A guide to West Malaysians for Sabahans

A guide to West Malaysians for Sabahans

June 01, 2011

JUNE 1 — Since I have written a guide for West Malaysians about Sarawak, perhaps it is only fair I write about Sabah. But writing “Sabah 101” seemed boring so I flipped it around and now here’s a handy reference for Sabahans dealing with the influx of West Malaysians thanks to AirAsia.

1. Most West Malaysians really don’t remember September 16, 1963, and when asked, will only remember that “Malaysia gained its independence in 1957.” Don’t blame them; blame our badly-written history textbooks. Incidentally, they were written by West Malaysians.

2. West Malaysian Muslims are a lot more uptight than the ones in Sabah. If you take them to a soto stall that is situated outside a Chinese coffee shop, don’t be offended if they refuse to eat in fear of the food not being halal (kosher). If they are Malay and Muslim, make sure the eatery has a halal signboard.

3. Expect them to be very nosy about what race or religion you are. If you happen to look Chinese but greet them with the Muslim salam or you look Malay and are eating pork in front of them, prepare for either looks of shock or ones of taking offence. West Malaysians seem to get offended easily, for some reason. (Proof can be found in the comments of my columns, funnily enough written by people in West Malaysia)

4. Some of them will ask really stupid questions. Just smile and blame, again, our education system. What else are they supposed to think when the only references to Sabah and Sarawak in textbooks are usually illustrated by pictures of natives in traditional costumes?

5. Even if they have landed in Kota Kinabalu, they might still forget that Kuching is not in Sabah. Resist urge to make fun of their poor grasp of geography. Besides, that’s my job.

6. They can’t even get tapai and tuak straight either. So if they ask you for the latter, smile and suggest they look for the heady beverage in Sarawak. Say it gently, remember point three and five.

7. Also, a lot of West Malaysians regard tapai as a sour-smelling delicacy made out of either rice or tapioca. So if the nice Malay makcik enquires about tapai, she probably means that and not the locally beloved alcoholic beverage. Drunken Malay makciks are not pretty sights.

8. Put up with their griping about the need for immigration controls. And their whining about not being allowed to come and go in Sabah as they please. Remind them of the 20-point agreement. Make a joke about us being afraid they’ll come in and take all our timber. Then add, “Haha, but you already did!” Enjoy the peaceful silence.

9. They will also express shock at how rustic Kota Kinabalu is compared to Sabah. Just shrug and say that whatever money Sabah makes from oil and its natural resources all go to the federal revenue. Also that more than half of the people living below the poverty line come from Sabah.

10. If they ask why East Malaysians like to drink a lot and even make it part of our culture, remind them of point nine.

11. West Malaysians cannot quite work their head around the many tribes in Sabah as the local propaganda and tourism paraphernalia in West Malaysia make it seem like most Malaysians are generally Malay, Chinese or Indian. Again, our education system sucks. As does our information ministry.

12. West Malaysians from rural areas are really sheltered, and thanks to that, are prone to saying stupid things. One example: “The Greg Typhoon in Sabah was caused by sinful Sabahans having wild parties and the storm was God’s punishment.” I was told this by a pious Malay girl from Kedah. Refrain from punching said people in the mouth. They really don’t know any better and also read too much Mastika.

13. For some reason, people from West Malaysia think Harian Metro, Mastika and Utusan print truth and not fiction.

So be gentle with our fellow Malaysians from the peninsula. Sabah and Sarawak have long been a distant mystery, the cash cows and fixed deposit of the federal government. Now that West Malaysians are beginning to realise that we are just as civilised as they are, they might not take us quite as much for granted.

But it’s still fun making fun of them.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

CRUELTY TO DOGS IN MALAYSIA- MPS in the Limelight!

