Best of our wild blogs: 9 Apr 16

Night Walk At Dairy Farm Quarry Trail (08 Apr 2016)
Beetles@SG BLOG

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MOE announces multi-school OBS camp for Sec 3 students

The 5-day camp comes under the new National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan and will take place at Outward Bound Singapore campuses in Pulau Ubin and Coney Island from 2020 onwards.
Justin Ong Channel NewsAsia 8 Apr 16;

SINGAPORE: A new five-day, expedition-based, multi-school camp for all Secondary 3 students will be launched in 2020, announced the Ministry of Education on Friday (April 8).

It will be sited at Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) campuses in Pulau Ubin and Coney Island, and comes on the heels of the National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan unveiled by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in his Budget statement last month.

The Masterplan aims to instill resilience in youths by expanding outdoor adventure education - a point reiterated by Acting Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng in his speech at the Committee of Supply’s Parliamentary debates on Friday.

“We will put more emphasis on non-academic aspects of learning,” he said. “Good character, social-emotional competencies and other skills like critical thinking and effective communication are necessary foundations for work and life.”

Describing Outdoor Education (OE) as a platform that provides “rich learning experiences outside the classroom”, he noted that MOE has existing initiatives for primary and secondary schools, such as individual school cohort camps and Physical Education (PE) lessons teaching OE as part of the curriculum.

The addition of the new multi-school Secondary 3 cohort camp will bring students of different institutions together to interact, collaborate and overcome outdoor challenges together, said Mr Ng.

MOE will co-design the camp programme with OBS, and pilot it with some schools starting next year, before rolling it out nationwide from 2020, when the new S$250 million OBS campus on Coney Island is expected to be completed.

SAFETY FIRST

MOE also announced that camp capacity at the ministry’s four Outdoor Adventure Learning Centres (OALCs) - at Jalan Bahtera, Changi Coast, Labrador and Dairy Farm - will be increased and their facilities upgraded.

Additionally, a team of full-time Outdoor Adventure Educators (OAEs) will be put together by MOE to conduct cohort camps for schools at the OALCs. These OAEs will be trained in designing and facilitating outdoor adventure activities to help students achieve learning objectives.

Mr Ng further stressed that student safety remains paramount, even as MOE moves to enhance outdoor education, with an Advisory Panel for Outdoor Adventure Learning formed to provide MOE with input to enhance the quality and safety of its local and overseas outdoor programmes. The panel was first announced last year, after an earthquake in Sabah, Malaysia killed 10 Singaporeans, most of whom were primary school students.

Local and international experts in the fields of outdoor adventure learning, medical emergencies and evacuations, and natural hazards make up the panel, which will also gather views from students, teachers, parents, service providers and overseas partners.

- CNA/jo


All Secondary 3 students to go through five-day OBS from 2020
LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 8 Apr 16;

SINGAPORE – All Secondary 3 students will go through a five-day Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) expedition-based camp, under the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) new National Outdoor Adventure Education Masterplan.

The camp will be piloted with some schools next year, and eventually rolled out to all schools from 2020, when the OBS’ second campus, on Coney Island, is expected to be ready.

Giving details of the masterplan during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate on Friday (April 8), Acting Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng said: “Schools camps are another way of immersing our students in authentic, often challenging situations, where they need to work in teams and learn to take responsibility for decisions they make.

“These experiences develop a culture of self-reliance and mutual support with their peers.”

The MOE will co-design the camp programme with OBS, and partner the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth to build the new OBS campus on Coney Island. The camp will also mix students from various schools.

Last month, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said every Singaporean youth will have the opportunity to attend an OBS camp at least once in their schooling years, noting that building up rugged youths is pertinent amid the threat of terrorism and an increasingly diverse society.

Currently, students participate in about two or three school cohort camps at upper primary and secondary levels.

OBS currently has a campus on Pulau Ubin. Beyond the OBS campuses, existing facilities at the MOE’s Outdoor Adventure Learning Centres in Dairy Farm, Changi Coast, Labrador and Jalan Bahtera were upgraded last year to better cater to students’ learning needs.

Other existing campsites will be rejuvenated and upgraded over the next few years to provide enough capacity for all upper-primary and lower-secondary school cohort camps and uniformed groups in schools.

Mr Ng added that the MOE will continue to partner outdoor adventure service providers to offer varied programmes locally and overseas.

To raise the quality of outdoor education programmes, the MOE will also be building a team of full-time Outdoor Adventure Educators to design and conduct cohort camps for school. Since last year, the ministry has been working with OBS and Republic Polytechnic to provide training for teachers and outdoor instructors.

