Tengku Permaisuri Selangor upset over rough handling of stray by local authority dog-catchers

SHAH ALAM (Bernama): Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin has expressed her regrets over the rough manner shown by Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) employees in treating a dog during an operation, which had gone viral through a video clip on social media recently.

Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, who is also the Royal Patron of the Stray Free Selangor (SFS) campaign, was also disappointed and saddened that such cruelty was still happening in the community despite numerous awareness campaigns on strays.

"I was very upset by the video clip which showed MPSJ employees trying to catch a stray dog in an utterly inhumane way.

"I urge the authorities to be more sensitive and humane in dealing with cases involving abandoned animals on the streets," she said in a statement posted on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page Monday (Oct 7).

Meanwhile, she hoped that the proper procedure of catching strays would be followed strictly to ensure the well-being of the animals and the safety of the local authorities involved.

"I cannot emphasise more on the importance of carrying out the procedure as closely as possible without harming or injuring the animals. The procedure need to be revised and implemented according to the situation.

"Once and for all I urge everyone, regardless the authorities or the general public, to develop compassion for stray animals in need of care and attention," she said.

Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin reminded all parties to take heed of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which provides for a fine of RM20,000 to RM100,000 or up to three years imprisonment, for those who commit acts of cruelty to animals. - Bernama

KENYATAAN AKHBAR DYMM TENGKU PERMAISURI SELANGOR TENGKU PERMAISURI NORASHIKIN BERHUBUNG ISU KEGANASAN TERHADAP HAIWAN TERBIAR

“Saya amat kesal apabila diperlihatkan dengan satu klip video yang menunjukkan beberapa anggota Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ) cuba menangkap seekor anjing terbiar secara ganas.

Sebagai Penaung Diraja kempen Stray Free Selangor (SFS), saya kecewa dan sedih kerana kejadian kejam seumpamanya masih berlaku dalam masyarakat meskipun banyak kempen kesedaran telah dilaksanakan membabitkan haiwan-haiwan terbiar.

Di sini saya ingin menggesa agar pihak-pihak berwajib lebih peka dan berperikemanusiaan dalam menguruskan kes-kes membabitkan haiwan-haiwan terbiar di jalanan.

Saya difahamkan kerajaan Negeri Selangor melalui YB Ng Sze Han telah memohon maaf di atas tindakan kasar anggota MPSJ terbabit.

Justeru, selepas ini saya berharap prosedur penangkapan haiwan-haiwan jalanan yang telah ditetapkan seharusnya dipatuhi untuk memastikan kesejahteraan haiwan itu dan juga keselamatan kakitangan pihak berkuasa tempatan yang terlibat.

Saya juga ingin menegaskan betapa pentingnya prosedur ini dijalankan dengan sebaik mungkin tanpa menyakiti atau mencederakan haiwan-haiwan terbabit.

Dalam masa sama, prosedur ini juga perlu diperkemas dan dilaksanakan sesuai dengan situasi-situasi tertentu.

Buat kesekian kalinya saya mohon agar semua pihak, tidak kiralah kakitangan pihak berkuasa atau masyarakat secara amnya, supaya menyemai sifat belas kasihan terhadap haiwan-haiwan terbiar yang memerlukan bantuan.

Harus diingat, Akta Kebajikan Haiwan 2015 telah jelas memperuntukkan bahawa hukuman denda RM20,000 hingga RM100,000 dan/atau penjara sehingga 3 tahun boleh dikenakan terhadap sesiapa yang melakukan kekejaman terhadap haiwan.

Sebagai Penaung Diraja kempen Stray Free Selangor The Humane and Compassionate Way bersama SPCA Selangor, saya menggesa pihak berkuasa terlibat agar bekerjasama dengan badan-badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan masyarakat yang prihatin, ke arah membanteras sebarang bentuk perlakuan kejam terhadap haiwan.”

DYMM Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin
Istana Alam Shah
7 Oktober 2019

Dog chokes to death in bid to get free

NIBONG TEBAL: A dog owner tied up his two pets with wire before he left for work but in the dogs’ struggle to get free, one mongrel died while the other escaped.

A neighbour E. Vasudeean, 56, who is a security guard, said the owner living in Lorong 6, Taman Merak, Simpang Ampat, had tied up both the dogs before he left yesterday morning.

“He is a dog lover and would usually leave the dogs to roam freely in his compound. He would play with them when he comes back from work.

“If the dogs go missing, he would search for them in the neighbourhood and bring them back home.

“I do not think this is a case of abuse but more towards carelessness,” he said.

Animal activist Ravee Dharmen-dra Govindasamy, who came to the house upon hearing the news, said the owner probably did not realise the aluminium wire could become tighter when the dogs try to free themselves.

“I feel that the dogs should be allowed to roam freely,” said Ravee.

“This should serve as a lesson to all dog owners not to take safety for granted.”

Ravee said a report had been lodged at the Simpang Ampat police station.

The dead dog has been sent to the state Veterinary Department in Bukit Tengah for a post-mortem while the other dog was rescued and taken to Penang island with the aim to find shelter for it.

“We will try to find a home for it as quickly as possible,” Ravee said.

At press time, the owner could not be contacted.

Big cats removed from Thailand's infamous Tiger Temple

Wildlife authorities in Thailand today raided a Buddhist temple where tigers are kept, taking away three of the animals and vowing to confiscate scores more in response to global pressure over wildlife trafficking.

The Buddhist temple in Kanchanaburi province west of Bangkok has more than 100 tigers and has become a tourist destination where visitors take selfies with tigers and bottle-feed their cubs.

The temple promotes itself as a wildlife sanctuary, but in recent years it has been investigated for suspected links to wildlife trafficking and animal abuse.

Wildlife activists have accused the temple's monks of illegally breeding tigers, while some visitors have said the animals can appear drugged. The temple denies the accusations.

Today's raid was the latest move by authorities in a tug-of-war since 2001 to bring the tigers under state control.

Adisorn Nuchdamrong, deputy director-general of the Department of National Parks, said the team had been able to confiscate the tigers thanks to a warrant obtained a few hours before the operation.

"We have a court warrant this time, unlike previous times, when we only asked for the temple's cooperation, which did not work," Adisorn said.

"International pressure concerning illegal wildlife trafficking is also part of why we're acting now."

Officials from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said they planned to confiscate and remove more tigers from the temple tomorrow and send them to a state-owned sanctuary.

Previous attempts to inspect the tigers have largely been blocked by the temple's abbots but in January and February wildlife officials removed 10 of the tigers.

Thailand has long been a hub for the illicit trafficking of wildlife and forest products, including ivory. Exotic birds, mammals and reptiles, some of them endangered species, can often be found on sale in markets.

The government introduced new animal welfare laws in 2015 aimed at curbing animal abuse, but activists accuse authorities of not enforcing the legislation properly.

