PENCINTA ALAM NEWSLETTER OF THE MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY www.mns.my www.mns.my December 2018 2 3 SHOUT OUT TO NATURE GUIDES’

We would like to thank all ourVOLUNTEERS!!!volunteers who had 1 Chan Bee Leng (Mary) volunteered their time and energy during this record- 2 Chan Kok Aik (John) breaking year of guiding a total of 701 participants 3 Christy Lee Beng Choo where 641 were students and 60 were walk-ins! We 4 Chuah Lay Theng (Joyces) apologize for making you work unexpectantly hard under 5 Harris Raj Kumar the hot sun as the number of students were much more 6 Kayal Vili a/p Keresnan than anticipated. You persevered and even though this is 7 Kushaal A/L Selvarajah the first time for some, all of you did great! 8 Lim Phui Ying (Mary) 9 Lim Poh Lin Hope that you didn’t get too annoyed with us (or more 10 Maimunah Mohd Noor (Muna) like of the walking blue thesaurus…) and will come back 11 Ng Geok Chunn to join us in next year’s Festival of Wings again or see you in the Raptor Watch 2019 which event days will be 12 Ng Jen Ying on 9-10th March 2019. It’s going to be BIG to celebrate 13 Ng Sher Ying the event’s 20th Anniversary! 14 Norazmir Bin Mustapha (Azmir) 15 Nuralisya Hakim Boey The AMAZING people we had the pleasure guiding with 16 Nursyamiera Binti Ismail were: 17 Pasupathy Jayaraj (Pasu) 18 Rasyidah Binti Abdul Razak 19 Siti Khadijah Binti Nekmat 20 Talitha Supramani 21 Zulkepli bin Hussin 4 More photos at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mnsselangorbranchnatureguides/ 5 More photos at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mnsselangorbranchnatureguides/ 6 On behalf of

Angeline Siok Coordinator 7 ECO KIDS Let’s Eco-Wrap Presents! Contributed by Ng Zhang En Christmas is around the corner. Some of you may be giving presents during this time of the year. From presents with colourful wrapping paper to presents with lace and ribbons, most of them get thrown away into our landfill. Our usage of wrapping paper equates to the loss of 100,000 trees every year.

To reduce our carbon footprint but also spread the Christmas cheer, here are 7 bizarre eco friendly ways to wrap your gift for your loved ones this season!

1.Newspaper.

Continued on next page ... 8 …..continued from previous page ECO KIDS

2.Cloth

Furoshiki are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth traditionally used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. Attached here is a picture of ways to wrap your gift the Japanese style!

Photo credit: 1 Million Women Continued on next page ... 9 …..continued from previous page ECO KIDS 3. Glass Jars The presents wrapped with leaves stand out Some presents look the best not wrapped! the most under the Christmas tree! Don’t be put off by the inconvenience on getting the leaves, it is really worth it!

5. Leaves

4.Potato Chip Bags!

An idea to amaze the receiver of your gift! Added with a finishing touch of a potato chip bag ribbon! 10 …..continued from previous page ECO KIDS

6. Magazines 7. Used exercise books

Have loads of finished and unwanted exercise books at home? The brown cover can be a stylish gift wrap with your personal touch of doodling.

11 WONG EE LYNN, COORDINATOR, GREEN LIVING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, LETTER TO THE EDITOR MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY

HILL SLOPE DEVELOPMENT COMES WITH MANY ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

The Bukit Kukus landslide tragedy is a grim Blaming a massive landslide on rainy reminder that hill slope development comes with weather is irresponsible. Clearly the tragedy many environmental and safety risks. Hill slope is not caused by merely rain and gravity, development causes erosion, habitat loss and air, but corruption, apathy, irresponsibility and water and noise pollution. It threatens wildlife, a willingness to cut corners and create forests, water security, and soil integrity and wiggle room where there should be none. stability. Intact land does not just spontaneously break off and descend on homes and roads The Malaysian Cabinet had already drawn up a set of guidelines in 2009 prohibiting development on, when saturated with rain water. If that inter alia, slopes exceeding 35 degrees, and slopes were the case, then entire mountain ranges between 15-35 degrees showing signs of soil would be flattened annually during the instability, erosion or other vulnerabilities. The monsoon season. theedgemarket.com Bukit Kukus tragedy involved an elevated road on a hill slope with a gradient reported to be 60-90 The authorities are not unaware of the risks degrees. arising from, or the laws and guidelines in place in relation to, hill slope development. The guidelines include the National Slope Master Plan 2009 – 2023 issued by the Public Works Department, while the laws include the Land Conservation Act 1960, Environmental Quality Act 1974, Town and Country Planning Act 1976, and Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974. This clearly shows that there is no shortage of studies, guidelines, regulations and laws in pertaining to hill slope development. What is lacking is the political will to enforce these laws and guidelines and to ensure the safety of people and the environment or the sustainability of the project.

