Malaysia: Continuous rain floods parts of Malaysia

Today Online 2 Jan 18;

KUALA LUMPUR — Parts of Malaysia were hit by floods on Tuesday (Jan 2) after constant rainfall over the long New Year weekend affected nearly 1,500 people in six states.

Pahang was one of the worst hit states, with over 700 people from 183 families from the Rompin, Kuantan and Jerantut districts evacuated to 11 flood relief centres.

Pahang Civil Defence Force director Zainal Yusof said 349 people from 95 families were evacuated to five relief centres in Rompin.

A total of 96 people from Kuantan were evacuated to four flood relief centres, while in Jerantut, two villages were cut off after the access road was flooded at about 11am on Monday.

The two villages — Kampung Teresek and Kampung Belebar — were inhabited by nine and six families, respectively.

In Johor, some 373 people from the districts of Mersing and Kota Tinggi were evacuated to nine flood relief centres.

Mr Ayub Rahmat, chairman of the State Health, Environment, Education and Information committee, said 95 families were evacuated from their homes early Tuesday morning.

“Mersing is currently the worst hit with 337 people seeking shelter at seven flood relief centres,” he said in a statement published on The Star Online.

“Two more centres were opened up at Kota Tinggi to accommodate 34 victims.”

In the east coast state of Terengganu, the number of flood victims in the Dungun district rose to 233 people from 79 families as of Tuesday morning, compared with 55 people from 20 families on Monday night.

The level of water from the nearby Sungai Dungun river is at 21.33m, which is above the 21m danger level.

In Kelantan, Astro Awani reported that 150 school children from the Gua Musang district were unable to attend the first day of the new school year after the nearby Galas river burst its banks.

Three areas in the district were inundated with flood waters and some 46 victims are currently being housed in relief centres.

In Sabah, 288 people from 78 families had to be evacuated when continuous rains caused flooding in villages near the Tongod district.

Three primary schools were closed in Sarawak due to floods, affecting 330 pupils. The Sarawak state disaster management committee said access roads to the three schools were cut off due to rising flood waters. AGENCIES


371 flood victims evacuated in Johor
kathleen ann kili The Star 2 Jan 18;

JOHOR BARU: The number of flood victims have risen to 371 people evacuated to nine flood relief centres in two districts in Johor.

State Health, Environment, Education and Information committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said that the 95 families were evacuated from their homes as of 6am on Tuesday (Jan 2).

"Mersing is currently the worst hit with 337 people seeking shelter at seven flood relied centres.

"Two more centres were opened up at Kota Tinggi to accommodate 34 victims," he said in a statement here.

"The relevant government agencies are monitoring the situation to ensure victims are provided with necessary aid," he noted, adding that the downpour in Mersing continued.


Water level in Pahang's 3 major rivers surpasses danger level; flood evacuees up to 947 people
T N ALAGESH New Straits Times 2 Jan 18;

KUANTAN: The number of flood evacuees in Pahang rose to 947 as at 7pm compared to 489 people earlier today.

Pahang Civil Defence Force director Colonel Zainal Yusof said 458 people from 111 families were taking shelter at six flood relief centres in Rompin, while 489 people from 152 families were seeking shelter at seven relief centres in Kuantan.

The number of flood evacuees in Pahang rose to 947 as at 7pm compared to 489 people earlier today. Pic by NSTP / MUHD ASYRAF SAWAL
He said in Rompin, 168 people were seeking refuge at the Setajam multipurpose hall, 64 at Kampung Painggu Hall, 17 at the Telok Gading Hall, 53 at Kampung Sepayang multipurpose hall, 104 at SMK Pontian Jaya and 52 at SK Sarang Tiong.

In Kuantan, a total of 156 flood evacuees sought refuge at the Sri Damai public hall, 76 at Pandan 2 multipurpose hall, 30 at the District Drainage and Irrigation Department Hall, seven at Kampung Paya Bungor hall, 164 at SK Fakeh Abdul Samad, 52 at SMK Gudang Rasau and four at SMK Sungai Lembing.

Zainal said the water level at three main rivers – Sungai Belat in Sri Damai (5.84 m), Sungai Lepar (30.12 m) and Sungai Tembeling in Kuala Tahan, Jerantut (68.61m) – has surpassed its danger level and continues to show a rising trend.


Heavy rainfall set to subside
The Star 3 Jan 18;

PETALING JAYA: The heavy rainfall in Pa­­hang and Johor are expected to subside soon, prompting a downgrade from Red Alert to Orange Alert by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

MetMalaysia director-general Alui Bahari said the weather had calmed down and heavy rainfall in these areas is only expected to last until today.