– Reuters

Hunters to become the hunted

PUTRAJAYA: The heat is on for poachers of Malaysian wildlife. They will now come under fire from both fronts – legally and with heavier firearms.

In an interview with The Star, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the authorities were looking into the possibility of further arming enforcement officers.

“We have been given some firearms by the Home Ministry. If there is demand and requirements, I am willing to go and see Deputy Prime Minister (who is the Home Minister) to see how we can further arm our officers,” he said.

A recent survey suggests that rangers in 11 tiger range countries which include Malaysia said they faced life-threatening situations from poachers and the community.

“Hunters go to the forest carrying guns but our people carry parang. If you have officers with a gun, they will have the upper hand. We need to look at things in perspective,” Wan Junaidi said.

He was asked if the ministry would consider arming wildlife enforcement officers in Peninsula Malaysia, considering rampant cases of killing by armed poachers.

Under Section 8 of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, he said National Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) enforcement officers were authorised to carry weapons in the exercise of their duties.

“The authorities involved in the operation will be supplied with arms by the department.

“There are also joint operations with other enforcement agencies, such as the army and police, if there is a risk involving wildlife crimes,” he said.

This comes as the conservation groups warned of links between organised crime groups and the illegal trade of wildlife, such as tiger and sunbear carcasses and their parts.

In the Ranger Perceptions: Asia survey, some 334 of the 530 rangers surveyed in 11 tiger range countries said they had faced life threatening situations with 74% of them also saying that they were not provided with proper equipment and amenities in their work.

The first ever United Nations World Wildlife Crime report also identified Malaysia as one of the top reptile skin exporters, saying that much of the trade was illegally sourced.

Dr Wan Junaidi said the ministry was also looking into amending the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, which could see offenders fined up to RM1mil and be whipped.

Currently, the highest penalty that could be imposed on offenders under the Act, he said, was a fine of up to RM500,000 and a prison term of not more than five years.

“During the five years of the implementation, the Government finds that there is a need to amend the Act in force now.”

M’sia deports Nepalese who killed 15 rhinos

He entered Malaysia using different documents and is the most wanted fugitive rhino poacher in Nepal.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: A Nepalese who has killed 15 rhinos and is placed on the Interpol Red Notice has been deported to his country after being arrested by police here.

The Star reported that Rajkumar Praja, 31, who had entered Malaysia using different documents nine days ago, is the most wanted fugitive rhino poacher in Nepal.

National Central Bureau/Interpol assistant director Supt Gan Thek Guan told the daily that Rajkumar was deported to Nepal on Sunday escorted by the country’s officers.

He confirmed that Rajkumar’s poaching was done in Nepal and not in Malaysia.

Interpol will reveal more information on its website in a matter of days.

In 2013, Nepal placed Rajkumar on the Interpol Red Notice – or international wanted persons alert.

He had been sentenced to 15 years’ jail for poaching rhinos at the Chitwan National Park in central Nepal.

A report by Nepalese daily newspaper Kantipur said Rajkumar has been on the run since 2013, and was said to have killed 15 rhinos.

The park is believed to house most of the country’s 500-odd Indian rhinos, also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros.

The Indian rhinoceros, classified as a “vulnerable” animal under the global IUCN Red List, can also be found in the northern parts of Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

WWF-Malaysia (World Wildlife Fund) executive director Dr Dionysus Sharma said Nepal had a good track record in recent years making sure that there was no poaching there.

“What may happen is that poachers may look elsewhere if they still want to ply their trade,” Dr Dionysus said.

Forgiveness helps ‘touch-a-dog’ organiser overcome hate, do more charity

Social activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi continues to receive scores of hate messages on his phone daily, more than two months after triggering a national uproar for organising a dog-petting event.

The messages range from threats like, “If I see you, I will break your face” and “I will kill you” to plain vitriol, like “My child chose you over me. Are you satisfied?”

He said he lodged four police reports on the death threats, but when asked what action was taken against the culprits, he flashed a rueful smile.

“Nothing. When the police tracked them down and let me speak to them, I told them I forgive them and won’t press charges,” the pharmacist told The Malaysian Insider recently.

“Of course, that just makes them angrier, then they get their friends to send me hate messages,” he added with a frown.

But forgiveness is the message that the cheerful do-gooder wants to spread through his numerous charity and social projects, along with love and acceptance.

The "I Want to Touch a Dog" programme, which was aimed at helping Malaysians overcome their fear of dogs and understand how Islam perceives the canines, was just one of Syed Azmi’s numerous programmes under his #tamakpahala project.

Recently, the floods in the east coast prompted the activist to organise a donation drive in his neighbourhood with his FreeMarket team, in collaboration with several other NGOs.

The drive was a huge hit, with the team finding themselves swamped with boxes piling around the drop-off centre, in a scene that Syed Azmi described as “officially insane”.

But even when Malaysia is not facing a crisis, Syed Azmi is organising five to eight programmes a month which he broadcasts on Facebook for others to join.

Last month, he and his friends went kite-flying with some 100 orphans, after spending two hours digging in the dirt under the morning sun to harvest vegetables for 160 refugee families.

During another memorable weekend, he organised an “azan by deaf people” programme, where he roped in 22 deaf people to perform an azan (call for prayers) through sign language on stage before an audience of some 3,000 Muslims during an event at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

“I had goosebumps. The entire hall was silent as they did the azan. No one left until they finished,” recalled Syed Azmi, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

“These are the programmes that mean the most to me. Azan by deaf people. Playing futsal with the blind.

“Next year, we’re doing ‘halal speed dating’ and ‘ride for dummies’. I can’t provide more details yet but it’s going to happen,” he said with an excited grin.

The unique twist to Syed Azmi’s #tamakpahala projects is that they don’t cost him a single sen.

One example is the "pregnant train", where he directs a group of female volunteers wearing fake baby bumps onto trains across the Klang Valley.

As the trains begin moving, the “expectant mothers” stand before seated commuters. Some hurriedly give up their seats, but others deliberately lower their gaze, even as the volunteers groan and pointedly rub their protruding bellies inches from their face.

“Once the train stops at the next station, we announce to them that this was actually our project to spread awareness on giving up their seats for the needy,” explained Syed Azmi, adding that they have done this three times so far.

When asked what inspired him to begin #tamakpahala single-handedly three years ago, he replied without hesitation: “My parents. I work really far away from my parents, so if they need help, the first people they can reach out to are their neighbours.

“So I wanted to encourage this spirit of neighbourliness starting with myself, and that was how #tamakpahala was born.”

The projects proved a hit in the neighbourhood, and everything was working out beyond Syed Azmi’s expectations – until the controversial "I Want to Touch a Dog" event in October.

Ironically, it was his most infamous #tamakpahala project that turned several of their neighbours against his parents, undoing all his past good deeds in their eyes.