Article in "The Sun" newspaper, Malaysia
Tue, 11 Sep 2007

Animal lovers protest against contest
By: Llew-Ann Phang

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 11, 2007): A group of 30 animal lovers from several organisations marched to the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) today to loudly protest against the council’s dog-catching competition which is offering RM15,000 as the first prize to residents committees.

Representatives from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Malaysian Animal Rights and Welfare Association, Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (PetPositive) and the Coalition of Animal Lovers chanted "Stop the hunt!" and held up posters to get their message through.

MPS enforcement officers stood on guard at the main entrance of the MPS tower, while the group led by SPCA chairwoman Christina Chin, the Coalition’s Natasha Valerie Fernz and PetPositive president Anthony Thanasayan marched in, with DAP’s Ronnie Liu and N. Surendran in tow.

They wanted to hand over a joint memorandum to MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim but he was on leave.

MPS assistant public relations officer Helda Syima Abu Talab met the group with some colleagues, including officers from the enforcement unit, but the group asked instead to see the health and municipal services director.

The crowd’s patience was further tested by a Selayang resident who spoke aloud about the lack of concern for dog-bitten victims, and defended throwing stones at stray dogs, saying these dogs threatened people.

Amid this, animal groomer Nuraini Rozaiti Mahamud, 35, stole the show with her Mix.fm life-size cardboard cutouts of radio DJs Ika, Serena C and Pietro in one hand, and her Australian silky terrier Phoebe in the other.

Nuraini said she would allocate some of the RM50,000 prize money – if she won the Mix.fm competition that ends on Friday (Sept 14) – to animal shelters, and treat orphans to a kenduri, besides pursuing her studies in animal psychiatry in Australia.

She waved off concerns that she would get into trouble if a picture of her and Phoebe was published, saying she did not neglect her Islamic obligations of samak (washing with mud), and found it an easier task with the taharah soap (made of mud) found in traditional Malay medicinal shops.

An MPS assistant administration officer finally persuaded the group to hand over their memorandum to Helda because the health and municipal services director was in a meeting.

The memorandum states that stray animals were a result of irresponsible owners who dumped and abandoned their pets or owned pets that were not neutered.

Together, the organisations called for:

• an immediate end to the dog-catching competition;

• implementation of highly effective neutering initiatives;

• fines against irresponsible pet owners who dump and abandon their pets;

• implementation of smart, humane and effective legislation to promote responsible pet ownership; and

• education and publicity campaigns to promote responsible pet ownership.

Helda declined comment, saying the MPS president would be the best person to speak on the matter.

Not a dog's world in Selayang

Family claims two pet canines ill-treated by council officers

CECILIA VICTOR

Thursday, May 19th, 2011 12:05:00

SAY SORRY : Molly (left) and brother Pavithiran want the council to apologise

SELAYANG: A family has alleged their pet dogs were forcefully taken from their home in Taman Seri Gombak by Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) enforcement officers and beaten at its pound despite having valid licences.

S. Gunasegar, 48, said his dogs, an Irish Terrier and a Chihuahua mixed breed named Tiger and Tommy respectively, suffered body and leg injuries as a result of the beatings.

“My veterinarian told me that the injuries to my pets were consistent with beatings using a sharp object,” he told The Malay Mail.

Gunasegar said his neighbours told him the council officers came to his house about 10.30am on May 4 when he and his family were on holiday in Malacca.

“My house gate was left unlocked and the officers had barged in and took hold of my dogs without any prior notice given,” he said, adding the council officers said they took his pets due to complaints by neighbours irritated by the constant barking.

“I had to pay a RM200 fine but my two pets, which used to be so lively, looked lifeless when I brought them back on May 6.”

His daughter Molly, 23, said: “Tommy's thick hair had to be shaved off so that the veterinarian could take a closer look at its skin injuries due to the beating. The two days our dogs were at the pound also traumatised both, and Tiger, which is one and a half years old, also fainted.”

Gunasegar said he wanted an apology and RM5,000 as compensation from the council for the ill-treatment of his pets.

