Keeping the hills alive - Star

Sept 26, 2009

By FOONG THIM LENG
Photos courtesy of CHEANG KUM SENG

Photographer Cheang Kum Seng’s love affair with the limestone hills of the Kinta Valley has yielded thousands of photos spanning two decades.

RENOWNED photographer Cheang Kum Seng hopes to instil awareness on the importance of conserving the hills of the Kinta Valley through the images he has captured in the past two decades.

His fascinating photographs of the valley’s hills, caves and landscape were published recently in a book called Limestone Hills & Caves of the Kinta Valley. The author of the book is Ipoh-born freelance writer S. L. Wong, who specialises in environmental and travel writing.

Serene pursuit: Boating in the lake near Pencil Rock in Tambun.

Cheang, 65, is a retired bank employee who has found a second career as an industrial and commercial photographer. His images have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers and books, and have been used regularly on the cover of the Malaysian Nature Society’s (MNS) Malaysian Naturalist between 1995 and 2000.

Cheang has snapped thousands of photographs of the hills in the Kinta Valley and some of his favourites are featured in the book. Many of the photographs were taken between 1990 and 1991 when he was commissioned as a photographer for the Kinta Valley Limestone Hill Survey Project by the MNS and as the photographer for the Gua Tempurung project by Heritage Acres Sdn Bhd.

“The photographs in the book depict not only existing hills and caves but also landscapes that no longer exist due to development and changes in the use of land. I hope the book will serve as an encouragement for all of us to stand up and protect Malaysia’s natural heritage,” Cheang said in an interview.

His photographs are a testament to his passion for nature and the patience needed to bring out the very best in his subjects. Most of Cheang’s photographs were taken before digital photography became popular. He used two 35mm and a 120mm camera for taking slides and negatives during his outings.

Cheang’s crew were usually made up of his three sons and MNS members who shared his interest in caving activities.

The second chamber in Perak Tong, a cave temple near Tasek.

“We would visit the hills in the morning to start exploring the caves to look for interesting sites with unique features. It was a time-consuming job as we were only using torches. You need lots of patience to be able to study the formations before you are able to capture the images.

“Once we had identified our target, we would set up the cameras and positioned the helpers to light up the cave using multiple flashes. At times, we had to wait for rays of sunlight to seep through the cave ceiling to impart a surreal impact on the photographs.

“We could only take about two shots in each outing and had to leave the cave in the evening,” he recalled.

Cheang, an associate of the Royal Photography Society of Great Britain, has been a member of the MNS since 1992 and a member of the Malaysian Karst Society since 2002.
Photographer Cheang Kum Seng has immortalised the landscapes of the Kinta Valley.

MNS president Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor said in the book’s foreword that the Kinta Valley Hills have immeasurable conservation value and would be a perfect candidate for a World Heritage Site. It is significant in terms of its features and richness in biological diversity, but more significantly, it has a fascinating prehistoric past, he said.

Dr Salleh said that the Kinta Valley Hills, reputed to be between 240 and 570 million years old, are breathtaking limestone formations that have inspired many a traveller and researcher. With Limestone Hills & Caves of the Kinta Valley, the unique features of the limestone hills and caves can be recorded for posterity, for future generations to appreciate, he said.

Prof Dr Bernard Pierson, Shell Chair in Petroleum Geosciences, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, said the beautiful and long overdue book was a tribute to the geological treasures of the Kinta Valley.

Those interested in the book can contact the MNS at (03) 2287 9422.

Kinta Nature Park to be gazetted as wildlife sanctuary - Star

Sept 25, 2009 By FOONG THIM LENG (newsdesk@thestar.com.my)

IPOH: The Perak government will gazette the Kinta Nature Park as a wildlife sanctuary to prevent it from being destroyed by encroachment and illegal activities.

State Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman said gazetting the park would not take much time as the groundwork for it had been prepared when Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali was Perak mentri besar, and there was a file on the proposal in the state Land and Mines office.

Close inspection: Lee informing Hamidah about the encroachment at the Kinta Nature Park in Batu Gajah yesterday while Tan looks on. The island in the background is the heronry in the park.

“We will have to decide on which agency would manage the park and look into upgrading its facilities before promoting the park for tourism,” she told reporters during an inspection of the park in Batu Gajah after receiving complaints from the Perak branch of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

Accompanying her were MNS Perak branch vice-chairman Lee Ping Kong, council member Tan Chin Tong and ornithologist Lim Kim Chye, who is the MNS Perak Branch Bird Group Coordinator.

“It will be a waste if such a potential tourist attraction like the park is neglected. It is said to be the best place for bird-watching in Malaysia. It is the home to more than 130 species of birds and has the largest heronry in the country on one of its islands,” she said.

It was reported in The Star on Tuesday that the park would will lose the heronry if illegal activities continued there.

Almost 60% of the birds in the park are listed as totally protected or protected under the Protection of Wild Life Act 1976.

A recent check by the MNS revealed that someone had fenced up the whole lake where the heronry, with five breeding species of 2,000 waterbirds, is located, with the intention of starting commercial fish farming.

