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The Story of Shells – Part 1
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Juvenile Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) being scavenged by Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) @ Pasir Ris
Monday Morgue
Wendy Wong Channel NewsAsia 26 Nov 17;
SINGAPORE: As the Government ramps up efforts to reduce food waste and raise awareness of the problem, one urban farm in Singapore has been trying to lighten this load with the help of an insect.
Set up earlier this year, Citizen Farm in Queenstown has been using the black soldier fly to help grow its vegetables, as food for its fish and to help tackle food waste - the first in Singapore to incorporate these insects as part of farming practice.
The "closed loop" farm runs on a circular economy approach, by feeding the insect larvae with food waste from restaurants and supermarkets, turning this into nutrient-rich fertiliser.
Once the larvae transform into pupae, the insects are fed to jade perch fish which the farm rears. The fish subsequently secrete waste that becomes fertiliser for its vegetables.
Leftover agriculture waste - or produce that cannot be sold - is fed to the larvae, which then produces waste that becomes fertiliser.
The farm currently produces around 150kg of vegetables and fish a month, and goes through the same weight of food waste a day for its insect farm, which currently houses about 10kg of the black soldier fly's pupae.
According to head of Citizen Farm Darren Ho, the fly is also "easy to manage" as it does not transmit diseases, possesses a short life cycle of about six weeks and is a "shy insect" as it avoids human habitats.
Singapore generated 791,000 tonnes of food waste last year - about two bowls of rice daily - and this is set to grow along with the country's size and affluence.
Mr Ho told Channel NewsAsia that the purpose of such farming is to look at waste as a "resource" instead.
"The purpose of closed loop farming is to look at waste as a resource which we can then utilise to be looped back into our food cycle," said Mr Ho. "Food waste is something Singapore has in copious amounts."
"It is an issue to take them (food waste) out of the equation - so why don’t we take that to put it back into the food system through urban farming today, as urban farming becomes a lot more widespread in our economy?"
There are also wider benefits to running such a closed loop system in Singapore as opposed to conventional farming, according to Professor William Chen, the director of the food science and technology programme at Nanyang Technological University.
Benefits include cutting out the need to add chemical fertilisers to the soil and saving on the cost of fish feed, which can contribute to up to 50 per cent of a farm's operating costs, said Prof Chen.
"In Singapore we have very limited natural resources. We only allocate less than 1 per cent of land for agriculture and we import 90 per cent of food," said Prof Chen. "So closed loop farming provides a very attractive alternative in terms of sustainability of food production, because we rely less on land and use less water and energy."
"Therefore this actually contributes significantly to our goal in enhancing food security in Singapore."
He noted that the technology was not a new one that had come "out of nowhere" but one that had been used in neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand for more than a thousand years.
"(For example), in rice paddy fields, the farmer will keep the ducks or fish. So it’s already closed loop because the fish would take the discharge from the duck and the fish discharge will become fertiliser for the rice," he said.
Citizen Farm said it has plans to sell the insect as pet food and animal feed in the near future if this is approved by the authorities.
"The insect is very versatile – they can eat virtually anything including food waste," Prof Chen said. "The insect has similar nutritional profile as other animal proteins. So the insect grow on this food waste can be nicely fit into this closed loop farming practice."
Source: CNA/nc
Halim Said New Straits Times 26 Nov 17;
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor state government will soon sit in a meeting with SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd to embark on a move to gain full control over the water company operation in the state by acquiring the majority shares in the company equity.
State public works, rural and regional development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohamed said the move to increase the state government shares in the water utility company was to reposition itself in the state water management operations in terms of having power to control and obtaining rights in decision making relating to the water development in the state.
Hasni said at current the state do not have a say in SAJ Ranhill operations as it only holds 20 per cent shares of the company equity which limits its power to monitoring, and restricted to regulating the water supply and distributions in the state only.
"If the move to increase the state government shares via full acquisition of its equity or at 51 per cent of the shares, it will be purely base on revisioning our business planning with SAJ Ranhill and not a hostile takeover," he told the press during a break at the 13th State Assembly meeting.
Hasni said the matter was raised during the assembly meeting in response to Bukit Permai and Rengit assemblymen questions on the state water operations since the last water restructuring exercise between SAJ Ranhill and the Johor government made almost a decade ago.
Hasni said the state government is also open to options.
He said SAJ Ranhill president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamdan Mohamad will probably attend the meeting.
"The meeting will include Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and I, as the outcome of the decision will also look into the water consumption of the Johor consumers," he said.
Hasni said with the insertion of state government as main shareholders in the equity will give autonomous power for the government to regulate the state water tariff and development spending on state water assets and resources.
He also said the move was to safeguard the state government water assets and resources from external takeover should SAJ Ranhill plans to sell off its shares in future.
"However the move would require a review and subjected to an approval from the National Water Service Commission (SPAN) for the state government to have full control over SAJ Ranhill water operation in the state," he said.
SAJ Ranhill cannot supply water to Forest City, Johor State Assembly told
The Star 27 Nov 17;
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johore state assembly today debated that water supply services company, SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd, might supply water to the developer of the Forest City project in Gelang Patah.
Forest City is a 1,386 hectare mixed development project, which includes a smart city on man-made islands along the Johor Straits.
Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku Haamid Jumat (BN-Kempas) said such a move would be against the state's government's decision that the developer source its own water supply for the project.