“My dogs are licensed and the council officers had no right to enter my property without permission.”

At Press time, the council could not be reached for comment.

SELAYANG POUND: SPCA SELANGOR URGES DVS TO PROSECUTE

SELAYANG POUND: SPCA SELANGOR URGES DVS TO PROSECUTE

Wed, 18th May 2011, 08:34pm

25 FEBRUARY 2010, SELAYANG – Visits by the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty To Animals (SPCA Selangor) and animal rescuers to the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) dog pound in Rawang in the last few days have revealed that the pound is grossly mismanaged, and that almost a dozen dogs have died in the pound since Sunday.

On Sunday, an animal rescuer visited the pound and reported that it appeared the dogs were not being fed or watered. She brought back 5 emaciated puppies, one of which was dying already. The SPCA vets had to euthanise the puppies due to their severe condition, and sent them for a post-mortem at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) on Monday morning.


SPCA’s help declined
SPCA contacted MPS Director of Health and Licensing Dr. Razif Zainol Abidin on Monday morning, offering a supply of dog food and assistance with improving conditions at the pound. However, Dr Razif declined the offers, saying that the MPS had food and did not need help with the pound.

Later on Monday, the SPCA Selangor Inspectors and vet went to the pound, but were denied access to the pound. The caretaker refused to let them in, as he did not want to get into any trouble with the management. However, after some coaxing he allowed them to go in briefly to look around – but warned them not to take any photos. There were approximately 20 dogs and puppies in the kennels, only half of which appeared to be in reasonable health. The kennels and dogs were heavily infested with ticks. Volunteers from animal rescue groups Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better and AnimalCare had brought food and water containers, and bags of dog food earlier and had fed and watered the dogs.


Two dogs lie dead in the MPS Pound on Wednesday morning


“Though the floor had been washed down, there was no evidence that the kennels were disinfected regularly to prevent the spread of prevailing diseases in the pound like distemper, parvovirus, and tick-fever,” says SPCA Selangor Veterinarian Dr Karen Koh. There were four dogs in one kennel that looked very ill and emaciated. “Since providing medical care for the dogs is beyond the means of the council, they must ensure that dogs that are severely injured or ill are euthanized by a vet promptly, and not left suffering in these enclosures for days,” says SPCA Selangor Animal Inspector Cunera Kimlon.

A second visit was made early Wednesday morning. The gate to the pound was open, and the SPCA team began inspecting the kennels again and taking photographs. The sickly dogs that were seen two days earlier were no longer around. All the puppies had been placed together in one kennel, while the neighbouring kennels housed 2-3 adult dogs each. Food and water placed by animal rescuers was still there. Two dogs were found dead, a brown mix-breed dog and a black Spitz-mix wearing a red collar.

“We were invited to a meeting with Majlis Perbandaran Selayang, to discuss how to immediately improve this miserable situation the pound dogs are facing, but this invitation was immediately revoked upon them learning of our pound visit on Wednesday morning,” says SPCA Selangor Chairman Christine Chin. “However, we are still keen on teaching them how to manage their pound better in the short-term and long-term – if they are willing to accept our help. Municipals should be encouraging animal loving constituents to help at the pound, not chasing them out,” she continues.



Puppies, some too small to drink from the water container


Council in the spotlight again
In 2007, MPS incurred the wrath of dog-lovers all over the world when they decided to initiate a financially rewarding dog-catching competition inviting the public to participate in what looked like ‘fun-filled festivity’ to reduce the stray population. The competition was quickly scrapped after protests from animal welfare NGOs and the public. Animal welfare NGOs have always highlighted that reducing the stray population requires a long-term strategy - low-cost spay/neuter programs, public awareness campaigns, proper licensing and effective legislation discouraging abandonment of pets or allowing them to stray in their neighbourhood.


