REACH Newsletter Issue No:03/2003

August 2003.

Dear members,

Committee Welcome to another exciting edition of our newsletter. Inside you will find interesting
Members reports on the activities that REACH has been involved with for the past few months:
2003/04 Biodiversity projects, recycling drives, exhibitions and public awareness campaigns for
the preservation and protection of our beautiful Highlands. We would also like to
President highlight the generous support given to WWF – REACH by the Danish International
Ramakrishnan Ramasamy
Development Assistance Program (DANIDA), for environmental conservation.
Vice President
Embi bin Abdullah REACH continues to be the environmental watchdog of Cameron Highlands as the
numerous media reports have demonstrated. Please see our section “REACH in the
Secretary news”.
Zulkifli Ariffin
Someone wisely said, “Intense, incessant citizen pressure is the only thing that will save
Assistant Secretary
Terese Karon us. We must assume that we are surrounded by rapacious developers, callous
industrialists, inept public agencies and insensitive politicians and our only salvation is in
Treasurer our own two hands”.
George Theseira
The bottom line is that REACH needs you! When REACH was launched approximately
Committee Members
Amran bin Nazar Khan
2 years ago, we had a membership of over 500. Today our current membership is just
Cheam May Choo over 200 because many of you have not renewed your annual membership. Please make
Gary Theseira the extra effort to obtain a renewal form and sign up as soon as you can. You are also
K.S.Rajoo
Kaliyannan K.
especially invited to attend our monthly meetings on the 3rd Thursday of every month at
Liau Tai Leong 4.00p.m.
Murad Kamaruddin
Subramaniam @ Madi I am sure some of you are thinking to yourself, “What difference can a small group like
Tony Ng
Vijendra Daniel REACH make in Cameron Highlands?” Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a
small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only
Photographer thing that ever has.” These words are more true to us as we celebrate the nation’s 46th
Amran Bin Nazar Khan Anniversary. Malaysia’s Independence began with a small group of committed, people
who believed in a noble cause. Won’t you join us?

Merdeka!

Vijendra Daniel
Editor
R.E.A.C.H.
No 1, Jalan Besar, 39100 Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang Darul Makmur
Tel: +605-491 4950/491 5950  Fax: +605-491 5832  E-mail: reach@reach.org.my 
http://www.reach.org.my
Copyright © 2003 R.E.A.C.H all rights reserved

R.E.A.C.H. Newsletter Issue 03/2003 1

 BIODIVERSITY

In February this year, twenty maiden

Lady’s Slipper Orchids (P.barbatum)
(Picture) were transplanted to a
selected site at the Sg. Pauh Forest
Reserve. We are happy to inform
readers that these plants are thriving in
their new habitat. REACH will continue
to monitor the growth and development
of these plants that were once in
danger of extinction.

As of the date of publication of this newsletter, over 590 species of local

Cameron Highlands orchids have been classified and cataloged by the
biodiversity team of REACH. Of these, possibly six are new species or variants,
and are awaiting confirmation of this from the authorities in Kew Gardens,
London.

RECYCLING

Kudos to our faithful member, Dr. Liau

Tai Leong, whose noble and diligent
efforts to encourage recycling in the
community was highlighted in The
Star newspapers on 3 August,
2003 (Please see our “In The
News” Column).

REACH continues to encourage all

Dr. Liau giving a talk on the benefits of
recycling to children at the S.R.J.K. (Cina),
Tanah Rata on 8, August 2003.
Cameronians to bring their recyclable
trash to one of the following recyclable
centers: Klinik Liau dan Cheam,
MDCH, Pejabat Daerah Cameron
Highlands, Desa Anthrium Blocks A &
Q (Basement), Carmelia Apartments
and Nepenthes Restaurant.

If you wish to collect recyclables in your neighbourhood, please contact the

REACH office or MDCH who will provide special bins for recycling.

