Latest news with #Bornean
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Sharifah Hasidah renews call for one-third parliamentary representation
Sharifah Hasidah delivering her keynote address. KUCHING (June 27): Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and MA63), Dato Sri Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, was in Kuala Lumpur to renew the call for the restoration of constitutional equality for Sabah and Sarawak under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). The MA63 must be fully honoured in both spirit and practice, she said in her keynote address at a roundtable titled 'Rights, Equality and MA63: Restoring One-Third Parliamentary Representation for Sabah and Sarawak', held at the auditorium of Wisma Badan Peguam Malaysia on Wednesday. Sharifah Hasidah emphasised that the issue transcends politics, describing it as a constitutional responsibility rooted in the formation of Malaysia. 'This is not about special treatment. This is about restoring what was originally agreed upon when Malaysia was formed in 1963. When we are partners, we are equal.' She also recalled that the original structure of the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) in 1963 ensured that Sabah, Sarawak, and Singapore collectively held one-third of parliamentary seats – a deliberate safeguard to prevent unilateral constitutional amendments by Malaya that could undermine the Bornean states' rights. However, following Singapore's departure in 1965 and subsequent redistributions, Sabah and Sarawak now collectively hold only 25 per cent of seats. 'We believe that realising this will further strengthen the Federation – not weaken it – and uphold the original vision of Malaysia as an equal and inclusive union' she said. Sharifah Hasidah also provided updates on ongoing deliberations under the Majlis Tindakan Pelaksanaan MA63 (MA63 Implementation Action Council), including the formation of technical and working committees, and tripartite negotiations involving the Federal and State Attorneys-General. While acknowledging differing legal interpretations of key terms such as 'safeguards', she noted that the process remains constructive. 'This is about justice, mutual respect, and safeguarding the foundation on which Malaysia was built'. In his welcoming remarks, Abang Iwawan, an elected Council Member of the Malaysian Bar and Deputy Chair of its Human Rights Committee, also emphasised the human rights dimension of the issue. 'The erosion of this safeguard raises serious concerns, not only about the integrity of the original constitutional arrangement, but also from a human rights perspective.' 'As minority regions with significant Indigenous populations, Sabah and Sarawak were guaranteed one-third representation to ensure they would have a real voice in national decision-making,' he said. 'Weakening that protection risks entrenching systemic inequality and excluding communities that have long been underrepresented in the federal structure,' he stressed. The roundtable was jointly organised by the Malaysian Bar Council and the CSO Platform for Reform, and convened legal experts, policymakers, and civil society organisations to explore the legal, historical, and human rights dimensions of Sabah and Sarawak's place in the Federation. According to the organisers, the roundtable aimed not only to raise public awareness but also to stimulate meaningful dialogue toward restoring equal representation, structural reforms, and reaffirming Malaysia's federal character.
Sinar Daily
a day ago
- Science
- Sinar Daily
Bornean elephants are not pygmies, expert clarifies
Bornean elephants are smaller than other Asian elephant subspecies, but calling them pygmy elephants is inaccurate. 27 Jun 2025 09:05am A Bornean elephant was seen grazing on wild napier grass along the Kinabatangan River, which serves as its migration route, during a recent survey. Photo by Bernama KINABATANGAN - The idea that Bornean elephants are related to the ancient pygmy elephants is a misconception, says elephant conservationist Dr Nurzhafarina Othman, who clarifies that no such pygmy species ever existed in Sabah. "The term 'pygmy' was popularised through a scientific publication in 2003, likely to attract public interest. However, it needs to be corrected to prevent confusion,' she told Bernama. Dr Nurzhafarina, a Senior Lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, explained that the Bornean elephants are indeed smaller than other Asian elephant subspecies, but noted that calling them pygmy elephants is inaccurate. "True pygmy elephants were much smaller, about waist-high to humans and are long extinct,' she said. She urged the public and media to stop using the term 'pygmy' when referring to Bornean elephants, stressing that this misnomer overshadows their unique status as a distinct subspecies. Some tourists were seen observing several Bornean elephants foraging along the banks of the Kinabatangan River, which serves as