freemalaysiatoday.com Continued on next page ... 12 LETTER TO THE EDITOR …..continued from previous page HILL SLOPE DEVELOPMENT COMES WITH MANY ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

Fatal keep edisiviral.com No development or construction recurring because local and state activity should ever take place at a site authorities are willing to approve in which the state and local authorities development projects on hill slopes, are unable to guarantee full especially when given the assurance that compliance with safety guidelines or mitigation measures, no matter how criteria. The profits to be gained from minimal and negligible, would be taken. authorizing hill slope development However, no retaining wall or terrace can work are paid for by construction mitigate the adverse effects of workers and local residents with their deforestation, destruction of watershed safety and lives. Wildlife, rivers, forests areas, overdevelopment and mining, and other natural entities pay the price quarrying and construction activities near with their existence. slopes. There must be a nationwide The Highland Towers collapse in 1993, moratorium on all hill slope landslide in 2008, development. Existing projects must Hulu Langat landslide in 2011 and be reviewed, mitigation measures Tanjung Bungah landslide in 2017 all carried out and laws strictly and precede this latest incident, but decision- transparently enforced. The parties makers responded with words of regret responsible for this fatal landslide and sympathy when strong policies and must be held to account. Previously strict enforcement would have been forested areas that had been cleared more effective and would have prevented for hill slope development must be further tragedies. A prohibition on hill rehabilitated. The cost of hill slope slope development on slopes exceeding a development on the environment and certain gradient should be treated as communities is simply too high to be such, and not merely as a temporary justified any longer. freeze on hill slope development until public outrage simmers down.

13 December 2018 All events times and venues are correct at time of printing. For latest updates, contact the Special Interest Group or check the MNS Calendar of Activities website regularly. BookingBRIEF priority BIO will FOR be givenTHE to SPEAKER the organizing DOMINIC branch‘s members O’SULLIVAN unless stated otherwise Semi-retired from a career in hospital management, Dominic has been resident in Malaysia now for almost two years. From an early age, he has had a passion for nature and he went on to study for a BSc(Hons) FLORA GROUP, BRANCH Zoology – the best three years of his life!

