Save Our Animals

Heavier penalties needed to clamp down on wildlife traffickers

A recent court ruling which landed Lizard King aka Anson Wong a 6-month jail term and fines of RM190,000 for smuggling 95 boa constrictor is a mere slapdash decision. The sentence passed serves no purpose in deterring the wrongdoings from recurring. Anson Wong was once jailed before in America for 71 months and fined US$60,000.00 under a similar offense. The tame punishment suggests that our government and judiciary take animal smuggling lightly and must put a full stop to illegal wildlife trading.

Anson Wong was detained at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport whilst trying to smuggle the snakes from Penang to Indonesia. It is " fortunate" that the boas escaped from the luggage and were found by an airport worker. Otherwise, the 95 boas together with the rhinocerous vipers and matamata turtle may end up being served on dining tables or as personal pets of collectors of exotic fauna.

Contrary to the Malaysian scenario where one must be caught in possession of animals (otherwise it is not considered a case), in America, the Lacey Act makes it a federal crime which includes those of a foreign country who violate wildlife laws. A wildlife smuggler does not have to be physically caught in possession of an animal to face prosecution charges.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has categorized endangered species into three groups. Appendix I- animals such as tiger and orangutans are banned for trade as they are close to extinction; Appendix II - less vulnerable creatures which maybe trade under a permit system; and species under Appendix III are protected under national legislation. However, CITES does not provide the same protection for wildlife bred in captivity.

All boa constrictors except one sub-species come under Appendix II. So, only experts like Wong can differentiate whether the smuggled reptiles fall under the sub-species of Appendix II? Moreover, Wong claimed that the animals traded were bred in captivity, and thus did not come under CITES. But where were those creatures bred? Whose responsibility is it to verify? The Judge or Perlihitan?

On the other hand, the Attorney-General’s Chamber has filed an appeal against the Wong’s sentence, calling for a heavier punishment. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also stepped up efforts to protect endangered animals. Its Minister, Datuk Uggag Embas said the enforcement of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 which will be regulated later in the year, provides more serious penalties and will improve the enforcement of laws and regulations on poaching. This shows that our country takes a serious view against poaching. The question is: why should we wait for another Act when existing laws provide conviction with more serious punishment for an offence? Wong had faced a maximum 7 years imprisonment or RM 100,000 per animal or both under the Endangered Species Act 2008.

It is hoped that the new Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 will protect all species found in our country not counting if they are endangered or not. Malaysia is blessed with nature hardly found elsewhere. The flora and fauna here could even be a future income driver by catering to a niche market of travelers bent on eco-tourism. Hence, the urgency to safeguard our wildlife as we cannot afford to lose them.

(Article published at "the Guardian" September 2010)

为我们的KTM干杯

昨夜在电视新闻看到中国子弹火车从杭州出发到上海只需45分钟。 我的心又再寒了一下。 之前中国山峡铁路通车，我也见识过了肯做的中国一直在进步及发展。而我们呢？ 哈哈，想说，说不出来。

多年以前代表大学本系连同院长及几位特出的同学到泰国知名学府签署合作备忘录时（这是重点!)，我们一行约12人从曼谷乘搭当地火车到清迈。 由于是夜班所有没有什么风景可言， 但是我和同学老师可以一路安稳甜睡到达目的地。行程大约是8个小时。 车厢虽然不大，但是却让人很舒服。虽然不通晓泰语，不过一路同行无阻，所以回国后一直很渴望享受马来西亚的这种素质与服务。

等了很多年，2007年终于有机会第一次感觉马来西亚的‘美丽’。 行程是从槟城回吉隆坡。那是为了让家里的小孩能过体验海陆空的不同感觉，所以我们一家16个人乘搭飞机前往槟岛，再从槟岛乘船过海，然后再撘火车回程。 前面2个交通工具都没有问题，而且相当的享受。 和一家人在一起，什么都行！怎知来到KTM站...

