Blog 2024
Monthly Wrap-Up: Sep 2024
1 Oct 2024: In this wrap-up of environmental news in Malaysia, we look at why environmental and rights groups are calling on the EU to classify Sarawak as “high risk” under new EUDR anti-deforestation regulations.
We also covered how the trial of the first perpetrators accused of rhino horn smuggling in Malaysia heard of a car chase by PERHILITAN to apprehend them.
In another court case, the Semai of Ulu Geruntum, Perak savoured victory against hydropower companies constructing a dam on their customary land.
Covering Wildlife in Court Not So Scary After All
9 September 2024: Ouch, the law! Covering court can be daunting for journalists with no law background – and even for those with legal training. We addressed that head-on in our workshop, ‘Covering Wildlife in Court’, held from 4–6 Sept.
And it worked! Before the workshop, 9 out of 12 participants said their confidence level was 5/10 or below when it came to covering trials. After two-and-a-half days of media training and writing, that flipped: 8 out of 10 participants rated their confidence levels above 5!
Specifically, though, the skills training is to better tackle stories on wildlife crime. The over-exploitation of nature is one of the five leading causes of biodiversity loss in Malaysia and globally.
As such, the Macaranga Mentorship on Covering Wildlife Trade and Crime in Malaysia project over the next year seeks to explore issues as drivers of over-exploitation, right up to how courts are sentencing wildlife crimes.
The project involves this workshop and a months-long mentorship by Macaranga to produce long-form stories. It also involves a youth component, whereby we continue our collaboration with YUFE to produce social media content on this topic.
This court-focussed workshop was organised by Macaranga and hosted by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia. The workshop lead was Macaranga‘s Siew Lyn, the wildlife trade and crime component was delivered by TRAFFIC’s Elizabeth John and court reporting veteran Shaila Koshy patiently went through the steps on how to cover court. Thanks also to Justice for Wildlife Malaysia for your participation.
The ‘Macaranga Mentorship on Wildlife Trade and Crime in Malaysia’ project is supported by Internews Earth Journalism Network.
Roaring to go – YUFE x Macaranga
27 August 2024: Fierce is the word for the young people who participated in the on-boarding workshop for the next phase of our #YUFExMacaranga collaboration starting this month.
The gang is ready to take on wildlife trade and crime in conjunction with Macaranga‘s year-long multi-newroom project on the same theme.
Their objective is to use social media to amplify efforts in combating wildlife crime and promote conservation awareness in Malaysia.
Keep your eye out for these posts!
This project is supported by Internews Earth Journalism Network. With thanks to Elizabeth John from TRAFFIC Southeast Asia for giving an overview of wildlife trade and crime.
[The above image comprises slides from 3 draft posts created in a blistering 15 minutes. Below are some of the #YUFExMacaranga collab posts from the last year, which were based on Macaranga stories.]
Celebrating Rimba Ilmu’s 50th
28 August 2024: We had a blast on 17 August at Rimba Ilmu‘s 50th anniversary. Humbled to be among the speakers at the terrific Sunda Shelves talks – the space was packed! Thrilled to meet our Macaranga Supporters, answer all questions and share why we do what we do. Thanks to all new member signups!
Monthly Wrap-Up: Aug 2024
27 August 2024: Last month’s news include an integrity study on the Tawai Forest Reserve conducted by the Sabah Forestry Department. It confirmed the uniqueness and importance of this forest reserve. Interestingly, the study was published 7 months after the Sabah state government announced that the Pan-Borneo Highway would dissect this forest.
In other news, orangutans will remain in the country after all, when the Plantations and Commodities Minister reversed an earlier decision to send them out to palm oil-supporting countries in Giant panda-type diplomacy.
Finally, the Bar Council warns that the proposed constitutional amendment to move Orang Asli matters from Federal to Concurrent list “can result in potential confusion, disputes and delays in efficient administration of these matters”, calls for ensuring informed consent on this from Orang Asli.