SPCA pressures for prosecution
SPCA Selangor has over the years lobbied the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to regulate and monitor dog-catching activities and the management of council pounds. Last year, the DVS issued the ‘Guidelines for Humane Stray Management for Local Councils’ to all Malaysian municipal councils, but few improvements have been made by the councils – with even basic needs such as food, water and a clean environment often not provided for the dogs.

“SPCA Selangor is pressing for a closure of all pounds that are not managed humanely, and strongly condemns those that reject help from animal welfare groups. This withholding of food, water, and medical attention causing unnecessary pain, suffering and death to the impounded dogs is tantamount to cruelty to animals. MPS officials in charge of the pound management must be charged for cruelty to animals under Section 43 of The Animal Act 1953(revised 2006). The DVS must take strong action against these perpetrators as this offense is so widespread – municipal councils feel the law will never catch them as they have been getting away with it for years,” Chin urges.

‘We are shocked and disappointed with the conditions at the Selayang pound, and we are sending out a strong message that SPCA Selangor and fellow Malaysians find the inhumane treatment of these dogs completely unacceptable,” she continues.

Razif- the Pengarah against Dogs!!

MDDB Notice Board :

THE MAN IN CHARGE - HEART OF STONE
Dr. Razif Zainol Abidin
Pengarah Kesihatan & Pelesenan
razif@mps.gov.my
Tel : 03-61370757 Faks : 03-61388300

There are some very serious questions that need to be answered. According to a friend who has been going to the pound for the last three years, these three dogs were alive when she went to the Selayang Municipal Council Pound on Sunday. However, they were all dead and bundled-up when she went the following day.
There are now allegations that these dogs - which were sick - were drowned.

It didn't cross our minds that this could have happened until several people wrote to us asking why the dead dogs in the pix were wet? It breaks our hearts to see the pictures of these dead dogs - look at the big brown guy with the collar - he looks like someone's much loved pet.

As it is Ernie - 013-6064446 admitted that she seized dogs without issuing compounds and owners were fined RM1,000 to reclaim their dogs. There have also been many complaints that she does not allow anyone into the pound - this is reflective even up to today when members of the public were told that they can't go in and feed the dogs.

Local council pounds must be accessible to the public - that's how its supposed to be. We are also concerned about a black patch where a dog had been purportedly cremated - why was this carcass cremated when the rest were wrapped in garbage bags - was this dog really dead when it was set on fire? These are the questions which need answers.

Anyway, according to rumours the SPCA was told that it was barred from yesterday's meeting because it had gone to the pound to take pictures in the wee hours of the morning. The MPS people didn't tell them this but an individual did. Many of the dogs had also been killed on Tuesday and six more were brought in on Wed - wonder how many of them were seized without the owners being compounded?
What happened here?

WET!

WET AND TWISTED!

WET!

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

MPS (Selayang) - Pound Dog Cruelty

---

MPS - Majlis Perbandaran Selayang
Jalan Industri 3/5
Taman Pelangi, Rawang
(near APC factory, next to Canpac factory)

MDDB Notice Board : http://malaysiandogsdeservebetter.blogspot.com/

MAYHEM IN SELAYANG

If the Klang pound was bad, the Selayang Municipal Council pound is mayhem at its worst. These pictures were taken by an animal activist who has been trying to bring change to the Selayang pound for years. The pictures were taken today morning (21-02-2001). According to her there were many dead dogs lying around and some had been packed in black garbage bags and placed at the entrance of the pound. There were a lot of blood on the floor and according to the caretaker the dogs have not been given food and water at all because ‘they did not have containers.’ He said the Department of Veterinary Services people have not been to the pound for about a month. The dogs are dropping dead of starvation and dehydration. The place is a nightmare and even some of the councilors have voiced their concern to us. So, people we have to go back to doing what we did for the Klang Pound which had brought about some change. Please forward this to as many people as possible and write to the people whose e-mails we have included in this post. Please also sms the local councilors to tell them that we will not tolerate such cruelty. According to the activist erica chum - she has been highlighting the deplorable state of the pound for the last three years but no one had taken the initiative to do anything about it. She says she has seen many horrific things during her almost weekly visits to the pound - such a dog with one eye popping out once. She also alleges that dead puppies were simply washed into the drains. According to Erica, the vet who's supposed to go the the pound does not do so anymore because of the new location at Rawang. So, she says the dogs are left to die of starvation. These are serious allegations. However, we are sure that people , who had not bothered to do anything so far, will all rush to the pound soon. Whatever, it is - let justice be done for the voiceless.