"I understand that the state government has conveyed this decision to the developer. Forest City has to draw water from a desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit.
“This will allow the state government to accord priority to domestic households,” he said, adding that rumours were rife that Forest City would obtain water supply from SAJ Ranhill.
“If there is truth in the rumour, then this just goes to show the developer's irresponsible attitude and total disregard for the state's government's clear directive to source its own water supply,” he said in the Johore state assembly here today.
He also said Johoreans should not suffer at the expense of the developer's profit-oriented motive which could spark a water crisis in the state.
Tengku Putra Haron revealed that the Forest City project, when completed, required more than 600 million cubic meters of water, daily, which was almost equal to Johor Bahru and Pasir Gudang's daily water supply.
Based on the high demand for water supply, he was concerned that SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd may compromise on domestic household supply.
"I am worried that this can create a very serious water crisis if the issue is not delved into deeply,” he added.
Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid also urged the state government to take control of SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd via a mandatory takeover for fear that it may fall into the hands of a foreign party.
He suggested that the state government, which had cash reserves close to RM4 billion, acquire SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd from its majority shareholder, Ranhill Holdings Bhd
"It's possible that the major shareholder may sell SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd to a foreign party. If that happens, we will lose control of not only our water industry but our national sovereign asset,” he pointed out.
Johor assembly hears concerns over Forest City's water supply
Straits Times 27 Nov 17;
ISKANDAR PUTERI - A Johor politician told the state assembly on Monday (Nov 27) that the Johor government had told developer of the Forest City project to source for its own water supply.
Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku Hamid Jumat, an assemblyman for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying that if Forest City does not get its own supply from desalination or by other means, it could spark a water crisis in Johor.
This was the first time that the issue of how Forest City would get its water supply was raised, with the government assemblyman using unusually blunt language.
The giant project involves the raising of four man-made islands totalling 1,386 ha in the Johor Strait facing Tuas.
The project is majority owned by China's Country Garden Holdings. Its other shareholders are the Johor government and Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
When fully completed, it is meant to house some 700,000 people.
Datuk Tengku Putra said the project, when completed, would require more than 600 million cubic meters of water daily.
This was almost equal to the amount supplied daily to Johor Baru city and its neighbouring Pasir Gudang district, Bernama quoted him as saying.
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"I understand that the state government has conveyed this decision (of water supply) to the developer. Forest City has to draw water from a desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit," he was quoted as saying.
"This will allow the state government to accord priority to domestic households," he said, adding that rumours were rife that Forest City would obtain water supply from the state's main water company SAJ Ranhill.
He told the state legislature, as reported by Bernama: "If there is truth in the rumour, then this just goes to show the developer's irresponsible attitude and total disregard for the state's government's clear directive to source its own water supply."
He added that Johor residents, totalling 3.6 million people, should not suffer at the expense of the developer's profit-oriented motive which could spark a water crisis.
He said he is concerned that SAJ Ranhill may compromise on domestic household supply.
"I am worried that this can create a very serious water crisis if the issue is not delved into deeply," he was quoted as saying.
Mr Tengku Putra urged the state government to take control of SAJ Ranhill via a mandatory takeover for fear that it may fall into the hands of a foreign party. He did not elaborate.
He suggested that the state government, which had cash reserves close to RM4 billion (S$1.31 billion), acquire SAJ Ranhill from its majority shareholder Ranhill Holdings.
"It's possible that the major shareholder may sell SAJ Ranhill to a foreign party. If that happens, we will lose control of not only our water industry but our national sovereign asset," Bernama quoted him as saying.
Kempas assemblyman urges Johor govt to assume control of SAJ Ranhill
Halim Said New Straits Times 27 Nov 17;
ISKANDAR PUTERI: A Johor state assemblyman has called for the state government to take full control of SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd.
At the 13th Johor State Assembly Meeting yesterday, Kempas assemblyman Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid said the state government should push for compulsory acquisition amid fears that the integrated water supply company may fall into foreign hands.
He said that with a cash reserve of almost RM4 billion, the state government can afford to acquire SAJ Ranhill through its majority shareholder, a public-listed company Ranhill Holding Bhd for a fraction of the amount.
“However remote this may be, there is still a possibility that Ranhill is sold by its majority shareholder to investors from a neighbouring country. In such a situation, we would lose control over not only of the water industry but also a national treasure which symbolises our sovereignty.
“If this happens, we could also subject the state to the possibility of economic sabotage by the competing foreign country. This would put to a halt to the state government’s aspiration of being an economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia,” he said.
Tengku Putra said the state government can make an offer to Ranhill for this to take effect, failing which, the state government should seek for a compulsory acquisition of the company under the provisions of the Water Services Industry Act 2006.
Under Section 114 of the Act, the federal government through the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water can exercise its rights and powers as well as any other relevant acts, statutes or regulations to assist the state government in the compulsory acquisition of the water company.
This includes invoking Section 114 of WSIA in order to address issues of national interest to ensure security, sustainability and viability of the water supply industry in Johor.
“It is time for the state government to restore the ownership of the Johor water company to the people of Johor and that it should be done without delay,” he added.
Tengku Putra also called for a forensic audit on the water tariff between the state government and SAJ Ranhill as provided for under the Water Supply Agreement 2009.
He said that under the agreement, the state government is selling water to SAJ Ranhill at a much lower rate than that to Petronas for the Pengerang project.