“My dad prays at the nearby mosque every day, and people there just turned away from him. That was the saddest part,” said Syed Azmi, his voice overcome with emotion.

“To be turned away, at the age of 60-plus, when the entire point of #tamakpahala was so that my neighbours could care for him.”

Things are getting better for his parents, he said, but it’s not the same.

The hate messages, too, weigh heavily on Syed Azmi’s mind, but he won’t be changing his mobile phone number as too many people need to reach him.

“The worst threats are from the ladies, they say they want to break my face. The men say they want to kill me, but I know that’s practically impossible to carry out so I’m not so shaken.

“But to break my face? That’s possible, and a very real threat.”

But rather than condemning the haters, they actually spur Syed Azmi to work harder and ensure they understand the true message behind his projects.

“I failed to reach out what I wanted to teach and share with the event. My words are not right; I have bad English. I’m not articulate enough to express what is the goodness of the event.

“Today, I still smile towards my haters, because they taught me to work harder. The message behind my project didn’t get to them, so I have to work harder to get to them,” he said earnestly.

Calm in the face of hate and scorn

But being the target of nationwide animosity and baseless accusations was not easy for him during the first month.

As hate and scorn poured through anonymous blogs and into his inbox, Syed Azmi said he remained calm because he remembered a message about dogs by Ustaz Iqbal, who had spoken at the programme.

“The reason I was calm was because of the dog. Ustaz Iqbal said that it is wrong for anybody to feel that they are better than the ‘anjing kurap’ (disease-infested dog).

“To me, it was a very powerful message, and that’s how I feel about the dog. A dog taught me to be kind, humble, and that I am no better than anyone else. The dog taught me that you can be up one day, down one day.”

But the pain came flooding back when Utusan Malaysia published an article on Wednesday mentioning his “dog-touching campaign” as part of its 2014 highlights, prompting fresh hate messages into his phone even as he was busy organising donations for flood victims.

Despite the stigma now attached to his name, and the numerous claims on the Internet that he is a Christian masquerading as an ustaz to spread Shia teachings, Syed Azmi refuses to give up.

“The underprivileged and the poor are still out there. I promised to help them, and this project is something that I have put my heart and soul in,” he said.

For other Malaysians who wish to make a difference in society, Syed Azmi believes what is most important is to work within your means and believe in your ideas.

“Be honest. Be transparent. Start within your means. If you have an idea to change the mind-set of the nation, never think your idea is small and miniscule. Explain it in the best possible way can.

“Nobody is going to give you money. If you have RM100, use RM100. You don’t need money to do good. For me, the charity not only comes from money, but time, effort and knowledge.” – January 3, 2015.

Police defuse a bird bomb in northern Afghanistan

By Mirwais Jalalzai

For the first time Afghan police discover and defused a bomb which was planted in a bird’s body in northern Faryab province.

Faryab is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan, which is located in the north of the country bordering neighboring Turkmenistan.

According to local police, the suspicious bird was flying over a police check point on Faryab- Jawzjan high way in Shereen Tagab distract, when police start tracking it.

“The bird which also had a GPS on the top of his head was used by unknown sources possibly Taliban against the police forces, Ahmadullah an afghan public order police solder said.

“They tried to divert the animal but it eventually had to be stopped with a rifle shot. A team went out and realized there was something suspicious under the bird. One brave soldier set it on fire to the bird with a sniper and there was a considerable explosion.

“No-one was hurt thanks to the swift action taken and they were saved from a very unusual attack.” He said.

According to Ahmadullah, it is first time that they faced with that this kind of bomb which was suppose to use against governmental institution by planting in a wild bird .

Afghan police target the bird by sniper soon after identify it as a bomber and explode a few meters a way above the police chick point.

It is not clear yet who had plan to use this bird as a bomber against afghan police but Faryab province is one of those area in northern Afghanistan which is recently wetness of Taliban and Al-Qaida activities .

But the incident has alarmed military chiefs concerned that the Taliban are now using desperate methods to attack occupying forces.

This is the first time that insurgents use a bird to lunch bomb attack on afghan forces, before that the Taliban use donkeys to launch bomb attacks on afghan and international forces in Afghanistan .

Azmin Ali steps in to stop eviction of PAWS

Selangor menteri besar saves shelter animals from a bleak future after the PJ District Land Office demanded PAWS vacate the site in six days.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: In a classic case of good triumphing over evil, Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali has graciously agreed to suspend an eviction notice issued by the Petaling Jaya District Land Office instructing the PAWS Animal Welfare Society to move out in six days.

In a jubilant Facebook posting after a hastily arranged meeting between shelter manager Edward Lim and Azmin Ali, the management of PAWS thanked their menteri besar for being “very responsive” and helping solve the matter of eviction amicably.

Saying, “The eviction notice has been suspended”, PAWS also thanked Wani Muthiar for paving the way to meet up with Azmin Ali yesterday afternoon.

An earlier posting thanked all those who supported PAWS for their love and care, and read, “Words can’t begin to describe our heartfelt appreciation to all who support us.”

The message also thanked Selangor state excos Ean Yong Hian Wah and Elizabeth Wong as well as MBPJ Councillors Sean Oon and Peter Chong who banded together to help resolve the matter of the eviction.

Speaking to shelter manager Edward Lim yesterday just before his meeting with the menteri besar, FMT was told that PAWS received an eviction notice from the PJ District Land Office dated November 10, ordering them to vacate the premises in two weeks. No reason was given for the notice.

“It would take at least six months to a year to properly set up a new shelter, and that still depends on the money and resources we have,” said Lim who added that the sudden eviction came as a nasty shock since the shelter had been occupying the site from 1987.

Lim, who has worked there for 11 years, said he was not around when the notice arrived. He explained, “They (PJ District Land officers) just came and left the notice at the office. The three officers did not even leave their details or say anything.”

The 400 dogs and 200 cats at the PAWS Animal Welfare Society faced an uncertain future and possibly even death by euthanasia if they were forced to shut down operations.

However thanks to the intervention of Azmin Ali, this will not be the case.

Lim explained that PAWS was founded in 1987 by a group of local and expatriate volunteers and was maintained by donations from various corporations, generosity from the public as well as proceeds from merchandise sold at occasional animal-related or community events, organised by and for animal lovers.

Upon hearing about the eviction notice, several animal lovers flocked to the shelter to do their bit for the animals.

“I found out on Facebook yesterday. I know adopting one cat does not justify leaving the rest here but at least I’m doing something good,” said Norashiqueen Bte Ashraff Hassan.

Eric Lim, an insurance agent felt it was most unfortunate that the animal shelter was forced to shut down since they had been doing a great job for the welfare of unwanted animals for years.

Besides giving abused and abandoned cats and dogs a second chance, PAWS has maintained good relations with the Petaling Jaya City Council as well as the Shah Alam Municipality, who both send strays they round-up to PAWS for medical attention and re-homing.

