Langkawi Eagle Feeding a No-no

The eagle feeding is indeed unnatural and is bad for the eagles for a few reasons

1) reliant on human feedings, after a few generations, the eagles of langkawi are no longer majestic as they only swoop down and skim the water for human waste.
Will they gradually loose the ability to hunt?

2) Anitbiotics, growth hormones, beta agonists etc injected into our poultry like chicken are being fed to the eagles. It not only causes the bird's immune system to go haywire and cause disease, hormonal changes may affect the bird's ability to breed.

3) Prolonged contact with humans will cause the eagles to loose their natural apprehension and fear for humans. This will make hunting etc all the more easier.

4) How much have we learned from the eagle feeding activity apart from visual entertainment? Are we more aware about their breeding habits? Their courtship mechanisms their prey(chicken skin?)
problems they are facing like habitat destruction? What have we learned from the above activity that aids in their protection?

Unless something beneficial comes out of the feeding activity or at the very least does not harm the birds in anyway, please do not support the activcity and make your concerns heard.

Thank you.

Elective posting... Additonal info

http://www.mycen.com.my/malaysia/ngo.html

Holy Cow!

this driver broke through the guardrail, on the right side of the culvert, where the people are standing on the road, pointing.

The pick-up was traveling about 75 mph from right to left when it crashed through the guardrail.

It flipped end-over-end bounced off and across the culvert outlet, and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which the driver was traveling.

The 22-year-old driver and his 18-year-old passenger were unhurt except for minor cuts and bruises.


Now look at the second picture below...




Lucky wouldn't quite describe it if you ask me!

Worthy reads!- for Malaysia

http://acura86.blogspot.com/2008/08/unsung-heroes-of-merdeka.html

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/95309

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/95296

Please boycott the UMNO-backed newspaper UTUSAN for racial harmony! Peace
It's fanning hatred year round.


_________________________________________________________

I'm currently reading

March 8 the day Malaysia woke up- by Kee Thuan Chye

Ethnic relations- By Syed Husein Ali

And will give a review and summary after I gleaned d gems from the books!

Is it a Malaysian culture to litter?- KL's Rubbish. (Cf. UKM's Trash)

In Kuala Lumpur, the City Hall has hit out at irresponsible revellers who littered Jalan Sultan Ismail during the Christmas eve celebration.

City Hall director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup said though the public had a right to party they should not go overboard and dirty the place.

Trash city: Jalan Bukit Bintang practically awash in a sea of rubbish left behind by Christmas revellers.

“We had a tough time clearing the mess left behind by these irresponsible revellers. They obviously do not bother about cleanliness and left the mess for others to clean up.

Thousands of people flocked to Bukit Bintang area on Christmas eve, causing the usually clean area littered with aerosol cans used in the Christmas revelry.

IS IT a MALAYSIAN CULTURE to LITTER?

Ip Man Review- Yip Man Ichiban (叶问一极棒！）

Yip Man叶问 turned out to be an hour and 38 minutes or roaring action and laughter.

Well, Donnie promised to show his lesser known self, the other side of the moon- his mirthful side starting with the movie “painted skin” – what a weird name- turns out I din see that movie- and well he didn’t disappoint.


Instead of the slapstick comedy reminiscent of adam sandler and rob Schneider and gang;
In stark contrast to Mou-lei-tou无理头 humour of Stephen Chow’s fame;
Quite different from Jackie Chan’s brand of action-humour;
Yip man is in a league of its own.

I don’t know and can’t be sure but It’s the first martial arts movie that ties in aristocratic humour –for the lack of a better term to describe high quality humour- so seamlessly-
you hold your breath, in anticipation of the follow up of the fist thrown in mid-air….. what happens next? Will it be countered? Will it parried?
Then suddenly you gasp for air for you are suddenly overwhelmed by guffaws rising from within. Ah Zhun,-Yip Man’s son- cycling in at one crucial moment is the epitome of that.

The marriage of strange bed-fellows, humour and action (jackie’s style aside) was one unique experience! And I have the whole creative team to thank. Then again, considering the two previous collaborations by Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen – Sha Po Lang杀破狼 OR SPL and Dao huo xian导火线/ Flashpoint –(Leaving Dragon Tiger Gate龙虎门 out of the equation for personal reasons) didn’t have humour as a sidedish, I wonder if Donnie started stretching his directing muscles again and gave creative input to Yip, asking for slight condiments of wit to be added to the broth.

To Donnie I say: “It works! Keep it Up!”