YANG DIPERTUA
MAJLIS PERBANDARAN SELAYANG
Datuk ZAINAL ABIDIN BIN AZIM
selayangmesra@mps.gov.my

Dr. Razif Zainol Abidin
Pengarah Kesihatan & Pelesenan
razif@mps.gov.my
Tel : 03-61370757 Faks : 03-61388300

MPS and Dog Enforcers(1)

"If the Klang dog pound was bad, the Selayang Municipal Council dog pound is mayhem at its worst. These pictures were taken by an animal activist who has been trying to bring change to the Selayang pound for years.

The photos were taken yesterday morning. According to her, there were many dead dogs lying around and some had been packed into black garbage bags and placed at the entrance of the pound.

There was a lot of blood on the floor......"
~MalaysiaKini,
Animal hell at Selayang dog pound





======================================

The dog being tortured at the KTM station

So MPS appears to be "efficient" when it comes to dogs?
I now wish to start a series of articles on the criminal conduct of MPS where the treatment of animals are concerned- which I shall highlight internationally wherever possible.
This is going to be the first in the series ...... until they stop this bigotry & hypocrisy of "Little Napoleons" in MPS- for good!!

For Starters
a Google search for
"Selayang Dog Pound" generates
an impressive 4,800 results!!
The results are SHOCKING!!
Click Here for images, and here for videos.

These are the people who have been put in place to "Govern" the people!!

Of late, there has been more "Dog" issues being created by MPS.
At Amansiara, (Note: The developer sales office enticed buyers by assuring them that they'll be allowed to keep pets- but upon handing over the keys, threw a rule book that stated otherwise to them) despite efforts at containing the situation through internal monitoring, MPS has thus been very uncooperative at have chosen to harass owners at their whim & fancy.

While they have been cooperative on on front, just when we are on the verge of a settlement- somebody decides to sabotage the whole process and criminalize all dog owners due to a few bad apples/owners who should be penalized instead.

Despite the fact that local by-laws does allow the keeping of pets in landed property, MPS (which is a state authority) refuses to allow it - citing the STA (Act 318) as being the highest law! Their excuse (not "reason", mind you) is that the Strata Titles Act disallows it in the by-laws (Third Schedule).
Just today at 9 am- two guys landed up in front of my house without showing any identification, politely warns me to remove my dogs!!!

It is very obvious here that there are "certain quarters"- while smiling and feigning support/cooperation at "meetings" - claim that their "hands are tied", and that they have to "abide by the law"!!

All these, while the MPS health authorities have a HORRENDOUS track record of Animal Cruelty where dogs are concerned. Meanwhile, they ignore the problems created by irresponsible cat owners who allow their pets to roam freely and defecate in other people's property.
This is not to mention the filthy drains around eateries or the Dengue Fever incidence in Selayang itself. Never mind the allegations of demand for bribes from industries by the health officers- just so that they are not shut down for breeding mosquitos that kill!!

Gunaraj screaming his head off to Dr. Razif over the phone to be allowed in.

YB William Leong & Tuan Gunaraj have been most cooperative in this matter.
However, "some other people" appear to feign innocence while they insist on the bigotry, "rule by law" and selective enforcement of it- and in all their hypocrisy bemoan the same when UMNO persecutes them though the very same attitude.

