Community effort all the way
VOLUNTEERS and coastal folk were a big part of the MNS marine conservation cause as Paddle for Nature wound its way along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia towards its end destination in Langkawi. From November to March, volunteers got down to some paddling, greeted the paddler’s arrival and helped with an exhibition, while coastal communities took part in activities at several stops along the way.
This second phase involved relay kayaking, and Paddle for Nature welcomed scuba diver Che Zahiruddin Che Othman, 20, as its main volunteer paddler. Others who put paddle to water were former MNS President Maketab Mohamed, teachers Mohd Shahrizan Abdul Aziz and Hashimi Ismail, businessman Shamsul Fitri Ahmad, university student Sze Yung Hui and MNS member Tan Yee Keat, while staffers Faedzul Rahman and Sze Ming Hui also took up the challenge of the open sea. Others who assisted as crew members included MNS's Ng Wai Pak and Habibun Najar.
All along the coast, meanwhile, Paddle for Nature was hosted and assisted by various parties, including the Johor National Parks Corp; SMJK Pei Hwa, Sungai Mati, Muar; Muar Royal Customs Department; Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort; Kuala Selangor Nature Park; and Selamatkan Penyu Segari turtle conservation outfit. The team also took part in the Forestry Department’s tree-planting in Johor, Selangor, Perak and Langkawi, and visited SRJK (C) Hai Ping in Sabak Bernam.
In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the marine conservation message was delivered via an exhibition at the MNS Urban Environmental Education Hub thanks to the assistance of volunteers Hashimi Ismail, Kim Phang, Shyamala Ratnayeke, Christina, Christy Lee and Eunice Wong.
This second phase involved relay kayaking, and Paddle for Nature welcomed scuba diver Che Zahiruddin Che Othman, 20, as its main volunteer paddler. Others who put paddle to water were former MNS President Maketab Mohamed, teachers Mohd Shahrizan Abdul Aziz and Hashimi Ismail, businessman Shamsul Fitri Ahmad, university student Sze Yung Hui and MNS member Tan Yee Keat, while staffers Faedzul Rahman and Sze Ming Hui also took up the challenge of the open sea. Others who assisted as crew members included MNS's Ng Wai Pak and Habibun Najar.
All along the coast, meanwhile, Paddle for Nature was hosted and assisted by various parties, including the Johor National Parks Corp; SMJK Pei Hwa, Sungai Mati, Muar; Muar Royal Customs Department; Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort; Kuala Selangor Nature Park; and Selamatkan Penyu Segari turtle conservation outfit. The team also took part in the Forestry Department’s tree-planting in Johor, Selangor, Perak and Langkawi, and visited SRJK (C) Hai Ping in Sabak Bernam.
In the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the marine conservation message was delivered via an exhibition at the MNS Urban Environmental Education Hub thanks to the assistance of volunteers Hashimi Ismail, Kim Phang, Shyamala Ratnayeke, Christina, Christy Lee and Eunice Wong.
Fun and awareness in the sun in Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan
Public Event, Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan, Pahang
4th October 2014 OK, it didn’t actually start out sunny in Teluk Cempedak. As the Paddle for Nature team got up on the morning of 4th October, it was still drizzling following a whole night of torrential rain. This is East Coast weather at its best!
The team carried on nonetheless, putting the finishing touches on the booths, with a display of projects under the Forestry Department right next to the MNS one and its pièce de résistance – the Paddle for Nature kayak complete with Google Street View Trekker. And once the rain stopped, the buzz picked up, especially with children taking part in the colouring and drawing contests with a marine heritage theme and groups running around on the treasure hunt, accompanied by music and emcee Andy’s funny patter that attracted the crowds. Part of the main attraction, of course, was the man himself, solo kayaker Hari Raju, who marked the completion of a quarter of Paddle for Nature’s 2,000km journey, after starting out in Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan on 9th September. It hasn’t been easy, and as Hari met the public and the media, he shared his experience, which included capsizing twice, but with the wonder of being able to see the wonders of nature each and every day and also meet local heroes who work tirelessly on conservation and education along the coast. However, within the beauty also lay the ugly truth; that the Malaysian coastline was marred, with the biggest threat being humankind’s disregard for keeping nature pristine, said Faedzul Rahman, MNS Marine Conservation Manager and head of the Paddle for Nature project. “We found plenty of rubbish; bottles of water, cans of deodorant, even disposable diapers. It’s very disheartening,” he said, especially because this is a worldwide problem. “Pieces of garbage get carried by the tides and are spread around. We need a strong education programme so that people will stop treating the ocean as a dumping ground.” Part of that education was the beach clean-up carried out at the end of the day, ending Paddle for Nature’s first public event on a strong note and creating momentum for the next edition in Danga Bay, Johor Baru, to be followed by Port Dickson, Lumut and the finishing point in Langkawi. |
"We need a strong education programme so that people will stop treating the ocean as a dumping ground." -- Faedzul Rahman
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Paddle for Nature launched at Google Malaysia HQ
26th August 2014 – The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) today launched its most anticipated event in Malaysia, Paddle for Nature, a solo kayak expedition covering more than 2,000km of the Peninsular Malaysia coastline.
Starting on 9th September 2014 in Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan, the expedition will see MNS member Hari Raju, 44, paddling along the coast, and around the islands of Perhentian, Tioman and Penang, all the way to Kuala Perlis and ending in Langkawi. The journey is expected to take two and-a-half months.
The aim of the expedition is to document the current state of the Peninsular Malaysia coastline, and to do this, the kayak will be outfitted with Google’s Street View Trekker, a first for such a mode of transport. MNS also hopes to create awareness about the importance of the country’s ocean heritage and efforts of “local heroes” in helping protect these treasures, as well as raise funds for future marine conservation projects.
