Sunday 25 January 2015

Out with the old, in with the old

Kelantan was the worst hit by the floods that hit the nation in December last year. - File Photo

JUST as the whole world was about to make preparations to usher in the new year as 2014 drew to a close, a slew of major disasters occurred. These more than just dampened enthusiasm associated with the ritual of bidding adieu to the old and rolling the welcome mat to usher in the new.


We at Awani had our hands full juggling the already thinning end-of-year resources to cover flooding at our doorstep in the east coast; as well as keeping our viewers abreast of the search for the remnants of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 which since Dec 28 (last year) has been lying at the bottom of the Java Sea.

The severity of the floods this time round simply show how hapless we are against the wrath of nature. It also drives home the lesson – so blatantly ignored for so long – that nature is more than likely to bite you in the butt should you dare trifle order.

Alas, there are enough so-called entrepreneur/investors/prospectors/politicians with the cowboy mentality who simply refuse to take heed of the all too clear manifestations that result from our wanton acts of disregard and destruction?
How many more deaths and damage to property do they need before they repent their sins, undo their dastardly deeds and make amends?

The floods were especially severe in the east coast, specifically Kelantan. Politicians keen on points scoring found the State Government easy target, with some justification.



LOST VIRGIN

Just look at the changing face of central spine of this nation within its State boundaries and neighbouring that of Perak.

Lojing has long lost its pristine virginity. Gua Musang was and is seen as an El Dorado, an Alaska or a Siberia whose value lies in the amount of timber harvested, the minerals ripe for extraction and its potential to be transformed into vast agricultural plantations.

For those not familiar with the local language; `gua’ means cave or den, `musang’ is the wily fox. Long before its full-blooded exploitation, the hillslopes, lush valleys and green mountain tops was indeed home to this and other mammals as they dodge the natural daily battle of survival with – wait for it – the local tiger!

It appears not many care how the district got its name in the first place – it was so untamed and untouched up to a mere 50 years ago that it was thought to harbour all manner of wildlife; including of course the wily fox marked by the proliferation of its dens – hence the district earned its stripe and named Gua Musang.

With the wanton destruction of its habitat, Malaysians only have the under-achieving exploits of the national football team who for some inexcusable reasons, were awarded the grand tag of Harimau Malaya.

Nationalism, it is said; is the refuge of scoundrels. Just look at the football team and you’d d think they are only capable of mewing instead of roaring when they are supposed to turn it on and perform with their feet at least; in the heat of battle!


TIMBER....!

Kelantan deserves the less than sympathetic spotlight no doubt. It sometimes is the architect of its own misfortune.

When confronted with their less than pristine environmental record, all the State politicians could offer was that they broke no laws – that they logged the forests at the rate approved by the Federal Government.

It is also resolutely focussed on the spiritual. For better or for worse, Kelantan is resolute in its pursuit of the Acheh model of reconstruction-post-disaster.

Depending on which side of the religious divide you belong, you either applaud or despair at its response to the watery devastation. Their explanation for the misfortune is that this was precisely the sign from the Almighty that hudud was the panacea and that it should be implemented with even greater urgency.

The state legislative assembly was supposed to debate the hudud bill on the first working day of the new year. This being Kelantan, no amount of dousing will dampen this quest.

Go after the real culprits who are responsible for the unnatural exploitation of Gua Musang. (S)nip their evil deed in the bud. Then even the most disbelieving heathen would applaud!

- Source: Astro Awani 

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