“If the same rate is imposed, the state government could have collected an additional revenue of millions of ringgit which can be distributed for the development of the state and the people,” he said.
Tengku Putra also raised the issue of SAJ Ranhill possibly offering to supply water to the developers of Forest City, saying that this goes against the state government’s decision for the project to find its own water resources.
“I understand that the state government had informed the developers that they have to seek their own water resources either through desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit by the developers. This will enable the state government to prioritise the use of water resources for the domestic needs. The rakyat must come first.”
Ranhill says no plans to sell SAJ Ranhill
The Star 27 Nov 17;
It issued the statement on Monday to refute a news article entitled “Johor government to acquire water services company SAJ Ranhill”.
“On behalf of the board of Ranhill, the company wishes to clarify that the company is not aware of the proposed acquisition by the Johor state government.
“The company has no intention to divest its present equity stake of 80% held in SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd,” it said.
Providing water to Forest City goes against state’s decision
zazali musa The Star 29 Nov 17;
ISKANDAR PUTERI: A Barisan Nasional lawmaker raised the issue of SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd offering to supply water to the developers of Forest City project during the Johor state assembly sitting.
Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Jumat (BN-Kempas) said this goes against the state government’s decision for the project to find its own water resources.
“The state government had informed the developers that they have to seek their own water resources through desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit by the developers.
“This would enable the state government to prioritise the use of water resources for domestic needs.
Tengku Putra Haron said the state would be exposed to the possibility of a water crisis as Forest City requires about 600 million cubic litres of water daily.
He said the amount was equal to the water demand for all areas in Johor Baru and Pasir Gudang.
Tengku Putra Haron added that his constituency and several districts in the state were subjected to water rationing exercise last year because of a water crisis in Johor.
He had called upon the state government to take over water operator SAJ Ranhill through compulsory acquisition amid fears that the integrated water supply company might fall into foreign hands.
Tengku Putra Haron said with a cash reserve of almost RM4bil, the state government could afford to acquire SAJ Ranhill through its majority shareholder, public-listed Ranhill Holdings Bhd.
However remote the possibility may be, Ranhill could be sold by its majority shareholder to investors from a neighbouring country.
In such a situation, the state would lose control over not only the water industry, but also a national treasure which symbolises Johor’s sovereignty, he added.
Tengku Putra Haron said if this happened, Johor could also be subject to the possibility of economic sabotage by a competing foreign country.
He said this would put a halt to the state government’s aspiration of being a new economic powerhouse in the region.
Concerns aired over Forest City water supply
Johor politician warns of water crisis if project does not source for its own supply
Straits Times 28 Nov 17;
ISKANDAR PUTERI • A Johor politician told the state assembly yesterday that the Johor government had told the developer of the Forest City project to source for its own water supply.
Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku Hamid Jumat, an assemblyman for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying that if Forest City does not get its own supply from desalination or by other means, it could spark a water crisis in Johor.
This was the first time that the issue of how Forest City would get its water supply was raised, with the government assemblyman using unusually blunt language.
The project involves the raising of four man-made islands totalling 1,386ha in the Johor Strait facing Tuas. It is majority owned by China's Country Garden Holdings. Its other shareholders are the Johor government and Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. When fully completed, it is meant to house some 700,000 people.
Datuk Tengku Putra said the project, when completed, would require over 600 million cubic metres of water daily - almost equal to the amount supplied daily to the city of Johor Baru and the neighbouring Pasir Gudang district.
"I understand that the state government has conveyed this decision (of the water supply) to the developer. Forest City has to draw water from a desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit," he added.
"This will allow the state government to accord priority to domestic households," he said, adding that rumours were rife that Forest City would obtain its water supply from the state's main water company SAJ Ranhill.
He told the state legislature, as reported by Bernama: "If there is truth in the rumour, then this just goes to show the developer's irresponsible attitude and total disregard for the state government's clear directive to source for its own water supply."
He added that Johor's 3.6 million residents should not suffer at the expense of the developer's profit-oriented motive which could spark a water crisis.
He also said he is concerned that SAJ Ranhill may compromise on domestic household supply.
"I am worried that this can create a very serious water crisis if the issue is not delved into deeply," he was quoted as saying.
Mr Tengku Putra urged the state government to take control of SAJ Ranhill via a mandatory takeover for fear that it may fall into the hands of a foreign party. He did not elaborate.
He suggested that the state government, which had cash reserves of close to RM4 billion (S$1.31 billion), acquire SAJ Ranhill from its majority shareholder Ranhill Holdings. "It's possible that the major shareholder may sell SAJ Ranhill to a foreign party. If that happens, we will lose control of not only our water industry, but also our national sovereign asset," he said.
ADRIAN DAVID New Straits Times 26 Nov 17;
KUALA TERENGGANU: As the year end school holiday began, so did the annual monsoon season.
As reports of flooding in parts of Besut, Kuala Berang and Marang came in, other parts of the city centre experienced uprooted trees and rising water levels.
The state’s main rivers – Sungai Terengganu, Sungai Ibai, Sungai Kemaman, Sungai Setiu and Sungai Berang – are swelling up.
The Drainage and Irrigation Department reported that Sungai Chalok in Setiu had burst its banks at 7.47m high, which is above its 7m safe level, while Sungai Nerus at Kampung Pangkal recorded 20.57m (above its safe level of 20m).
Torrential rain has lashed the state since Saturday and the weather continues to be bleak as strong winds and thunderstorms continue to pound the state intermittently.