Mr Ng stressed that the safety of the students remains “paramount” even as outdoor education is enhanced and expanded. To that end, an advisory panel for outdoor adventure learning has been appointed to advise MOE on raising the quality and safety of its outdoor learning programmes.

The panel, which will be chaired by the National University of Singapore’s Dr Tan Lai Yong from the College of Alice & Peter Tan, will include parent representatives, as well as local and international experts with a diverse range of experience including medical emergencies and evacuations and natural hazards.

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Malaysia: Haze-related illnesses on the rise in four districts in Sabah

The Star 8 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: There is a rise in haze-related illnesses in four districts in Sabah, namely Beaufort, Kuala Penyu, Papar and Sipitang, said state Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi.

She said the increase was based on findings conducted by the relevant department in the affected districts monitoring haze-related illnesses.

Dr Christina said Beaufort recorded a rise in conjunctivitis, flu and asthma with 310 cases registered within three days of this week, compared with 346 cases throughout last week.

In Kuala Penyu, 61 similar cases were reported for three days this week compared with four last week.

"Data for Sipitang and Papar districts were newly reported this week but showed a high number of patients, especially for breathing and respiratory disease," she said in a statement here Friday.

Dr Christina said, based on the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading recorded by the Department of Environment from April 2 to 4, Beaufort showed unhealthy and very unhealthy air quality. The district has also recorded an hazardous API reading of 301 on April 4.

"However, the API improved overnight to moderate levels," she said.

Dr Christina also reminded the public to avoid exposure to the haze, reduce outdoor activities and take other measures to keep fit.

Individuals suffering from coughs, colds, asthma, eye pain, heart disease and chronic lung disease are urged to seek immediate medical care if the situation worsens.

The public is also reminded to use masks when outdoors, wash the face and skin exposed to the haze with clean water, use air-conditioning if in a vehicle and always drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

"If the haze continues at a dangerous level, people in the high risk category are advised to leave the area," she said. - Bernama


More aerial water bombings at peat swamp fires
The Star 9 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: Firemen are intensifying their aerial water bombings at a major peat swamp fire at the Binsuluk Forest Reserve after attempts at cloud seeding failed to bring enough rainfall.

The underground fire has been raging since March 29, triggering severe unhealthy haze conditions earlier this week in the south western Beaufort district.

Over 100 firemen – some from neighbouring Labuan and Sarawak and with the aid of forestry personnel – have been fighting to put it out.

“The rains (from cloud seeding) was not enough to put it off. We will carry out more aerial water bombings at two hot spots at the centre of the forest as we cannot reach the area,” Sabah Fire and Rescue Services Department deputy director Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim said yesterday.

He said apart from aerial bombing, forestry personnel were cutting a route into the two hotspots for firemen to enter the area while volunteers were also cleaning drains to provide sources for water to douse the fires.

More than 200ha of the 12,000ha forest reserve area have been destroyed.

The Binsuluk peat swamp forest had lost nearly 8,000ha in the 1997 El Nino dry spell and there was only about 4,000ha left which foresters say have more or less been wiped out.

Meanwhile, Khairul said that another fire in Bongowan area was already put out late on Thursday and they were now focusing on the Binsuluk fires.

Asked how the firemen were coping with working around the clock, Khairul said: “The morale of our men is good; we don’t know how long it will take to put it out completely. It is our duty to the public.”

The haze situation in south western Beaufort which reached a very unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) of 300 late Sunday has imrproved with readings below 100 API over the last three days.

On Thursday, the Royal Malaysian Air Force carried out cloud seeding over Beaufort, Kuala Penyu, Membakut and Penampang, which saw about 30-minutes of rainfall in interior Sabah and Sipitang.

In Kota Kinabalu, the air quality saw an improvement yesterday with levels below 50 API.


Tambunan 'water bombed' to battle forest fires
KRISTY INUS New Straits Times 8 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: The Fire and Rescue Department is conducting a water bombing exercise to put out fires at hotspots in the Trusmadi forest reserve, Tambunan this afternoon.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim said the operation started at 2pm using the department's MI 171 helicopter.

"We did a reconnaissance at the hilly area earlier this morning. The blaze started there two days ago and is difficult to access via land.

"Water for the operation is sourced from the river near Sook, Keningau," he said when contacted, adding that the last water bombing operations were conducted at the Binsuluk forest reserve on March 27 and 28.