The Red Alert was earlier issued for Pekan and Rompin in Pahang and Mersing in Johor.

“Yesterday, we recorded more than 300mm in rainfall in some areas. But the wind patterns have now improved, so we are expecting lower rainfall.

Red Alert signifies continuous heavy rain exceeding 240mm a day while Orange Alert indicates continuous heavy rain for more than six hours and rainfall of at least 60mm.

Yellow Alert means continuous heavy rain for not more than six hours with rainfall of at least 60mm.

Yellow alerts have been issued for Kema­man in Terengganu; Kuantan in Pahang; Se­gamat, Kluang and Kota Tinggi in Johor; Ku­­dat, Sandakan, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Tua­ran, Kota Belud and Ranau in Sabah.

The alerts have been stopped for Dungun in Terengganu; Maran, Bera, Jerantut, Temer­loh and Bentong in Pahang; Tangkak, Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor; Jelebu, Jempol, Tam­pin, Kuala Pilah and Rembau in Negri Sembi­lan; and Melaka.

The notice was issued by MetMalaysia at 1.30pm yesterday.

Alui said no heavy rainfall or strong winds are expected to disrupt the festivities on Chinese New Year (Feb 16).

Meanwhile, a check on the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s (DID) publicinfo­banjir.water.gov.my website showed that water levels at certain river stations in Pahang and Johor were still above danger levels.

In Pahang, Sungai Tembeling, Kuala Tahan; Sungai Belat, Sri Damai; and Sungai Lepar, Jambatan Gelugor; have exceeded the danger level at their respective measuring stations.

In Johor, Sungai Lenik in Ladang Chaah exceeded the danger level of 6m by 0.03m.

Sungai Dungun in Kuala Jengai, Terengganu, also recorded water levels above the 21m mark by 0.64m.

Bernama reported that Kelantan DID ex­­pects floods to hit six districts in the state’s river basin at 1am today.

The Kelantan DID director Kamal Mustapha named the districts as Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah and Tumpat.

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Keep global warming under 1.5C or 'quarter of planet could become arid'

A global temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial levels could see many regions facing an increased threat of drought and wildfires, study suggests
Hannah Devlin The Guardian 2 Jan 18;

More than a quarter of the planet’s surface could become significantly drier if global temperatures rise 2C above pre-industrial levels, scientists predict.

The study, which is one of the most detailed assessments to date of future aridity, suggests that many regions could face an increased threat of drought and wildfires.

Limiting global warming to under 1.5C would avoid extreme changes for two-thirds of these areas, the study suggested.

Chang-Eui Park, the first author from the Southern University of Science and Technology (Sustech) in Shenzhen China, said: “Aridification is a serious threat because it can critically impact areas such as agriculture, water quality, and biodiversity. It can also lead to more droughts and wildfires similar to those seen raging across California.”

Aridity is a measure of the dryness of the land surface, which can be calculated by combining predictions of precipitation and evaporation.

The scientists studied projections from 27 different global climate models to pinpoint regions where the land is expected to become significantly drier, as global warming reaches 1.5C and 2C above pre-industrial levels.

Manoj Joshi, a co-author of the study from the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: “Our research predicts that aridification would emerge over about 20 to 30% of the world’s land surface by the time the global mean temperature change reaches 2C. But two-thirds of the affected regions could avoid significant aridification if warming is limited to 1.5C.”

Drought severity has already increased across the Mediterranean, southern Africa, and the eastern coast of Australia during the 20th century, while semi-arid areas of Mexico, Brazil, southern Africa and Australia have started turning into desert as the world warms. The study suggested that equatorial regions and countries at high latitudes could get wetter.

Prof Tim Osborn, also one of the study’s co-authors from UEA, said: “The areas of the world which would most benefit from keeping warming below 1.5C are parts of south-east Asia, southern Europe, southern Africa, Central America and southern Australia where more than 20% of the world’s population live today.”

The findings are published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

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Louis Ng's optimism carries him through Acres activism and politics

Yunita Ong The New Paper 2 Jan 18;

Mr Louis Ng recalled being angry and impatient in his early days of activism.

But ask him about the rejection in end-November of his parliamentary petition to make public housing policies more inclusive for single parents and he remains optimistic.

The MP for Nee Soon GRC, 39, told The New Paper: "I don't believe it is a setback. The Ministry of National Development did put up a big statement that it will ensure no child will be without adequate housing whether the parents are married or not."

The petition, which was a rare move here, had asked for unmarried parents and their children to be considered a family nucleus, so they can be eligible for public housing schemes. It was filed on behalf of seven single parents.

Mr Ng's optimism is an undercurrent to his work both as MP and as chief executive of animal welfare group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres).