I now post my letter (in part)to YB Leong (who like I said, was very efficient and cooperative) ...

Dear Sir,
This letter is written after a few meetings with MPS on the above matter which has yet to be resolved.

It was with great hope that we attended a meeting chaired by Tuan Gunaraj- which apparently sorted out the problems, only to be held up after all the time spent to come to a working solution. Following up on this matter, at a meeting yesterday, Tuan Husnal "Az"hari said that he instructed that the approval be withheld. (I understand that it was after a complaint was brought to his attention by a resident at about the same time).
Therefore, MPS still refuses to licence dogs owned by residents, even if the JMB were to make the house rules/guidelines to monitor and control pets/animals and agrees to get a consensus from all residents prior to allowing pets. Even if they don't licence- all we ask is that they help us monitor pet owners and enforce discipline among them to the benefit of all.

While the NYDP (Tuan Husnal) of MPS apparently understood the problem, he says that he is helpless in this matter, as the act states that animals that "may be a nuisance" aren't allowed- and hence does not wish to "expose MPS to the possibility of lawsuits".
Meanwhile, although he has "conscientiously" agreed to refrain from conducting "operasi" to pound dogs, licensing is still being withheld- and abandon Amansiara in this matter. This means, we do not get the support required to enforce proper discipline among pet owners.
Effectively, this takes away any possibility of the JMB enforcing the house rules which we are entitled to make for ourselves. He also mentioned that MPS would not hesitate to conduct an "operasi" against ALL dogs, should there be complaints lodged by any resident.

This action although appears to be a reprieve of sorts (to pet owners like me), not only does it not empower the citizens as it is intended to under Act 663, but also exposes us to further anxiety & the pets to the uncertainty/insecurity of future operations conducted in response to a few "bad apples" which are bound to exist.
This mode of action sound much like the BN modus operandi of "destabilize to stabilize"- wherein an undesirable situation is artificially created so as to enable the enforcement of draconian laws.

Dear Sir,
Pakatan Rakyat has been speaking of Ketuanan Rakyat, and Merakyatkan Ekonomi- and it can only be done through rational and conscientious implementation of the law. I hope and pray that I would live to see the day when Malaysia lives up to its true potential through the implementation of the progressive policies of Pakatan Rakyat.
While I write these things, I'm fully aware of my limited knowledge of the law and the politics that make them happen.

In my humble opinion, quite often, laws aren't really suited for certain circumstances- but are still used to achieve a different target. The law is meant to allow for harmonious coexistence between all - that is ultimately the spirit of the law, and it is up to us to allow space for that spirit to be developed through mutual respect. When times have changed, concepts have changed it is imperative that we disregard some of them- even if they may not have been amended.

To enforce them selectively, and then bemoan the persecution of Anwar or the deprivation of funds when the Federal Govt practices "rule by law", would be nothing short of hypocrisy on part of the Pakatan Rakyat Government of Selangor- of which many of us have vouched for.
The law is only an instrument and a guide by which we live- and it isn't something we should enforce at our whims and fancy, when it suits us.

Dear Sir,
I have proposed that I resign from the post of Chairman of the JMB due to this matter, so as not to compromise the neutral image of the JMB. It is impossible for me to remain neutral in this small matter, which is of great importance to me personally- especially when MPS has made the situation so complicated. I for one would like to have the "rule of law" over "rule by law" to exist in Amansiara.
It would a great comfort to us responsible pet owners if you could assist us in bringing about a resolution in this matter (which is incidentally, a matter which is very close to my heart). Rather than abandon my furry friends, I would rather leave Amansiara- after having spent a fortune for the land upon which I reside now (which I actually got for my two dogs, and not myself).

Once again, I appeal for your assistance in resolving this matter of pets on landed properties in Amansiara.

Thank you.


Faithfully,

Dr. Victor D'Cruz,
Chairman,
JMB MC Amansiara,
48000 Rawang.