Since settling in KL, he is now a very active member of MNS giving Public Talk - Fungi – Friends or Foes of the Forest? time regularly to supporting the UCF Nursery, Flora SIG, and activities by DOMINIC O’SULLIVAN organized at the NEC at FRIM. Determined to make a difference, he is 1 December 2018 also hoping to become a co-opted member of Council. He has also Time:9.30 am, Place: Auditorium, MNS HQ JKR 641, Jalan Kelantan, supported the Tasikoki Wildlife Rescue & Education Centre in North Bukit Persekutuan 50480 Kuala Lumpur Sulawesi, helping students from schools and universities across the globe to understand the state of the planet, deforestation, pollution, and the horrors of the Illegal Wildlife Trade. You are invited to attend an upcoming talk hosted by Flora SIG, in the month of December. He believes strongly that everyone has a responsibility to tackle Greed, Ignorance and Indifference, and in the important role of Education in Since arriving in Malaysia nearly two years ago, Dominic has discovered this context. To this end, he is avidly supporting educational activities growing interest in the flora of the rainforest. He has a degree in Zoology, but in a wide range of settings, including school visits to the Nursery and his passion for animals has taken a step back as he has realized the complexity UCF, weekend groups to NEC, and talks through the Flora SIG – that is and vulnerability of the rainforest ecosystem on which all animal depends. when he is not getting his hands dirty or his feet wet! In the talk, he looks at the world of Fungi – a group often overlooked and yet He assures me that, while he may not be an expert in many of the so instrumental in the creation and sustainability of forests in every context. From their early evolution as among the first organisms to exist out of the areas that he will be presenting, he is enjoying expanding his water, he looks at how this was achieved and the literally ground-breaking knowledge base which he is happy to share with any audience willing adaptations the fungi used to achieve this. He addresses also the role of the to listen. fungi in the rainforest as an integral part of the rainforest’s ongoing existence, the vast range of lifestyles fungi have adopted, and the benefits and Do follow the Flora SIG Group's activities on our Facebook group page 'MNS disbenefits that fungi offer to mankind. Selangor Branch Flora Group' for updates on this and other activities. You may also contact us by emailing to [email protected] or leave a comment The talk is well illustrated too, reflecting the incredible range of forms that fungi have adopted in their role as the Jekyll and Hydes of the jungle on our Facebook event page. We look forward to connecting with you. 14 December 2018 All events times and venues are Speakers'correct at time Bio: of printing. For latest updates, contact the Special Interest Group or check the MNS Calendar of Activities website regularly. Booking priority will be given to the organizing branch‘s members unless stated otherwise John Chan is a Jungle/Nature Guide. After graduating from University of Malaya in Biology, he provided tutoring service. He grew restless from being indoors and ventured into nature guiding work, a perfect combination of his passion for outdoors and biology. He has been organizing unique eco-trips and nature hikes around Malaysia and Indonesia since 2007. John works very closely with local and native Public Talk - Career In Nature communities in Malaysia and Indonesia to promote their arts, culture and the environment in which they call home. As an advocate of by John Chan and Dr. Cyren Wong responsible tourism and sustainable living, John is an active member of 8 December 2018 Malaysian Nature Society from 2007 to present. He is committed to a Time:11.00 am – 1.00 pm, Place: Auditorium, MNS HQ life-long mission to champion nature, conservation & cultures. He JKR 641,Jalan Kelantan, Bukit Persekutuan 50480 Kuala Lumpur started the platform "Nature Inspired" (https://www.facebook.com/mynatureinspired), an ecotourism alliance and organizer of responsible and affordable eco/culture/food trips. Are you studying Biology or Environmental Science? Despite a strong passion for nature that began early in life, Dr. Wong’s Wonder what to do after journey in biodiversity and conservation work only began recently in graduation? Looking for 2012. While many of his peers were entering the work-force at the career options to pursue time, Cyren made a decision to further his education by pursuing a PhD, your passion for nature? which he saw as an opportunity to further immerse himself in the Come hear John Chan and understanding and protection of Nature. The research he conducted – Dr.Cyren Wong share their which seeks to bridge the divide between indigenous wisdom and journey in ecotourism scientific knowledge on flora and fauna for the purposes of community industry and academic empowerment and biodiversity protection – thrust him into the heart of pursuits. Find out why they several Orang Asli villages where he was subsequently adopted, and love what they do, the lived, for the better part of 2 years. At present, he is working for the people who inspired them Directorate of Monash University Malaysia, where he divides his time and their trials and between conducting lectures and driving the University’s biodiversity tribulations. projects and exhibitions. He is also the founder of “Naturetalksback” (www.facebook.com/Naturetalksback), an educational platform that Pursue your wildest seeks to educate and engage with youth on matters pertaining to dreams... biodiversity and nature. 15 January 2019 All events times and venues are correct at time of printing. For latest updates, contact the Special Interest Group or check the MNS Calendar of Activities website regularly. Booking priority will be given to the organizing branch‘s members unless stated otherwise

FLORA GROUP, SELANGOR BRANCH

Public Talk - Plant Oils and Fats by Dr Jean Weber and Dr Khadijah Rambe 5 January 2019 Time:9.30 am, Place: Auditorium, MNS HQ JKR 641, Jalan Kelantan, Bukit Persekutuan 50480 Kuala Lumpur

You are invited to attend forthcoming public talk in January 2019, by Dr Jean Weber and Dr Khadijah Rambe, Flora SIG Coordinator and volunteers. Save the date!

Oils and fats are two times more efficient as source of energy than the starch of cereals. Some oils such as alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid are essential for good health as our body cannot synthesize them. The first part of this talk presented by Jean Weber will be an illustration of the nomenclature and terminology of fat and oils at the molecular level in order to decipher the meaning of nutrition facts on food labels. Plant sources of different oils and fats will also briefly presented as well as their importance in food-chains.

