The Orang Utan STAYS

Because I said so.

Right.

So the latest news (well, not that new but not too long ago either) was that the PM requested for some orang utan to be sent to Peninsular Malaysia to promote eco-tourism.

The STAR 20 Jan 2010: Sabah against relocating orang utan

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is not keen to relocate any orang utan to Peninsular Malaysia for eco-tourism purposes.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said not only is it dangerous to remove the sensitive primates from their natural habitat but the local people were against such a move to send the state’s icon away.

He said this when commenting on a statement by Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk James Dawos Mamit, who said they would obtain orang utan from Sabah and Sarawak to set up an eco-tourism attraction similar to the Sepilok orang utan sanctuary in Sandakan and the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in Kuching.

Mamit had told reporters in Kuching on Sunday that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had requested for some orang utan to be sent to Peninsular Malaysia to promote eco-tourism.

Masidi said yesterday orang utan were not like some other animals that could be easily relocated from their habitat. He said any relocation could be traumatising enough to cause their death.

He said relocating an orang utan involved a lot of technicalities and planning.

“The orang utan should stay where they are. Those who want to see orang utan will have to come to Sabah to see them,” Masidi said adding that there had been no official request made to the state government for the primate.

Thank you, Datuk Masidi. At least, a voice of reason.

And I am embarassed, yet again, to be from the Peninsular. What kind of moronic idea is that? It's like saying "Hey, let's clear *insert a town in West Malaysia* , turn it into a savannah, and bring in some lions, giraffes, and zebras. You don't have to go to Africa, you can just visit *previously inserted town* !"

Might as well move Mount Kinabalu while they're at it.

One doesn't even have to go as far as to contemplate the economical and social implications. The account of the orang utan welfare alone is enough to know that this is stupid.

They should just go ahead and say they want to relocate all the native animals of all the countries in the world so that everyone will visit Peninsular Malaysia for eco-tourism and nowhere else.


VERY against the relocation of orangutans,