SPEAKING UP

Since he was elected as an MP in the 2015 General Election with the People's Action Party (PAP), the man who was previously known more as an animal rights champion has gone beyond that in Parliament.

Last month, the ex-smoker spoke against an impending ban on imitation tobacco products because he believes Singapore might be missing out on a chance to benefit from regulations that would allow the controlled use of such products to help smokers quit.

In August, he filed an adjournment motion to ask for extended paid parental leave for those with multiple births or premature babies. Mr Ng's 10-month-old twin daughters, Katie and Poppy, were born premature.

Mr Ng believes strongly in speaking up about society's injustices as an MP - the same as what his activist self would do.

Speaking to TNP at Yishun Park Hawker Centre last month, he said: "People asked why I wanted to jump from activism to politics, but I've always said they're the same thing. I am fortunate to have this chance to speak up."

CHANGING HIS APPROACH

Mr Ng made a name for himself after starting Acres in 2001 while studying biology at the National University of Singapore.

In 2003, Acres infamously parked a black car, with a pink dolphin soft toy chained to its top, outside the Haw Par Glass Tower building in Clemenceau Avenue. This was to demand pink dolphins that performed at the then-Underwater World Singapore to be set free.

His life changed when Mr K. Shanmugam, who was already Law Minister then, wanted to meet days after speaking at Acres' anniversary dinner in 2008.

Mr Ng recalled: "I was wondering, what did I do?"

Mr Shanmugam urged him to turn his attention to people and not just animals - and to volunteer at Chong Pang in Nee Soon GRC.

Mr Ng also took Mr Shanmugam's advice to veer from a combative approach. One example is the long-standing ban on cat ownership in HDB flats.

A pilot programme allowing residents in Chong Pang to keep cats in their flats began in 2012 after he worked with Mr Shanmugam and took feedback from a public forum on animal welfare policies in 2011, he said. It was extended by another two years in 2015.

Mr Ng said: "I realised that working from within, I could affect policy. It wasn't just about rescuing more animals but about fundamental policy changes."

As an MP, he listens to residents and engages civil society groups to sound out their issues in Parliament. He said his eyes were opened to the struggles of single parents during one of his weekend home visits.

He makes it a point to enter each resident's home and to hear them out.

He said: "I just finished my first round of 143 HDB blocks and that has taken me two years."

As a father to three girls - Ella is the oldest at three - with his wife Amy, 40, who takes care of the kids full-time, Mr Ng felt compelled to act.

He met the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) several times and consulted it about research it had done on the matter.

His work has been valuable to Aware, said its executive director Corinna Lim.

The two had worked together before Mr Ng's entry into politics. After he was elected, they met to discuss issues facing women.

In Parliament, he has asked for data on several Aware-related issues such as the treatment by the authorities of those who have attempted suicide.

She said: "He really does his homework and makes sure he knows the issue inside out. He is patient and takes the role as a representative of the people very, very seriously."

While she said some in the activism scene were surprised about him joining the PAP, she said as MP, he has extended the empathy and sense of injustice he has had for animals towards society's marginalised people.

That said, Mr Ng said Acres has not changed just because he is an MP, and that it would not hesitate to speak up on issues, such as the long conflict between the AVA and Acres about culling monkeys.

Mr Ng said last year the number culled in 2015 was too high.

He has plans for the next Budget speech and has met civil servants on how to improve the system.

PATIENCE

Mr Ng said the next step for the single parent issue is to file a parliamentary question on the criteria single parents need to fulfil to be able to get housing.

"If we get the momentum going and get more details, we can actually make a difference."

Whenever he feels dejected, he reminds himself he can do something to change things.

He has started several initiatives in Nee Soon such as Project Hearts, a financial assistance project and mentorship programme for needy children, and Project Hearts to Hands that has organised trips to help neighbouring countries tackling natural disasters and refugee crises.

He said: "Singapore can't accept refugees, but I don't think we should just stop there and say we can't help."

He added activism has taught him that change takes time.

"I always tell my new staff - all our successful campaigns took two to three years."

Even something as brutal as the Yishun cat murders yielded a positive take from Mr Ng, who said the upside was that Singaporeans rallied around the cause, some even travelled from Potong Pasir to protect the cats.

Said Mr Ng: "We lose many battles. If you are pessimistic, you will never last."

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Hospitals that seek to heal with nature

Designs incorporating greenery linked to better mental and physical well-being
Felicia Choo Straits Times 2 Jan 18;

Bring up her stay at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) and one of the first things that former patient Chong Lih Yin remembers is the verdant grounds.

"I felt so relaxed," said the business administrator, 49, who was hospitalised last month for hives. "You don't see such greenery at other hospitals."

