Latest news with #Malayan
The Star
an hour ago
- General
- The Star
Annual run returns to spotlight coexistence with wildlife
The charity run will highlight human-wildlife coexistence. — Filepic THE 'Run for Tigers' charity event taking place on July 26 returns with a call for coexistence between people and wildlife, in conjunction with Global Tiger Day 2025. Organised by WWF Malaysia in collaboration with Maybank, this Saturday's 3.5km fun run will take place at Padang Semarak in Putrajaya Wetlands Park. This year's theme, 'Stride for Stripes', aims to raise awareness of the Malayan tiger's plight and urgent need to move from human-wildlife conflict towards coexistence. This comes after a spate of tragic encounters between communities and wild animals over the past year. A portion of the event's proceeds will go directly to conservation, with RM10 from each registration used for WWF Malaysia's tiger conservation initiatives. 'Tiger conservation is about more than just preventing extinction; it is about securing a balanced future where both people and wildlife can thrive,' said WWF Malaysia chief executive officer and executive director Sophia Lim. 'The Malayan tiger is a symbol of our natural heritage and its survival hinges on how well we can address human-wildlife conflict and shift towards a future of coexistence. 'Through collective effort, awareness and compassion, we can build that future together,' she said. Malaysia's Malayan tiger population remains critically endangered while continued encroachment into forested habitats increase the likelihood of conflict, putting both humans and tigers at risk. The Maybank-WWF Malaysia partnership, since 2016, has supported anti-poaching patrols, prey recovery, community empowerment and the strengthening of Conservation Assured|Tiger Standards (CA|TS) site management. The partnership has also enabled over 100 rangers to cover more than 70,000sq km of forests and deactivating 240 snares. 'From conflict to coexistence –that is the path we must pursue,' said Maybank Foundation chief executive officer and Maybank group corporate affairs head Izlyn Ramli. 'Through our collaboration with WWF Malaysia, we are not only safeguarding wildlife but also fostering safer environments for people living near forests. 'By investing in anti-poaching patrols, ecological monitoring, and community engagement, we are demonstrating how responsible corporate partnerships can help address long-term conservation challenges,' she emphasised. Izlyn said 'Run for Tigers' was a step toward protecting one of the world's most iconic species.
Focus Malaysia
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Sabah UMNO's identity crisis and the cost of being an easily-swayed political ‘lalang'
SABAH UMNO wants Sabahans to believe that it has always been a 'local boy', has deep roots in the Bornean soil and that its leaders are true sons of the land. This is certainly a bold move from a party long seen as an extension of peninsula politics, especially by those who still remember how the phrase 'Sabah for Sabahans' was once dismissed as insular, unpatriotic or even divisive. But politics – like the jungle wind – often blows in new directions; for Sabah UMNO at this very moment, the breeze seems to be blowing towards survival at any cost. Embracing the slogan it once mocked In a recent statement, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, UMNO's war room strategist and supreme council member, remarked hat UMNO should not be viewed solely as a Peninsula-based party. 'UMNO in Sabah is no longer a Malayan party. When a party has existed for 34 to 35 years in the state, it is no longer accurate to call it a Parti Malaya. Its leadership today is made up entirely of local Sabahans,' he enthused. This is a striking change in tone as once upon a time, Sabah UMNO was viewed as the regional arm of a national powerhouse. Its central leadership in Kuala Lumpur called the shots while state leaders – even senior ones – were often expected to toe the line. But as UMNO's influence continues to wane across Malaysia, the Sabah chapter seems to be scrambling to find a new identity. One that appeals to the growing grassroots sentiment that Sabah's fate should be decided by Sabahans, not Putrajaya. The irony is that this same sentiment, 'Sabah for Sabahans,' was long treated with suspicion by UMNO and its allies – painted as parochial and even anti-national. But now, with its influence diluted and voter trust on shaky ground, the party appears ready to adopt the very rhetoric it once ridiculed. This shift, however, is not just about public messaging. It's about political survival. Fractures below the surface The internal cracks in Sabah UMNO are already visible. The party's Sabah deputy chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan recently broke ranks to criticise the infamous Langkah Kinabalu. It was a decision by Sabah UMNO to pull out of the state government in early 2022. In Abdul Rahman's view, it was a strategic misstep that has 'greatly weakened' the party, leading to a loss of credibility and a wave of defections. Instead of making a principled stand, he argued, party leaders should have resigned if dissatisfied, not torpedoed the entire coalition from within. These are not small words. Coming from someone of Rahman Dahlan's stature, they point to unresolved tension within the party. It's something that Sabah UMNO's current leadership is keen to downplay. In response, state chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin issued a carefully worded statement by contending that while differing views are respected, the party has since moved forward through consensus. But consensus doesn't always mean unity. Sometimes, it's just plain silence. The broader question is what does Sabah UMNO actually stand for today? Is it still the same party that believed in top-down politics and centralised decision-making? A party in the wind Right now, the signals are mixed. The 'Sabahanisation' of UMNO feels more like re-branding than re-invention. It's seen as an attempt to stay relevant in a political landscape that has dramatically shifted. Local parties like PBS and STAR – who are part of the ruling GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) state government – have anchored themselves in Sabahan identity and issues. For them, the 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment wasn't just a slogan. It was the foundation of their political existence. But for Sabah UMNO, it's a costume worn out of necessity. This lalang a.k.a. sitting on fence mentality of shifting positions depending on political winds has long haunted Malaysian politics with Sabah UMNO being no exception. Their decision to leave the Sabah state government in 2022 was framed as a stand on principle. Now, it's being quietly acknowledged as a mistake. UMNO's embrace of Sabah-centric rhetoric is framed as organic evolution but in truth, it smells more like desperation. Voters have lived through a decade of instability, crossovers, defections and backdoor deals. The old model of loyalty to party brands no longer holds. Sabahans are now asking sharper questions such as who fights for Sabah's rights? Who listens? Who flip-flops when it's convenient? Sabah UMNO is running out of time to answer those questions convincingly. If the party hopes to reclaim its footing, it will have to do more than tweaking its messaging. It must show through action that it has shed its peninsula-first instincts, that it can be trusted to put Sabah first even when it's politically costly. Until then, Sabah UMNO remains a party adrift – caught between its past and its future – with no clear anchor but the pursuit of power. – July 22, 2025 Main image credit: Sabah News