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Malaysia: Carry out cloud seeding to help farmers, Govt urged

LO TERN CHERN The Star 9 Apr
KEPALA BATAS: In view of the El Nino phenomenon, the Federal Government should carry out cloud seeding in the northern states to help thousands of padi farmers, said Penang Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin.

He said priority should be given to the water catchment area in Sik, Kedah, where some 5,000 padi farmers in north Seberang Prai in Penang were getting water supply from.

“The district is in dire straits as only 1,546ha out of 8,500ha of padi field are supplied with water.

“The farmers in this district have been drawing water from Sungai Muda. We hope the Beris Dam in Sik, Kedah, will continue to release water into Sungai Muda.

“That’s why we need a national effort from the Federal Government to carry out cloud seeding in the northern states.

“Besides Penang, both Perlis and Kedah are also facing water shortage,” he said during a press conference at the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) office in Lahar Ikan Mati here yesterday.

Dr Afif also said it was difficult to irrigate the fields from Sungai Muda because the heatwave was drying up the river.

Pumping stations in Bumbung Lima and Pinang Tunggal, north Seberang Prai, are trying to channel water into the fields but the one in Pinang Tunggal is already suffering from low levels.

He said the level in Sungai Muda had to be at least 2m for the pumps to work efficiently.

“The water level at Pinang Tunggal station is at 1.9m and it cannot work effectively. But the station in Bumbung Lima with water level of 2.05m can pump and supply to certain areas only,” he said.

Dr Afif said the state government had allocated funds to carry out cloud seeding operations, adding that each operation costs RM14,700 daily.

He said so far, about 40% of padi fields in the state had been irrigated.


Farmers affected by El Nino: Ahmad Shabery
New Straits Times 8 Apr 16;

SABAK BERNAM: Some 2,000 out of 9,000 farmers here have been affected by the El Nino phenomena which is currently sweeping the country.

Rice production could also be affected if the current dry spell persists.

Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said that while the figures would only be known once the paddy was harvested, it is expected that production will be affected by at least five per cent.

"For now, the ministry is not able to finalise whether El Nino has affected the production of the rice.

We can not determine the actual figures until it is harvested.

Among the problems faced by our farmers is that the water supply is not being distributed to some of the paddy fields in the vicinity as scheduled, causing a delay in the production," he said. He said this was because the water supply was being used in other areas. Ahmad Shabery was speaking during a visit to the area.

He said the purpose of his visit was to check the condition of the water supply system in the district, especially since the country is being hit by El Nino.

He added that a few areas had been badly affected. However, the completion of a retention pond could alleviate the situation soon.

"Now that, the water retention pond in Parit 4 has been finally built, the farmers in the district can enjoy adequate water supply for their rice crops.

The construction of the pond was actually a Federal government project and should have been completed in 2012,” he said.

"However, the project was delayed because the state government had issued a fine of RM600,000 to the Federal government. "So after paying, we managed to complete it in 2014.

"The pond will be fully operational in two weeks time," he said, adding that total cost of the project was RM20 million.

He said the ministry will also seek help from the local councils and authorities to help monitor the situation during the hot season.

"We need to know whether the hot season will affect the production of rice,” he said.

Cloud seeding in Seberang Perai Utara to stop paddy fields from drying up
PRIYA PUBALAN New Straits Times 8 Apr 16;

BUTTERWORTH: Cloud-seeding will be conducted in the Seberang Perai Utara district to save paddy fields from drying up.

State Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Rural Development and Health Exco chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said the move was to help farmers with paddy fields that were drying up due to El Nino.

"The heat wave has caused the paddy fields in the SPU district to be non-functioning lately.

"We have supplied as much water as we can from the river and it is not sufficient to sustain crop development.

"Thus, we need the federal government's green light and support to implement the move but its success depends on the availability and type of clouds," he said, adding that cloud-seeding cannot be done in Penang but only in neighbouring state Kedah.


Bottled water for Banggi
RUBEN SARIO The Star 9 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: Bottled water is being rushed into the nation’s northern-most island of Banggi, which has been hit hard by the prolonged El Nino-induced dry spell.

The precious cargo is scheduled to reach Banggi today, a day after the island’s water treatment plant was shut down as the river there ran completely dry.

Kudat district officer Sapdin Ibrahim said 3,000 cartons of bottled water were being sent in from Kudat town to Banggi by boat.

“This will be a start in the continuous supply of bottled water to Banggi,” he told The Star.

He said the island’s hospital at the main settlement of Karakit would be given priority in the supply of the bottled water.

Each family in the five villages with piped water will receive three cartons of bottled water.

Sapdin said families in other villages on the island would receive one carton of water for now.

