The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- WWF, MNS asked to join Gunung Kanthan research
- Shafee gets Tan Sri title
- Radioactive cargo topples over at LCCT
| WWF, MNS asked to join Gunung Kanthan research Posted: PETALING JAYA: The biodiversity study done at the 400-million-year-old Gunung Kanthan in Perak will include independent experts recommended by conservation groups, said Lafarge Malaysia Bhd. Lafarge Cement Sdn Bhd senior vice-president (industrial) Jim Ruxton said it had invited WWF-Malaysia and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) to be involved. "The study will include independent experts agreed to by them as well as experts from Lafarge Group's International Biodiversity Panel," he said in a recent interview. MNS president Prof Dr Maketab Mohamed had been one of those who voiced opposition to Lafarge's plans to move its limestone quarrying activities to the southern portion of the hill, classified as areas C and D. He had expressed worry that the karst ecosystem there would be affected, given that the hill had majestic caves and a rich variety of flora and fauna including the endemic trapdoor spider Liphistius Kanthan, which is critically endangered. When contacted, Dr Maketab confirmed that he had recommended experts Liz Price and Dr Ruth Kiew to participate in Lafarge's biodiversity study. "We have stressed that areas C and D must be conserved as a unit due to the interactive nature of the ecosystem," he said. Dr Maketab had urged Lafarge to continue extracting limestone in areas A and B by moving its operations downwards through open cast quarrying, which involves accessing reserves below ground through digging, cutting or blasting. Ruxton said that there was potential to do open cast quarrying there but could only be considered once areas A and B were fully developed. "But we still won't be able to do open cast quarrying until the upper limestone deposits are taken down to ground level," he said. Ruxton stressed that Lafarge had not ruled out any option until it received the results and recommendations of the biodiversity study, which is being headed by Universiti Malaya's Biological Sciences Institute head Prof Dr Rosli Hashim. The team's findings, expected to be completed in December, will be presented to Lafarge's international panel, which includes independent representatives from WWF-International, IUCN France and the Wildlife Habitat Council. "We want to see first what the biodiversity issues are. Then we will work on a biodiversity management plan that is in agreement with not just Lafarge, but MNS and WWF-Malaysia," he said. |
| Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: Prominent lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Md Abdullah was conferred the Tan Sri title along with six others at Istana Negara here. Apart from Muhammad Shafee, Federal Court judge Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop also received the Tan Sri title. They received the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) award, which carries the title "Tan Sri", that was bestowed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in conjunction with the ruler's official birthday celebration last June. Besides Ahmad and Muhammad Shafee, the others who received the award are Special Adviser on Religion to the Prime Minister Tan Sri Professor Dr Abdullah Md Zin, the Prime Minister's Adviser Tan Sri Othman Abd Razak, ABN Media Group executive chairman Tan Sri Ketheeswaran Kanagaratnam, Landmarks Berhad director Tan Sri Zakaria Abdul Hamid and Sapura Group president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin. Also present at the ceremony was Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah. — Bernama |
| Radioactive cargo topples over at LCCT Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: A consignment of radioactive material caused a scare when it toppled at the Kuala Lumpur Airport Service (KLAS) Cargo complex at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT). LLCT Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Azmi Saddon said KLAS Cargo employees were moving the box of UN2916 material when the cargo toppled and the content spilled on the floor at round 11.15am on Friday. "However, no one was injured as the level of radioactivity from the spilt content was low. It did not pose any danger to people." According to the International Maritime Organisation, UN 2916 consignments are Class 7 radioactive material, commonly used for medical and public health purposes. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd senior general manager of operations services Datuk Azmi Murad said fire and rescue officials swiftly contained the area and cleared the mess two hours later. "There was no cause for alarm as the leak was small and was brought under control by the proper authorities," he said. |
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