A trader at the exposition, Farhan Jusoh, 45, said that while a large number of the canopies were damaged, the heavy rain also resulted in losses as items such as toys, clothes, bags, shoes, souvenirs and food items were damaged.
“Many of us suffered losses and being small time traders, it will be difficult to get by,” he said.
Another trader, Aishah Yusof, 56, said she had to ‘close shop’ as virtually all her food was spoilt.
“This was a very bleak business outing for me and my family. We had looked forward for some brisk business during the school and year-end holidays.
“I hope the authorities will look into our plight,” she said.
Over at Marang, a Civil Defence Force spokesman said that senior citizen Norizan Abu Bakar, 80, had called in at 9.30am to report of uprooted trees in the neighbourhood.
Some of the large trees had fallen near the villagers’ homes but no serious damages or injuries were reported as at press time.
“We immediately despatched a team of six personnel on a Isuzu Delta lorry, equipped with chainsaws and ladders, to the scene.
“The affected areas were Taman Lot Marang, Wakaf Tapai, Kampung Kelulut, Medan Jaya, Alur Limbat, Kampung Kubu, Pengkalan Berangan and Kampung Rusila,” said the spokesman.
He added that clearance work was done by midday.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Civil Defence Force director Lt Col Che Adam Abdul Rahman advised the public to refer to the authorities for accurate and timely information on the monsoon floods.
He said that although waters were rising at rivers, the situation was still under control.
“The state’s integrated rescue teams are on standby to respond to any emergencies.
“We advise those living in low-lying areas to be prepared to be evacuated if the situation warrants, as continued heavy rain is bound to cause floods at these areas,” said Che Adam.
Additionally, the Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a severe weather warning over Terengganu and Kelantan till Wednesday.
The department expected adverse weather to continue over Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang in Kelantan and over the whole of Terengganu.
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Audrey Tan Straits Times 24 Nov 17;
SINGAPORE - Two of seven pink dolphins previously housed at Underwater World Singapore (UWS) never left the country, contrary to claims by the attraction that all its aquatic animals had found new homes in regional facilities.
Trade data published last month by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) - an international agreement between governments to regulate the wildlife trade - showed that only five live pink dolphins (Sousa chinensis) were exported last year.
The pink dolphin is listed on Appendix I of Cites, which lists species threatened with extinction. Permits are required from local authorities before animals on this list are traded. In Singapore, these permits are issued by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
Underwater World Singapore, an aquarium on Sentosa Island, closed last June after 25 years due to an expiring lease. The attraction's main stars were its seven Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins or pink dolphins which were named Eaung, Pann, Splish, Splash, Jumbo, Han and Speedy. On June 5 last year, UWS sent five pink dolphins, three fur seals and five otters to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park in Zhuhai, China.
Han, which had skin cancer, and Speedy, were not among the five sent to China.
But in April this year, a spokesman for Haw Par Corporation, which owned UWS, told The Straits Times that "all the other aquatic animals also found suitable facilities to be rehoused and were safely transferred out of the UWS premises to various regional facilities by end October 2016". The spokesman would not be drawn on naming the facilities.
When approached then, the AVA also declined to specify the number of permits issued to UWS, citing organisational confidentiality. The spokesman would only say that it worked with UWS to rehome all the aquatic animals to various aquaria overseas.
When queried on the export data earlier this week, the Haw Par spokesman declined to comment.
AVA, however, confirmed with The Straits Times on Friday (Nov 24) that it issued five export permits to UWS to facilitate the rehoming of live dolphins overseas as indicated in the Cites trade database. But the AVA spokesman stressed that its role was to ensure that Cites-listed animals are imported and exported according to the Convention.
"When these animals are in Singapore, their custodian (in this case, UWS) would be responsible for ensuring the care and welfare of these animals," she added. "There were no animal welfare issues detected when the dolphins were under the care of UWS."
Earlier this year, international marine conservation group Sea Shepherd visited the China facility on multiple occasions to monitor the five dolphins sent from Singapore, but found only four on display: females Eaung and Pann, as well as Pann's two calves Splish and Splash. Sea Shepherd said workers at the China park gave differing accounts for the missing dolphin, Jumbo, with one claiming that it was kept in an off-site research facility and another insisting that there were only four dolphins left.
UWS did not comment on the Sea Shepherd report then.
Marine conservation groups point out that the issue of the missing dolphins highlighted the lack of transparency around marine parks, saying that there was "very little culpability" in the dolphin trade.
Ms Jaki Teo, Singapore representative for Sea Shepherd Asia, said: "These long-living, intelligent and sensitive creatures are treated as mere commodities, and facilities are allowed to operate with appalling lack of transparency."
Not all pink dolphins sent abroad: Data
2 of 7 from Underwater World, supposedly taken to regional facilities, never left S'pore
Audrey Tan Straits Times 25 Nov 17;
Two of the seven pink dolphins previously housed at Underwater World Singapore (UWS) never left the country, contrary to claims by the attraction that all its aquatic animals had found new homes in regional facilities.
Trade data published last month by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) - an international agreement between governments to regulate the wildlife trade - showed that only five live pink dolphins (Sousa chinensis) were exported last year.
The pink dolphin is listed in Appendix I of Cites, which spells out species threatened with extinction.
Permits are required from the local authorities before animals on this list are traded. In Singapore, these permits are issued by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
UWS, an aquarium on Sentosa, closed last June after 25 years when its lease expired.
