, the farmers – who previously faced eviction threats and harassment from enforcement authorities since many were operating illegally on state land – have been given a 30-year lease for their farms.

Choo explains that without land security, farmers will not consider changing their practices as this requires time and investments.

The Selangor Vegetable Park is one of the 12 food production centres initiated under former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Hulu Yam is designated as a leafy vegetable production centre. Sprawling over 320ha of ex-mining land, the park produces some 60 tonnes of perishable vegetables like spinach, Chinese spinach and siew pak choy each day and contributes to 45% of the vegetables supplied to the Selayang wholesale market.

The StarTwo Green Issue is published every first Tuesday of the month.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Focus 4 August 2009

Article: ‘Build dams to check peat fires’

Tuesday August 4, 2009

By YENG AI CHUN

This video was taken from: You Tube

Build check dams

KUALA LUMPUR: Dams could be built in peat forests to help reduce the number of hotspots which cause haze in the country, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas.

Uggah who is scheduled to attend the Asean sub-regional Ministerial Meeting on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Riau province over the weekend, said he would look into building "check dams" in the area.

He said check dams could help reduce peat fires by half as they manage water levels in the peatland.

"We have noticed from observation that almost 70% of the hotspots are in peat areas. If we can have the system to control the water level, we could reduce the hotspots and hopefully reduce the haze also," he told a press conference yesterday after launching the 14th International Rainwater Catchment Systems Conference 2009 at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Uggah said majority of the hotspots were in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Borneo, with Sumatra topping the list with 318 hotspots as of Sunday.

There were 215 hotspots in Kalimantan, two in Sabah, three in peninsular Malaysia and 22 in Sarawak.

"The figures in Sabah and Sarawak are still tolerable. We have tightened enforcement and have been working with other agencies such as the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Forestry Department and the Mineral and GeoScience Department," Embas said.

On another matter, Embas said the ministry would implement an experimental project on rainwater catchment system in a longhouse and a kampung in Sarawak to help provide constant water supply during the dry season and to mitigate floods during the wet season.

"The study on the area was completed last year and we will be implementing the project this year," he said.

Uggah also urged the public and private sector to set up their own rainwater catchment systems in their premises to conserve water.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 4 August 2009

Image: Waste island

Date : Tuesday, 4-August-2009 

by Yeap Cheong Wah

From the looks of it, Penang will soon lose its 'Pearl of the Orient' tag.

This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 4 August 2009

Image: Reptile crossing

Date : Tuesday, 4-August-2009 

by Ang Sze Yeong

Looks like the lizard needs a crash course in '101 things not to do on Malaysian roads'.

This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 4 August 2009

Image: Doggy ride

Date : Tuesday, 4-August-2009

by Hor Ming Jai

With the cab fares on the increase, the dog has no choice but to hitch a ride on the bike.

This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 4 August 2009

Image: Durian fest

This image was taken from: The Star Newspaper: Star Foto Folder: Nation N28, 3 August 2009

View: Help dog lover, not criticise him for doing good

Monday August 3, 2009

I REFER to your report of July 30 regarding the kind man who rescued 10 stray dogs.

This man should be lauded instead of being criticised. He is simply being a human being with humanity by feeding the dogs and caring for them. He is also keeping his neighbourhood free from strays.

Instead of complaining, his neighbours could help by taking the dogs out for their daily exercises. In doing so, they won't defecate in the house compounds and this will keep the area free of foul smell. Dogs also need the exercises to be happy and contented. Such satisfied dogs are less noisy.

It is the least these neighbours can do.

After all, it is they who have caused the nuisance in the first place by allowing their pets to breed. If owners were more responsible and have their pets spayed or neutered, there would have been less strays in the neighbourhood.

ANN TAN,

Puchong, Selangor.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: News: Opinion 3 August 2009

Article: Hundreds catch unique heritage

Monday August 3, 2009

This video was taken from: You Tube

Indian cultural festival at Kampung Buah Pala

GEORGE TOWN: More than 500 people including university students turned up at Kampung Buah Pala to catch what would probably be the last glimpse of the village's cultural heritage.

The event started at noon yesterday with the pot-smashing game similar to that of hitting a pinata. The game was open only to the girls and they had to hit a clay pot that was hung in mid-air while blindfolded.

Before the bull-dozers move in: Kampung Buah Pala's cultural heritage included the rustic sport of taming fierce bulls, one of numerous events held Sunday at the village.

Whoever hit the clay pot filled with water in three attempts was given RM5.

The crowd surrounding the participant would cheer and shout directions. The onlookers also had to dodge the flailing bamboo stick of the participants.

Up next was the rustic sport of taming fierce bulls or Jallikattu. A group of men entered the enclosure to try to remove a piece of cloth that was tied around the bull's horn to win RM100 cash.