The MNS had complained that pristine mining pools at the southern end of the park have been taken over by duck farms and that incursions by sand extraction activities have increased.

The lack of a management body had resulted in damage and disrepair to the infrastructure.

The only watchman in the park said he was only there to guard the amenities and was powerless to prevent any form of encroachment.

Hamidah said the park was managed by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan). She expressed disappointment at the amenities in the park having been vandalised and the grass not having been cut for months.

“We will like to park to be managed by the Kampar district office with Perhilitan playing a monitoring role,” she said.

Hamidah also agreed to look into a suggestion by the MNS to let the park be placed under the jurisdiction of the Perak State Parks Corporation.

She said the duck farms operating without permit would have to stop.

Hamidah added that she would talk with the Kampar District Office to stop renewing the permits for sand mining in the park.

On whether the park should be named the Royal Perak Wetlands, as proposed after the it was set up in 2001, Hamidah said the name would need consent from the Perak royal family.

One In Three Malaysians At Risk Of Developing Osteoporosis

Picture courtesy of empowereddoctor.com

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- One in three Malaysian adults is at risk of developing osteoporosis, according to a recent bone-scanning programme.

The programme, conducted by bone nutrition expert Anlene in Malaysia, also found that incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture was highest among Chinese Malaysians, followed by Malays and Indians.

It found that 71 per cent of post-menopausal Malay women were not getting their daily Vitamin D requirement, the company said in a statement here today.

The programme, part of Anlene's Asia-wide bone-scanning programme conducted on 1.8 million people since 2005, is in line with the key findings of a major report released by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) at the World Wide Conference of Osteoporosis Patient Societies in Beijing.

The results of the programme are also in line with a recent study conducted by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and the University of Otago, New Zealand, which revealed that less than 50 per cent of Malaysian women are getting their required calcium needs.

Meanwhile, John Mckay, general manager of Fonterra Malaysia (Fonterra is Anlene's parent), said the studies were crucial to building a better understanding of looming bone health problems in Malaysia and other countries in Asia.

"Our bone scanning has indicated that an increasing number of people are at risk of developing osteoporosis and IOF's findings show that the incidence of hip fracture has already doubled or tripled in most Asian countries over the past 30 years.

"This is an alarming figure. There is an urgent need for Asian countries to understand more about this preventable disease and take action to fight it and call for more public education and awareness about the disease," he said.

Step by step method and recipe to make garbage enzymes

Sept 23, 2009

This article will provide you with a simple method and recipe to make garbage enzymes. Don’t worry if you are new to this as you will be guided through step by step on how to make garbage enzymes.



First and foremost, what is garbage enzymes and why are people making them? Garbage enzyme is a multipurpose liquid that can be used as a cleansing agent, purifier, fertiliser, blockage solution, etc. It is actually a smart way of using your kitchen wastes instead of throwing them out. When you make garbage enzymes using kitchen wastes like vegetables and fruits, it goes through a process of fermentation. This fermentation process will release ozone gas that will help to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Thus, making homemade enzymes is also an excellent way to do our part in safeguarding the environment.



The method and recipe to make garbage enzymes provided in this post are courtesy of Inner Journey. The author of Inner Journey has taken proper workshops in understanding how different types of enzymes are made and is an active enzyme producer in her own rights.

Before you begin, you should know that the process of producing enzyme is not an overnight thing. To make garbage enzymes the correct way, you need to leave it to ferment for 3 months before it is ready to be used.

Basic Ingredients To Make Garbage Enzymes:

* 1 part sugar
* 3 parts vegetable and/or fruit dregs
* 10 parts water
* A plastic container (recommended: use a substantially large plastic mineral water bottle which is air tight)

Tip: If you want nice smelling garbage enzymes, try using citrus fruits like oranges and pineapples!

Method To Make Garbage Enzymes:

* In the plastic container, dilute the sugar in water.
* Then, add in the fruit/vegetable dregs
* Be sure to leave about one third of empty space in the plastic container for the fermentation process
* Close the container tightly
* During the first month, open the container’s cap twice a day to release the gas that has built up
* Once in a while where necessary, you may push the floating garbage downward
* Place the container in a cool and ventilated area

After the first month, the ingredients in the container should be stable and you won’t need to release the gas anymore. At this stage, you just need to leave it alone to ferment for another 2 months before using it. It’s that easy!

Have a go at making your own garbage enzymes. You can be as creative as you can get, using whatever kitchen wastes you may have. And have fun!

Source: http://www.usefultipsforlife.com/step-by-step-method-recipe-to-make-garbage-enzymes

Wearing Of Masks Not The Only Measure To Prevent H1N1 Spread

By Zulkiple Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- As the awareness on H1N1 influenza increases, more members of the public can be seen wearing masks in their efforts to check the spread of the H1N1 virus in the country.

They can be seen wearing the masks at public spots like hospitals, hypermarkets and shopping complexes.

"The culture of wearing face masks to prevent the spread of influenza and other respiratory diseases is good but the public should not make the practice as the only measure to curb the spread of H1N1 influenza," an officer of the Infection Control Division of a public health institution told this writer at a seminar on H1N1 here.