Asked about a proposal to send water by barge, he said it was too costly as a return trip would cost about RM30,000.

“We found that it would be cheaper to send the bottled water by boat,” he said, adding that his office, the Water Department, NGOs and Banggi state assemblyman Datuk Abdul Mijul Unaini were also helping in the logistics.

There are 18 villages in Banggi with a population 10,000, according to Sapdin.

Banggi islander Asni Madin said a spring near Kampung Timbang Dayang remained the sole water source for them but it was fast drying up.

“Just to fill a 10-litre container takes more than an hour. That is how little the flow is and so many people are depending on that spring, including those from other islands,” she said.

Asni, a former teacher, said islanders who could afford it were buying water from Karakit.

Those who have to go to Kudat were buying crates of mineral water to bring back with them on the ferry, she said.

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Indonesia: Police discover illegal wildlife trade in C.Java

Suherdjoko Suherdjoko Jakarta Post 7 Apr 16;

The Central Java Police have confiscated hundreds of protected sea creature shells from a store in Cilacap, Central Java, during an operation to curb illegal wildlife trade in the province on April 1. During a separate operation in early February the Central Java Police had seized six eagles and one spotted kestrel that had been illegally raised by a Semarang resident.

The Central Java Police special crime investigation division chief Sr.Comr. Edhy Moestofa said on Thursday that the police had confiscated shells and other body parts of protected species from a vendor selling wildlife and animal parts and products.

The confiscated parts and products included eight hawksbill sea turtle carapaces, three turtle shells, 342 turtle carapace-made bangles, 40 carapace-made rings, 33 horned helmet shells, 42 Triton’s trumpet shells, 68 pearly nautilus shells, 155 trochus shells, 40 fluted giant clam shells and 25 maxima clam shells, which had been carved into ashtrays.

The police also confiscated four largetooth sawfish spouts.

“We confiscated those goods in Cilacap from a suspect identified only as SG, a vendor of wildlife and animal parts and products. SG got them from suppliers. We are still tracing the suppliers who provided the illegal goods to the suspect. The wildlife and animal parts and products were sold at a small store in Cilacap and also marketed in several areas around Cilacap. Some of the goods were exported to other Southeast Asian countries,” said Edhy.

He said the police obtained information on the trade of sea creature shells and preserved turtles from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), an NGO which had begun to investigate the protected species trade three months ago.

“We found the wildlife parts and products in Cilacap. We also believe that similar goods have also been marketed as souvenirs for tourists at various beaches. We have contacted the police, as they have the law enforcement authority to take legal action against them,” WCS Wildlife Crime Unit coordinator Irma Hermawati said.

SG is considered to have violated Article 21 and Article 40 of Law No.5/1990 on the conservation of biodiversity and its ecosystem. SG faces a maximum one-year prison term and a maximum Rp 50 million (US$3,793.63) fine. The suspect’s case dossier has been handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Earlier in February, the police confiscated seven protected wild bird species from their owners in Tlumpak village, Tembalang district, Semarang. The confiscated birds comprised one spotted kestrel, two crested hawk-eagles, one black eagle and two white-tailed eagles.

The seven protected wild bird species have been entrusted at an agro tourism center belonging to Hotel Candi Baru in Semarang and at the Dolphin Center Unit IV of the Indonesia Safari Park.

Adj.Sr.Comr.Ferry Irawan of the Central Java Police special crime directorate said the police had named the various owners of the birds as suspects as they were considered to have violated Article 21 (2) Law No.5/1990 on the conservation of biodiversity and its ecosystem, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a Rp 100 million fine.

“From our investigation, we found that the eagles had been trained to participate in competitions,” he said. (ebf)

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Best of our wild blogs: 8 Apr 16

Infographics on the EIA
BES Drongos

Operation WE Clean Up @ Lim Chu Kang Beach & Mangrove (Sun 08 May 2016: 7.30am) – join us!
News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

Guiding at Pulau Semakau with lots of sea stars!
wild shores of singapore

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'We shouldn't have to wait till 2020 to see clear blue skies': Vivian Balakrishnan

Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that regional leaders had endorsed the vision of a haze-free ASEAN by 2020.
Channel NewsAsia 7 Apr 16;

SINGAPORE: As ASEAN becomes more integrated, member nations must join hands to tackle transboundary challenges, such as the perennial haze, said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said at the end of the Committee of Supply debate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday (Apr 7).

“Quite frankly, as the former Minister for the Environment, I don’t see why we have to wait till 2020 to see clear blue skies,” he said, noting that leaders have endorsed the vision of a haze-free ASEAN by 2020.