On the action sequences we have Sammo Hung洪金宝 to thank- of SPL/ Martial Law fame (he recently had an outing too with the movie: Wushu- which I also had to give a miss :-()

He has high expectations and well that proved beneficial to the movie!

and oh! cheeky me

Fast and furious describes it well, as Wing-chun- a martial arts form started by a lady, taught by yip man, popularized by Bruce Lee and later incorporated into his Jeet Kun Do- consists of rapid fists that defend, deflect and attack at the same time.

Not familiar with this form of MA, I don’t think I can comment on whether it is true to its form but the execution appears to differ a bit from what I saw of History Channel’s ‘Fight Quest’ that featured wing chun. The speed of the fists however, are not lost in translation and require no post editing (the photoshop equivalent in movies I guess) considering Donnie is Da Man!

My complaints- #spoiler alert# are
1) the final fight was rather one sided, I expected more Ooomph from the Japanese General. In the whole movie I don’t think donnie’s Yip Man had any significant injuries save for the gunshot wound.

2) Once again the talent of Xing Yu 行宇is overlooked or underexpressed.
You will remember him as the coolie with great legs (not aesthetically –lar) in Kung fu Hustle and as 'Tiger', the 2nd bad brother in Flashpoint. In Flashpoint the all-out-brawl I anticipated between Donnie and him did not transpire and in Yip Man he is also er…. Wasted. (in both senses of the word) Only In Hustle did he really shine… Wait er minute….Now that I think of it, In all three movies he met a sad demise! Poor guy.



3) The movie was a little short lei. Maybe its too good so I wanted more of it but I felt ‘hungry’ at the end of it. The ending could be better though, portraying a injured yip man with friends and family en route to hong kong doesn’t quite cut it.
Encore! Encore! Encore!


Well today is the premiere of Yip Man And I’m proud to catch the 3rd screening of the day at Times Square! All in all an excellent film. Recommended to the whole family for its wittiness! You might wanna ask your gal to turn the other side for some parts tho (I watched alone )


Next film to watch is Kinta近打, but I’m afraid my expectations of it will be certainly raised after Yip Man. Keeping my fingers crossed! It’s the first Malaysian Martial Arts Film and thus deserves our support!

Finally, Support Original Films and the Cinema if you want great movies in the future because only by supporting the real deal your idols know their work is being appreciated.

Let us JERIT for change!

http://www.jerit.org/

remember the blog post on the bukit antarabangsa landslide which featured the top ten most wanted list of the Malaysian Police?

this pretty much confirms it. What insight by eyeswideopen

Here's one of the cyclers comment on what really happened... in contrast to what Khalid, 'respected' chief of police said. read post below

A day that saw an incident free day of cycling took a turn at Rawang . We arrived in Rawang at about 4.30pm. We were supposed to meet up with YB ADUN Rawang, Gan Pei Nei at Rawang Jaya . She and her delegation planned to cycle with the JERIT convoy from there to Rawang town.

But a roadblock greeted us at Rawang . As usual the police requested for names and IC of all the cyclist and coordinator. We intervened and told the police that it is not necessary to record names and addresses of all cyclist as we have a list that we can give it to them. After much argument we took back all the IC of the cyclist and gave the coordinators IC to record . Myself ,Sugu, Saras,Rani ,Mohan gave our IC to be recorded . The IC were returned after recording. But my IC changed hands to another officer .

Soon the police received new directions. The bus was to held and myself and the coordinators were asked to come to the balai . Eventhough we managed to get the cyclist to continue to cycle , but they were stopped again further ahead . As the cyclist met up YB Gan Pei Nei group , they were stopped from cycling to town . After some negotiations by Gan Pei Nei , the convoy proceeded into town . They cycled around Rawang town and stopped at a coffee shop for a drink .

Myself ,Sugu and Saras made our way to the balai polis . At the balai , Saras immediately checked on the 7 junior cyclist in the bus that was brought in to the balai . The police were already intimidating the children, asking them questions. Some officers also asked the cyclist if Dr.Kumar had paid them money to participate in the campaign.They harassed the cyclist who were in the bus . Saras and Sugu intervened and chased out the officers from the bus .

I met up with Gan Pei Nei who then arrived at the balai . We went over to see the OCPD , Abdul Rahim . He was asking the same stupid questions ,whether did we get a permit to cycle. He said ,it does not matter if other OCPD have allowed the cyclist , but we supposedly should have seeked his permission in his district .OCPD instructed all the bicyclist to be brought to the balai . We objected and said that we have given all the names and there was no need to have any statements taken .

Later the OCPD instructed statements to be taken from all the 7 cyclist that were already in the bus. He said that he wanted to verify if there were under aged children being abused . I followed them. Informed the officers that they cannot take statement, and we will not give statement . The cyclist will only give their details only .