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Kuwait Times
Sunbears to elephants: Life at a Thai wildlife hospital
The patient lay prone on the operating table. An IV line snaking from his left leg, near the wound from the tranquillizer dart that sedated him. Yong, a pig-tailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, was being treated at Thailand's only NGO-run wildlife hospital. He is one of dozens of animals treated each month at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) facility. Patients range from delicate sugar gliders intended as pets, to some of the hefty rescued elephants that roam WFFT's expansive facility in Phetchaburi, southwest of Bangkok. The wide variety can be a challenge, said vet Siriporn Tippol. 'If we can't find the right equipment, we have to DIY use what we already have or modify based on the specifications we need.' She described strapping an extension handle onto a laryngoscope designed for cats and dogs so it could be used during surgery on bears and tigers. A treatment whiteboard gives a sense of an average day: cleaning a wound on one elephant's tail, assessing another's possible cataract and treating a Malayan sunbear's skin condition. Yong was in quarantine after rescue - coconut monkeys often carry tuberculosis or other infectious diseases - and needed a full health check. But first, he had to be sedated, with a tranquillizer dart blown from a white tube into his left haunch. Before long he was slumped over and ready to be carried to hospital. Blood was taken, an IV line placed and then it was X-ray time, to look for signs of broken bones or respiratory illness. Next was a symbolic moment: vets cut off the metal rings around the monkey's neck that once kept him connected to a chain. The operating theatre was the final stop, for a vasectomy to allow Yong to join a mixed troop of rescued monkeys without risk of breeding. "Yong," a six-year-old pigtailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, in his enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital in Phetchaburi province.--AFP photos "Yong," a six-year-old pigtailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, on an x-ray table ahead of a vasectomy surgery. A monitor with an image of "Yong," getting an X-ray before vasectomy surgery. "Yong," getting a vasectomy surgery at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital. A tiger inside its enclosure as Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) founder Edwin Wiek watches at the WFFT hospital. A general view of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital. Vets giving medicine to a bear inside an enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital. Vets giving medicine to a pig inside an enclosure at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) hospital. Out-of-hand hobby The light-filled hospital only opened this month, replacing a previous 'tiny' clinic, said WFFT founder Edwin Wiek. 'I've always dreamed about having a proper medical facility,' he told AFP, over the sound of nearby tigers roaring in grassy enclosures. With over 900 animals in WFFT's care and a regular stream of emergency arrivals, 'we needed really a bigger place, more surgery rooms, a treatment room,' he said. Wiek founded WFFT in 2001 with two macaques and a gibbon. It now spans 120 hectares (297 acres) and houses 60 species. 'That hobby got out of hand,' he laughed. He has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in a country well-known as a wildlife trafficking hub in part because of its location and strong transport links. Wiek once had tendentious relations with Thai authorities, even facing legal action, but more recently has become a government advisor. WFFT is now a force multiplier for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). 'In many cases, when wild animals from elephants and tigers to macaques are found injured and displaced, we coordinate with WFFT, who assist in rehabilitation and medical care,' said DNP wildlife conservation director Chalerm Poommai. One of WFFT's current campaigns focuses on the estimated thousands of monkeys like Yong trained to pick coconuts on plantations in southern Thailand. 'The animal welfare issue is horrible,' said Wiek. 'But another very important point is that these animals actually are taken out of the wild illegally. And that, of course, has a huge impact, negative impact on the survival of the species.' WFFT is working with authorities, the coconut industry and exporters to encourage farmers to stop using monkeys, and switch to shorter trees that are easier to harvest. There is also work to do equipping the new hospital. A mobile X-ray unit and specialized blood analysis machine are on Siriporn's wishlist. And Wiek is thinking ahead to his next dream: a forensics lab to trace the origins of the animals confiscated from traffickers. 'The laws are there, we lack the enforcement,' he said. 'But with this tool, we could actually do some real damage to these illegal wildlife traffickers.' — AFP
Sharjah 24
2 days ago
- Health
- Sharjah 24
Healing the wild: Life inside Thailand's wildlife care facility
Innovative veterinary solutions Veterinarian Siriporn Tippol highlights the challenges of treating such a wide variety of species. The team often improvises with available tools, such as modifying equipment for cats and dogs to fit larger animals like bears and tigers. Daily tasks include treating wounds, assessing conditions like cataracts, and managing skin ailments in Malayan sunbears. Transformative facilities The newly opened, spacious hospital replaces a much smaller clinic, allowing for more surgeries and better treatment options. Founder Edwin Wiek, who started WFFT in 2001 with just a few animals, emphasizes the need for a proper medical facility to accommodate the over 900 animals in their care. Advocacy against trafficking Wiek has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in Thailand, a country known for wildlife trafficking. The WFFT works closely with the Department of National Parks, coordinating efforts to rehabilitate injured animals. One major campaign targets the use of monkeys in coconut harvesting, which often involves illegal practices that threaten species survival. Future aspirations While the hospital is already making strides, Wiek aims to further enhance its capabilities with additional equipment like a mobile X-ray unit and a forensics lab to trace the origins of trafficked animals. He believes that stronger enforcement of existing laws is crucial in combating illegal wildlife trafficking effectively.