Just last month, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli said that last year's haze episode – caused by forest fires in Indonesia and exacerbated by a severe El Nino effect – cost Singapore an estimated S$700 million of losses.

Dr Balakrishnan also said that Singapore wants to do more with the Indonesian government and other interested stakeholders, “to promote sustainable agricultural practices, to strengthen our response to forest fires, and to hold errant companies responsible for the fires that they start, or allow to occur on their concession areas”.

Besides cooperation within ASEAN – with respect to transboundary haze, and the ASEAN Economic Community – the Foreign Affairs Minister said that Singapore must continue to be plugged into regional and international trade groupings that will open doors for our people and businesses.

Some of these include the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement – two trade deals Singapore hopes will be ratified soon, said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

He also touched on the importance of economic cooperation with key partners, noting that Singapore – despite its small size – is the largest foreign investor to China and Indonesia.

- CNA/ll

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Programme bears fruit - and veggies

Veena Vinod, The Straits Times AsiaOne 8 Apr 16;

An edible garden at Spectra Secondary School has not only been a source of learning for its students, but it is also a feast for the eyes and palate for nearby residents.

In the level four rooftop garden at the school in Woodlands, Secondary 1 students from the Normal-Technical stream grow vegetables and fruits, such as lettuce, brinjal and banana, in 11 garden beds.

Groups of four students are given an area of land measuring 1m by 1m to grow crops of their choice. They are responsible for weeding, watering and fertilising the area.

At the end of 10 weeks, their crops are harvested and sold to the public at a farmer's market in the school. The students also sell herbal teas and snacks made from the harvested produce.

Said principal Krishnan Aravinthan, 48: "We wanted to fill the school with learning spaces and this garden is more than that.

It brings the community together and gives our students a sense of accomplishment."

Crops grown by the students of Spectra Secondary School include (from left) bananas, chikus, brinjals and a wintermelon that weighs nearly 2kg. Photo: The Straits Times
The self-sustaining garden is irrigated by rainwater and fertilised by compost made from leaves and weeds from the plots.

The initial batch of 70 potted plants were bought from an external vendor for $3,000. The school subsequently saved the seeds for future crops, and other seeds have been donated by volunteers.

The garden was built to inculcate the values of responsibility and resilience.

Said school staff developer Lyvenne Chong: "The main message of the programme is that nobody owes you a living - you have to work hard to put food on the table.

"It is difficult to teach values like persistence and respect in the classroom. We felt that a hands-on process would be more impactful."

Mrs Chong, 58, conceptualised the programme and designed its syllabus as part of character and citizenship education after looking up existing research into gardening as a tool to motivate students.

She found that gardening could offer less academically-inclined students a taste of success.

The problems related to the growing of crops, such as pest infestations and wilting, become analogies for life's challenges.

Secondary 2 student Joel Soh, 14, who went through the programme last year, said: "We had pests, such as caterpillars and aphids, that would eat the crops. When we discovered them, we would move (the pests) to a vacant plot. It was hot and tiring (doing so), but we never gave up."

Although Joel has graduated from the programme, he still helps out at the garden on Saturdays, doing things such as weeding and watering the plants. He also helps the volunteers - parents and members of the public - harvest the vegetables when they are ready.

He said: "It's satisfying to see our plants sold and the money going to needy students."

Vegetables and fruits sold at the farmer's market are priced at $2 a bag and sales proceeds go to a fund for the school's needy students. Over $2,000 was raised last year.

Parents of students and residents living nearby have also come on board - they spend their weekends helping out at the learning garden, weeding the plants or setting up trellises.

Describing the edible garden programme as very meaningful, Ms Josephine Tan, 44, chairman of the school's Parent Support Group, said that many children do not know where vegetables come from or the efforts that go into growing them.

"In the beginning, none of the students were comfortable with getting their hands dirty, but now, some of them even want to help out in their free time," she said.

Regular parent volunteer Pearlyn Bulner, 37, takes her family to help out in the garden on weekends. She said: "It's good exercise for the family and a great opportunity for us to bond."

The next farmer's market at the school, which is open to the public, will be held on May 16, 17 and 19 from 8am to 10am.

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Replacing Causeway 'not solution' to easing congestion: Vivian Balakrishnan

Walter Sim, Straits Times AsiaOne 8 Apr 16;

Replacing the Causeway is "not the solution" to border congestion, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said yesterday.

"Both governments are working to improve congestion at the Causeway and at our borders," he added.