首先，找厕所，哇！！！！

火车准时到站，不过延迟开车。这火车的设计，对于老人家来说，是一个极不友善的款式。
我很期待马来西亚的铁道局可以给予我不同的感觉。一进到车厢，hmm它的室内设计.....说不出可以让人觉得很爽的感觉，总感觉是在电视节目看到的50、60年代中国的出租房间。

放好行李梳洗过后就‘上床’了。 躺下去，一点都不舒服，不过还好过惯野外生活，所以没什么大不了。 期待有个好梦.....

一路火车晃晃晃、停停停，几乎每个站都停， 好像在撘捷运一样，不同的是，这个捷运实在慢....最折磨的是，根本就没能好好的睡着觉。为了安全起见，每个月台的灯光都那么的强烈及热情，高调的让你知道它在那等你。 就这样，跟着火车停停走走，热情的灯光每站的迎接，让我不好意思再光临。

在多年前到英国旅游时，也曾从一个小镇乘搭火车到伦敦。行程大约2个小时，不过是直通的，非常的准时。 值得提的时，英国的火车，不管轨道还是车厢，都有好多好多年的历史，可是我感觉不到它不符合时代的要求。快速效率干净，没有一个是可以挑剔的。

我一直不明白为什么我们的铁道局不能备有直通火车。 还有，为什么我们总是喜欢捡别人不要的货，还拍掌欢呼赚到了！

我的人生到如今，只领过2次我国铁道局的本事。想在领教，要三思啊！

Leading Bold Change, where were you be?

I attended a course preview called “Leading Bold Change” yesterday. The content of the talk is taken from John Kolter’s book ‘The Iceberg is Melting’.

Reason attending this preview is to access the capability of instructor on my own view and to justify whether my organization needed such course. After reviewing the course, I strongly felt that my organization indeed an urgency for change. Thus I was suggested to have an internal training for my organisation. However the charges for the course is per head count due to it intellectual property licensing, and this, withhold my decision. However the training provider is willing to help me to seek for the alternative to get the affordable deal. Well, I am not saying about the PARTY in large though they are also need to change, in fact urgent than the internal admin part, I am mentioned about the internal part of my organisation.

What I wanted to share here is, the world is changing and it is kept on changing, AND where were we now.

One of the audiences shared a story about the IT. She said, in future in fact is happening now, there will be no licensing require for you to get the software like Microsoft, Apple, etc. All information and needy can be acquired by just one click. Many of the local licensing distributor and manufacturer were denied and are in as best one can to prevent or try to prevent it to be happened. This can be affected their business or worst still, to shut down their operation. However, the fact is, it is already happen and it is matter of time it reaching us. And it is therefore for all related businessman here to take the initial changes for the challenges.


The other story was shared by the speaker.

She traveled to Vietnam with her family for vacation during CNY, they were traveling there for continuously 3 years. As to say that a little bit more familiar with the Ho-chih Min City, the first thing first for them is to look for tailor because their handiwork is very fine. In the 3rd shop they felt that it is the shop that they are looking for. So they let the tailor to do the measurement for all. In the 3rd day, she went to collect the finished good. It was the tailor's wife who attending them. And she was in front of the computer at the time. She called the speaker to go over her place and clicking on the mouse by showing her... ‘Here it is, this is my BLOG and this is your personal information, please key in the series number (something like password) that you wish.’ After that all the measurement were appeared on the screen. The wife said ‘ in future, if your measurement changed and you would like to place an order, you just log in to your account and change the measurement and do the placement order, and we do according to your request’. At the time the speaker was so impressed that with their way of service and doing business.

After coming back to Malaysia, the speaker went to enquire in few of the renowned tailor shops, the response were ‘oh, we are not ready for that’. Okay, since we are not ready for that, and what do we have to compete with the others? We are so called more advance that Vietnam, event Thailand, The Philippines and so fort. People are make changes and doing it well to stay competitive and not to wash out from the wave.