Monthly Wrap-Up: July 2024
29 July 2024: In the news a lot recently is carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). For one, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli announced that the government has identified the petroleum states of Terengganu, Pahang, Sabah, and Sarawak as potential leaders in this technology to store carbon. Meanwhile, MIDF Amanah Investment Bank has put RM7.7 mil into CCUS R&D for the metal sector. What’s going on?
We also cover massive recent tiger loss due to roadkill and the devastating floods in Penampang, Sabah.
Is the Forest Plantation Moratorium Working?
29 July 2024: Problematic forest plantations prompted Malaysia to call for a 15-year moratorium on new projects in Peninsular Malaysia. But states are still licensing planters to clear new sites. Why?
Macaranga journalist Law Yao Hua and environmental activist Meor Razak bin Meor Abdul Rahman, (Sahabat Ekologi Perak) discuss what happened since the moratorium was announced, and the impacts of forest plantations on local communities, flora and fauna. Produced by Juliet Jacobs, ‘Earth Matters’, 89.9FM Radio.
Based on our #LadangHutan2 series.
Monthly Wrap-Up: June 2024
28 June 2024: Our June wrapup covers the mother elephant and her 3 calves that were allegedly poisoned in an area cleared for farming in Kluang, Johor.
We also discuss findngs that Malaysians consume the most microplastics among 10 countries. Half of the consumed amount is from fish. Is the solution the tackling of plastic production?
And Malaysia is on track to meeting its goal of planting 100 million trees, with 89.9 million planted as of June. But to avoid allegations of greenwashing, there is a need for transparency and third-party auditing.
Birds for Mangroves!
The piece is a collaboration with the Malaysian Bird Report.
Infrastructure, Open Mic and Energy Transition
>> Workshop: Data Journalism
On June 10, Yao Hua conducted a 3-hour workshop for 20 media students at New Era University College, Kajang. He guided the students to find, analyse, and visualise data on abandoned housing projects.
>> Investigating Infrastructure Projects
On May 9—11, Siew Lyn and Yao Hua joined other trainers in a 3-day workshop on investigative journalism focused on infrastructure. Most of the 20 participants were journalists. Organised by Malaysiakini and funded by the Earth Journalism Network, Siew Lyn will be a mentor for story writing for the next 6 months.
>> Open mic, a first for Yao Hua
To promote Macaranga, Yao Hua took to the stage for a 5-minute open mic session at Pesta Bumi Kita on 28 April. Yao Hua can’t write poetry and his stand-up comedy is what others would call tragedy, so he just spoke about the fears and joy of being an environment journalist.
>> Workshop: Communicating Climate Stories
Yao Hua conducted a workshop for around 15 journalists on telling climate stories in more effective ways. The workshop on 27 April was the first in a series organised by Klima Action Malaysia. Other speakers included Dr Zeliha Zaiton and Dr Renato Lima.
A month later, Siew Lyn participated in the second workshop on energy policies.
What A Waste (Problem We Have!)
Based on Macaranga‘s feature Floods, Rising Seas Make Dumps More Dangerous.
Monthly Wrap-Up: May 2024
28 June 2024: In the May, we look back at new research that throws light on dolphins in Kedah/Perlis, pangolins in Sabah, and sunbears, also in Sabah.
Rather than the proposed ‘orangutan diplomacy’ to promote sustainable palm oil, perhaps enforcing no-deforestation palm oil would work better.
Finally, the court ruled that the Temiars of Kampung Cunex in Gerik, Perak can claim the settled and occupied areas in their customary territory as their ‘tanah adat’. Unfortunately, the larger surrounding forest is excluded.
Should Kids Learn About Nature?
16 June 2024: Our Remarks piece on the history of nature education got picked up by BFM89.9 Radio. Listen to our guest contributor Surin Suksuwan recount how today’s generatino would have done well to have had the ‘Nature Study’ foundation of Malayans. Read his commentary: Nurturing a Nature Revival.