Dr Balakrishnan gave this update in the debate on his ministry's plans. Dr Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon GRC) had asked about efforts to boost connectivity between Singapore and Malaysia.

Dr Balakrishnan said the Causeway continues to have sufficient capacity. The conclusion was reached after a joint study by both neighbours, while Singapore had also done its own projections.

His comments come amid renewed calls to consider replacing the Causeway with a bridge. The latest came from the Sultan of Johor last month. In 2001, then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had also mooted an arched bridge to let vessels sail under it.

The solution to congestion lies in continually enhancing checkpoint efficiency and operations - but not at the expense of security considerations. This is done through such measures as the use of technology and improving infrastructure, Dr Balakrishnan said.

For example, all motorcycle clearance counters at Singapore land checkpoints will have automated features by the year end. "We have a responsibility to Singaporeans to ensure that we maintain a stringent level of checks," he said. "The Malaysian Government has also had to step up its own security measures."

Meanwhile, progress is also being made on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail, which aims to connect both cities in 90 minutes, and the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System link.

Dr Balakrishnan, recounting his visit to Sabah last week, yesterday expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian guides and the authorities who helped Singaporeans after an earthquake struck Mount Kinabalu in June last year, killing 18 people.

"The Malaysians' swift, instinctive and spontaneous response at our point of acute need reflects the close ties between our two peoples," he said. "It behoves us as politicians to build on the already strong ties of kinships, friendships and relationships."

The annual Leaders' Retreat will be held in Malaysia this year.

Dr Balakrishnan said it will allow both sides to "take stock of" various bilateral projects. Economic ties also remain robust, he said. Singapore and Malaysia are each other's second largest trading partners.

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Malaysia: 3 global giants drop Malaysian palm oil supplier

David Fogarty, The Straits Times AsiaOne 8 Apr 16;

Three of the world's top food and consumer goods companies that make Dove soap, M&M's and Kellogg's Corn Flakes have dropped a leading Malaysian palm oil producer because of deforestation in its plantations in Indonesia.

Unilever, which owns over 400 brands including Dove, announced last week that it has begun cancelling its supplier agreements with palm oil producer and trader IOI Group over evidence of bad environmental practices in Indonesia.

IOI is Malaysia's No. 2 palm oil company by production and a top 10-listed global palm oil firm. Unilever is one of the world's top buyers of palm and palm kernel oil and refined products.

United States food giants Mars and Kellogg's have also announced that they are in the process of removing IOI as a supplier by progressively dropping contracts with IOI's refining subsidiary IOI Loders Croklaan, which has refineries in Malaysia and Holland.

Palm and palm kernel oil are used in most common foods and products - from cookies and ice cream to soaps and cosmetics.

Many major food and consumer product firms have pledged to ensure that their supplies are sourced from companies that do not contribute to the destruction of rainforests, fires or conflicts with local villagers, and have been applying greater pressure on plantation companies to comply.

Unilever said last Thursday that it made the decision after IOI was suspended last week from the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a group of planters, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and consumers that sets standards for the global palm oil sector.

The RSPO said it suspended IOI's certification for non-compliance with rules. The suspension took effect on Monday.

The decision follows a year-long investigation under the RSPO's complaints process. Last year, a Dutch NGO lodged a complaint with the RSPO, accusing IOI of causing deforestation and community conflicts at its subsidiary's concessions in West Kalimantan.

"It's all about brand reputation and customer perception. They have no choice but to start disengaging from IOI," plantation company analyst Ivy Ng of CIMB told The Straits Times.

IOI Group chief executive officer Lee Yeow Chor said in a statement last Thursday that the company regarded the RSPO suspension as a "very serious matter and (it) has given rise to new challenges for us". He said IOI has since taken corrective action "to review and enhance our sustainability practices".

The decision to drop IOI is likely to hurt the Malaysian firm. Plantations and its large refining and specialty chemicals subsidiary contributed to more than 80 per cent of earnings in the financial year to end-June 2014.

IOI did not respond to queries on the impact on its business and Unilever would not reveal the size of the supplier contracts with IOI, saying only that the Malaysian firm was one of its larger suppliers in Europe.

"The suspension of IOI Group's RSPO certification appears to have far-reaching impact on its downstream business that is more severe than in our earlier analysis," Ms Ng said in a research note this week. "It has also hurt the reputation of the group."

RSPO's suspension means that IOI can no longer produce certified palm products. The company has a history of complaints from NGOs.

"For the past eight years, NGOs have painstakingly documented IOI's destruction of peatland forest and orang utan habitat in West Kalimantan," Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaigner Annisa Rahmawati said in a statement last week.