R.E.A.C.H. Newsletter Issue 03/2003 2

 EXHIBITIONS
On Saturday, July 12th 2003, REACH was proud to host a special exhibition
entitled, “THE BEAUTY OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS”. This exhibition
highlighted many diversified aspects of the highlands such as its scenic, natural
beauty, orchids, the local history of the Highlands, and, of course, the work and
activities of REACH. The strategic location of the exhibition, at Nepenthes
Restaurant in the heart of Tanah Rata, attracted close to 400 visitors!

REACH plans to hold another photographic exhibition entitled, “OLD MEMORIES

OF CAMERON HIGHLANDS” later in the year. Please keep your eyes and ears
open for the date and venue of this not-to-be-missed exhibition. If you do have
any old photographs you would like to loan us for this exhibition please bring
them to the REACH office at your convenience but no latter than October 2003.
Thank you.

This June, REACH commenced water testing on two sources of drinking water.
The tests were primarily to detect the presence of the bacteria E.coli. We were
happy to have the Managing Director of ERA lab Sdn. Bhd. a private water-
testing laboratory to conduct a talk for REACH committee members on 26 April,
2003.The results of this study will be made available in our next newsletter.

NEW MEMBERS
A very warm welcome to all the new members who have signed up since April
2003. We hope you will actively participate in REACH activities to preserve the
wonder and beauty of these Highlands!

For those who have not renewed their REACH membership please be advised
that you will have to pay a new entrance fee in addition to your membership dues
if you do not renew before the end of the year. Please take the time to fill up a
renewal form which you can find at the following centers: REACH office, WWF
office, Klinik Liau & Cheam and Nepenthes Restaurant.

CAMERON HIGHLANDS GETS SUPPORT FROM DANISH

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE (DANIDA)

Conservation efforts in Cameron Highlands received a boost recently from the

Royal Danish Embassy through its Danish International Development Assistance
program (DANIDA).

In a simple ceremony in KL on July 18, 2003, the Ambassador of Denmark His

Excellency Lasse Reimann, WWF-Malaysia’s Executive Director Dato’ Dr Mikaail
Kavanagh Abdullah and En. Embi bin Abdullah, Vice-President of REACH,
signed the documents for the three-year project.

R.E.A.C.H. Newsletter Issue 03/2003 3

 The signing was followed by a visit to
Cameron Highlands and the REACH
project sites and office on the 28-30
July 2003.

REACH joins with WWF in thanking

the people and government of
Denmark for their very generous
pledge and support to conservation
efforts in Cameron Highlands.
His Excellency Lasse Reimann (center) with
Dato’ Dr. Mikaail Kavanagh Abdullah (left) and
En. Embi bin Abdullah The picture on the
left shows His
The project will focus on water Excellency Lasse
Reimann,
resource management, solid waste Ambassador to
management and land use planning Demark, and
and implementation processes in the Mrs.Reimann being
Highlands. updated on the
orchid
reintroduction
Funding for the three-year project, scheme at Sg.
which starts this October, amounts to Pauh Forest
2,000,000 DKK (RM1.1 million). Reserve by Encik
Embi.

LETTERS
The once common sightings of butterflies and beetles, orchids and pitcher plants
in the wild, barking deer and serows, civets and panthers have now all become a
thing of the past. The wheels of time turn fast and the few concerned individuals
who are trying to bring things back on track are getting exhausted. Support is
needed but few are willing to come forward to state their stand on what concerns
the future of their future generation.

The jungle is constantly being “raped” everyday, the green rapist have been set
free as the law favors those who need to make money out of their huge land
investment.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly made his stand on the need for a balanced
development in the highlands. In 1994 on his visit up to the highlands the PM had
expressed his concern that the highlands is being overdeveloped. The Prime
Minister cautioned that development should follow the hill terrain and minimum
clearing of hills should be allowed.

R.E.A.C.H. Newsletter Issue 03/2003 4