The attraction's main stars were its seven Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins or pink dolphins, which were named Eaung, Pann, Splish, Splash, Jumbo, Han and Speedy.
On June 5 last year, UWS sent five of them, three fur seals and five otters to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park in Zhuhai, China.
Han, which had skin cancer, and Speedy were not among the five.
Trade data published last month by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) - an international agreement between governments to regulate the wildlife trade - showed that only five live pink dolphins (Sousa chinensis) were exported last year.
But in April this year, a spokesman for Haw Par Corporation, which owned UWS, told The Straits Times "all the other aquatic animals also found suitable facilities to be rehoused and were safely transferred out of the UWS premises to various regional facilities by end-October 2016". The spokesman declined to name the facilities.
When approached then, AVA also declined to specify the number of permits issued to UWS, citing organisational confidentiality. Its spokesman would say only that it worked with UWS to rehome all the aquatic animals in aquariums abroad.
When queried on the export data earlier this week, the Haw Par spokesman declined to comment.
AVA, however, confirmed with The Straits Times yesterday that it had issued five export permits to UWS to facilitate the rehoming of live dolphins overseas as indicated in the Cites trade database.
But the AVA spokesman stressed that its role is to ensure Cites-listed animals are imported and exported according to the Convention. "When these animals are in Singapore, their custodian (in this case, UWS) would be responsible for ensuring the care and welfare of these animals," she added. "There were no animal welfare issues detected when the dolphins were under the care of UWS."
Earlier this year, international marine conservation group Sea Shepherd visited the China facility on multiple occasions to monitor the five dolphins sent from Singapore, but found only four on display: females Eaung and Pann, as well as Pann's two calves, Splish and Splash.
Sea Shepherd said workers at the China park gave differing accounts of the missing dolphin, Jumbo.
One claimed it was kept in an off-site research facility, and the other insisted there were only four dolphins left. UWS did not comment on the Sea Shepherd report then.
Ms Jaki Teo, Singapore's representative for Sea Shepherd Asia, said: "These... creatures are treated as mere commodities, and facilities are allowed to operate with appalling lack of transparency."
Jose Hong Straits Times 26 Nov 17;
I am 10, and stand facing the sea. My toes sink into the wet sand as the evening breeze wafts by, carrying notes of salt and nostalgia.
I have always loved the shore, and that childhood memory of East Coast Park remains one of my favourite memories. The seas of Singapore constantly surprise me, with the coral reefs, turtles and dolphins that dwell beneath the thousands of ships that crowd the straits. The seas also connect us to the islands that lie within sight of our beaches.
Singapore is described as many things: city-state, city in a garden, the little red dot. But we are also an island-nation. In fact, we are a nation of islands.
We are familiar with a few of them: Sentosa, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong and Coney Island. Further thought might squeeze out more names: Pulau Brani, Kusu Island and Jurong Island.
According to the Singapore Land Authority, 64 islands surround the main island of Singapore today.
Each has its story and role to play, from Sisters' Islands, which houses the country's first marine park, to Pulau Semakau, on which charred waste is turned into new land, and Pedra Branca's lighthouse, rising from the sea east of Changi.
I write this piece from Pulau Ujong, an island you may not have heard of but which you most certainly know, for it is the main island of Singapore. It literally means "island at the end", a reference to our place off the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia.
Each of the isles, in its own way, reinforces the reality that we are a nation borne of the sea.
This part of the country's past and present was so important that in 2014, the Singapore HeritageFest had as its theme "Our Islands, Our Home". But Singapore's islands should not be celebrated only in one-off events but also in our regular everyday lives.
Yet, it is exactly their perceived remoteness, with whiffs of the past, that consign them to the background. As academic David Lowenthal said: "Islands often physically embody desired pasts in personal memory or in collective fancy... felt to be foreign, far from ordinary modes of life and thought."
He noted with irony that we imagine islands as a paradisaical escape from a life that is hectic and overwhelming, when, actually, they form some of the earth's most densely populated places, like Manhattan (28,000 people per sq km), Hong Kong (7,000 per sq km) and Singapore (8,000 per sq km).
Yet, the perception of Singapore's islands as a relic of the past could also be generational in nature.
Last week, I paid a visit to the Singapore Maritime Gallery, a newly renovated, almost-unknown museum dedicated to our nautical heritage, tucked above Marina South Pier. There, the clues as to how society's attention moved away from the sea became clearer.
It was in the 1970s that ships started losing to aeroplanes as the main mode of travel, and when the nation bet big and won on containerisation - the process of trade through hulking metal boxes. As industry intensified its use of the oceans as trade highways, people turned the other way, with Singaporeans' gazes shifting up towards the skies.
To you and me, the image of water as a highway is now replaced by water as an obstacle. And the islands, though still as near to the mainland as they always have been, are somehow farther away. Perhaps this is why we easily think of Singapore as an aviation hub, and not as a maritime nation, for flight is aspirational in its modernity.
But I suggest we cast our eyes seawards, for our health's sake. Research in psychology has yielded evidence that exposure to bodies of water - be they lakes, oceans or rivers - lower stress levels significantly. And by accident of geography, the sea remains the largest body of water accessible to most people here.
The founder of the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Professor Michael Depledge, showed through studies that although exposure to greenery lowered stress levels, exposure to greenery and water had the most positive effect on people. As The Guardian reported, "there is something deeply profound about water and humans".