The 590-bed general and acute care hospital, which opened in June 2010, stands out for its access to both greenery and water features.

A waterfall that cascades into a central garden courtyard, rooftop gardens and planter boxes along corridors and outside wards provide patients with green views, and the hospital grounds even open out into Yishun Pond.

The hospital's public areas are also naturally ventilated by louvres on the facade which channel wind throughout the interior while blocking out direct sunlight.

Its biophilic design, which incorporates nature and its representations to improve people's health and well-being, won KTPH the inaugural Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award last month.

Biophilic design is based on the idea that humans have an inherent need to connect with nature, even in modern settings, and this connection improves their mental and physical well-being.

KTPH, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (NTFGH) and Jurong Community Hospital are the only hospitals here considered to have an extensive biophilic design, said Professor Lam Khee Poh, dean of the National University of Singapore's School of Design and Environment.

While research has linked green buildings to positive effects on people's health, more studies are needed to determine the link between biophilic design and patient recovery in healthcare settings, said Prof Lam. But these studies are limited as few hospitals worldwide have such designs, he added.

An often cited research work in the context of healthcare is a 1984 study of patients who had undergone gall bladder surgery in a Pennsylvania hospital in the United States. It found that those who had a window view of trees stayed for a shorter time in the hospital, had less negative observations about their condition noted by nurses, and took fewer strong doses of painkillers than patients whose windows faced a brick wall.

"The general feedback of people who have been engaged in these kinds of buildings and spaces has been very positive, (but) we need to do that in a much more scientific and systematic way," said Prof Lam.

At NTFGH and Jurong Community Hospital, the idea of creating a healthy and healing environment for patients drove the design process, said Mr Foo Hee Jug, chief executive officer of NTFGH.

Built in June 2015, the hospitals have won several awards for design and environmental sustainability, including the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment Top Ten Awards last year.

The hospitals' fan-shaped wards with windows for each patient increase ventilation, with planters providing a green view. There are also 15 gardens, including one for intensive-care unit patients, and ward towers are orientated to optimise day lighting while reducing glare.

Staff are not left out either - a light well provides natural lighting at a relaxation area for backend staff who work in the basement.

Yet, challenges to adopting biophilic design remain, not least as many healthcare institutions are still largely conceptualised as sterile environments, and there are concerns about increased maintenance cost. An increase in pests like insects and the amount of dead leaves, which can clog up drains, are examples of the problems that some hospitals would rather avoid, said KTPH director of hospital planning Donald Wai.

KTPH sprays neem oil, an organic substance which is not toxic, on the plants so as to deter pests. Mr Wai said: "I feel that the management of each healthcare facility needs to embrace this green philosophy.

"The biophilic environment is not just meant to allow patients to walk about, feel relaxed and to recuperate, but also to make our staff feel that they are in a very calm and relaxing environment."

Prof Lam thinks there is a good chance that biophilic design can have a lasting impact on health.

"To me, it's not so much the cost but what value are you getting out of it. If you invest well, you're going to get the returns many, many times over," he said.

"And if you design it well and integrate it well from the beginning...it doesn't necessarily mean that it will cost a lot more."

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Malaysia: Floods hit three districts in Johor

mohd farhaan shah The Star 1 Jan 18;

JOHOR BARU: The first day of the New Year brought flash floods to three districts in Johor, forcing 188 people to seek shelter at relief centres here.

Heavy downpour since late Sunday (Dec 31) evening caused floods to hit Labis, Kota Tinggi and Mersing on Monday.

State Health, Environment, Education and Information committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said 173 victims from 46 families in Mersing had been relocated to relief centres in the district.

He said among the affected villages were Taman Nakhoda, Air Papan, Kampung Tanjung Genting, Tenglu Besar, Kampung Kelantan near Endau and Air Tawar.

"About 51 people from 14 families in Kampung Orang Asli Segamat Kecil in Labis have been asked to return home after flood waters receded," he said.

Ayub said authorities were monitoring the weather as well as the flood situation in both Mersing and Kota Tinggi.

Meanwhile, Mersing Works Department on its Facebook page, said that part of Jalan Jemaluang-Mersing (FT003 section 130-129 in front of SMK Anjung Batu) was flooded and can only be used by heavy vehicles.

The department urged other vehicle users to use alternative routes such as Jalan Jemaluang/Kota Tinggi-Jalan Sri Pantai-Jalan Sekakap to Mersing town.

For more information, kindly contact JKR Mersing via its hotline at 07-7994040.


Wet start to New Year for several Johor districts hit by flash floods
Halim Said New Straits Times 1 Jan 18:

JOHOR BARU: It proved to be a wet start for the new year for residents of several areas in Johor, with a number of districts hit by flash floods today.