The second part of this talk presented by Siti Khadijah will be more Do follow the Flora SIG Group's activities on our Facebook group page 'MNS practical as she will share her experience about “home made” virgin Selangor Branch Flora Group' for updates on this and other activities. You may coconut oil. Participants will learn how to simply extract virgin coconut also contact us by emailing to [email protected] or leave a comment on oil from coconut milk in their kitchen without any heating or chemical processes. Potential health benefits and traditional uses of virgin our Facebook event page. We look forward to connecting with you. coconut oil will be discussed. 16 February - March 2019 All events times and venues are correct at time of printing. For latest updates, contact the Special Interest Group or check the MNS website regularly. BookingNature priority will Guides: be given to the organizingRaptor branch‘s Watch members unless2019 stated Volunteer otherwise Calendar of Activities Registration Raptor Watch (RW) 2019 falls on to the dates 9-10th March 2019. It will be in our usual event place in Tanjung Tuan (Cape Rachado), Melaka. We will be doing interpretive walks while guiding guests through coastal forest remnants of the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia whilst wishing the migratory birds on their spring migration a safe journey to reach their home country in the Northern Hemisphere and make many baby birds. Briefing will be on: Date: 23rd February 2019 Time: 8:30am - 12:00pm followed by lunch. Location: Tanjung Tuan, Melaka Meeting point: Opposite entrance of PNB Ilham Interested Volunteers, We are currently on a look out for 60 volunteers on Saturday and 30 for Sunday. It is preferably that the volunteers are Please fill up this registration form: MNS members. Non-members are also welcome to https://goo.gl/forms/Ri1llt49QCqx0HzD2 by noon, 13th January 2019 volunteer as well but are not covered by insurance. so that we will have some time to ensure certain logistics are in place especially on accommodation because unlike FOW where the dorms What is confirmed to be provided at this point of time are in KSNP, we need to make bookings with bungalow owners/hotels (12/11/18): and trying to look for places within walking distance. 1) Car Pool suggestions for 23rd February. Rough Schedule that we know of at the moment: 2) Lunch on 9th March. 9/3 - Full day - SIG activities, birding, forest/beach walks etc. 3) Accommodation on 9th March for those who are staying 10/3 - Half day - SIG activities, birding, forest/beach walks etc. back to volunteer on Sunday. If you need more clarification, you can contact MNS Selangor Branch Nature Guides by this email: 4) Snacks and drinking water during both event days. mns(dot)selangor(dot)ng(at)gmail(dot)com 5) Certificates Thank you. Updates will be sent periodically as they are confirmed. 17 ‘BIOVIVA THE GAME’ WE WELCOME THE NEW GENERATION ‘BIOVIVA THE GAME’ TO Our previous testimonial from a MNS member MALAYSIA! Our first game, Bioviva The Game, a classic that has in 2014 includes: sold 200,000 copies, is now reimagined and improved for the "BioViva is a board game which challenges your 21st century! An unforgettable family game that mixes unusual ability to strategise and your knowledge of question-answer pairs about Nature and comes with new fun challenges! This game recently won the Etoiles Du Jouet 2018 geography, history, science and natural history. Award amongst many more. To call it "educational" would be an understatement -- it was highly instructive and informative even for an adult like me with many years of experience in environmental activism.

The Environmental Trivia cards are excellent for use not only with the board game but also for quizzes and competitions. Be prepared to absorb a lot of useful and fascinating information. Recommended for teens and adults. Each round takes an average of 1 to 1.5 hours to play.“

By: Wong Ee Lynn Coordinator, Green Living SIG & EcoKids Malaysian Nature Society

What more this new version?! A multi award winning game since inception is now available to Malaysians. For further details, you can connect with us via: M: +6010 280 8859 (WhatsApp or Telegram) E: [email protected] W: www.littlepacha.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/Little-Pacha-121193968052250/ 18 MOUNTAIN GOAL ADVENTURE CONSULTANT (742912-V) Website: http://www.mymountaingoal.com E-mail: [email protected] Annapurna Base Camp Via Poon Hill Trek Stok Kangri trek (10 days) (6120M) from (4130M) from 03/04/19 to 16/04/19 (14d13n). 21/06/2019 to 02/07/2019 confirm trip.

Region :- Leh, Ladakh, J & K Duration :- 09 Days Grade :- Difficult Max Altitude :- (6120M) 20,080 Ft. Approx Trekking Km :- 40 kms.