The animal shelter sits on a one acre plot of land originally donated by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad in the 80s, but is now owned by the government, a revelation the management recently discovered when the notice was served.

PAWS currently has three veterinary surgeons and several full time staff on top of the volunteers that come and help with its daily operations.

Melaka zoo animals: The walking dead?

Conservationists are up in arms over the importation of wild animals from South Africa to stock the notorious Melaka zoo.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: Wildlife conservationists from various non-governmental organisations have spoken out vehemently against the decision of the Melaka Zoo to import 24 species of animals from South Africa to restock what it claims is to be an “improved zoo”.

Sean Whyte from Nature Alert who is a long-time campaigner for improved conditions in Malaysia’s zoos added, “Just when we thought Perhilitan could not possibly make any more stupid decisions, they go and approve of wild animals in Africa being caught so they can be transported thousands of miles to be stuffed in a Malaysian zoo of disrepute.

“Perhilitan is incompetent, leaderless and clueless. It would be impossible to exaggerate how badly this government department is managed and it’s a scandal how Minister G. Palanivel (Natural Resources and Environment Ministry) accepts such poor standards from his wildlife department. It’s like the blind leading the blind.”

The zoo, once managed by Perhilitan but now owned by KAJ Development Sdn Bhd is notorious for being evasive about the many dead and missing wildlife in its care apart from the deplorable living conditions of those still living with them.

Jennifer Yeap from Malaysian Friends of the Animals said, “We have been made aware of many animals at the zoo dying due to poor treatment. As part of a cost-cutting programme animals are also being fed less food.”

Yeap also said that based on regular visits to Melaka Zoo, it was obvious there were less animals on display, leading her to wonder if they had been killed or relocated.

She also noted that some of the animals there were suffering from zoochosis, or psychological stress.

She added, “Instead of importing animals from Africa, Malaysia needs to focus on its own wildlife and provide better, more humane conditions for its existing animals.”

Anyone visiting Melaka Zoo today will see for themselves how run down and poorly managed it is with no conservation or educational content including a host of disinterested keepers.

Director of Friends of the Orangutans, Upreshpal Singh said: “We heard two orangutans died at this zoo earlier this year. This came as no surprise to us.

“The orangutan enclosure does not meet the apes’ needs and massive improvements to it are needed. The orangutans don’t appear to receive enrichment and consequently can be seen to be bored and listless.”

Upreshpal also said visitors kept feeding the orangutans junk food as none of the zoo’s staff bothered to monitor this bad habit.

He added, “We are also worried about the health of Mardia the female orangutan who is very obese due to lack of physical activity and this urgently needs to be addressed.

“We are more than happy to help the zoo management if they will allow us to improve the lives of the orangutans at the zoo.”

Melaka Zoo is a member of the Malaysian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria. (MAZPA). All attempts to find out from them why so many animal have died or disappeared at this zoo have proven unsuccessful.

“The import of animals from Africa must be cancelled and the lives of the animals now suffering must be urgently improved. As one of the oldest zoos in Malaysia, it brings a lot of embarrassment to the Melaka state,” added Yeap.

All three wildlife NGOs hope conservationists in Africa will band together to protest this exploitation of their natural heritage and stop the export of animals from Africa to Malaysia.

“Sending their animals to Malaysian zoos is most probably sending them to an early death,” Whyte said.

All attempts by FMT to contact either Perhilitan or Melaka Zoo regarding this issue have proved fruitless.

No chicks, only empty coops

Participants in the 1Azam poverty eradication programme sold the chickens and did not buy new chicks to continue the cycle.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: “When the auditor came, no chickens were found. All that was left were the chicken coops.”

That was the response of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) Ministry secretary-general Mohd Arif Ab Rahman to the Auditor-General’s Report 2013 which revealed that the 1Azam poverty eradication programme was unable to increase the participants’ household income.

He said this when asked about the matter during the Auditor-General’s Report 2013 Series 3 media session at the Perdana Auditorium, Angkasapuri here today.

Mohd Arif said the ministry involved in 1Azam provided various forms of aid to programme participants to increase their monthly income, including the supply of chicks.

However, he said it was just sad that some participants failed to make optimal use of the aid.

“We gave them chicks and told them that once the chickens were sold, they should buy new chicks. Yes, they sold the chickens and received the money, but they spent it elsewhere. Now all that’s left are the chicken coops,” he said.

Mohd Arif said with this attitude, the participants would never get out of poverty.

“If they don’t want to try to increase their own income, no aid will ever work,” he said.

Meanwhile, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry secretary-general Sabariah Hassan said 1Azam participants were low-income earners and the poor.

“Through the training and tools provided under the programme, we hoped that the participants’ income would increase up to RM300 a month, but no amount of aid and assistance will help achieve the objective if the participants did not even try to make it work,” she said.

The report, tabled at the Dewan Rakyat last Monday, revealed that participants of the 1Azam programme failed to make optimal use of the aid provided to them to increase their income due to several reasons, including tough competition and capital shortage.

The participants also claimed that most of them were old and not so keen on venturing into business activities.

– BERNAMA

No country for dogs but Syed Azmi wanted to prove otherwise

A video showing Malaysians treating a blind man and his guide dog badly spurred activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi to hold the controversial "I want to touch a dog" event that outraged many Malays, who felt it was an insult to Islam.

Syed Azmi said he was affected by the video clip when he realised people were rude towards the blind man because of the dog.

"In the video, people were shoo-ing the dog and the blind man, and that hurt me a lot because we also have projects with the blind and to be treated like that just because he was different, that hurt me.

"I asked myself, will I act differently, will I save the blind man? I don't know because I am afraid of dogs," he said to a question from the audience at the "acceptance v conventional sensitivity: where is the middle ground?" forum organised by Umno Youth last night.

Some 200 people, mostly Muslims, were at the forum which was also attended by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and the wing's exco member and Islamic scholar Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jahya.

Many questions were thrown at Syed Azmi from the floor, but mostly on "why did you do it?", "did you prepare gloves at the event" and "who's advice did you seek before organising the event".

Syed Azmi sounded apologetic but the situation did not get out of hand. No anger was shown towards him.

He said while watching the video, he realised many people were ignorant and did not understand about dogs.

He then wrote on his Facebook page "I think I want to touch a dog because I don't understand this concept or this issue in Malaysia" and subsequently, he received a lot of comments and feedback.

That he said, got him and his team to come up with the idea of organising the "I want to touch a dog" event, which was aimed at educating and helping people overcome their fear of dogs and learn compassion for all animals, which Islam teaches.

The October 19 event in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, attracted about 1,000 Malaysians, and many took the opportunity to touch and pet dogs of various breeds, while volunteers demonstrated how the cleansing ritual was done according to Islamic rites.

Despite obtaining approval from the state religious authorities and inviting an ustaz to give a talk on Islam’s views on dogs, Syed Azmi drew flak from many Malays, who felt it was an insult to Islam.