A continous downpour since noon led to floods in several low-lying areas in Kota Tinggi, Mersing and Segamat.

The worst-hit area was Mersing, where 173 people from 46 families had to be evacuated to five temporary flood relief centres when flood waters rose in the afternoon.

The affected areas in Mersing were Taman Nakhoda, Air Papan, Kampung Tanjung Genting, Kampung Tenglu Besar, Kampung Kelantan, Semanyir, Endau and Kampung Air Tawar.

All evacuees were brought to the respective relief centres as early as 1.45pm with the help of various agencies including the Civil Defence Force, Fire and Rescue Department, People's Volunteer Corp (Rela) and police.

Most of the flood victims were housed at SK Air Papan, which now houses 50 people from 15 families.

The situation was less severe in Kota Tinggi, as only one area in Bukit Raja was hit by flash floods. Ten people from three families had to seek shelter at the SK Teluk Ramunia relief centre.

Meanwhile, in Segamat, 51 people sought refuge on higher ground when waters rose in Kampung Segamat Kechil. However, the residents were able to return to their houses around 4pm when floodwaters receded.

Flash floods hit Mersing, Kuantan, river levels rising in Terengganu
Bernama New Straits Times 1 Jan 18;

JOHOR BARU: Two hundred and three people from 56 families in Mersing have been evacuated to five Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) when floods hit the district today.

Chairman of the Johor Health, Environment, Education and Information Committee, Datuk Ayub Rahmat said as of 9 pm, the evacuees comprised residents in Taman Nakhoda, Air Papan, Kampung Tanjung Genting, Kampung Tenglu Besar, Kampung Kelantan and Kampung Air Tawar.

"A total of 10 people from four families were evacuated to the PPS at Taman Nakhoda Community Hall which was opened at 1.45 pm, 50 people from 15 families to Sekolah Kebangsaan Air Papan, which was opened at 4.15 pm, while 34 people from 10 families to Sekolah Kebangsaan Tenglu, which was opened at 4.30 pm.

“40 people from six families were moved to Kampung Benaung Multipurpose Hall, which was opened at 4.45 pm, while 39 people from 11 families were sent to the Endau District Farmers’ Association building which was opened at 5.20 pm, “ he said in a statement to Bernama.

Ayub said those evacuated inlcudes 15 people from six families in Kampung Bukit Raja, Kota Tinggi, were evacuated to Sekolah Kebangsaan Telok Ramunia, which was opened at 9 am following flash floods.

He said the flood situation was being monitored by agencies like the Kota Tinggi Civil Defence Force, Royal Malaysia Police, the Village Development and Security Committee, and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage.

Meanwhile, the Mersing Public Works Department (JKR), through its Facebook, announced that Jalan Jemaluang-Mersing (FT003 Section 130-129 in front of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Anjung Batu) is flooded and opened only to heavy vehicles.

It said light vehicles would have to use the alternative route of Jalan Jemaluang/Kota Tinggi-Jalan Sri Pantai-Jalan Sekakap to Mersing town.

Members of the public can contact Mersing JKR at its hotline number 07-7994040 for further information.

In Kuantan, Hidir Reduan reports that the number of evacuees from a flash flood here increased to 34 victims from 14 families as at 9pm tonight.

The evacuees are 19 people from six families from Kampung Sri Damai, and 15 people from eight families from Kampung Pandan 2.

Pahang Civil Defence Force director Colonel Zainal Yusof said that currently there are two relief centres opened to shelter the victims.

"For affected villagers from Kampung Sri Damai, they were placed at the Sri Damai public hall, while affected residents from Kampung Pandan 2 were sheltered at the village's community centre.

"The evacuation were conducted by the Civil Defence Force with the cooperation of the police, the state Fire and Rescue Department and the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK)," he said tonight.

Zainal said that the Civil Defence Force does not discount the possibility of more evacuations as midnight approaches due to the uncertain weather.

He cautioned that heavy downpour at several locations in the district would heighten risk of flash floods at low-lying areas.

Meanwhile the water level in Sungai Dungun at Kampung Pasir Raja has exceeded the danger level, while Sungai Kemaman at Jambatan Air Putih in Kemaman, has exceeded the warning level, according to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) portal publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my.

At Sungai Dungun, the measurement was 37.75 metres at 6.45 pm (danger level is .37.50m), and at Sungai Kemaman, it was 13.29m, which exceeded the warning level (13.25m).

Several other rivers also showed rising water level. They are Sungai Besut in Kampung La, Sungai Nerus in Kampung Langkap, Setiu, Sungai Tebak at Tebak Bridge, Kemaman and Sungai Berang in Kampung Menerong.