It may not be so surprising to hear, for sea-facing properties in Singapore fetch eye-watering prices, and we often dream of Hawaii, Mykonos or Okinawa as destinations to escape from the stresses of modern living. But perhaps we should look closer at our humble islands, our unassuming "pulaus", for they provide a similar experience at the fraction of the cost.
I have spent less than $20 on many a happy weekend on Pulau Ubin, and also taken trips to the Southern Islands for biological expeditions to survey coral reefs and seagrass meadows.
Leaving the mainland on a boat always brings a sense of excitement and adventure, as one chugs away on a sea that becomes gradually open and immense, and hears the surf that crashes over the hull in salty gusts that promise a life we once were close to.
Many of us, after all, trace our lineage back to those who arrived on these shores on the promise of a better life, a promise that remains whispered in the hush of the deep blue that laps our islands.
So next weekend, why not take the MRT to Marina South Pier, visit the maritime gallery above it (free), and book a trip to our southern isles? It costs less than $20 per person, and in an hour, you will find yourself on shores from which you can view the distant Central Business District, separated by the gentle waves that teem with coral and fish in waters clearer than you thought possible for Singapore.
Our islands tell our story, and in our busy, hectic lives, perhaps we should listen to them.
Vanessa Paige Chelvan Channel NewsAsia 25 Nov 17;
SINGAPORE: Sembawang Hot Spring, the only hot spring on mainland Singapore, will be developed into a community park 10 times its current size.
The National Parks Board (NParks) said it would keep the rustic, kampung-like feel of the hot spring while turning the 0.1 hectare space, now tucked about 100m off Gambas Avenue, into a 1.1 hectare park.
NParks unveiled these plans at a public exhibition on Saturday (Nov 25). Among planned additions are a cascading pool cum foot bath, sheltered seating areas as well as a café and a floral walk.
Edible plants such as ginger, rambutan and chiku will be planted along the floral walkway to evoke memories of a bygone era in Singapore and also to preserve the hot spring’s untouched feel.
“Many of the residents from Sembawang and Yishun used to live in kampungs around here. They know how it was like back then and they also reminisce about the past," said Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung, who visited the exhibition on Saturday.
"They know that Singapore, between highly developed buildings and city centres versus a kampong atmosphere, can co-exist. And I think this is a fine place to demonstrate that."
Work on the park will begin in early 2018 and are expected to be completed by 2019.
Among the first to scribble a light-hearted suggestion was Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan.
“Let the chickens in!” he wrote on a Post-It note, before sticking it onto a board set up to collect public feedback.
Besides Mr Ong, Mr Khaw was accompanied by Members of Parliament from Nee Soon and Sembawang GRCs, including Mr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Dr Lee Bee Wah, Mr Amrin Amin and Mr Vikram Nair.
They planted the first trees along the walkway, toured the exhibition and chatted to regular users of the hot spring. They even sampled soft-boiled eggs cooked by the spring’s steaming water and soaked their feet in pails of warm spring water, much to the delight of residents.
“We are a concrete jungle, with lots of tall buildings, highly developed places and intensified plot ratios," said Mr Ong.
"So to find a jewel like this in Singapore is really rare, and we’re quite determined to keep this rustic vibe with the kampung spirit going."
ONCE A THERMAL BATHHOUSE FOR JAPANESE SOLDIERS
The Sembawang Hot Spring was discovered in 1908 on the grounds owned by a Chinese merchant, Seah Eng Keong. Since then, the land has changed hands a few times.
It was once a thermal bathhouse for Japanese soldiers, after their occupation of Singapore during World War II. Later in the 1960s, local media reported suggestions were made to develop the area into a tourist spa resort, restaurant, miniature golf course or nature reserve - but none came to fruition.
These ideas were put forth to local food and beverage conglomerate Fraser and Neave (F&N), who had acquired the land in 1921 after buying over an on-site spring water bottling plant established by the grounds’ original owner, Seah Eng Keong.
According to a signboard at the entrance of the spring, it was not the Chinese merchant who first discovered the spring in 1908, but a British soldier named William Arthur Bates Goodall.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) acquired the land in 1985, and in 2002 built much of the present infrastructure, including the entrance gate, perimeter fence, cemented walkway, concrete floor and standpipes.
MINDEF will return the land to the state, which will hand the plot to NParks ahead of works slated to begin next year.
The public exhibition at the hot springs will be held until Dec 3, and members of the public are invited to pen their thoughts on development plans.
The public can also view these plans and share their ideas until Dec 10 at www.nparks.gov.sg/sembawanghotspring.
Sembawang Hot Spring to be developed into bigger park with floral walk and cafe by 2019
Samantha Boh Straits Times 25 Nov 17;
SINGAPORE - The country's only natural hot spring on the mainland, the Sembawang Hot Spring, will soon be developed into a park 10 times its current size and feature a cafe, toilets and a floral walk.
Construction work will start in early 2018 and be completed by 2019, the National Parks Board (NParks) said on Saturday (Nov 25).
NParks said it will look into ways to ensure that people can still access the spring water during the construction period.
When completed, a floral walkway comprising flowers one would normally find in a kampung like the golden trumpet and oleander will greet visitors at the entrance to Sembawang Hot Spring Park, as it will be known.
There will also be toilets and a cafe, which will have shrubs and climbers on its walls to integrate it with the surrounding greenery.
