World Migratory Birds Day 2008, Parit Jawa

It is a great start for MNSJ to be working with other State and Federal agencies under the auspices of YB Tan Kok Hong. World Migratory Birds Day (WMBD 2008) this year was celebrated on 10 and 11 May all over the world. In Malaysia, MNSJ and MNS Miri celebrated the event in their own localities. In Johor, the event was celebrated in Parit Jawa, Muar. The event was a collaboration of Johor Tourism Action Council (chair) PERHILITAN (Wildlife Department) (co-chair), Forestry Department, Johor National Parks Services (PTNJ), Majlis Perbandaran Muar, JKKK (Village's Development and Security Committee) of Parit Jawa and local villages in the vicinity. MNSJ acted as the Secretariat and the technical adviser.

The choice of Parit Jawa or more specifically Pantai Leka of Kuala Sg. Parit Jawa is due to its location as a stopover of the birds of the East Australasia Migratory Route. There are various species of large and small birds but the prima donna is the Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) or Burung Botak in Malay. These large birds, numbering around 40 presently, feed in the mudflats of Pantai Leka during low tide and nest in tall trees especially pulai trees (Alstonia angustiloba) inland. For example, there are around 4 to 5 trees in Taman Emas, Batu Pahat where up to 7 nests can be seen per tree (maybe Vince can download some photos of the nests later). Some birders quipped that these Lesser Adjutants are no longer migratory but are now considered as "permanent residents".

The inaugural WMBD 2008 started with an initial meeting with YB Tan Kok Hong at his office on 23 April (present: MSNJ, PERHILITAN and PTNJ) followed by a working meeting chaired by En Azlan Jalil of the Johor Tourism Action Council at JOTIC Building (present: MNSJ, PERHILITAN, Forestry Department, and PTNJ). Another working meeting was held at Parit Jawa Youth Center on 28 April. The meeting was attended by representatives of the various State and Federal agencies at the district levels as well as the JKKK Head for Parit Jawa, Mr. Teo Puay Boon, the heads of the local villages (ketua kampung) and Majlis Perbandaran Muar. The final meeting was carried out on 8 May just before the event - I had to give this meeting a miss as I was attending a course in NIOSH Bangi during the week.

I had to make the event my family event as my wife, Rokiah Hanum, had to pick our daughter Hanis from her UiTM Melaka campus in Alor Gajah. Well, all of us converged in Muar and stayed overnight at the Traders Hotel. Later, my wife and I drove to Parit Jawa to check on the venue and met with Mr. Teo and Vincent to finalize on the winners of the photography contest. Vincent, Evelyn and Margaret Yeo from Singapore stayed at the local motel, Marina Lodging. If Parit Jawa is publicized well enough it could sustain the local economy with respect to accommodation, food, tour operations etc.

It rained heavily during the night, so the morning started out cool and cloudy. It drizzled once in a while but nothing to worry about except for the pools of water in certain places in the children's playground where the event was supposed to take place.

YB Hoo Seong Chang was already there when I arrived around 8:40 am and later Datuk Ab Ghaffar Thambi, the Deputy Secretary-General (TKSU) of the Ministry of Tourism, who would be officiating the event in place of the Minister, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman. And who popped in a bit later? YB Dr. Robia Kosai, the State Assemblywoman for Sg. Balang, walked in dressed in her bright red baju kurung.

The event started with the recitation of the doa (prayer) by the local imam, followed by my speech (apologies for those who were there. Despite the nice words from Harban - I was not totally prepared. I did not read the latest itinerary indicating that I had to give a speech!), followed by a speech from YB Hoo and Datuk Ab Ghaffar, who also officiated the event after his speech. The kompang band beat their chorus after the officiation plus the zapin dances from the school children from SK Seri Menanti. Man! Those kids looked regal in their costumes. The cash envelopes for the photograph contest were handed out by Datuk Ab Ghaffar afterwards.

The tide was just coming in when the event was going on, therefore it was the best possible time for the event and about 10 to 15 Burung Botak could be seen in the vicinity. Sie Tho and others set up their digiscope so the VIPs and the visitors could see the birds up close.

The VIPs and visitors also visited the booths set up by PERHILITAN and Forestry Department. Vincent put up his posters in the VIP stand after the officiation. The photographers from Johor Bahru displayed their posters nearby. Mansor Poh also set up his private booth.

All in all the inaugural WMBD 2008 went well. Later we sat down for an assam pedas lunch at a nearby stall (Mak Pon's stall - arguably the best stall in the locality) and discussed how we can do better next year. Vincent roped in the photographers from Johor Bahru to organize the photograph event next year - they suggested the contest should start six months before the event with bigger prizes of course!

To all who participated in the event - thanks from the bottom of my heart. A leader is nothing without loyal and trustworthy followers, who are also his friends! Thanks to Vincent, Harban, Sietho, Jee and family; Simon Siow, Evelyn and Margaret Yeo from Singapore; Mr and Mrs. Ho from Johor Bahru, En Azlan Jalil and Miss Ayu Ahmad from JTAC, Puan Ramlah of PERHILITAN, Mr. Teo Puay Boon of Parit Jawa. Apologies if I forgot anyone's name. Insyaallah, next year we will try to do a better event - if possible by then the officiating should coincide with the announcement indicating Kuala Sg. Parit Jawa as a bird sanctuary. We have one year to work hard!

maketab