The water in the affected rivers has exceeded the alert level, though still below the warning level.

However, in Sungai Dungun at Kuala Jengai, the water was still below the alert level.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department today issued a warning that heavy rain and strong winds were expected to hit Dungun and Kemaman in Terengganu, Kuantan (Pahang) and Kota Tinggi, Johor until tomorrow. — BERNAMA

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Malaysia: Sabah mulls breeding endangered wild cattle

muguntan vanar The Star 1 Jan 18

KOTA KINABALU: A state government’s plan to breed the critically endangered Bornean banteng or wild cattle in oil palm plantations is feasible in reversing its possible extinction, said a conservationist.

Danau Girang Field Centre director Dr Benoit Goossens, who has been promoting an action plan, said it was a good idea to put a few banteng in the plantations for breeding purposes.

“If it is to put a few banteng in the oil palm plantations to breed them, why not? An estate may be willing to collaborate and provide space.

“There will be a need for shade and some forest,” he said.

“I believe all these issues could be discussed,” he said, adding that the banteng was critically endangered and could face the fate of Sumatran Rhinos, which had been declared extinct in the wild in Sabah with only two in captivity left.

With only about 400 banteng left in the wild, Dr Goosens said such a move would increase its population, which was in danger of facing habitat loss and being poached for meat.

Last week, Sabah Wildlife Department director Augustien Tuuga had said it was looking for a partnership with oil palm plantations to breed banteng through captive breeding and the application of advanced reproductive technology, and reintroduce these animals in the future.

Captive breeding, said Dr Goosens, was currently not necessary for other wildlife like the Bornean pygmy elephant, the proboscis monkey, the sun bear and the clouded leopard, adding that the situation was also not critical for the orang utan.

“However, a centre for the captive breeding of pangolins may be necessary.

“Banteng is fine because it’s a cattle and it’s easy to breed and feed,” he said.

“We must focus on protecting the forest, stopping deforestation, restoring the forest, keeping connectivity and stopping poaching and trade, and we should be fine for most species,” added Dr Goossens.

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Indonesia: Jakarta produced 780 tons of waste on New Year's Eve

Antara 1 Jan 18;

Jakarta produced 780 tons of waste on New Year's Eve
Jakartans celebrating the 2018 New Year`s Eve at National Monument (Monas) (ANTARA FOTO/Wahyu Putro A)

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakartans celebrating the 2018 New Year`s Eve on Sunday evening produced a total of 780 tons of trash, an increase from 700 tons as compared to the 2017 New Year`s Eve.

"There is a slight increase as compared to that recorded last year, as this year, the Sudirman-Thamrin avenues were open, and the Ancol area was also open," Isnawa Adji, head of the Environmental Affairs office of the Jakarta administration, noted here, Monday.

Most of the trash comprised plastic bottles and bags as well as styrofoam, he remarked.

Some 10 thousand plastic bags were distributed to street vendors and those celebrating the New Year`s Eve to prevent littering.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is keen that Jakartans play an active role in maintaining cleanliness in the capital city, he stated.

Jakartans flocked to the National Monument (Monas) area in Central Jakarta, Ancol area, and Lake Sunter area in North Jakarta, the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park in East Jakarta, the Hotel Indonesia Circle in Central Jakarta, and Babakan Dam in South Jakarta for the New Year`s Eve celebrations.

Governor Baswedan was present in the Monas area and Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno was in Ancol when the clock struck midnight.

Reported by Dyah Dwi A
EDITED BY INE
Editor: Monalisa

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Govt’s plans will bear imprint of 4G leadership: PM Lee

2018 designated as Singapore's Year of Climate Action
FARIS MOHKTAR Today Online 31 Dec 17;

SINGAPORE – The Government's agenda for the second half of its term will "bear the imprint" of the fourth generation leadership, who will be taking on "greater responsibilities and putting forth their ideas for Singapore", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his New Year message on Sunday (Dec 31).

The plans will be laid out when President Halimah Yacob delivers her inaugural address at the opening of the new Parliamentary session in May, after the Parliament prorogue in April following the Budget statement.

On the domestic front, Mr Lee said the Government will press on with its economic restructuring plans, as it continues to put in place all 23 Industry Transformation Maps, promote lifelong learning through SkillsFuture and help workers adapt and grow amid the volatility in the job market.

He noted that more pre-schools will also be built amid increasing demand, especially in the newer estates. Mr Lee had announced in the National Day Rally this year that 40,000 pre-school places will be added from now till 2022, bringing the total number to about 200,000.