Fruit trees like chiku and rambutan will also be planted in the vicinity.
In place of the current central pipes and taps, where the spring water runs from, there will be a cascading pool flowing down.
The cascading effect will help the water to cool down, and people will be able to dip their legs in the pool.
The pool will also come with a temperature meter.
Those who still want to collect the spring water in pails will be able to do so at a water collection point.
Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Sembawang GRC MP, Mr Ong Ye Kung, who was at the unveiling of the plans, said: "We are a concrete jungle...to find a jewel like this in the middle of Singapore is really rare so we are determined to keep this in the kampung spirit and the kampung rustic feel."
Other features include a naturalised stream that will channel the used water from the pool into a drainage system.
Sheltered seating areas, bicycle racks and a storage area for pails will also be added.
Sembawang Hot Spring to be developed into bigger park with floral walk and cafe by 2019
The NParks is soliciting public feedback on the plans till Dec 10, and will make alterations if need be.
The hot spring currently sits on Sembawang Air Base grounds, near the junction of Sembawang Road and Gambas Avenue, along Jalan Ulu Sembawang.
A deserted brick house believed to be part of a former bottled drink factory marks the site, which is open to the public from 7am to 7pm.
The spring was discovered in 1909 by Chinese merchant Seah Eng Keong, and people claim that its water can cure rheumatism, and heal skin problems such as acne or psoriasis.
News that the site was to be developed into a park was met with mixed reviews in April, with some wanting to keep its rustic character while others open to having facilities such as washrooms and basins.
On Saturday, visitors to the spring were generally positive about the redevelopment plans.
"There is nothing wrong with making it look prettier. In fact, it would be great if more people get to know about it because of that and come to benefit from it," said retiree Lim Chu Sun, 69, who used to work in a hotel.
She suggested having a space for people to completely submerge themselves in the water.
Madam Chris Goh, 56, a patient service associate, is open to the development plans as well but added that she is happy with how it is currently.
"They don't need to make it that nice, I'm already very satisfied with it," she said.
A daily visitor to the spring, she is looking forward to the toilets as she currently uses a towel to shield herself when she bathes with the spring water.
"My only request is that they don't cover the drains. I often lie on the railings as I feel that the steam rising from the water helps to improve my blood circulation."
Members of the public can view the plans and give their feedback on www.nparks.gov.sg/sembawanghotspringpark.
The Star 24 Nov 17;
ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government has announced 12 water infrastructure projects and conservation initiatives to deal with water supply in the state.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said all development projects involved an allocation of RM925.6mil from the Federal Government, and RM130mil from the state government.
“Water infrastructure in Johor will be developed through an allocation from Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) worth RM925.6mil and this involves 12 major projects,” he said while tabling the state budget 2018 at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar.
The projects involve the construction of new water treatment plants at Buluh Kasap in Segamat, Sungai Layang 2 in Johor Baru, Pagoh in Muar and a new tank in Labis.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled also said a total of RM8mil has been allocated to the Johor Water Regulatory Body (Bakaj) in the 2018 budget for nine water conservation initiatives.
“The initiatives also include the management of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Sungai Johor with a cost of RM2mil, Sungai Johor weir barrage installation project (RM1.2mil) and water source projects in various districts (RM2.4mil),” he said.
Mohamed Khaled added that for water supply projects in rural areas in Johor, the Federal Government approved an allocation of RM5mil for 2018.
Meanwhile, the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) received a development allocation of RM35mil to carry out maintenance work including flood mitigation projects throughout Johor.
The Star 26 nov 17;
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued severe warning alert for the east coast states, predicting continuous rain and a wet weekend.
According to the department’s Facebook page, parts of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang will experience heavy rain until today.
“Heavy rain is expected to persist in Kelantan (Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang as well as Terengganu,” it said in a statement.
The northeast monsoon, which started on Nov 13, is expected to last until March.
The department also issued a bad weather warning in Pahang and Johor.
MetMalaysia: Heavy rain expected to hit east coast until Sunday
razak ahmad The Star 23 Nov 17;
PETALING JAYA: Continuous heavy rain brought by the northeast monsoon will hit the east coast of the peninsula from today, according to a forecast.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a yellow alert weather warning for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and east Johor.
“Continuous heavy rain is expected to occur over the states,” read the alert, adding it would go on until Sunday.
The northeast monsoon, which started on Nov 13, is expected to last until March.
MetMalaysia is expecting between four and five episodes of continuous heavy rain during the monsoon.
A yellow alert means heavy rain is expected within the next one to three days. And if there is continuous rain, it will not last for more than six hours and the rainfall will be less than 60mm.
An orange alert indicates continuous heavy rain that will exceed six hours and rainfall collection of at least 60mm. A red alert signifies continuous heavy rain exceeding 240mm a day.
On Tuesday, MetMalaysia issued a First Category warning of strong winds and rough sea conditions, both of which are dangerous to small boats.
It said that northeastern winds of between 40kph and 50kph, along with waves as high as 3.5m, were expected in the sea off Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, east Johor, Sarawak, Labuan and parts of Sabah from today until Monday.
“The strong winds and rough sea conditions are dangerous to small boats, sea sports and recreational activities,” MetMalaysia said.
Bad weather on the east coast until year end
FAISAL ASYRAF New Straits Times 26 Nov 17;
KUALA LUMPUR: People in the east coast have been told to brace for floods, as heavy rain brought by the monsoon weather is expected to persist until year end.