"IOI has been given every opportunity to reform and has repeatedly refused to do so, even though its actions were contributing to the fire and haze crisis," she said.


Household names nix Malaysian palm oil company
CK TAN, Nikkei 8 Apr 16;

IOI, one of Malaysia’s largest conglomerates, has been shut out by international household names in food and consumer goods over the environmental cost of its palm oil production.

SINGAPORE -- Malaysia's second-largest plantation company by market capitalization is being dropped as a supplier to such major multinationals as Unilever, Kellogg, and Mars after being stripped of its status as a sustainable producer of palm oil.

The suspension of IOI by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, an industry regulatory association, followed complaints a year ago by environmental activists that three subsidiaries in Indonesia had cleared land without permits and beyond permissible boundaries.

"The RSPO is hopeful that the IOI Group will be able to find a solution to address the infringements flagged," the Malaysia-based organization said last Friday.

IOI started life as Industrial Oxygen Inc. in 1969 and has developed into one of Malaysia's largest conglomerates.

The RSPO finally hauled it up for felling more trees than permitted, planting without permits and clearing peat land.

IOI said that it viewed the suspension as a "serious matter" and that it has put remedial measures in place, including firefighting capacity.

"We will actively work with the complainant to jointly verify the issues," said Lee Yeow Chor, IOI's group CEO, in a news release.

The RSPO sets standards for the palm oil industry to ensure that the production process, from planting to packaging, complies with guidelines to reduce environmental damage. The organization's website says it has over 2,000 members, from plantation companies to nongovernmental organizations, representing about 40% of the global industry.

Although the RSPO has probed only the deforestation allegations against IOI over the past year, nongovernmental organizations alleged it to have been involved in violations over a six-year period.

An RSPO spokesperson told the Nikkei Asian Review that this is IOI's first suspension. The sanction took effect on Monday and seriously affects IOI's standing as a producer of sustainable palm oil, which is used by personal care and food companies globally. Palm oleochemicals are used in the production of confectioneries and cosmetics and are often cheaper than other vegetable oils.

U.K.-based Unilever said IOI's suspension infringed its procurement policy for buying from responsible sources.

"In line with our grievance procedure, we are now in the process of disengaging with the supplier," the company said. The procedure will be implemented over three months.

Unilever said it uses a 1.5 million tons of palm oil and related products a year to manufacture consumer goods, impacting about 8% of global production. It did not reveal how much of this it has been sourcing from IOI, which produces over 750,000 tons of certified sustainable palm oil annually, according to TA Securities, a local research company.

Kellogg said it has already replaced 67% of its supply from IOI subsidiary Loders Croklaan. A U.S. household name best known for cereals, Kellogg set out in 2014 to fully map its palm oil supply chain by 2015. Loders is one of its five main suppliers, which also include Cargill and Sime Darby, together meeting 90% of its palm oil needs.

Mars, the maker of M&M's and other candies, said it will not source from Loders "while the suspension is in place."

IOI's appeal against the RSPO decision includes an action plan to address the reasons for the suspension.

"We stand by our responsible operating principles and in particular our sustainable palm oil policy," said Julian Veitch, chief executive of Loders.

IOI could now face sanctions from other customers that use palm oil from certified sources. The group derives over half of its revenue from Europe and North America, according to TA Securities.

Widespread land clearance by burning has made serious air pollution an annual occurrence in Southeast Asia. Indonesian authorities have promised effective action against culprits, including plantation companies.

Greenpeace Indonesia told local media that despite warnings, IOI's actions have contributed to forest fires in Indonesia and haze further afield.

Indonesia and Malaysia together account for about 85% of global palm oil production, and leading plantation companies like Sime Darby and Wilmar International have massive land banks in both countries.

Shares of IOI were down 1.11% at 4.49 ringgit ($1.15) on Thursday after the RSPO announcement.

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Malaysia: Deforestation and pollution also cause of water crisis

ZAZALI MUSA The Star 8 Apr 16;

JOHOR BARU: It is easy to blame the El Nino phenomenon for the drop in water levels in several dams and rivers in Johor but we need to study other causes too.

“We are also to blame for cutting down trees indiscriminately.

“Deforestation in the catchment areas is the chief cause of falling water levels at dams statewide,” said Malaysian Nature Society Johor branch chairman Vincent Chow.

He said that the state authorities are sending the wrong signal by insisting that all is well in Johor despite the drop in water levels.

Newspapers reports quoted Johor water regulatory body director Mohd Riduan Md Ali saying there are no plans yet to implement rationing in the state despite the drop in water levels in dams.