The Stok Kangri trek begins with the arrival at Leh from Delhi. You will require some time to get habitual with the climate and atmosphere of the place. This whole trek comprises natural beauty of magnificent and flourishing green trees. Summary: Walk through villages, then climb through forests into the Your trek gives you one full day to grasp this natural beauty. Day third is the day Annapurna Sanctuary, a valley surrounded by high Himalayan peaks. A when you will have to reach Changa Ma. Next day destination is Mankorma. Fifth day you will reach at Base Camp. Base Camp is situated in the grassy field and to great opportunity to get into the mountains without the altitude stay a night in tents will give immense pleasure to everybody. Again, you will rest problems of the Mt. Everest for a whole one day and your guide will provide you complete knowledge of the climate changes of the weather. From here, you will walk for your final destination This fantastic 10-day trek offers the most spectacular landscape views of of the trek Stok Kangri. It is situated at the height, and you will walk for around 9- the Himalayas, allowing you to be completely immersed in the heart of 10 hours, to reach there. Standing at the top of the ridge, you can view Zansker Range at your south and Karakoram Range to your north. To your front, you will the towering Annapurna range. Altitudes of 4130m are reached, and a see the extensive ground, and at your back, the mighty Mountain will provide you reasonable level of physical fitness is required to comfortably complete the regal feel. After spending some time with the nature, you have to climb down this expedition. and reach Base Camp before sunset. You will reverse your journey

2 Mountain Training and 2 rock climbing trip will provided for the Stok Knagri trek

Contact: Thong at H/P +6016-6375622 WhatsApp, WeChat & Viber Office: 03-40248896 Email: [email protected] 19 MOUNTAIN GOAL ADVENTURE CONSULTANT (742912-V) Website: http://www.mymountaingoal.com E-mail: [email protected]

Sulpan Cave/ Pinipisakan Falls/ Lobo Caves Everest Base Camp/ Kalapattar Trek from 19/04/2019 to 02/05/2019 (14D13N) from 17/05/19 to 21/05/19 (5D 4N) Confirmed Trip (Already have 6 participants)

The Sulpan Cave and Pinipisakan Falls in San Jorge, Samar is not really known by the Experience the culture of the Sherpas in locals especially tourists, but deep in the jungle there is a secret paradise. Going there route to Khumbu village. you need to take motorcyle habal-habal going to Brgy Blanca aurora about 30 mins ride. Enjoy a climb to the scintillating This village you can visit Blanca aurora falls. Then from here you need to ride a boat Kalapattar 5,545m. /18190ft, one of the going up steams about 2 hours then from Duro-ongan you need to walk 2 hours going to most spectacular vantage points in the Sulpan cave. Pinipisakan Falls is 4 layered waterfalls and known to be the most beautiful Everest region. waterfalls in the Philippines. Sulpan cave has 5 km length underground cave chambers with giant’s stalactites and stalagmites the famous to see inside the cave is the giant’s Explore enchanting views of Everest, ells. Jiabong caves (Lobo Cave) – Jiabong, Samar. Pumori, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu and many other towering peaks. A few kilometres drive from the Catbalogan, the capital of Samar lays the municipality of Two free Training trip will provided for Jiabong known to be the mussels’ capital of Samar. It is rich in natural resources and a the Everest Base Camp trip. great haven of real, exciting and extreme adventure. Behind its fast faced mussels livelihood lies a perfect summer ending get away where in you can witness their own lineage of caves and experience the most beautiful caves in the Philippines.

Further information please sign in:- http://www.mymountaingoal.com/AnnapurnaRegion.htm Contact: Thong at H/P +6016-6375622 WhatsApp, WeChat & Viber Office: 03-40248896 Email: [email protected] 20 21 MNS NATURE EDUCATION CENTRE (NEC) PROGRAMMES