Soon all the cyclist were already brought in the balai . Dr.Kumar arrived shortly . I and Dr.Kumar met up with the OCPD . He still insisted that he wanted to take statements from all the cyclist. We showed him that we have consent letters from all the parents . We gave the police a copy . After much negotiations ,we agreed poiice to record details of all the cyclist accompanied by us . As this was going on , I was taken by the OCPD to his room . He explained that he still considered that the event was a procession . He confirmed that I will be charged under Section 27 of the police Act’ illegal assembly’. Kumar also had his statements taken later .

At this moment , we were quite sure that all will be released after giving the details to the police . This was when matters took a turn , when the Selangor CPO arrived , Dato Khalid .

Immediately the CPO ,OCPD and other officers went for taklimat. About an hour later the CPO arrogantly came down and announced that all 50 cyclist and all the 15 coordinators will be arrested . We were gathered at the parking lot. They put a yellow tape around us .All those below 18 years old were separated from the seniors .

By this time a crowd of supporters were already swelling outside the balai . A candle light vigil began . Makkal Sakti slogans and songs were sung . There were also PKR , DAP and PAS members .

The police made arrangements for the welfare officers to take the junior cyclist away .They would be then handed ’safely’ to their parents.

The police went all out to harass us . Edmund Bon , lawyer informed us that the police were going to expel the permit and the driving licences of all the lorry drivers and bas driver. JPJ officials also arrived. They examined the bus , lorry , looking for something to issue summon on .The driving licences and road tax of the lorry and bus were taken away .

As protest outside gathered momentum , a complete battalion of FRU ,Water cannon arrived . The crowd outside carried on chanting and demanding for our release. As they were about to use the water cannon, the rain poured heavily. The police did not use the water cannon .

As rain kept pouring heavily , the car park where all of us who were being detained began flooding . All of us were standing cold in a river of water . We demanded to be shifted out of the parking lot . As usual the police buat tak tahu . Tempers flared . I moved to rip of the yellow police tape and walk out of the parking lot . The rest followed. A fight pursued between us and the police as they were trying to push us back into the parking lot and we were moving out . The officers couldn’t stop us . The Light Strike Force rushed in . They pushed us back with their shield and batons .

The CPO looked and couldn’t do anything . Immediately the police brought all the cyclist below 18 years of age into a dry place at the balai meeting room upstairs .

As this was happening , we were also amazed at the 300 0ver crowd outside that stood in the heavy rain and did not budge . FRU cordoned the police station entrance . The welfare officers couldn’t find a place to take the junior cyclist , thus they stayed at the meeting room . The junior cyclist told the police they refuse being brought away by the welfare officers and they rather remain arrested with the others

At about 2 am , I and Kumar were given the bail sheets . Soon the rest were being taken details and issued bail sheets . Some comrades spent the nite with the junior cyclist at the balai meeting room .

At about 3.30 am all walked out of the balai polis Rawang . It was a eventful nite .

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Khalid at it again! Benign cyclist harassed then stupid reason given

Khalid: Polis 'selamatkan' pengayuh bawah umur

(Malaysiakini) - Polis bertindak menahan kumpulan berbasikal "Rakyat Pengayuh Perubahan" bagi menghenti dan mengelak kanak-kanak daripada dieksploitasi oleh pihak tertentu, kata Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar.

Katanya, mereka ditahan kerana menyertai perarakan haram dan kemudiannya bila disemak, didapati 28 daripada mereka berusia di bawah 18 tahun.

Khalid berkata, perkara itu jelas bercanggah dengan Akta Kanak-Kanak kerana ada sesetengah daripada mereka baru berusia 15 tahun.

Menurutnya lagi, ketika memberi keterangan, "kanak-kanak tersebut memberitahu mereka tidak tahu menahu mengapa disuruh ikut serta dalam perarakan berbasikal tersebut."

"Bagi kanak-kanak tersebut, kami (polis) sebenarnya menyelamatkan mereka daripada dianiaya dan disalahgunakan oleh pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab," katanya kepada pemberita ditemui di balai polis Rawang malam tadi.

Khalid berkata, pihak polis juga telah menghubungi ibu bapa kesemua kanak-kanak dan remaja berkenaan, meminta mereka membawa pulang anak masing-masing.

jerit ride for change rawang police protest 161208 14Polis juga, katanya, akan menyiasat sama ada kesemua mereka telah mendapat kebenaran ibu bapa masing-masing atau tidak, untuk menyertai perarakan tersebut.

