kalabakan forest; airstrip; elephants; bird buster; beef import into Malaysia

[Guest guest]

PULP AND PAPER MILL AT THE KALABAKAN FOREST - THE STAR 22.1.01

 

The Prime Minister of Malaysia was confident that the multi-billion ringgit

pulp and paper mill joint venture with China would be implemented in Sabah

soon. The PM said there were only a few minor issues to be settled among the

joint venture partners before an agreement for the project could be

finalised.

Recently China Fuxing Pulp and Paper Mill president met the Sabah CM to iron

out details of the Malaysia-China mill project to be set up at the Kalabakan

forest in Tawau district.

The proposed project involved the clearing of 220 000ha of forest and

environmental groups had raised fears that such large land clearing for mono

cropping could affect the nearby Maliau Basin and Danum Valley conservation

areas. China Fuxing officials wanted to settle some details with their

government before finalising the deal.

The PM also added that other issues raised by the state cabinet members

include the setting up of a multi million ringgit steel mill near Kudat in

north Sabah.

 

AIRSTRIP WILL NOT HARM ENVIRONMENT - THE STAR 12.1.01.

 

A local NGO had expressed shock at tourism development plans and urged the

State Government to exercise caution in developing water catchment areas as

they have very sensitive eco-systems. SAM was concerned about the

construction of the airstrip as well as other development plans for the

Beris dam. There were plan to build hotels, chalets and exclusive resorts

along the water's edge despite the dam's environmental management plan

recommending only low density development in the form of mountain lodges.

The Menteri Besar gave assurance that the State Government would see that

the water catchment area would not be destroyed when work on the project

begins next month.

The airstrip will have a 800 metre runway and will cater for small air

craft. The State Government

Plans to link Langkawi to the Pedu Muda and Beris dams by air beginning with

the construction of an airstrip in the Pedu dam area.

 

ELEPHANTS LOSING HABITAT

 

Asia's 35 000 to 50 000 surviving elephants are being squeezed into

increasingly smaller woodland areas, turning them into a menace to people in

their territory, WWF said. As clearance of forests for settlement and

agriculture escalates, traditional elephant migration routes are disrupted,

leading to violent clashes when hungry elephants raid crops, a report said.

As a result hundreds of people are killed by elephants every year in Asia,

with up to 300 deaths in India alone, it added. The report says that

animals are being poisoned by plantation workers, shot by angry farmers, and

killed for their meat, hide and tusks.

 

BIRD BUSTERS - THE STAR 18.1.01.

 

A team of `bird pest busters' in coveralls and mask respirators scaled up a

mosque for waste cleaning and pest control job. University's bird expert

Mohamed Hifni said the large mass of pigeon waste up to 17cm thick on the

mosque's ceiling posed a health hazard if not cleaned properly. " Fungus in

bird waste is known to cause blindness, collapse of the lungs, food

poisoning and even deaths, " he said. Bird control measures will later be

installed like bird shock electrical devices, spikes to prevent birds from

resting on the roof, wire mesh, nettings, ultra-sound devices and chemical

bird repellents. He said the basic precautions must be taken to treat the

waste with proper chemicals, adding that wire mesh would be the cheapest

alternative to bird pest control in residential houses.

 

BEEF IMPORT INTO MALAYSIA.

 

Malaysians consumed about 122.5 kilogrammes of beef annually and about half

of this is imported in the form of frozen meat. The projected output of

meat would not even come close to meeting demand. Local output can only meet

23 per cent of the overall demand.

India is the main supplier of frozen meat for local consumption. Currently,

the country supplies almost 90 per cent of meat imported by Malaysia. It has

become the largest supplier of meat to the local market because of the

favourable exchange rates.

Head of India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development

Authority D. Rajagopalan said India exports buffalo meat which is similar to

cow meat in physical and chemical proporties. He said in India there were

inherent contradictions which went with the size of the country and the

varieties of beliefs prevalent among the people. " As a result cow meat is

not allowed to be exported, buffalo meat exports have no restrictions at

all, " he said. Quality wise it has been adjudged that at least one major

slaughterhouse in Aurangabad (Maharashtra) is at the level prescribed by the

European Economic Community in hygience and laboratory control. Rajagopalan

said a livestock census in India was carried out every 5 years in 25 states.

Most astonishing is the fact that India has a buffalo population of more

than 91 million, 209 million cattle, 56 million sheep and 120 million goats.

 

A group of Malaysians from the Ministry inspected one of the most modern

meat processing complexes, designed and built to meet the stringent European

Economic Community standards in hygienic and laboratory control.

Frigorifici Allana Ltd Chairman Irfan Allana said it can slaughter hundreds

of buffaloes per hour, a formidable total. On entering the plant the smell

of antiseptic was everywhere as every entrance has four baths. All visitors

must wear gum boots, protective clothing, uniform, caps and even face masks.

 

Buffaloes were reared and fed for slaughter at 12 to 14 months of age at the

plant. Many of the buffaloes are bought at the buffalo market. At time of

slaughter there is veterinary inspection to see that the animal is not

diseased and is safe for consumption. All animals slaughtered at the

abattoir will undergo ante mortem and continuous post-mortem inspection.

This practice was carried out by government veterinarians. As for halal

certification, there was a lot of business sense in making sure that meat

was halal as most of his clients were Muslims. Halal food means food

permitted under the Islamic law (a law based on the Quran). Under the

Islamic law, the slaughtering of halal animals should be fully separated

from the slaughter of non-halal ones. The Religious Department has been

entrusted with the responsibility of ascertaining the halal status of the

abattoirs and processing plants intending to export their products to

Malaysia. The animals were slaughtered strictly in accordance with Islamic

rites.

Allana said as the main exporting country, India has shown willingness to

enforce slaughtering methods acceptable in Islam.

 

 

 

 

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