Latest news with #RhinocerosHornbill
Free Malaysia Today
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Win tickets to Penang Bird Park by naming its animal stars
With impressive ear tufts and an intense stare, the Malay eagle owl is calm, observant, and a little dramatic, looking wise, fierce, and slightly grumpy in the most majestic way. (Penang Bird Park pic) PETALING JAYA : Are you a master of monikers? Do you have a knack for names? Your talent could help the Penang Bird Park, which is inviting the public to name some of its most iconic residents in conjunction with its 37th anniversary on Aug 8. Standout names could win you complimentary tickets to the park, and the opportunity to have your name featured there! 'We wanted to create something meaningful and joyful for our 37th anniversary. These animals have so much personality, it's high time they are bestowed names that resonate with their biggest fans,' said park founder Gino Ooi. The animals seeking names are: 1. Rhinoceros hornbill 2. Sulphur crested cockatoo 3. Albino crow 4. A family of four baby emus 5. Malay eagle owl 6. Cassowary 7. Twin baby marmosets 8. Estuarine crocodile With a commanding call and a curious gaze, the rhinoceros hornbill is calm, confident and a little mysterious. (Penang Bird Park pic) The 'What's My Name?' campaign consists of two interactive phases: a name suggestion phase (Aug 1-14), followed by a public voting phase (Aug 15-28). In the first phase, participants can submit their name ideas for each featured animal, based on their images and quirky personality descriptions, such as those in the photo captions above. In the event of multiple participants suggesting the same name, the earliest submission – based on timestamps – will be eligible. Once the names have been collected, the second phase begins, with top suggestions going to a public vote on the park's Instagram profile. The final names, along with the winners, will be announced on Aug 31. It's not just birds at the Penang Bird Park – this powerful lady shares her space with Tyson, her longtime 'husband'. (Penang Bird Park pic) Each participant who submits a name with the highest number of votes will receive two complimentary admission tickets to the Penang Bird Park, and be credited on the relevant animal's enclosure signage (for example, 'Named by Aida Tan'), next to a description of that animal's unique traits. So, will your suggestions be simple or sophisticated, poetic or punny? Founded in 1988, Penang Bird Park is Malaysia's first and largest bird conservatory, spanning some 2ha in Seberang Jaya. Home to over 3,000 birds representing over 300 species including 150 native Malaysian species, the park serves as a sanctuary focused on conservation, breeding, and public education. For the full list of animals and their descriptions, as well as to participate, click here. Follow Penang Bird Park on Instagram to cast your votes.
Borneo Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Affin Bank's hornbill blunder a serious misrepresentation of Sarawak's identity, says Pending rep
Yong pointed out that the Great Hornbill is not native to Sarawak and cited local zoologist Jason Teo, who confirmed the bird depicted is indeed the wrong species. – Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (May 21): Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong insisted she was not making a mountain out of a molehill over Affin Bank's depiction of the wrong hornbill on its Kenyalang Card, calling it a serious misrepresentation of Sarawak's identity. Speaking during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today, she criticised the bank for featuring the Great Hornbill instead of the Rhinoceros Hornbill – Sarawak's official state bird – on a card launched by the Premier and marketed exclusively for Sarawakians. 'This is not a trivial issue – it distorts Sarawak's heritage and is an insult to our people,' she said. Yong pointed out that the Great Hornbill is not native to Sarawak and cited local zoologist Jason Teo, who confirmed the bird depicted is indeed the wrong species. She further revealed that the image used was not custom-designed, but lifted from a stock photo website without any Sarawakian input or cultural consideration. 'Affin Bank claiming it as a 'creative tribute' is misleading and disrespectful,' she said. Adding on, Yong criticised the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leaders for staying silent, saying their lack of response reflects a disconnect from Sarawakian values. She also took aim at Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng for making personal attacks rather than addressing the core issue. In view of this, she urged the Sarawak government to use its 31.25 per cent stake in Affin Bank to withdraw the current card and redesign it with the correct hornbill. 'They have made profits, so don't tell us there is no budget to fix this,' she said. Having said that, Yong expressed sympathy for the Sarawak Tourism Board, saying the misstep undermines years of work to promote Sarawak's identity. She also criticised Tourism Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim for dismissing the matter, calling his remarks 'damaging and tone-deaf'. 'I wouldn't have raised this issue if the card hadn't been marketed as a symbol of Sarawak pride – but it was,' she said, warning that leaving the error uncorrected could confuse future generations about the state's iconic bird. Yong concluded by calling for immediate correction and a formal apology, adding that the dignity of Sarawak's identity must be upheld without compromise. Afffin Bank DUN hornbill kenyalang violet yong
Malaysiakini
20-05-2025
- General
- Malaysiakini
For Sarawakians, the right hornbill matters
COMMENT | In Sarawak, the hornbill isn't just a bird - it's an emblem of the soul. It soars in their myths, crowns their state crest, and gives the land of the Dayaks their moniker: Bumi Kenyalang - Land of the Hornbills. So when Affin Bank Berhad rolled out its new Kenyalang Card, claiming it was a tribute to Sarawak's identity, one would assume they knew what bird they were featuring. They didn't. Instead of the Rhinoceros Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros), which is the official state bird of Sarawak, the card showcases the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) - a non-native species. That's not just a design error. That's a failure of cultural due diligence.