their migration route, during a recent survey. Photo by Bernama "The Bornean elephant, classified as Elephas maximus borneensis, is a special treasure unique to Sabah. Mislabeling them risks undermining their conservation,' Dr Nurzhafarina added. Currently, the species is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with an estimated 250 individuals remaining in the Kinabatangan area. Dr Nurzhafarina noted that ongoing research into the elephants' genetics, behaviour and habitat needs is critical for their protection. "Understanding these elephants on their own terms and not through the lens of outdated myths, is key to effective conservation efforts,' she said. The conservationist also highlighted efforts to address human-elephant conflicts through habitat restoration and experimental food corridors but emphasized that education and accurate information are just as important to securing the elephants' future. "The story of the Bornean elephant should be one of pride and preservation, free from confusion and misrepresentation,' she concluded. - BERNAMA
Borneo Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Sabah rejects overseas zoo requests for elephants
Liew (seated, centre) speaking to reporters. KOTA KINABALU (June 23): Sabah has no plans to loan its Bornean elephants to overseas zoos for the time being, said State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. Liew revealed that several international zoos had expressed interest in borrowing the endangered animals after visiting the state's elephant sanctuaries. However, she turned down the proposals, citing her deep personal attachment to the species. 'I am passionate about elephants. I love them, and I think we are very lucky to have this particular species in Borneo,' she told reporters after a press conference on the 30th Regatta Lepa at the Sabah International Convention Centre on Monday. Recalling the killing of a local elephant, she said, 'When one of our elephants was murdered, I was very upset for several days — imagine if we had exported them.' 'For now, I said no. Wait until we have more elephants, then I'll think about it,' she added. On a related note, Liew said her ministry is currently implementing the Bornean Elephant Action Plan for Sabah 2020–2029, supported by both state and federal funding through the State Wildlife Department. She said elephant centres across the state, including those in Sandakan, Kinabatangan and Lok Kawi, are being upgraded to improve living conditions for the animals. 'There's a lot of work to do, but we are following the guidelines laid out in the ten-year plan. We must stay committed to preserving and ensuring our elephants develop in a healthy way,' she said. Liew also reaffirmed her ministry's dedication to conservation efforts, especially in preparing the elephants for eventual reintroduction into the wild.
The Star
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sabah Government backs wildlife film to boost tourism
Agatis (left) and Aki at the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary in Kinabatangan. KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has expressed its support for the forthcoming wildlife feature film Agatis: A Borneo Story. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said her ministry, through the Sabah Wildlife Department, would provide assistance to ensure the success of the 90-minute film, which she saidclaimed had the potential to enhance wildlife tourism in the state. 'Agatis: A Borneo Story is a feature film that highlights the plight of the endangered Bornean pygmy elephants, and would be the first film in Malaysia to be shot in the vicinity of these majestic creatures,' she said after attending a presentation about the movie on Monday (June 23). Also present was the state's wildlife department director, Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar. The movie would feature two baby elephants: Agatis, a four-year-old female, and Aki, a two-year-old male, both from the Borneo Elephant Sanctuary (BES) in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. Liew (centre), flanked by Mohd Soffian (right) and Chong, during the courtesy call. Agatis: A Borneo Story follows the journey of two young orphans, a boy named Dhiren and Agatis, a Bornean pygmy elephant. Together, they form a unique bond in the enchanting Bornean jungle and unite to protect Agatis's species from poachers. Its director and producer, Jeanette Chong Tze Ling, said she intends to screen the movie in cinemas and at international film festivals. She also thanked the ministry and the department for their support. When asked about casting plans, Chong said Sandakan was prioritised due to its proximity to Kinabatangan. 'We're planning an open casting for children in Sandakan this July. We're also open to involving more local NGOs and communities in Kinabatangan,' she added. Filming is expected to begin once funding is secured, with a target date of mid-August or September.