His detractors circulated his mobile phone number on the Internet, urging the public to harass him.

He has also been the subject of death threats online, and has been accused of apostasy, of being a Christian in disguise, and of attempting to spread a new religion among Muslims
in Malaysia.

Last Saturday, Syed Azmi apologised for the furore, adding that he did not intend to insult Muslims but only wanted to educate society to overcome their fear of dogs.

At last night's forum, he again apologised for the fallout from the event and said he did not anticipate that overexcited attendees would carry and hug the dogs.

"Just like me, we expected people to be afraid of dogs. What we did not expect – we were so naive – was that some of them got 'syiok' and overexcited after touching the dogs because they were so cute that they carried and hugged the animals.

"We wanted people to overcome their fears, we never expected it to sway from our original aim of educating people and I apologise for that."

Dr Fathul Bari said although Islam was a religion that promoted discussions and respected differences, he advised the organisers of the event to be more careful in the future and to ensure conventional sensitivities were adhered to.

"Those who criticised on Facebook, please do not react so quickly," he said.

Khairy said in the greater scheme of things, the event was a small matter but what was not small was the reaction of Muslims.

That was why he was supportive of last night's forum, which he felt was needed for people to discuss the issue in a rationale manner instead of resorting to threats.

"What kind of society do we have that some has to resort to death threats? This is not the Islamic way. You do not manage disagreements by telling people you want to slap or kill them or that you don't belong to this country." – October 31, 2014.

Defamatory to call dog event organiser Christian or Shiah Muslim, lawyer says

Malay Mail
by IDA LIM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Accusations claiming Syed Azmi Alhabshi is Christian or a follower of the Muslim Shiah sect, deemed as deviant by Putrajaya, are false and defamatory, his lawyer Syahredzan Johan said today.

 

Syahredzan dismissed the need for his client to prove that he was a Muslim but said those who have defamed the organiser of the “I Want to Touch a Dog” event should stop all their attacks.

“There is nothing in Islam (that says) we cannot criticise something, but what we are saddened with is the fact that there are death threats and there are defamatory comments about the organiser and the people who are involved — saying things like ‘he’s a Shiah, he’s Christian, he’s trying to spread all these things, this is a program of liberalism’,” he told reporters today.

Those who made the allegedly defamatory claims against Syed Azmi are the ones who need to prove their false accusations, Syahredzan added, pointing out that they were attacking his client casually on Facebook even though they hardly knew him.

“Only because we want to defend what we see as the sanctity (of the religion), we defame others, is that correct?” the lawyer asked.

He added, however, that Syed Azmi had not decided whether to take legal action and sue anyone for now.

 

Earlier, Syed Azmi read out a press release apologising for any discomfort sparked by the event, maintaining that the event was only meant to help the public overcome their fear of dogs, and not promote liberalism or distort Islamic teachings.

Although Syed Azmi is not the sole organiser of the “I Want to Touch a Dog” event, which was carried out with the aid of around 10 to 15 other individuals, the youth was unfortunately the “face” of the one-off event and has had to face the brunt of criticisms, Syahredzan said.

Since then, Syed Azmi has been the target of hate-filled messages threatening to injure or kill him, forcing him to turn to the police and online regulator Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for assistance.

Detractors have also spread rumours and allegations claiming that Syed Azmi is a covert Christian or a Shiah Muslim out to spread liberalism or alternative teachings.

Norhayati Ismail, 40, another organiser of the event, told reporters today that she has known Syed Azmi for a long time and that he is like any other Muslim who faithfully performs his prayers.

She said she has collaborated closely with Syed Azmi on numerous charity projects and that he was always involved in “anything that is a good cause”.

“This is the first time that he’s doing it with animals and I’m a bit saddened he got a lot of criticisms when his intention is really good, if you know what he wants,” the social activist told reporters here, saying that the dog-touching event was an awareness project on dogs.

It was sparked off from local filmmaker Jason Lim’s short movie on how a blind man faced challenges when appearing with his guide dog in public areas — such as buses and shopping malls, she said.

Norhayati also trotted off a list of previous joint projects with Syed Azmi, including the collection of winter clothing for those living in Syria, the collection of over 400 boxes of food for the poor during Ramadhan and the handing out of over 1,000 packets of rice to various organisations.

“We collect funds and we execute the projects. We do projects with the street people, orphanage, anything that is a good cause,” she said.

Syahredzan pointed to the “I Want to Touch a Dog” event organisers’ past community projects as proof of their good intentions, saying that the uproar over this event would not prevent them from carrying out similar charity projects for the society.

“This is not an event that was done with any agenda. This was for education, he said.

The “I Want to Touch a Dog” event at the Central Park in Bandar Utama, Selangor last Sunday drew nearly 200 volunteers and dog owners and gave Malay-Muslims the opportunity to pet canines, an animal that many in the community regard as culturally taboo.

Fatwa Council says touching dogs not Islamic

Islamic religious authorities say that Muslims must adhere to the stipulated Islamic code practised in Malaysia.

FMT

KUALA NERUS: The National Fatwa Council Muzakarah has decided that touching and holding dogs is against mainstream Islamic doctrines in this country which follows the Imam Shafie school of thought.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said Islam revered all animals including dogs. However, Muslims must adhere to the stipulated Islamic code with regards to touching dogs.

He said this to reporters after closing the National Fatwa Committee Conference 2014, which was also attended by Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general Othman Mustapha and National Fatwa Council chairman Abdul Shukor Husin.

Jamil Khir said Jakim would call on the organisers of the recent “I Want To Touch A Dog” event to get a clearer picture.

The event which was held at Central Park in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya attracted over 800 people from all faiths and was aimed at encouraging human compassion towards dogs.

However, it drew flak from the Islamic religious authorities after some Muslim visitors to the event including children were pictured touching and petting the dogs there.

On another note, Jamil Khir said among the major issues discussed at the conference were the Islamic State (IS), particularly on Malaysian extremists fighting in Syria, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and surrogacy.

In regards to IS, he said the National Fatwa Council found that Muslims were still confused about the context of jihad, martyrdom and religious rulings on these, not just held by Muslims in Malaysia but also throughout the world.

Jamil Khir said that Malaysians who were recruited were willing to fight in Syria in the name of IS, which was against true Islamic teachings.

Regarding the GST which will be implemented next April, Jamil Khir said the National Fatwa Council was of the view that Islam allowed a ruling government to collect tax but it must be within the Islamic legal framework.

On surrogacy, the minister said the National Fatwa Council decided that it was not encouraged except in mitigating circumstances.

He said the details of the decisions or edicts made by the council at its meeting would be released soon by the secretariat of the Malaysia National Fatwa Committee. – BERNAMA

Doggy debate reveals Malaysia’s narrow Islamic code

As Malaysian Muslims debate the different views in Islam on handling dogs, the National Fatwa Council today said that teachings under the Shafie school of jurisprudence, which Malaysia follows, had to be obeyed.

