South East Asia highest peak - Mount Kinabalu

 Mt. Kinabalu from Kundasang

Mount Kinabalu (4,095m) is the highest peak in South East Asia.

Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding area covers 754 sq. km has been gazetted as Kinabalu National Park in 1964. 

 Mt. Kinabalu from Kinabalu Park headquarters

Kinabalu Park is Malaysia's first World Heritage site designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its 'outstanding values and role as one of the world most important biological sites'.

World Heritage site declaration monument

It is a botanical paradise blessed with astonishing variety of flora and fauna ranges over 4 climate zones. Visitors can enjoy the cool invigorating air and the serenity of this park.

 

 

 

 

 

 Flora that growth and planted around the Kinabalu Park

Most facilities for the climbers and visitors are provided by the Kinabalu Park management i.e. lodging, meals, information centre, registration etc.

 Lodging

Route to the summit signage in the Park

WATER HYACINTH

A study should be carried out on the retention pond in Taman Lintang Makmur, Sungai Siput which has been completely covered with water hyacinth. Water hyacinth affect the ecology but its has industrial utilization too.

Water hyacinth is often problematic in man-made ponds if uncontrolled, but can also provide a food source for gold fish, keep water clean and help to provide oxygen to man-made ponds.

The water hyacinth dramatically impacts water flow, blocks sunlight for aquatic plants and starves the water of oxygen. Where the weed is prolific, there is a general increase in several diseases, as the weed creates excellent breeding areas for mosquitoes and other insects.

There are other uses being found for the abundant plants e.g. cattle food and bio-gas production. Recently, they have begun to be used in wastewater treatment due to their fast growth and ability to tolerate high levels of pollution. Parts of the plant are also used in the production of traditional handicrafts in Southeast Asia.

Since the plant has abundant nitrogen content, it can be used a substrate for bio-gas production and the sludge obtained from the bio-gas. However, due to easy accumulation of toxins, the plant is prone to get contaminated when used as feed.

NATIONAL HEROES FROM SUNGAI SIPUT (U)

Sungai Siput (U) is a small town in Perak. It is an unknown town. 1948 set a new history of Malaya and Sungai Siput (U) became central of attention worldwide. The killing of 3 English planters, force the British to declared Malayan Emergency. Sungai Siput (U) became one of the main operation centre for the Communist Party of Malaya. Sungai Siput was repeated mentioned in books related to Malayan Emergency or Insurgency e.g. The Jungle is Natural, Nation Before Self and Chin Peng - My Side of History. 

Younger generation do not know the Ginger Operation. The older generation has forgotten the pass. Gone are the days where curfew on and off. Sungai Siput has been classified as 'black' area for security reasons for many years till 1980's. Nowadays, people in Sungai Siput lives peacefully and harmony.

Not many people knows that Sungai Siput (U) was closely related to the Malaya independence! The years has passed, no one seems to remembered Tun V.T. Sambanthan, Tun Leong Yew Koh and Tok Pangku Hamid who played an essential role for an independence Malaya.

Tun V.T. Sambanthan, once the National President of MIC was the Sungai Siput Member of Parliament and a Minister. He played a key role for Malaya independence. He was born in Sungai Siput (U).

Tun Leong Yew Koh, the first Governor of Malacca was a founding member of MCA. He was the Vice President of MCA during the pre and post independence era. He was born in Salak North.

Tok Pangku Hamid was the first and the only Senator from Sungai Siput (as at to date). He is an "orang asal" living in Lintang. He is the first "orang asal" and the first Sungai Siput people appointed as Senator.

Apart from them, there are many more politicians from Sungai Siput who hold key Government post.

There are many top civil servants are from Sungai Siput too e.g. the Director General of National Landscape Department, the Director of Perak State Land and Mineral Department and a Special Assistant to Tun Mahathir. 

PDRM SUNGAI SIPUT (U)

SUNGAI SIPUT (U) is known in Malaysia history. It is a place where 3 'mat salleh' were killed. Immediately after the killing, The Malayan Emergency was declared by the High Commissioner of Malaya in 1948. Sungai Siput (U) was classified as "black" area then.

 

However, with the efforts of a few well-known politicians, Sungai Siput (U) has transform from a 'cowboy' town to a bigger town now.