eNCA
2 days ago
- Health
- eNCA
Sunbears to elephants: Life at a Thai wildlife hospital
BANGKOK - The patient lay prone on the operating table. An IV line snaking from his left leg, near the wound from the tranquilliser dart that sedated him. Yong, a pig-tailed macaque rescued from a life harvesting coconuts, was being treated at Thailand's only NGO-run wildlife hospital. He is one of dozens of animals treated each month at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) facility. Patients range from delicate sugar gliders intended as pets, to some of the hefty rescued elephants that roam WFFT's expansive facility in Phetchaburi, southwest of Bangkok. The wide variety can be a challenge, said vet Siriporn Tippol. "If we can't find the right equipment, we have to DIY use what we already have or modify based on the specifications we need." She described strapping an extension handle onto a laryngoscope designed for cats and dogs so it could be used during surgery on bears and tigers. AFP | MANAN VATSYAYANA A treatment whiteboard gives a sense of an average day: cleaning a wound on one elephant's tail, assessing another's possible cataract and treating a Malayan sunbear's skin condition. Yong was in quarantine after rescue -- coconut monkeys often carry tuberculosis or other infectious diseases -- and needed a full health check. But first, he had to be sedated, with a tranquilliser dart blown from a white tube into his left haunch. Before long he was slumped over and ready to be carried to hospital. Blood was taken, an IV line placed and then it was X-ray time, to look for signs of broken bones or respiratory illness. Next was a symbolic moment: vets cut off the metal rings around the monkey's neck that once kept him connected to a chain. The operating theatre was the final stop, for a vasectomy to allow Yong to join a mixed troop of rescued monkeys without risk of breeding. - Out-of-hand hobby - The light-filled hospital only opened this month, replacing a previous "tiny" clinic, said WFFT founder Edwin Wiek. "I've always dreamed about having a proper medical facility," he told AFP, over the sound of nearby tigers roaring in grassy enclosures. AFP | MANAN VATSYAYANA With over 900 animals in WFFT's care and a regular stream of emergency arrivals, "we needed really a bigger place, more surgery rooms, a treatment room," he said. Wiek founded WFFT in 2001 with two macaques and a gibbon. It now spans 120 hectares (297 acres) and houses 60 species. "That hobby got out of hand," he laughed. He has long advocated for stronger wildlife protections in a country well-known as a wildlife trafficking hub in part because of its location and strong transport links. Wiek once had tendentious relations with Thai authorities, even facing legal action, but more recently has become a government advisor. WFFT is now a force multiplier for the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). "In many cases, when wild animals from elephants and tigers to macaques are found injured and displaced, we coordinate with WFFT, who assist in rehabilitation and medical care," said DNP wildlife conservation director Chalerm Poommai. AFP | MANAN VATSYAYANA One of WFFT's current campaigns focuses on the estimated thousands of monkeys like Yong trained to pick coconuts on plantations in southern Thailand. "The animal welfare issue is horrible," said Wiek. "But another very important point is that these animals actually are taken out of the wild illegally. And that, of course, has a huge impact, negative impact on the survival of the species." WFFT is working with authorities, the coconut industry and exporters to encourage farmers to stop using monkeys, and switch to shorter trees that are easier to harvest. There is also work to do equipping the new hospital. A mobile X-ray unit and specialised blood analysis machine are on Siriporn's wishlist. And Wiek is thinking ahead to his next dream: a forensics lab to trace the origins of the animals confiscated from traffickers. "The laws are there, we lack the enforcement," he said. "But with this tool, we could actually do some real damage to these illegal wildlife traffickers."