The council today decided that touching or holding a dog went against Shafie jurisprudence, which the Putrajaya has called the "official" Islamic code for Malaysia, Bernama reported.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said even though Islam held animals, including dogs, in high regard, dogs were still "unclean" from a religious standpoint and Muslims had to obey rules on handling them.

"That dogs are held in high regard is another matter, Muslims still have to abide by what has been decided under Islamic laws," he said in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, today after a meeting of the fatwa council.

Bernama reported that the meeting was also attended by the director general of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) Datuk Othman Mustaffa and chairman of the National Fatwa Council, Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin.

A day after the "I want to touch a dog" event in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, on October 19, Shukor had said that there was no need for the council to issue a new fatwa about dogs as "everyone knew" that they were unclean.

Shukor also said that while there were different opinions about dogs between the four main schools of Islamic jurisprudence, the matter should not be debated as Malaysia followed the Shafie school.

This school has the strictest interpretation on dogs, which cannot be touched whether they are wet or dry, and requires Muslims to perform the "samak" cleansing ritual if contact is made.

The Maliki school, on the other hand, does not view dogs as unclean and does not prohibit touching them.

"The council feels there is no need to issue a new fatwa because as we know, in this country, Muslims cannot touch dogs without reason whether the animal is dry, what more if it is wet. And if they happen to touch it, they will need to perform 'samak'.

"The law against touching dogs should not be hyped up as it has already been decided by the ulama that it is haram. So why should we want to debate it. That is why we do not need a fatwa because the matter is clear," Shukor was quoted saying in Utusan Malaysia.

There are four schools of jurisprudence among Sunni Muslims: Maliki, Hanbali, Hanafi and Shafie. All four schools are accepted among Sunni Muslims as being within the confines of Islam. However, Malaysian Muslims traditionally follow the Shafie school of jurisprudence.

The debate has raged on social media between Muslims, and cyber bullying including threats to kill and beat up the event organiser, Syed Azmi Alhabshi, have also been made.

These threats have been condemned by moderate Muslims as bringing shame to Islam, while some scholars analyse the ongoing furore as part of a shift in Malaysian Muslim society with more people becoming open to other schools of jurisprudence.

Former Perlis mufti Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin (pic, left) said the Malaysian Islamic authorities had to learn how to deal with a "modernising landscape".

"We cannot manage it as if we were from the dark ages. We must handle these modern changes in a mature manner,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Asri has also said that Muslims were free to switch between schools, according to the teachings of Syrian scholar Wahba Zuhayli who held that it was not compulsory to commit to just one school of jurisprudence.

International Islamic University Malaysia lecturer Dr Maszlee Malik also told The Malaysian Insider that Muslim youth are now exposed to the other schools of jurisprudence through books, the media and the Internet. – October 23, 2014.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/doggy-debate-reveals-malaysias-narrow-islamic-code

Don’t over-simplify Islamic teachings, touching dog not ‘haram’, says Dr Asri

Touching a dog is not "haram" (forbidden) although the animal is categorised as "najis" (unclean), says Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin.

To conclude that it is "haram" was an over-simplification of the Islamic teachings, the former Perlis mufti added.

He said this is because Muslims scholars have agreed that touching a dry dog is not "najis" despite differing views when it comes to touching wet dogs.

Pointing out that the Shafie school of thought (which Malaysia follows) is strict on the matter, he said the views in other Islamic schools were wider and easier.

"The Maliki school of thought is the most flexible and wide when it comes to dogs,” he said, commenting on the controversy surrounding the "I Want to Touch a Dog" event held in Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

"One can touch 'najis' but there are rules that need to be adhered to that includes washing and cleaning.

"If it is 'haram' to touch 'najis', then it is 'haram' for a person to touch their own waste or that of their children or those under their care when in the process of cleaning them.

"What about those whose work involves cleaning toilets or working with blood or other bodily fluids?" he asked.

"What about veterinarians? So, all these are shallow conclusions," Mohd Asri said on his Facebook page DrMAZA today.

On keeping a dog at home, he said Muslims are not encouraged to do so except for certain purposes such as hunting, farming and security purposes.

He admitted there were scholars who forbid keeping dogs at home but said there was no hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) that said it was a sin.

"Only that it will effect our merit. Thus, many scholars agreed that it is 'makruh' (disapproved). The reasons for it has something to do with spirituality and societal impact," he said.

It was reported today that Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha told Bernama that the programme should not have taken place, adding that Jakim would investigate the matter immediately.

This came after the event received overwhelming response from Muslims in and around the federal capital yesterday.

Syed Azmi Alhabshi, a pharmacist in his 30s, had organised the event to help people overcome their fear of dogs and learn compassion for all animals.

The Kuala Lumpur native also said he wanted to help people overcome certain misconceptions and sensitivities surrounding dogs.

Over 1,000 people had attended yesterday’s event which saw Muslims and non-Muslims alike interacting with dogs of various breeds. – October 20, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dont-over-simplify-islamic-teachings-touching-dog-not-haram-says-dr-asri#sthash.SaF1Bps5.dpuf

Abused orangutan must be urgently relocated

 

While imported pandas are given VIP treatment daily at Zoo Negara, Katarina, an orangutan who spends her days in squalid and deplorable conditions, is given quite the opposite treatment at the Kuala Lipis Zoo in Pahang.

Katarina is a victim of the illegal wildlife trade. She was kept as a pet and after she became too big to handle was given up to the Lipis zoo. She has now spent a few years at a zoo which clearly does not receive proper funding. Anyone who visits this zoo will be able to tell it it is not managed well. Many animals there require help, let alone and delicate species such as the orangutan.

Supervision of animals at this zoo, like in almost every Malaysian zoo, is virtually non-existent. Visitors can be seen feeding Katarina junk food and one visitor was stopped from tossing into the enclosure a lit cigarette hoping the orangutan would smoke it. Can you imagine what happens everyday at this zoo?

While the pandas at Zoo Negara receive daily enrichment without fail, Katarina receives none. She has nothing to keep her mind and body busy everyday in her almost barren enclosure.

Orangutans are extremely smart animals known to be as intelligent as young children and a lack of enclosure stimulation greatly effects their mental and physical health. Katarina’s night cage is also completely void of any bedding nor enrichment tool and she is forced to sit on cold concrete everyday for at least 12 hours. Horrible treatment of an ape species which generates tonnes of income from tourism.

Though orangutans are mostly solitary animals in the wild, they should never be forced to live all alone in captivity. Katarina has spent her days all alone for years now, with nothing to look forward to every day.