The officer is among the participants of the National A (H1N1) Influenza Pandemic Conference 2009 held last Sept 12. The day-long event was organised by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), Ministry of Health and Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Association of Malaysia (FPMPAM)

"Only those who are sick are required to wear the masks and people with H1N1 should not be outside of their homes, instead they went everywhere.

"They should be quarantined at home and this is to prevent them from spreading the H1N1 virus to others if they go to public places. At home they should wear masks as there are others such as their family members," she said.

The misconception is that people think that by wearing masks, even those who are sick can go to any place they like, said the officer.

"My advice to those who are sick is to stay home, impose self-quarantine as this helps to prevent H1N1 from getting to others," she added.

ONE METRE DISTANCE

"Stay at least 1.0 metre away from any individual with influenza-like symptoms. The use of masks could reduce the transmission. However if used incorrectly, may actually increase the risk," said Dr T.C. Lim, another participant at the seminar.

He said if masks are to be used, this measure should be combined with other general measures to help prevent the human-to-human transmission of H1N1 influenza.

Dr Lim said according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), among the other general measures are:

Refrain from touching mouth and nose;

perform hand hygiene frequently, by washing with soap and water or using a handrub especially if touching the mouth and nose and surfaces that are potentially contaminated;

reduce as much as possible the time spent in close contact with people who might be ill;

reduce as much as possible the time spent in crowded settings;

improve airflow in your living space by opening windows as much as possible.

stay at home if you feel unwell

WHEN TO WEAR MASKS?

According to Dr Lim, people are recommended to wear surgical masks when they have symptoms of respiratory infection or fever.

"Also, if you are looking after someone with respiratory infection symptoms and had came into contact with a person having respiratory infection symptoms.

"You have to wear masks when visiting friends or family members at hospitals, or visiting crowded and poorly-ventilated places," he said.

DO NOT RE-USE MASKS

Dr Lim advised the public to replace the masks with new, clean and dry masks as soon as they become damp or humid.

"Do not re-use the masks. Discard the used masks and dispose them immediately upon removing. Hands should be washed immediately after removal of the mask.

Wearing surgical mask is just one of the ways to prevent the spread of droplet and respiratory tract infections. The practice of good personal hygiene is important, he said.

"Even if you do wear a surgical mask, you should continue to maintain a high standard of personal hygiene because no mask can offer total protection," said Dr Lim.

MORE HARM THAN GOOD

Another seminar participant, who wished to be identified as Dr Wong said he noticed that people wear masks even with no one around.

He said the H1N1 virus is not airborne.

"To be considered an airborne virus, the microorganism would have to survive or remain in the air for long periods of time. The H1N1 virus does not stay airborne," said Dr Wong who is from a private medical centre here.

"I noticed many people wear masks in crowded places. However, places like airports, shopping malls and schools are full of germs. If only a small number of germs get into the holes in the mask, you will provide a breeding ground for them.

"This may lead to an infection. The moisture you produce in your mask is perfect for bacteria and viruses to grow," he said.

PREVENT EXPOSURE TO H1N1 VIRUS

The way to prevent exposure to H1N1 virus is to avoid physical contact with people who may be sick or infected. Also avoid commonly touched surfaces like escalator railings, poles and public toilet doorknobs.

The H1N1 virus usually spreads when someone touches surfaces with the virus and then touches his own nose, eyes or mouth.

Washing your hands frequently is the best defense against exposure.

"Wearing a mask is only good at helping you not to spread your illness to others if you are infected," Dr Wong added.

Bercham folk can breathe easier now - Star

Sept 14, 2009

BERCHAM folk can heave a sigh of relief now that test results from Taman Tasek Aman and Taman Tasek Jaya have shown that the radiation level there is way below the permissible standard.

Universiti Tenaga Nasional College of Engineering Assoc Prof Norashidah Md Din said the total radiation exposure level in Taman Tasek Aman was at 1.85 microwatt per centimetre square or 0.32% according to the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines.

“The radiation exposure level for Taman Tasek Jaya was at 0.17 microwatt per centimetre square or 0.025%,” she told a press conference at the Ipoh City Council here recently.

‘‘It is safe to say that the radiation from the base stations comply to the safety guidelines,” she added.

Assoc Prof Norashidah explained that radiation levels beyond 400 microwatt per centimetre square were harmful to humans.

To a question on similar tests conducted by residents, which yielded different results, Assoc Prof Norashidah said the results could not be applied as they were using different measurement systems.

Ipoh Datuk Bandar Roshidi Hashim said the test results from Bercham would be used as a benchmark to gauge other telecommunication towers in Ipoh.

He added that several telecommunication companies had been told to relocate their base stations built near housing estates in Bercham by year end.

When contacted, Bercham Rukun Tetangga chairman Tan Swee Kong said the report was incomplete as it only announced the radiation frequency level.

Tan said the report should also include results on electro-magnetic radiation.

”They conducted the test for only 30mins, how is that enough to make a full report?” he asked.

Tan added that he would arrange for a meeting with Roshidi soon to seek clarification.