22 DIRECTORY

MNS HQ JKR 641, Jalan Kelantan, LANGKAWI BRANCH PERAK BRANCH SARAWAK (MIRI) BRANCH Bukit Persekutuan, 50480 Kuala Lumpur [email protected] 70 Jln Chan Chee Keong, Ipoh Garden [email protected] (just before the Seri Perdana turn-off on Chairman Borhan Hamid South, 31400 Ipoh, Perak Blog: mnsmiri.blogspot.com Jalan Mahameru) [email protected] [email protected] Chairman Iqbal B Abdollah Open: Mondays – Fridays 9 am–5:30 pm Vice Chair Dato’ Alexander Issac Blog: [email protected] [email protected] T: 03-2287 9422 F: 03-2287 8773 [email protected] Chairman Ooi Beng Yean Vice Chair Musa Musbah [email protected] www.mns.my Secretary Daisy Jeyarani A/P Samuel [email protected] [email protected] Membership: Leong Wee Chin daisy_samuel_2005@yahoo Vice Chair Zaharil Dzulkafly Secretary Achmed Azizie B Marzuki .com [email protected] [email protected] Secretary Georgia Tham Yim Fong BRANCH COMMITTEE 2017-2019 NEGERI SEMBILAN/ MELAKA BRANCH [email protected] SELANGOR BRANCH Chairman Lee Seng Hong c/o MNS HQ address JOHOR BRANCH [email protected] SABAH (KOTA KINABALU) BRANCH https://www.facebook.com/ mnsselangor https://www.facebook.com/ Vice Chair Chairman Anna Wong branch MalaysianNatureSocietyJohor/ Secretary June Teng [email protected] [email protected] Chairman Abbott Chong Ching Hua [email protected] Vice Chair Jimmy Omar Chairman Pasupathy Jayaraj [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Vice Chair Moses Wong Choo Hooi PAHANG BRANCH Secretary Nur Syamimi Makbul Vice Chair Wong Ee Lynn [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Secretary Belinda Wong Mei Lang Chairman Noor Jehan Bt Abu Bakar Secretary Grace Chin Haw Yiing [email protected] [email protected] SABAH (SANDAKAN) BRANCH [email protected] KEDAH BRANCH Vice Chair Chin Wai Fatt Chairman Hatta B Yunus@Sawabi 3 Jalan Timor 1, Kawasan Perusahaan [email protected] [email protected] TERENGGANU BRANCH Mergong Barrage, 05150 Alor Setar, Kedah Secretary Chow Mee Foong Vice-Chair Ooi Chin Hock 1926 Bukit Kubang Jambu, Chairman Left. Kol Husamuddin bin [email protected] [email protected] 20050 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu Yaacob ; [email protected] Secretary Chong Ket Vui Dusun [email protected] Vice Chair Mohamad Yani Madewnus PENANG BRANCH [email protected] Chairman Wong Chee Ho [email protected] Nature Information Centre (NIC), [email protected] Secretary Phang Fatt Khow 673-B Jalan Kebun Bunga, SARAWAK (KUCHING) BRANCH Vice Chair Prof Sulong bin Ibrahim [email protected] 10350 Penang. Tel: 04-2273673 [email protected] [email protected] Open Mon-Sat, 7.30am-11.30am (Call Chairman Rose Au Nyat Jun Secretary Dr Chong Ju Lian KELANTAN BRANCH before visiting) [email protected] [email protected] 204, Jln Sultan Yahya Petra, 15150 Kota https://www.facebook.com/ Vice Chair Johan Roslan Bharu, Kelantan. [email protected] malaysiannaturalsociety/ [email protected] Chairman Amir Hamzah B Abdul Shukor Email: [email protected] Secretary Audrey Dominic Neng [email protected] Chairman Tan Choo Eng [email protected] Vice Chair Zulhazman Hamzah [email protected] [email protected] Vice Chair Tajul Arosh Baroky Secretary Nazahatul Anis Amaludin [email protected] [email protected] Secretary Tan Pek Tao, Peggy [email protected] 23 PENCINTA ALAM is a monthly newsletter made Attention: Members possible by dedicated volunteers and contributors from the Malaysian Nature Society. Accuracy is the contributor’s responsibility. The Editor reserves the right to edit for length and content.

Submissions: Articles including the author and photographers’ names (max. 800 words), advertisements, digital images (100 dpi & no larger than 640 x 480 pixels & separately from the article), etc. must reach the Editor by the 13th of each month (unless noted otherwise) via the following e-mail address: [email protected].

Advertising rates: Classifieds : RM5 per column inch Quarter page ad : RM30 Half page ad : RM60 Payments: -All payments must be made to ‘Malaysian Nature Society Selangor Branch’. -Please bank in cash or cheque to Maybank MBB account no 014150307352. -After banking in, please scan the slip and e-mail it with your advertisement to [email protected] and [email protected]. Discount rate for ads paid in advance: 3 adverts paid in advance – 5% off published rate; 6 adverts paid in advance – 10% off published rate; 9 adverts paid in advance – 15% off published rate; 12 adverts paid in advance – 20% off published rate. Computer Recycling Collection Centre The MNS Penang, Nature Information Centre (NIC) is a designated recycling collection centre for old computers and computer parts by the Penang City Council. Please send your unwanted computers and parts to the NIC to be sent for recycling by DOE approved recycling establishment. Contact Kanda at 013-4537992 for more information or check out Penang Branch web pages. 24