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
Bako, Sarawak's oldest national park, is a quiet sanctuary for nature lovers
THERE's a moment, just past the bend of the Telok Delima trail, when the forest seems to inhale. The trees lean in, shadows lengthen and the air thickens with the dense breath of the tropics. Here in Bako National Park, time is slowed by green. For the nature lover, it is a sanctuary of movement and stillness – a place where observation becomes reverence. Located at the edge of the South China Sea, where the land folds into estuarine mudflats and sandstone cliffs, Bako is Sarawak's oldest national park and also its most revealing. Covering only 27sq km, it is small, but inside this miniature Eden lies nearly every type of Bornean habitat. Mangroves give way to the heath forest. Dipterocarp giants rise beside peat swamps. Clinging silently to a tree trunk, the elusive Sunda colugo melts into the bark. There are dry coastal cliffs and lowland streams, and pitcher plants the colour of rusted copper, gaping like small hungry mouths beneath the shrubs. Visitors come first by boat, a 20-minute ride across the estuary from Kampung Bako. The crossing is often calm, save for the chatter of macaques in the canopy and the slap of water against flat-bottomed fibreglass hulls. As the boat glides towards the beach, the landscape sharpens. Sea stacks rise like the bones of some ancient leviathan. The forest begins at the shoreline, a dense green that pulls you inward. There are no roads in Bako, only trails. Sixteen of them twist like roots through the park's interior. Each one, a different rhythm of terrain and tempo. Tiny but vibrant, the male fiddler crab brandishes its oversized claw like a violinist mid-performance. The Lintang Loop is the most generous: a half-day circuit through swamp, scrub and ridge. Along the path, silvered tree trunks bear red trail blazes, but it is often the forest itself that guides. Cicadas scream like power tools. Hornbills wheel overhead in pairs, their wings flapping with a leathery thud. In shaded glades, the ground is littered with fallen leaves the size of dinner plates. Nature here does not shout. It waits. In the mangroves, long-tailed macaques hop nimbly from root to root, watching the humans with frank insolence. Up in the trees, proboscis monkeys lounge like aristocrats, their bellies swollen with fermented leaf matter. Their strange pendulous noses lend them a mournful dignity as if they carry some deep evolutionary regret. Coiled in stillness, the green pit viper waits in perfect silence. In Bako, danger is as dazzling as it is beautiful. The botanist finds wonder too. Bako is a study in adaptation. On the sun-scorched plateau of the Bukit Gondol trail, the forest shrinks into a scrubby, open heath. The plants here are hardened things – wiry, low to the ground, shaped by wind and sun. Carnivorous pitcher plants are everywhere, thriving in poor soil by devouring insects unlucky enough to slip into their slick digestive cups. Further in, the ground softens. Ferns uncurl beside rivulets that trickle through the undergrowth. In this wetter forest, giant pandanus leaves sway over the trail like tattered green fans. The air smells of damp wood and the tannin stain of wet bark. Time dilates. Bako's welcome to visitors includes a stern reminder: this is wild country, and even the waters hold their own quiet predators. Minutes stretch into hours. Each footfall is met by silence or surprise – a rustle in the underbrush, a splash in the distance and the flit of a kingfisher's iridescent wing. By late afternoon, the sun throws a long gold light across the forest floor. The trail to Telok Pandan Kecil opens out onto a cliff edge. Below, the sea is a shiny brass plate. A narrow beach curves into the cove, bordered by sheer walls of rock painted with lichen and age. The only sounds are the rhythm of the tide and the rustling trees high above. It is here, on this windswept outcrop, that the wilderness feels both intimate and eternal. Bako has no great height. No vastness. But its richness lies in its detail. Nature lovers scan the treetops from Bako's wooden boardwalk, where proboscis monkeys and tropical birds often emerge from the green veil. In the gnarled roots of the strangler fig. In the wary eyes of the bearded pig as it rummages through leaf litter. In the countless ants that march unseen beneath your boots... every inch is alive with purpose. For the naturalist, the quiet observer, this is not a place to conquer, but to witness. Evening comes suddenly in the tropics. The forest darkens in slow waves. Frogs begin their nightly chorus and fireflies blink to life in the underbrush. The trails go quiet. The last boat has gone. And for those who stay, there is the humbling pleasure of a night in the jungle, of being just another creature in the vast, breathing wild.