Monthly Wrap-Up: April 2024
1 May 2024: The federal government announced that it has cancelled the concession agreement for the PJD Link project. The developer’s hopeful statement response and rumours of possible compensation to the developer raises questions if this is truly the end of this contested highway project.
We followed up on the first open trial of illegal possession of rhino horns in Malaysia. The two accused pled not guilty, reversing their earlier plea. Apparently, harsher penalties for conviction have led to more accused opting to stand trial and fight their case. That means more work for enforcers.
Lastly, we discussed the significance of the 4th meeting of nations in Canada to establish a Global Plastic Treaty. This would lead to a legally binding international agreement by the end of this year that aims to cut plastic pollution. It is the plastic world’s Paris Agreement. But plastic producers are lobbying against bans.
Facebook pets are too easy to buy
Based on Macaranga‘s features Social Media Makes It So Easy To Like And Buy Exotic Pets and Langur In City Spotlights Efforts To Tackle Wildlife Trade Online.
Lee Kwai Han co-wins award
12 April 2024: Congratulations to Lee Kwai Han, our contributing writer, for co-winning the Said Zahari Young Journalist Award 2023/2024!
Kwai Han won for her story Unlocking Rare Earth Riches in Malaysia for Macaranga.
Congratulations also to her co-winner Nurul Nabila for her Sinar Harian story, and to Alena Nadia, for her Malaysiakini story for making the shortlist.
All three journalists produced stellar work. We look forward to more inspiring and important stories from them. Thank you to Pusat Sejarah Rakyat for supporting young journalists!
Incidentally, Kwai Han co-wrote her winning story with Yao Hua, who won the award two years ago.
Monthly Wrap-Up: March 2024
1 April 2024: Prosecutions against illegal wildlife traders get wins in court. A Penang judgement saw RM70,000 in fines imposed for possession of largely reptiles. Meanwhile, the first ever rhino horn smuggling case successfully brought to court in Malaysia will see judgement on 24 April.
We also cover how the World Trade Organisation ruled largely in favour of the European Union in a EUDR dispute settlement between the bloc and Malaysia.
We also discuss about whether there is a need for independent verification of the reported recovery aided by a restoration project, of the seagrass meadow near Forest City.
Arowana on the airwaves
1 April 2024: Can arowanas live free and wild again in our waters? Taking to the air with Juliet Jacobs on BFM 89.9 Radio were Macaranga‘s Law Yao Hua, journalist Tracy Keeling and Fisheries Department’s Dr Haslawati Baharuddin.
Based on Macaranga‘s feature ‘Conserving Arowanas Needs More Than Releasing Fish’ Part 1 & Part 2.
Sin Chew republishes #SeaWorld stories
1 April 2024: Always terrific to see our stories republished. With thanks to Sinchew Daily for running our #SeaWorld stories on traditional knowledge and protected areas! Our Chinese stories are also online.
Newsroom mentorship on just energy transition concludes
18 March 2024 [updated 1.4.24]: As part of Macaranga’s newsroom mentorship programme on just energy transition, 2 newsrooms have produced great stories interrogating the impacts of the transition to renewables.
The Bernama Garasi team (Sakina Mohamed, Shaza Al Muzayen, Fahmi Abdul Aziz and Ummul Shyuhaida Othman) produced a 3-parter on solar energy waste:
FMT visited an Orang Asli community who were displaced by a dam 13 years ago. They are still awaiting proper compensation. Lynelle Tham and team report in text and video: 13 years on, Kg Pinang’s Orang Asli look to TNB for help
Read also Ashley Yeong’s earlier coverage of mini hydro impacts on Orang Asli culture in Perak for Macaranga.
These wrap up the 3-month long Macaranga multi-newsroom project. The project began with a training workshop and is supported by Klima Action Malaysia.
Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2024
26 February 2024: We look back the world’s hottest January ever on record and report on coral ecologists’ concerns about mass coral bleaching in Malaysia.
We also cover the latest on the EUDR as Malaysia, Indionesia and the EU discussed ways to better implement EUDR for palm oil. And we round up the month with the different ways Sarawak is using to reduce conflict between humans and their successfully conserved crocodiles.
Producing data and multimedia journalism
26 February 2024: Malaysiakini/KiniLabs’ Aidila Razak invited us to chat about data and multimedia journalism at the recent Kuala Lumpur Alternative Book Fest. Siew Lyn walked the audience through our stories on the PJD Link, rare earth mining and navigating messy forestry data, and both speakers answered questions about when enough is enough data, and how to get started on data visualisation. Play a game and check out KiniLabs’ brilliant interactive coverage of scamming.
(photo from KLABF IG)
The (Big) Trouble with Smaller Dams
12 January 2024: Mini hydros have impacted at least 2 Orang Asli communities in Perak. Can Malaysia’s transition to renewable energy be more equitable to communities? We discuss who the beneficiaries of these hydro projects are, processes such as Free, Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and Environmental Impact Assessments, and the cultural importance of traditional lands.
Featuring Ashley Yeong and Wong Siew Lyn from Macaranga and Piarapakaran Subramaniam, President, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER). Hosted by Juliet Jacobs on ‘Earth Matters’, BFM89.9.
Based on Macaranga story Perak Dams Threaten Stone Spirits and Ancestral Graves.
How best to save pitcher plants
12 January 2024: Mass propagating pitcher plants has worked to conserve them in the wild to some extent. However, for new sepcies, they can’t be articifially produced fast enough to satisfy the more fanatic of Nepenthes collectors. Macaranga‘s writers Ashley Yeong, Bryan Yong and SL Wong talk to BFM89.9 Radio’s Juliet Jacobs about this on ‘Earth Matters’.
Based on Macaranga stories: Mass Producing to Save Pitcher Plants A Tricky Business and The World of Nepenthes.
Monthly Wrap-Up: January 2024
23 February 2024: In our first Monthly Wrap-Up of 2024 with BFM89.9 Radio, we discuss the rejection of the Bukit Cherakah judicial review appeal by the Court of Appeal. The judge said the challenge against the forest reserve’s degazettement had to have been done within 3 months, but the decision to degazette was made by the Selangor state exco in November 2000, and not announced via gazette.
We also raised Sarawak’s slew of proposed dams, not necessarily supported by local communities; and the ongoing RM30 mil Sg Kim Kim civil lawsuit by victims of the toxic river pollution against perpetrators and governments.
On non-native birds and sustainable paddy
12 February 2024: At the end of last month, Siew Lyn co-moderated a hackathon on site-specific sustainable solutions by Australian students. From wetland management in Putrajaya to ecotourism in Kuala Selangor and sustainable paddy in Sekinchan, the students did great presentations on their learnings and critiques.
The students hailed from the University of Tasmania, and 2 of the groups were offered the opportunity to write commentaries on their experiences for Macaranga’s Remarks section.
The Selangor leg and hackathon were hosted by Lestari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and concluded the students’ final leg of their Global Sustainability and Local Responses study tour of Malaysia.
(photos by Lee Khai Ern / LESTARI UKM)
Green energy’s impact on Orang Asli
12 January 2024: Mini hydros have impacted at least 2 Orang Asli communities in Perak. Can Malaysia’s transition to renewable energy be more equitable to communities? We discuss who the beneficiaries of these hydro projects are, processes such as Free, Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) and Environmental Impact Assessments, and the cultural importance of traditional lands.
Featuring Ashley Yeong and Wong Siew Lyn from Macaranga and Piarapakaran Subramaniam, President, Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER). Hosted by Juliet Jacobs on ‘Earth Matters’, BFM89.9.
Based on Ashley’s story Perak Dams Threaten Stone Spirits and Ancestral Graves