Meteorological Department director-general Alui Bahar said if the downpour continues for more than three consecutive days, floods would inevitably occur in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, as well as Johor.
“The department is not expecting a severe floods situation like last year, as the weather, this year is not influenced by phenomena such as El Nino and La Nina.
“Nonetheless, if the rainfall continues for more than three days in a row, or even between close intervals, it is likely that some districts will be flooded,” he said when contacted by the New Straits Times.
He said severe thunderstorm warning has been issued in several districts in Kelantan including Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Machang, Tanah Merah, and Gua Musang.
Other districts on alert include Pahang (Jerantut, Kuantan, Pekan, Rompin, Temerloh and Maran), Mersing and Kota Tinggi in Johor; as well as Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, and Pokok Sena in Kedah.
However, Alui said weather would improve by January, but torrential rain would soon make its way to Sabah and Sarawak.
He advised the public to install the mobile application myCuaca to keep tabs on the weather forecast or follow the department's Twitter account @malaysianmet.
The public can visit the department’s website www.met.gov.my, or contact via text message at 15888, or call the 1300 22 1638 hotline.
The annual east coast monsoon season, originating in the Pacific Ocean, generally runs from mid-October to late March.
Last year, at least 1200 people in Kelantan were evacuated to flood centres after their homes were inundated with flood waters, which was believed to have worsened by the logging and land-clearing activities.
In 2014, at least 20,000 were moved to be relief shelters after the flood worsened in Kelantan, which was the worst the country has ever seen in almost half a century.
muguntan vanar The Star 26 Nov 17;
KOTA KINABALU: Wildlife conservationists are addressing problems of rummaging Borneo pygmy elephants which have destroyed small farms close to the Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah’s east coast Sukau.
HUTAN, a Sabah-based wildlife research and conservation non-governmental organisation (NGO), has a team in Kg Litang, a village close to the reserve, to train locals on how to tackle the animals encroaching into their land.
Its scientific director Marc Acrenaz said villagers are being taught how to approach and chase the wild elephants, which are fully protected, back into the reserve.
Sukau assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman had sought help from the Wildlife Department and NGOs after elephants destroyed 400ha of newly planted commercial crops in the Kg Litang area last month.
He pointed out that most of the rummaging in the areas involved just a few animals.
“It was only that particular raid (last month) where there were two herds with 58 elephants that caused a lot of damage,” he said
He said Kg Litang is located 2kms from the Tabin reserve and easily accessible to its 450 elephants.
Tuuga said wildlife rangers could only help by driving away the animals when they encroached on land outside the reserve.
Acrenaz pointed out these elephants were moving around their natural routes which had been opened up for commercial crops.
“Efforts must be focused on land use planning that includes a forest corridor or save passage for these animals,” he said.
He said conflicts between elephants and humans in the Lower Kinabatangan area were resolved through a forest corridor set up by the Wildlife Department and the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC).
Michael Taylor Reuters 24 Nov 17;
KUALA LUMPUR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Researchers have created for the first time a detailed map that will help buyers and consumers of palm oil work out whether the supply chain is harming forests on the Southeast Asian island of Borneo.
Developed over the past year, the “Borneo Atlas” was unveiled this week by the Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).
The map shows the location and ownership of 467 palm-oil mills on Borneo, which is shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, and is one of the biggest island producers of the cheap, edible oil.
“It is the most comprehensive data set so far,” David Gaveau, an environmental scientist at CIFOR, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Mapping of palm mills is more than 90 percent complete for the whole island, he added.
To create the Borneo Atlas, CIFOR researchers sifted through online and other documents published by companies, non-governmental organizations, palm-oil certification agencies, mapping websites and social media networks.
A tool linked to the Borneo Atlas will use regularly updated satellite imagery to show a 10-km (6-mile) radius around each mill, detailing its impact on nearby forested areas and any expansion of existing plantations.
Users can also bring up a high-resolution image of each palm mill using Google Maps.
It is hoped the new map will help palm oil buyers and traders trace their supply chain more clearly, and identify whether it is tainted with deforestation, said Gaveau.
“By showing plantations, mills and all (the) infrastructure associated, people will be able to realize the full impact of palm oil planting on forests,” he said.
CIFOR is now collaborating with the World Resources Institute think tank and Greenpeace to improve land ownership identification for the atlas.
Next year, it will add ports used by the palm mills to ship the vegetable oil, and it is also working to identify which banks are funding plantation developments.
“We use it for investigations and to educate people about deforestation,” said Zhang Wen, executive director at Singapore environment group People’s Movement to Stop Haze. “It holds companies accountable for the change of the landscape.”
CIFOR plans to team up with Trase, an online transparency platform which could help link ports with European importers, exporters and buyers to complete the supply chain.
Palm oil, used in thousands of household products from snack foods to soaps, as well as to make biodiesel, has come under increasing fire in Europe for causing forest destruction.
Borneo, the world’s third largest island, has about 8.3 million hectares of oil palm plantations.
Environmental activists have pressured consumer companies into demanding that their palm oil suppliers adopt more environmentally sustainable forestry practices.
CIFOR has now begun working on a similar project mapping Indonesia’s other key palm-producing island of Sumatra.
“This is just the start,” said Gaveau. “The idea is that we will have much more advanced systems in the future that will hold companies accountable for their environmental commitments.”
Reporting by Michael Taylor, editing by Megan Rowling;
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