MNS Marine Conservation Manager Faedzul Rahman said marine conservation faced a unique set of challenges due to lack of awareness about the importance of coastal areas and the threats they face. “It’s easy to see jungles being cleared and terrestrial degradation, but it is more difficult to show people that corals reefs are dying, turtles are no longer laying eggs on our shores and mangrove forests are being destroyed all around our country.
“Furthermore, there is lack of awareness about the impact this destruction has on our economy and ecology, the livelihood of coastal communities and the variety of wildlife whose habitat is linked to these coastal areas,” he said.
Through Paddle for Nature, MNS seeks to collate images and data about the country’s marine and estuarine areas, which may also be helpful to government agencies, other environmental organisations and interested parties in their efforts to protect Malaysia’s oceanic legacy.
Faedzul said in this effort, MNS was grateful for the support of Google in the use of its Street View Trekker camera system, allowing more comprehensive coverage of the coastline and ecologically important sites Hari will be visiting, including turtle sanctuaries, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, Marine Parks and nature reserves.
On its outreach programme, Faedzul said Hari and the MNS ground team following him would also be talking to “local heroes” on their conservation efforts, while MNS was also planning several events that would involve activities with the public. The sites for these events are Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan; Danga Bay, Johor Baru; Port Dickson; Lumut, Perak; and the finishing point, Langkawi.
“These events will involve schoolchildren, MNS members around the peninsula, conservationists, scientists, in a variety of interesting and educational activities, and we hope the public will also come and join in the fun.”
He said the public could also show their support by contributing to Paddle for Nature’s Donate a Kilometre campaign. “From just RM10 per kilometre for individuals, and RM500 per kilometre for corporations, you can be a part of our efforts to save the country’s marine treasures, and also spur Hari on,” he said.
Donations can be made at MNS’s headquarters in Jalan Kelantan, Bukit Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur, or via the Malaysian Nature Society account, HSBC 305-035099-101. A minimum donation of RM50 will also entitle the donor to a tax-deductible receipt.
Starting on 9th September 2014 in Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan, the expedition will see MNS member Hari Raju, 44, paddling along the coast, and around the islands of Perhentian, Tioman and Penang, all the way to Kuala Perlis and ending in Langkawi. The journey is expected to take two and-a-half months.
The aim of the expedition is to document the current state of the Peninsular Malaysia coastline, and to do this, the kayak will be outfitted with Google’s Street View Trekker, a first for such a mode of transport. MNS also hopes to create awareness about the importance of the country’s ocean heritage and efforts of “local heroes” in helping protect these treasures, as well as raise funds for future marine conservation projects.
MNS Marine Conservation Manager Faedzul Rahman said marine conservation faced a unique set of challenges due to lack of awareness about the importance of coastal areas and the threats they face. “It’s easy to see jungles being cleared and terrestrial degradation, but it is more difficult to show people that corals reefs are dying, turtles are no longer laying eggs on our shores and mangrove forests are being destroyed all around our country.
“Furthermore, there is lack of awareness about the impact this destruction has on our economy and ecology, the livelihood of coastal communities and the variety of wildlife whose habitat is linked to these coastal areas,” he said.
Through Paddle for Nature, MNS seeks to collate images and data about the country’s marine and estuarine areas, which may also be helpful to government agencies, other environmental organisations and interested parties in their efforts to protect Malaysia’s oceanic legacy.
Faedzul said in this effort, MNS was grateful for the support of Google in the use of its Street View Trekker camera system, allowing more comprehensive coverage of the coastline and ecologically important sites Hari will be visiting, including turtle sanctuaries, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, Marine Parks and nature reserves.
On its outreach programme, Faedzul said Hari and the MNS ground team following him would also be talking to “local heroes” on their conservation efforts, while MNS was also planning several events that would involve activities with the public. The sites for these events are Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan; Danga Bay, Johor Baru; Port Dickson; Lumut, Perak; and the finishing point, Langkawi.
“These events will involve schoolchildren, MNS members around the peninsula, conservationists, scientists, in a variety of interesting and educational activities, and we hope the public will also come and join in the fun.”
He said the public could also show their support by contributing to Paddle for Nature’s Donate a Kilometre campaign. “From just RM10 per kilometre for individuals, and RM500 per kilometre for corporations, you can be a part of our efforts to save the country’s marine treasures, and also spur Hari on,” he said.
Donations can be made at MNS’s headquarters in Jalan Kelantan, Bukit Persekutuan, Kuala Lumpur, or via the Malaysian Nature Society account, HSBC 305-035099-101. A minimum donation of RM50 will also entitle the donor to a tax-deductible receipt.
Grabbing public attention at Dataran Merdeka
Above, snapshots of Paddle for Nature and visitors at Dataran Merdeka
*With many thanks to Multigreen Events and City Hall for sponsorship of the booth |
ON 7th September 2014, the MNS team reached out to the public at the KL Car-Free Morning with a booth in front of Dataran Merdeka, right in the heart of the city. Showcasing the kayak, complete with Google Street View Trekker, it was the team's first opportunity to engage with the masses about Paddle for Nature's objectives on marine conservation.
Setting up as early as 5am, the team readied themselves as the sun rose from behind the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, which houses the iconic clock tower for which Dataran Merdeka is well known. Soon the streets were busy with throngs of people; those enjoying the roads closed off for the KL car-free morning, runners attending the Fit Malaysia launch and cyclists pedalling at speed in the Fit Malaysia Ride. What a day to be in KL, and what a day to grab the public's imagination about MNS's ambitious expedition around Peninsular Malaysia. |