Syarikat Air Johor Holdings Sdn Bhd general manager for production and distribution Elias Ismail said there was sufficient water supply for everyone during the current hot spell.

Chow said many of the rivers in Johor are polluted too.

He said among the rivers which needed immediate attention were those in Kluang namely Sungai Mengkibol, Sungai Kahang, Sungai Sembrong Kiri and Sungai Semrong Kecil as well as Sungai Johor in Kota Tinggi.

Green Earth Society Johor president P. Sivakumar said Johor should study catchment areas which have turned “bald” due to human activities.

“All is not well in Johor when it comes to water supply and long-term water management policies,’’ he said, adding the lack of enforcement was the reason why illegal logging and large scale agricultural activities including from oil palm plantations are taking place inside water catchment areas or close to dams.

He said Malaysia should emulate Singapore and start looking at new water resources like rainwater harvesting and treated used water.


Water crisis if dry spell goes on
TASHNY SUKUMARAN The Star 8 Apr 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: Several states are in danger of a water crisis if the hot weather continues, says Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili.

He said Sabah, Perlis, Johor and Kedah were among the states that would be affected.

“Over the next two to three weeks, if the weather continues, there may be insufficient water for treatment by the plants. Now we are praying for rain to come.

“We are monitoring the situation very closely,” he said at the launch of the Asiawater 2016 conference yesterday, adding that some areas in Negri Sembilan were also at risk.

“Water at some dams are at critical levels but they are still managing. No requests for rationing yet.”

He also commented on non-revenue water (NRW), saying that as in most states, Putrajaya had not been able to lower the amount proportionately to investment in the sector.

“Only three states have achieved a commendable NRW level of below 30%,” he said, adding that five states recorded a level of 40 to 50%.

He added that a new NRW action plan has been formulated and would be brought before Cabinet by the end of the month.

He said that while the overall investment amount has not been fixed, the first priority was to deal with existing operators to change connectors that can be fixed immediately, and after that replace old pipes.

“Managing NRW is no longer a one-off exercise,” he said.


Bkt Malut Dam will be critical if heatwave lasts till June
The Star 8 Apr 16;

LANGKAWI: The water level at Bukit Malut Dam here will be critical if the heatwave goes on for another two months.

Kedah Local Govern­ment, Housing, Water Supply, Water Resources and Energy Committee chairman Datuk Badrol Hisham Hashim said the level was now 70.9m, adding that critical was 50.5m.

He said the state government has given an assurance that there would not be a water crisis on the island.

The water supply was adequate for the next two months, he added.

Earlier, Badrol visited the reservoir at the Padang Saga water treatment plant, accompanied by Syarikat Air Darul Aman (Sada) chief executive officer Datuk Adzmi Din.

He advised the public to use water wisely during the El Nino season to help avoid water rationing.

On talk that Langkawi would be facing a water crisis in 2018, Badrol said the Federal Government has allocated RM3mil to Sada to carry out studies.

“The involved parties are in the process of appointing a consultant to carry out the studies and in less than a year, we will get a report on the island’s water supply status.

“The studies will also involve the reverse-osmosis process of turning sea-water into drinking water, which will be controlled and supervised by Sada,” he added.

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Malaysia: 150 firemen and volunteers hard at work putting out Sabah forest fires

KRISTY INUS New Straits Times 7 Apr 16;

BEAUFORT: The Fire and Rescue Department are still toiling away to extinguish forest fires at the Binsuluk forest reserve here, with 150 men deployed for the task.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Khairul Azuwan Ibrahim said they also received reinforcements totaling 55 personnel from the Sabah Forestry Department.

"Some of the areas like the Rural Development Corporation (KPD) farm nearby has burnt down but still has thick smoke.

"We now face accessibility issues on how to reach the middle of the 200 hectare forest reserve ...

The Forestry Department is trying to clear a path using an excavator," he said when contacted.

Khairul said it would be a huge help to the firemen on the ground in putting out the blaze if the cloud seeding operations launched today results in rainfall.


Sabah cloud-seeding operation begins to extinguish forest fires
KRISTY INUS New Straits Times 7 Apr 16;

KOTA KINABALU: An attempt to perform cloud seeding operation in this Sabah took place using the Royal Malaysian Air Force's C130 aircraft this morning.

The aircraft left the Labuan base at 11am to perform the operation at Binsuluk, Beaufort where forest fires had been rampant.

This came about following an order by the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, where previously it was reported that the 'towering cumulus' type of cloud is required in order for the operation to work.

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