Healthcare policies will be reviewed, while facilities expanded to prepare for an ageing population, said Mr Lee. A UOB report recently warned that Singapore's demographic "time bomb" will start ticking next year, as the country's share of its population who are 65 and above will match the proportion of those under 15 for the first time.

With public confidence in the rail network taking a huge hit this year due to two high-profile incidents – an unprecedented tunnel flooding and a train collision – which had caused massive disruptions, Mr Lee said the Government will continue to improve rail reliability and grow the MRT network.

On top of that, other infrastructure projects to boost Singapore's status as a transport hub are also in the works, said Mr Lee. These include the new Terminal 5 which will double Changi Airport's current capacity by the late 2020s, the Tuas mega port, and the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR).

"All these are essential investments in our future. They require time and resources, and will stretch way beyond this term of government. We have to plan well ahead for them," said Mr Lee.

"This is how we have built today's Singapore – each generation working and saving for the future, building on what it inherited and passing on something better to the next generation. This was the creed that drove the Pioneer Generation of Singaporeans, and it must animate out generation too."

With 2018 designated as Singapore's Year of Climate Action, Mr Lee stressed the Republic is committed to meet its environmental goals under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint. The blueprint – the latest edition of which was unveiled in 2015 – will guide sustainability efforts such as maintaining green spaces, reducing reliance on cars and creating a green economy until 2030.

Singapore will also commit to the Paris Agreement on climate change to cut emissions intensity by 36 per cent, from 2005 levels, by 2030. In the past year, the Government has announced plans to introduce carbon tax and tighten emissions standards for vehicles as part of its pledge.

UNCERTAIN EXTERNAL OUTLOOK

Pointing to the uncertain global landscape in the year ahead, Mr Lee said that Singapore "must keep on strengthening our position at home and abroad". He noted that terrorism remains a threat, while the Korean Peninsula continues to be a source of "growing tension and anxiety", given North Korea's repeated missile tests.

Against the backdrop of a vague American foreign policy, Singapore also has to "keep relations with our immediate neighbours steady as they gear up for elections", said Mr Lee. Malaysia is expected to hold its elections after the Chinese New Year in 2018, while the run-up to Indonesia's Presidential election will begin towards the end of next year.

As Singapore is set to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, it hopes to take the group forward by focusing on the themes of "resilience" and "innovation", said Mr Lee.

'A GOOD 2017'

Looking back on the past year, Mr Lee said that although 2017 had started out with "some uncertainty", given the muted economic mood coupled with concerns over terrorism and the US' radical foreign policy approach, Singaporeans had "pressed on, undaunted by these challenges". Overall, it "has been a good year", Mr Lee said.

At home, the economy has grown by 3.5 per cent, double the initial forecast, while incomes have "gone up across the board", said Mr Lee. At the same time, security measures have been stepped up to guard against potential attacks.

Mr Lee noted that Singapore also strengthened its pledge to multiracialism this year through the introduction of the reserved Presidential Election, which saw Madam Halimah elected as the country's first Malay President in almost half a century.

On the external front, Mr Lee noted that Singapore has maintained good relations with both China and US, and bilateral relations with immediate neighbours such as Malaysia and Indonesia have been "positive".

"We dealt with the urgent concerns, but we looked beyond immediate problems and did not settle for quick fixes," said Mr Lee. "We made steady progress on our long-term goals, and are finishing the year stronger than we started. We are ushering in 2018 with confidence and strength."

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Looking Ahead to 2018: Key national issues to watch

Today Online 31 Dec 17;
No 4 is Year of Climate Action for Singapore

As we enter the new year, TODAY’s Looking Ahead to 2018 series — which was first published over the final week of December — examines key issues on the local and foreign front in the next 12 months. In Singapore, we look at what lies ahead in areas ranging from political succession and climate change, to the terrorism threat and public transportation.

1. S’pore’s political succession to pick up pace

With a major Cabinet reshuffle on the cards early this year, 2018 could turn out be one of the most significant years in Singapore’s political history, and set the stage for the decades ahead — should Singaporeans and the world at large get the clearest indication of who will succeed PM Lee Hsien Loong as the Republic’s fourth Prime Minister.

Going by previous leadership handovers, PM Lee has left it late in giving the public an idea of who his potential successors could be, political analysts and observers say. They added that with the incumbent Government entering the middle of its term next year, the new generation of leaders has to take shape sooner, rather than later, to give them enough time to come into their own before the next General Election (GE) due by Jan 2021. http://tdy.sg/2DEzzZ3

2. Restoring public confidence in MRT vital for car-lite goal

Up until two confidence-sapping train incidents struck in consecutive months late in the year, various parts of the plan to convince the public that there would soon be little need to own a car in Singapore were coming together nicely.