We are no longer having competitiveness in the global and also the marketability is too low. With the mindset of our people, our leaders have, we are, staying at the comfort ZONE too long.

Everybody left a SEAM on their door but eyes were looking at their pocket and holding tight with their hands.

What do you have to offer yourself to the changing world? Where were you be?

梦！

昨夜做了个很怪的梦。

事缘早上同轴里 Connie (肥的的6嫂）吃点心，然后谈到她的学业。她同我一样在念着MBA. 说感觉她青春了，也清纯了。 夜里，就梦到很多帅哥追求他。疯狂到了追到一个度假村。 我们正在度假。 同家婆商量后，为了帮忙档这些轴里觉得讨厌的男生，我就使计让轴里现行离开。 然后，有个帅哥牵着我的手走出度假村，还经过我家婆的房间。

到了度假村门口，有个美女向他打招呼，帅哥快快甩掉我的手，微微笑的向美女招手。 我也识相的让他去，然后很炫耀的走到我的包车旁，哇，是超级geng的包车哦。 系好安全带后，要开车咯。。。怎没锁匙的？？哦，没关系，反正是Go Kart来的，不必锁匙！！哈哈。。。一路飙到mont kiara， 突然我的包车走不动了，正好好友Karen来到，要她帮忙我看看车有什么问题， 结果我美丽的黄色跑车变成了两节。 我和Karen索性在大道旁休息， 我就躺在分界提上和她瞎矇。

这时，我看到了救星…是我office的CAD，哈哈他怎么会出现在这里？？我连忙起身想要冲向他, （这时，我身边的karen变成了珊姐），怎知他先跑向我。 可是，还来不及跟他说发生什么事，就有一大堆记者围着我们，访问。 分解提后面有个高高的篱笆网，篱笆网上跑下来了很多马华党员。。哇塞！！好像是监狱威龙酱冲着下来，边跑边问有关特大的事情。说时迟，那时快；突然有几个人冲向CAD就要挥拳过去，….而我！。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。奋不顾身 ………………用自己的身体………………….为CAD档那些拳头。。。.我……满身是血！！！我的脚下…..流了一摊血!!..OH…......我的天啊……我流产了！！！

就这样，我壮烈牺牲了。 而，珊姐…更惨。。。她只是幽魂！！！

我KOH…什么来的！！！

醒来后，这整个梦境竟然还清清楚楚的在脑海里！！想了，真的是好笑到爆！

不懂自己是花痴，还是要做英雄，或者事闲来没事在梦里做故事！！哈哈！

JPA 奖学金上诉者请麻烦自己一下

规劝所有上诉公共服务局奖学金的学生们，记得提呈所有相关文件，避免错失你宝贵的机会。

事缘，有些想上诉的学生错把上诉表格传真到我的部门来，基于举手之劳，便将该相关表格交给相关部门，才发现原来还需附上一些文件如成绩单等，但相关部门职员没有这个义务逐个致电要求寄上所需文件，因为上诉的学生太多了！理由是如果连自己本身的义务都做不好，就是基本的要求/条件都需要人家来提醒的话，还有什么资格要奖学金？！还有不要以为表格交上来了，其他文件可以慢慢来，SORRY...好自为之了！

不要以为你把上诉表格交了就算了，请帮帮你自己，准备好所有所需、相关的文件给有关当局，不要在得不到时才怨天尤人，自恃‘我’的成绩酱好，有什么理由拿不到奖学金？

告诉你，世事无绝对，如果你连基本的工作的做不好，那就非常抱歉了！

记得哦，不要以为什么都是理所当然的哦！

如果可以成对

我喜欢群体的生活，尤其邀约不同组别的朋友们一起活动，酱大家的生活圈子不但可以扩大，还可用他人身上学到不同的东西。或许有人不太习惯，也有人无任欢迎。常常在不自觉中，做了媒； 又或是自己的好友变成了友人的好友。