It is time she is relocated to the  Matang Wildlife Centre in Sarawak, where the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) provides excellent captive care for orangutans at its sanctuary. Perhilitan, the wildlife department, has sent orangutans to Matang previously, and they can do it again for Katarina.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made it mandatory for all zoos in the USA to provide enrichment for all non-human primates. Zoos are also expected to show documentation of what enrichment they have been giving to a USDA inspector if they request it. Another USDA requirement is that if a zoo has a non-human primate living alone it has to document why as they also regulate that non-human primates have social contact.

If orangutans (and other primates for that matter) can be treated extremely well in a western country well out of its range, orangutans in Malaysia must be given equal if not better treatment. A mind-blowing RM60 million so far has been spent on two pandas from China. The least the NRE Ministry can do is to urgently relocate Katarina to provide her the best possible treatment in Sarawak. The world is looking, and waiting.

Friends of the Orangutans and our supporters around the world ask the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to immediately transfer Katarina the suffering orangutan to the Matang Wildlife Centre sanctuary in Sarawak.

---

UPRESHPAL SINGH is director, Friends of the Orangutana.

We’re sorry Syed Azmi – some Malaysians are unreasonable

What started out as a noble cause has degenerated into hate and fear thanks to unreasonable Malaysians.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: Bravo Malaysia! You have expertly taken a meaningful and enlightening event organized by a brave, young man and turned it on its head so that it breeds more fear, hate and distrust among the people.

The event in question is called “I Want To Touch A Dog” and the said organiser, Syed Azmi Alhabshi.

Wanting only to overcome his own fear of dogs, Syed Azmi also felt the event provided a wonderful opportunity to let Muslims know that if proper cleansing rituals were observed, that Islam permitted them to touch and play with dogs.

Despite the event having the blessings of MAIS (Selangor Islamic Religious Council) and attracting hundreds of dog owners, animal lovers and those genuinely wanting to overcome their fear of dogs, the event has now degenerated into an angry war of words replete with complaints, warnings and threats of punishment.

Speaking about the event yesterday to FMT, Syed Azmi said that when “haters got a whiff of it (on Facebook), they started sending me photos and WhatsApp messages that were very cruel. But that provided the fuel for me to soldier on.”

He added, “As a solo person I wanted to show that anyone can make good changes within the community.”

However Jakim’s (Islamic Development Department) director-general had a totally opposing view telling Bernama he regretted the irresponsible attitude of the organiser, who in his opinion, was not concerned with the sensitivities of the Muslims.

Apart from his harsh reprimand, he also said Jakim would investigate the case and penalise those involved.

Another who stepped forward to denounce the event was Mohd Kazim, who wrote on Facebook, ”There’s a finer agenda at play here. There is an attempt to liberalise and pluralise the religion.

Calling it “sinful”, he added, “The dog, under Islam, cannot be made a pet unlike the cat, chicken or other kinds of animals, as it will interfere with a Muslim’s prayer.”

Mohd Kazim stressed that the penalty for touching a dog was the same as that for touching a pig as touching both these animals was forbidden under Islam.

However despite these harsh views, many other Muslims took a more compassionate and liberal view of the event.

Muslim scholar Ustaz Mohd Iqbal who was present at the event Sunday, when interviewed by FMT, said there was a need for change in the perspective of our society “because there is space within Islamic teaching for Muslims to rear dogs, in particular guide dogs to assist the blind, even leading him or her to a masjid”.

Aishah Abdullah, a student who was thrilled to meet and pet dogs saw the event as a good exercise to expose the Muslim community to the joys of interacting with these animals. She saw it as highly educational since the Islamic scholars at the event gave helpful hints on how to perform “sertu and samak” after touching dogs.

“I believe this event will open up narrow minds, urging the public to treat dogs lovingly like any other of God’s creatures,” said Aishah.

Another animal lover, Azleen Ibrahim said this should be a regular event “so that everyone will have an opportunity to play with dogs every other week”.

Pet owner Moses Sin Voon Lon was of the opinion the event was a great way to bring the community together and for everyone to discover the joys of petting a dog.

“I think the phobia of Muslims over dogs can be put to rest now because most dogs are well trained and friendlier, not wild like the kampung days. The Muslims should be aware of that and this is what the event has achieved,” said Moses.

Syed Azmi himself was pleased with the turnout saying, “this shows the relevance of the issue to the general public.”

Be that as it may, the Facebook page set up to promote the “I Want To Touch A Dog” event has been pulled down and efforts by FMT to contact Syed Azmi today have been in vain.

The “I Want To Touch A Dog” event was held yesterday at Central Park from 8-10am.

Muslims and dogs mingle in 'pat-a-dog' event

A dog patting event aimed at breaking the taboo over dogs among Muslims drew hundreds of participants in Petaling Jaya this morning.

 

The two-hour event which began at 8am at Central Park, Bandar Utama allowed opportunities to the public, including Muslims, to pat pet dogs while being overseen by their owners.

 

Prior to that, a mini forum was held, featuring a Islamic religious scholar, a Muslim taxi driver with experience in handling dogs and a veterinarian, where the public asked questions in a bid to allay fears on handling the animals.

 

Muslims were also thought how to properly cleanse themselves if they were to touch the dogs when they are wet as the dogs are deemed to be unclean (najis) in such a state.

 

Dogs have generally been a taboo among Malaysian Muslims with a misconception among more conservative sections of society that they are not allowed to come in contact with the creature.

 

However, at the event, Muslims were made aware that  there are ways to cleanse (samak) oneself for prayer purposes, if they are to come in contact with the animal when it is wet.

 

Aside from the patting, the event also allowed people from all walks of life to learn how to interact with dogs.

 

Muslim parents were also seen at the event encouraging the children to pat the dogs.
 

Syed Azmi Alhabshi, who organised the event, said he was pleased at the encouraging response.

 

"Today, many Muslims came and they were comfortable as they did not have any doubts after we taught them the proper cleansing methods and the dog owners were also present to oversee them.

 

"What is important is knowledge (for Muslims to handle dogs)," he told Malaysiakini.

 

Meanwhile, participant Aimi Syafiqah Ghazali, 23, praised the event for creating awareness and shedding the negative perception that Muslims supposedly cannot touch dogs.

 

"Normally Muslims in Malaysia are sceptical. They would say we cannot do this or cannot do that. But this event creates awareness that Islam is actually a simple religion.

 

"We need to get rid of that mentality (that everything is forbidden). This event is a good start and I hope there would be more of such events at other places," she said.

 

Echoing this is Siti Khadijah Samsudin, 22, said such events teaches Muslims to love other creatures despite certain rules that must be followed.

 

Abdullah Fauzi Samsudin, 31 said such events help to allay Muslims' fear of touching dogs and to get to know the creature better.

 

"Even though dogs are considered unclean (najis) but they are very friendly. There are ways to touch a dog and we can also touch them when they are dry," he said.

Event aims to bridge gap between Muslims and dogs

 

Come Sunday, a rare event involving Muslims and dogs will take place at Central Park Bandar Utama in Selangor.