It proved to be a difficult task for the men as whenever they got close to the agitated bull, it chased them away.

The crowd cheered and everyone gasped in shock when the bull charged at one of the men and almost pinned him to the ground.

Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Next came the Valuku Maram or greasepole where groups of six men struggled to reach the top of a 9.8m greasy betel nut pole where a RM1,000 cash prize money was tied.

It was hilarious as the most a group could reach was up to the fourth person. Everyone would then come sliding down.

Universiti Sains Malaysia student Lau Pei Ling said her first trip to the village was an exciting one.

The 22-year-old, who tried her hand at the pot-smashing game, said she hoped it would not be her last time taking part in the "colourful event."

"It is going to be a big loss if the village and its tradition has to make way for development," she said.

A group of 30 students from the university also presented a banner to residents' association assistant secretary C. Thamaraj to show their support to the villagers.

Related Stories:
Memories may go crashing today
Kg Buah Pala folk getting prepared for any eventuality
MIC task force to evaluate 9th Plan

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 3 August 2009

Article: Rosmah: Take advantage of blooming flower business

Monday August 3, 2009

PUTRAJAYA: Local authorities and those in the flower business need to play a bigger role in instilling a love for flowers and gardens, said Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

The wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there was much potential for the development of the local flower business.

"Local authorities and other related agencies should come up with programmes and activities to promote an interest among the public to seek business opportunities in the field," she said during the launch of the Putrajaya Flower and Garden Fiesta 2009 (Floria 09) here yesterday.

Truly colourful: Rosmah admiring the flowers on display at Floria 09 in Putrajaya Sunday, flanked by Samsuddin (second from left) and Raja Nong Chik. — Bernama

This is the second time Putrajaya Corporation is organising the biennial event themed "A Celebration of Colours".

It will be held until Aug 10.

The nine-day fiesta boasts of over 400,000 exhibits including flowers and vegetables.

Present at the launch were Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan and Putrajaya Corpo-ration president Tan Sri Samsuddin Osman.

Rosmah likened the theme of the event to the 1Malaysia concept, saying it was helping to bring together people of different backgrounds.

Raja Nong Chik presented Rosmah with a Dendrobium Najib-Rosmah blossom during the launch.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 3 August 2009

Image: The hen of the hounds

Date : Monday, 3-August-2009

by Ngo Ping Wen

The early bird gets the worm. The tardy chicken gets the pups.

This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 3 August 2009

Image: Cat in a trap

Date : Monday, 3-August-2009

by Wong Jien Yee

Silly cat – traps are for rats!

This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 3 August 2009

Image: What ‘key’ will not start a car?

Date : Monday, 3-August-2009

by Juliana Ung

A mon'key

This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 3 August 2009

Image: Destined for the pot

Date : Saturday, 1-August-2009

by F. Khamarul Zaman

These chickens are all wrapped up and will eventually make their way to our tummies.

This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails, 1 August 2009

Image: Dolphin Story

This image was taken from: The Star Newspaper: World W38, 2 August 2009

Article: Woman rears baby ape, even breast feeds it

Saturday August 1, 2009

DEPARTMENT of National Parks and Wildlife (Perhilitan) officers checking a woman's house in Kuala Lumpur found a baby ape being brought up like a child, reported Harian Metro.

A Perhilitan source said the woman told officers she did not have a licence for the ape and had reared it since it was born.

She told them that she even breast-fed the ape.

The source said the department received complaints from a neighbour that the woman was rearing an ape in her house, which caused a disturbance and dirtied the place.

Officers checked the house but did not find any evidence of dirt or noise as claimed by the neighbour.

But they found the baby ape dressed in clothes and disposable diapers, which were changed everyday," the source said, adding that the woman had no children.

Officials were forced to seize the animal, the source added, despite the woman's pleas and tears, the daily reported.

"Even though the ape looks tame, and was reared like a human child, it is still wildlife, and has wild instincts," the source said.

> Four burglars tried to break into a house, not realising that a resident had seen them earlier and alerted the police, reported Kosmo!.

The burglars, all foreigners, tried to make a hasty getaway when they saw police, but one of them was caught in the 3am incident at Puncak Jalil on Thursday.

"He couldn't escape and tried to attack two police officers with a parang," said Subang Jaya police chief Asst Comm Zainal Rashid.

One police officer was forced to open fire hitting the suspect in the leg and hip. The injured burglar was sent to Serdang hospital for treatment.

Earlier, the resident spotted the four men behaving suspiciously and contacted the police.

When police arrived, they saw the men climbing the fence behind the house. Police seized a bag from the burglar which contained various tools used to break into houses.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation, 1 August 2009

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