The latest additions to Sungai Siput (U) is the new police quarters located opposite Jalong New Village. There are 500 policemen in Sungai Siput contingent currently. Very soon the new district police office will be in operation.

SUNGAI SIPUT WATERFRONT -the world 1st. waterfront without water!

This retention pond located in the centre of Taman Lintang Makmur, just behind Sungai Siput TF Value Mart. The area is about 5 acre. The developer of Sungai Siput Business Centre made use of the charm of this pond as their selling point i.e. it named Sungai Siput Waterfront Business Centre! The developer promised that the pond will be turn into a recreation centre; however, now it looks like a field! Sungai Siput Waterfront is the world 1st. waterfront without water now!

Many people fishing in this pond previously. Some netting fish too. The Indonesian from the nearby construction site catches eels. The irresponsible fishing maniac will just trough the small fishes on to the ground rather than put it back to the pond.

Almost a year ago, the water hyacinth colonised the whole pond.

I have seek opinions and advises from professionals and NGOs' e.g WWF Malaysia and MNS Perak. I was told that the water hyacinth will endanger the ecology system. Ecologically speaking, this species is considered invasive and is regarded as pest. It prevent other semi aquatic plants to co-generate and add biodiversity.

It blocks sunlight and oxygen from water, thus decrease healthy water chemistry. The deprived sunlight contain less aquatic life and prevent the amount of dissolved oxygen that the dwelling organisms will be affected, thus less food for fishes.This noxious weed will definitely affect the retention pond function as it slow down water movement and flows, the volume of water hold will be lesser, its block the water outlets and inlets.

The location of the pond in the middle of a business centre and housing area, it may cause danger for children. Children and sometimes adults will think it is a field rather than a pond.

Clearing the water hyacinth, the ecology of the pond will be stabilise and it will be a thriving place for wetland plants and animals. Over time after removal of the weeds, the pond will settle and stabilise its ecosystem. Lotus shall be plant as the avifauna, insects and other wildlife population will increase as the plant give flowers, good cover and stratification. The flower attract dragonflies and damselflies. The larva of these insects will eat up mosquitoes larvae. This will increased the biodiversity and well being of the pond.

My MNS Perak friend suggested to turn the pond into a beautiful wetland park for education and recreation with landscraping and architecture element incorporated. Its amazing! I hope it will come through.

I will be writing to the Kuala Kangsar Municipality Council and Drainage and Irrigation Department to clean up the retention pond and turn it into a better place for educational purposes.

'ORANG ASAL' VILLAGE - JALONG TINGGI

As usual, I made frequent visit to Jalong Tinggi 'orang asal' settlement. There are 10 settlements in this region. I brought along old clothing, toys and bags for the young 'orang asal'.

 

Upon seeing my car going into the village, all the children rush toward me! They are excited as they know I am going to give them something. Children likes toys, any contribution in the future?

IRRESPONSIBLE DEVELOPER!

Sungai Siput Waterfront Commercial Centre offer an opportunity for entrepreneur as it surrounded by residential areas. TF Hypermat has already established it self here for almost 3 years. More and more shops are operating. There are more than 100 shop lots. A taxi and bus station has been identified nearby.

The development of this commercial area has brought the market values of the surrounding houses up. Its is good for the house owner but it also cause problems! The poor drainage structure causes flash flood to the nearby houses.

Most of the causes has been identified previously in this blog. Lately, I found something that may be the additional factor.

The developer has blocked the drain! The original drain size is 4 feet x 4 feet. The drain was blocked due to construction of an entrance to the developer's old sales office. Only a 1 feet diameter culvert was placed into the drain. Reliable source informed me that it should be a temporary entrance but it already there for more than 2 years! This junction is not maintain as few pot holes seen! Why the blockage is not clear till today? Who allow and approve to built the entrance? Who should remove the blockage?

The culvert on the left photo is below the junction above. Compare the actual drain and the culvert!

A brick block was seen in the drain! It should be from the road. Is it fell accidentlly or by purpose? However, why it is not taken up? Whose responsibility? The developer or municipalities?

Blockage in the drain

These clearly shown that the municipalities council officers and members of the council are not doing their job! Action should have been taken as the blockage may cause problems to the public at large especially those residents around. Well, I have to write to the municipalities council again ....