有时，我喜欢凭空幻想，在云彩里快乐的配对，也因为我周围的朋友都不坏，如果在一起的话，也不会多伤害。。

话说，我的同事阿甘，是个敦厚老实的男人。偶尔爱耍贱，E-Q超乎常人得让人有时候会想刮他一巴掌，为什么？ 因为你在急，他却按兵不动；你火在头上了，他不理不睬；有好吃的，抢先吃完了，当作没一回事… 他的可爱，可以让一个人来照顾他，爱护他，就是我的好友 Karen。 Karen着实大姐大的模样，想吃什么只要同她说一声，随时都可以上门吃个痛快 （这个符合阿甘爱吃的性格）；心烦了，窝在她的宿舍里，大半天不说话也行；好玩时摇个电话给她开玩笑，听她大笑的欢乐。她需要一个像阿甘这样的一个男人来呵护，把她捧在手心里疼，因为阿甘总是重色亲友，一定可以给她幸福。

也是我的同事凯琳，不但心肠好，优质的人格让我非常地欣赏。不愧是念中文系的，把中华文化该有的修养都生活化了。在她身上，你可以看到正气。谁要是敢欺负她，也不得好死！她的好修养美德没得形容。Sister常不自觉的问为什么酱好的一个女子没人爱？我想远在S国的阿虎，该是她可以托付终身的人吧。阿虎，也有好品格，做起事来认真有架势，是个完美主义者。可能两者心里都有个潜在的意识，只是时间与空间的分离，待阿虎回来时，只怕劳燕分飞！ 蓦然回首，那人却在灯火阑珊处…cheh 我想太多了！

我MBA的同学，Kheng Siong （sorry,我不知他的中文名），是个可以说成熟的男人。人生游历不少（不敢说人生历练，因为会显得老陈），当很多人觉得他很喜欢complaint时（这只是场误会），你却可以发现他其实有很多优点。有大男人的感觉，但是也有疼爱人的细心。酱的男人，有个人我想特别的，应该比较喜欢，就是，又是我的同事，悦子。悦子比较多愁，想被人呵护，又害怕被伤害，所以思绪不容易稳重，喜爱年长成熟的男人。懂日语的悦子，如果和KS在一起，说不定可以同游日本，携手富足呢...呵呵！

我有个好buddy，Pao, 事业有基础，有屋有楼有车又有虾（嘻，虾是乱盖的！）从小学开始我们就被公认的一对，只是，人各有志，相识20多年，间中因上大学而失联了（因当时，我们都还没有email& handphone），再重逢时更珍惜友情多过胡思的爱情。对他的友情是捧在手心里的执著。有个女生，我大学的同学，Sie Yung，漂亮、有本事又喜爱大自然，爬山潜水没问题；是某大公司的区域行销经理，对上帝的爱多过人间的爱。如果和我的好buddy在一起，可以说是天生的一对，郎才女貌…如果好buddy 不介意女朋友月入比他多一点点…

我还有对大学同学，Foo & Li Chuen，好话我不多说，希望月老快快将线萦着他们两… 别再蹉跎岁月..

如果只是如果，如果你们想认识，大家可以吃个饭喝喝茶，话说如果地如果..

多此一举

霹雳州州政府日前在民主树下种植多了几棵树， 美名为美化环境。

我在想，我们的城市规划师或Landscape Planner是否脑袋出了问题，怎么一个大环境不好好的去维护与美化，却要在这已经长得茂盛茁壮的大树下画蛇添足？ 市政厅负责人该打！难道这些人的普通常识都考鸡蛋？？ 在这雨树（Samanea Saman) 多栽几棵‘美化’树，不只会影响树的生长，还有一点美化作用也没有。

我们的政府人员是不是出了问题，还是我国公共服务局在应征面试时根本就无视他们的‘专业’，随便给个职位就是？? 还是没有给予心理与思想建设？ 怎这么狭隘与极端？？！！

极之厌恶！