The MRT network, however, was always seen as the centrepiece of Singapore’s car-lite vision, given that nearly every home will be within 10 minutes of a station, albeit years down the road.

With public confidence in the rail network shattered by the two high-profile incidents — an unprecedented tunnel flooding and a train collision — how the MRT system holds up in 2018 will have a big say in whether the drive to nudge more Singaporeans into relying on public transport for daily commuting gets back on track, experts said. http://tdy.sg/2pNpp6r

3. More disruptions in store for taxi industry

Roiled by the most aggressive moves yet by ride-hailing operators Grab and Uber in 2017, the seven taxi firms here are in for a period of reckoning, experts said.

Their business model, centred on picking up street hails, has been rendered obsolete as commuters turn to the greater convenience and affordability of private-hire cars, and as things stand, they could become little more than vehicle providers, transport experts predicted. http://tdy.sg/2pFuP37

4. To tackle climate change, all hands needed on deck

From calls to avoid plastic packaging to campaigns to cut food waste, the message for everyone to help fight climate change will be amplified in the year ahead.

2018 will be the Year of Climate Action for Singapore, declared Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli last month.

His ministry wants the public to know “the government alone cannot tackle climate change”, and will be rallying Singaporeans to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint with the help of various partners.

On the ground, there is no lack of enthusiasm among environmental activists, who already have plans lined up to get people to take little steps to make a difference – bring their own bags, eat less meat and use fewer plastic straws, for instance. http://tdy.sg/2DAXWGM

5. Even as ISIS weakens, evolving terror threat looms for S’pore

The stranglehold of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the Middle East is on the brink of collapse, and its leadership in disarray.

But although ISIS has been dealt one blow after another by an international military coalition in 2017, it is still holding fort online, with Singaporeans among those swayed over to its cause.

The threat of radicalisation is set to persist in the year ahead, and terrorism experts said Singapore must also keep on its radar the return of ISIS foreign fighters to their homelands in Southeast Asia, as well as the resurgence of a familiar enemy – the Jemaah Islamiyah. http://tdy.sg/2pWUp3Y

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Bird watchers flock to Sentosa for glimpse of rare bird

Audrey Tan Straits Times 31 Dec 17;

SINGAPORE - The new year looks to be a good one for bird watchers in Singapore, who recently got a glimpse of a rare bird last seen here more than a decade ago.

Two Asian emerald cuckoos have over the past week been spotted around a particular tree, the Ficus superba, at Sentosa's Fort Siloso, drawing bird photographers to the attraction in droves. The species was last spotted in Upper Seletar Reservoir Park in 2006.

A migratory bird whose feathers have an iridescent jewel green sheen, the Asian emerald cuckoo is likely to have come from as far north as southern China to escape the winter chill, and would likely make its return journey only around March.

When The Straits Times visited the attraction at about 8am last Friday (Dec 29), at least 10 photographers already had their lenses aimed towards the tree. They were not disappointed - the bird made an appearance about an hour later.

But the Asian emerald cuckoo is not the only bird that the photographers were interested in.

Over the past week, the bald tree (Ficus superba) has also drawn a total of five migratory cuckoo species - the large hawk cuckoo, Indian cuckoo, Hodgson's hawk cuckoo, chestnut-winged cuckoo and Asian emerald cuckoo.

Bird scientist David Tan said: "(Having) multiple cuckoo species in a single tree is quite significant, as migratory cuckoos are usually solitary."

The birds were likely to have been massing on that tree due to the sudden appearance of thousands of hairy caterpillars, which are believed to be the young of the clearwing tussock moth (Perina sunda).

Dr Anuj Jain, of the Nature Society (Singapore) and BirdLife International, spotted thousands of caterpillars and pupae below the tree. The emergence of so many of them is unusual in the rainy season, he said.

"Usually, we see such numbers of insects after a dry spell, which is when plants expand resources and bloom all at the same time. This is good for insects, and is when their numbers boom," he added.

The hairy caterpillars are colourful but barely the length of a fingernail.

Dr Anuj said the bright colours are indicative of toxins in their caterpillars' bodies. The hair acts as a defence against predators. When touched, it can cause irritation to humans.

Signs have been put up around Fort Siloso by Sentosa Development Corporation, which manages the island, to inform people to keep away from the caterpillars.

They highlight too that the caterpillars are in the process of metamorphosis to turn into the winged creatures people are more familiar with.

This is the first time that the corporation has put up such a signboard, he added, as the sudden surge in caterpillar numbers had not been encountered before.

Referring to the bald tree, a Sentosa spokesman said: "As the tree has been shedding leaves and growing new shoots, it has attracted a significant number of caterpillars that feed on them."

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