Di samping 28 penunggang basikal di bawah umur itu, 29 orang lagi ditahan dan disiasat mengikut Akta Polis kerana menyertai perarakan haram dan mengikut Akta Kanak-kanak kerana menyalahgunakan kanak-kanak.

Antara yang ditahan ialah Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Rawang, Gan Pei Nie dari PKR dan ahli parlimen Sungai Siput, Dr D Jeyakumar dari Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM).

Khalid juga memberitahu wartawan bahawa penunggang basikal di bawah umur itu keliru mengenai tujuan ekspedisi tersebut diadakan.

"Kita akan minta ibu bapa untuk membawa pulang kesemua anak-anak mereka," katanya.

Tiada permit

Khalid juga berkata, Gan tidak memohon sebarang permit untuk membenarkan kumpulan penunggang basikal itu untuk melalui Rawang.

Gan bagaimanapun memberitahu pemberita sebelum ini yang beliau telah mendapat persafahaman lisan dengan ketua polis Rawang berhubung perkara itu.

Khalid bagaimanapun berkata "tidak ada perkara seperti perjanjian lisan".

Sebaliknya, kata beliau, permit mesti secara bertulis dan beliau dimaklumkan oleh ketua polis Rawang bahawa tiada sebarang permohonan dibuat.

jerit ride for change rawang police protest 161208 12Penunggang basikal itu ditahan di balai polis Rawang semalam dan diserahkan kepada ibubapa mereka hari ini.

Yang lainnya yang turut ditahan - termasuk Gan dan Jeyakumar -dibebaskan kira-kira jam 3 pagi tadi.

Mereka bagaimanapun terus berada di situ untuk menemani penunggang basikal bawah umur tersebut.

Kempen ekspedisi berbasikal ke seluruh negara itu dianjurkan oleh Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit).

Kumpulan tersebut telah sampai ke peringkat terakhir kayuhan mereka selama 16 hari ke seluruh negara.

Sepanjang tempoh tersebut, mereka berdepan dengan berbagai cabaran dan halangan termasuk ditahan serta beberapa basikal mereka telah dibakar.

Sementara itu, ibu bapa kumpulan pengayuh remaja yang tidak berpuas dengan tindakan polis semalam di Bangi akan membuat aduan di balai Kajang jam 6 petang ini.
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JERIT Press Statement 16/12/2008

SELANGOR CPO LYING: JERIT CYCLISTS RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED!

Today the Selangor CPO claimed that he has saved the children from irresponsible people who are exploiting them and misusing them. And that when the children were asked why they are cycling, they did not know. This statement by the CPO is a blatant lie and misleading the public on the actual situation.

1. The claim of the Selangor CPO about saving the children was a lie as the below 18 years old cyclists have parental consent to take part in this cycling campaign. The children actually refused to say anything to the police officers as they did not want cooperate with the police as they are being detained illegally. The children were also were questioned by police whether they were paid to do this. What is the police trying to proof with these kind of questions?
2. JERIT has been responsible in taking care of the cyclists’ welfare since day one. We are not like the CPO who let the children get wet in the rain and then when they tried to find shelter he sent the Light Strike Force to threaten them and intimidate them. They were not given food until 11pm at night and after so much of pressure then only they were give food.
3. The CPO also put the children in the car park and put a yellow tape around them, not allowing them to move around. The children were technically under arrest. Is this how you treat children? Is this how the CPO claims that he is saving the children?
4. The CPO forgot to mention that the children were arrested without the presence of the Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat and the officers from JKM arrived very late at night, As children are not supposed be kept overnight in the police station, but the police kept them there the whole night. How is that for breaking laws?
5. The children also refused to budge to welfare homes as they prefer to be arrested with the JERIT organizers, where some of them were also parents of the under 18 cyclists. The cyclists felt safe with the JERIT organizers rather than with police who continued to intimidate and harass them.
6. Today when the parents arrived in the Police Station, they were not allowed in, and then police insisted on taking statement from each parent before releasing their children. Isn’t this a violation? Why do the parents need to give statement? The parents protested and refused to give statement to police and demanded for their children. The police were causing more trauma and agony to the parents of the children.

JERIT strongly condemns the unlawful action by the Selangor CPO. His actions were inhumane and violated the rights of JERIT cyclists. His statement about saving the children does not fit as he cause a lot of agony and mental torture for the cyclists.

JERIT sternly asks the police to stop the harassment and intimidation of the JERIT cycling team. The police must be neutral and look after the rights of the people and not violate them . The police should not take political sides and do the biddings of the political masters.

JERIT’s campaign is a safe campaign done to highlight the aspiration of the people. So stop lying and harassing the cyclists.