Organiser Syed Azmi Alhabshi said the 'I want to touch a dog' event is being held in order to help Muslims overcome the negative perception of dogs and how to practice samak (cleansing).

The pharmacist, who hails from Johor, hoped the event would help prevent cruel behaviour towards dogs and even prepare Muslims to save dogs in distress.

However, he explained that the event is in no way a promotion of pet adoption.

"We are expecting about 600 people. I am overwhelmed with the support thus far," Syed Azmi told Malaysiakini.

Syed Azmi said he has obtained the permission of the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais) and the police to hold the event.

"So people do not have to worry about attending the event.

"There is support but there will be some bashing too from those who misunderstand the purpose of the event," he added.

The event starts at 8am and includes a short briefing, mini forum and a demonstration of the samak ritual.

He added the forum will also deal with challenges that Muslim animal rescuers, taxi drivers, veterinarians and scholars face in handling dogs.

"After that, samak coaches will be ready to help out anyone to cleanse themselves," he added.

Syed Azmi is looking forward to the multiracial and multireligious event.

"The only thing I am not prepared for is the rain," he quipped.

The event is promoted on Syed Azmi's Facebook account and has received encouraging support.

Okinawa’s New US Marine Base’s Underwater Nemesis

Written by Mari Takenouchi

The Okinawan dugong is pressed into service to foil the fliers

The long-besieged proposed US Marine base at Henoko on the pristine eastern coast of Okinawa, opposed by at least 75 percent of the island’s residents, has run into another obstacle -- new court decisions protecting the lowly, endangered Okinawan dugong.

The Marines have been trying to build an expanded base on Okinawa for decades. The corps base at Futenma, built at the time of the Japanese defeat in World War II, has been the focal point of a long string of controversies including noise, air pollution, endangerment of public safety, the behavior of troops and the steadily encroaching civilian population. Protesters often gather outside the gates. Even former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called the Futenma base the most dangerous of the US’s overseas air facilities.

Since 2003, a lawsuit has been winding its way through the courts to use the protection of the dugong, a sea mammal said by Okinawans rather fancifully to be the “model of mermaids” to stop the construction of the base. It picked up stem on July 31 when the plaintiffs of the Dugong Lawsuit filed additional claims prohibiting access to the adjacent Camp Schwab for reclaiming the Henoko site until the Department of Defense fulfills its duty by engaging related parties in their process of evaluation.

On Aug. 15, the US District Court in San Francisco accepted the plaintiffs’ claim and is now working on their proceedings. Nonetheless, only three days after that, a controversial drilling survey started at Henoko in the midst of outcries of opposing citizens, lending credence to accusations that the Japanese government is trying to create a fait accompli by forcibly going forward with the Henoko reclamation. The Marines intend to reclaim the sea with 21 million cubic meters of soil, equivalent to 3.5 million 10-ton dump truck loads.

However, if the US court rules in favor of the Dugong Lawsuit plaintiffs again, the construction work itself could be suspended. This ruling may come out in the next six months.

In 1997, the Mammalogical Society of Japan estimated the number of Okinawan dugongs at fewer than 50. They are sensitive and swim away as soon as they hear engine noise from boats. In Japan, they are described as a “natural monument” and any impact on their habitat is prohibited.

In 1996, the Japanese and US governments decided to relocate the base to Henoko Bay, which is relatively unpopulated, to seek to reduce the military impact. In 1997, the majority of residents of Nago province, which encompasses the site, voted strongly against the plan. Nonetheless, the mayor accepted the plan, resigned and moved to Tokyo.

That has left the dugong as the bulwark against the construction. Hideki Yoshikawa, the international director of Save the Dugong Campaign Center explains the case as follows. “If we used the US Endangered Species Act, it could have been powerful enough to immediately halt the construction of the Henoko US base since dugongs are endangered species in both countries, but the applicability of the Act on international case was not clear. Meanwhile, NHPA has an international clause that can allow a matter in a foreign country to be tried in a US court.”

In April 2014, the DOD released a document called “US Marine Corps Recommended Findings,” concluding that the construction and operation at Henoko and Oura Bay would have “no adverse effect” on dugongs because of the extremely low probability of dugongs in the area.

However, the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) found dugongs’ feeding traces since June 2009 to May 2013 on the reclamation site itself. The finding has been recognized and documented by the Marine Corps, but the Okinawa defense bureau and the DOD concluded that there would be “no adverse effect on dugongs,” saying that the number of traces are limited.

The plaintiffs complained that the DOD’s conclusion is arbitrary and lacks a factual basis and that DOD had not included related parties in partnership at all before reaching such a conclusion. In addition, recently, the Japanese Nature Protection Association found more than 118 dugongs’ feeding traces directly on the reclamation site only in 3 months from May to July 2014. These important follow-up findings have not been reflected nor to be reflected in the evaluation of ODB or DOD in spite of citizens groups’ calls.

Henoko US Base Planned since 1966

Currently, both the Japanese government and pro-base incumbent Okinawan governor Hirokazu Nakaima and some major media companies advocate the necessity of a new base at Henoko in exchange of closing Futenma Air Base. Even the former DOD Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, one of the defendants, called Futenma Air Base as “the world most dangerous US base.”

Today, the US government can use the Japan’s “host nation military support budget” while the US defense budget allocated for Marine Corps has been shrinking. (The Japanese government decided to provide annual host nation military budget of US$1.7 billion despite opposition from citizens’ groups) From the government’s standpoint, general constructors, a major political interest group, can make profits through building the state of the art base.

“To begin with, relocation of Futenma to Henoko” itself does not make sense,” said Yoshikazu Makishi, a renowned Okinawan architect and also a plaintiff. “In the US, there is a regulation that there should not be any residence within 4,500 meters length and 900 width from the end of any runway.

“However, as for Futenma Air Base, there are houses and even schools in this zone. Futenma does not comply with the US regulation and should be abolished immediately without any condition. It is quite absurd that both the US and Japanese governments say that Futenma could become a permanent air base if a new Henoko base cannot be constructed.”

Increasing International Attention

The world International Union for Conservation of Nature), a 1200 member umbrella organization including more than 200 governments and 11,000 scientists, adopted three resolutions to recommend the US and Japanese government to conduct an environmental impact assessment and to draw a plan to protect Okinawan dugongs in 2000, 2004, and 2008 respectively.

In March 2012, the United Nations Human Rights Office of High Commissioner Committee for Eliminating Racial Discrimination (CERD) gave warning to the government of Japan concerning the construction of the base and in November of the same year, CERD asked for further information. On Aug. 30 CERD sent its final recommendation to the government of Japan to regard Okinawan people as the local indigenous people and to respect their rights, public opinions, and culture. In this way, international attention has been mounting on the issues of Okinawa.

Mari Takenouchi is a freelance journalist in Okinawa