Borneo Post
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Abd Karim: Criticism over Affin Bank hornbill gaffe blown out of proportion
Abdul Karim speaks to reporters when met at the DUN Complex. — Photo by Mohd Faisal Ahmad KUCHING (May 19) Criticism over the 'wrong' hornbill species used on the Affin Bank's Kenyalang Card is a non-issue blown out of proportion, said Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. He said the depiction of the hornbill on the card should not be turned into a controversy, adding that the focus should be on the positive intention behind the design. 'That should not have been made into an issue, because there are so many varieties of the hornbill. The intention was to have a hornbill as part of the card's design and I think what they have done is something good,' he told reporters at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here today. He thus dismissed the distinction as insignificant, arguing that people should not be narrow-minded, and questioned whether it must specifically be 'this hornbill or that hornbill'. He also opined there was no need to change the logo or design, as the symbolic association with Sarawak remained intact. 'Does the mascot need to look exactly like a real hornbill? The moment someone sees it, it's recognisable as a '(burung) kenyalang', which is synonymous with Sarawak. 'Personally, I view this as an overreaction—making a mountain out of a molehill. Whether the hornbill horn (casque) is going up or going down, that's not an issue. When you see the bird, you know it's a hornbill. So, what's the issue there? 'I believe Affin has good intentions. Why create all these very petty issues and turn them into something big? There are many other issues that can be raised, such as issues that matter to the people—not issues related to a bank card and the hornbill,' he said. He further compared the situation to the many types of common birds, such as the 'burung pipit', which is a local term for small sparrow-like birds, pointing out that just as there were various species of these, the same applied to hornbills. Apart from that, it was his understanding the card was only issued in Sarawak and meant to reflect the state, saying the government saw no pressing need for any correction or apology from Affin Bank. Abdul Karim was responding to recent remarks made by Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, who had criticised Affin Bank for using the image of the Great Hornbill on a card meant to represent Sarawak. Yong described it as a 'cultural misrepresentation', noting that the Great Hornbill was not native to the state and differed from the Rhinoceros Hornbill, or 'Burung Kenyalang', which is Sarawak's state bird. Abdul Karim Affin Bank Kenyalang Card lead
Borneo Post
18-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
‘Be accurate when using S'wak emblem as representation, no and/or'
Great Hornbills are not found in Sarawak or Sabah, according to Teo. — Photo by Jason Teo KUCHING (May 18): Zoologist Jason Teo claimed Affin Bank used the wrong hornbill on its Affin Kenyalang Visa Debit Card and urged the bank to consider updating the misleading illustration. He said while the casque (upper part of the beak) is long and curved upwards, which matches the Rhinoceros Hornbill, other key features suggest the bird illustrated on the debit card is actually a Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) with a modified casque. 'This is not a call to shame Affin Bank—mistakes happen, and I believe this was an honest one. As Sarawakians, I believe we are patient and understanding people. Even in my early career, I've misidentified many birds; it's part of the learning process. 'I've been approached by many people asking me to confirm what our State Emblem truly looks like. That honestly has been disheartening for me. It feels like we've taken a few steps backwards,' said Teo in a statement yesterday. An image of the Affin Kenyalang Visa Debit Card. He has help from seasoned birdwatcher with 27 years of experience Tou Jing Yi on the cross-checking of facts. Teo pointed out that Great Hornbills are not found in Sarawak or Sabah while Rhinoceros Hornbills can be found in Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia. According to him, the Great Hornbill has a pale yellowish-white neck, whereas the Rhinoceros Hornbill's neck is entirely black. He went on to say that the wing of the Great Hornbill has two conspicuous white to yellow wing bars while the Rhinoceros Hornbill is entirely black. 'While both have casques, the Rhinoceros Hornbill's casque extends more prominently out and upwards while the Great Hornbill's is flat and set further back at the head. Also, the Great Hornbill's casque is mostly yellow. In contrast, the Rhinoceros Hornbill's casque has a balanced mix of red, yellow and orange,' he said. The Rhinoceros Hornbill, the Sarawak State Emblem. — Photo by Jason Teo Teo said some had argued that the hornbill's casque on the debit card was long and curved upwards, which should be close enough to call it a Rhinoceros Hornbill. 'However, the designated state bird of Sarawak is specifically the Rhinoceros Hornbill, not just any hornbill. It's also important to remember that the Affin Kenyalang Visa Debit Card was designed specifically for Sarawak, yet the species illustrated on the card (the Great Hornbill) does not exist in Sarawak,' he stressed. Citing as an example, he said it would be unacceptable if someone tried to use an image of a lion to represent the Malayan Tiger. He said that if it mattered that the Malaysia and Sarawak flags are depicted accurately, then the same standard should apply to the Sarawak State Emblem. 'Accuracy in representing our identity matters. This is not an 'and/or' question,' he said. 'There's absolutely no shame in making a correction, it's how we learn. And finally, I hope that after reading this, people will feel more confident in recognising the Rhinoceros Hornbill, and will share this knowledge with friends and family. Let's move forward together, informed and united,' he added. Affin Bank Jason Teo lead rhinoceros hornbill State Emblem
