Podcasts about peninsular malaysia

Chris and Cristina chat with Dr. Ian Wallace, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, where he is the director of the Human Physical Activity Lab. As an Evolutionary Anthropologist, Ian's work focuses on how humans evolved to use their bodies and explores the costs and benefits of modern physical activity patterns for our health. He is particularly interested in populations transitioning from non-industrial to industrial and post-industrial contexts. Ian earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology in 2013 from Stony Brook University, where his dissertation examined how physical activity and genetics determine limb bone structure. Following graduate school and an initial postdoctoral position at Stony Brook, he completed his postdoctoral training in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard and started his own lab at UNM. There, he focuses on measures of locomotor biomechanics and their ties to the health and function of the musculoskeletal system. Recently, his fieldwork has focused on the Indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia. In particular, he is interested in how their lifestyles are changing with the rapid expansion of industries, the market economy, and urban areas across Malaysia, as well as how these changes affect their health and risk of disease. ------------------------------ Find the papers discussed in this episode: Wallace, I. J., Worthington, S., Felson, D. T., Jurmain, R. D., Wren, K. T., Maijanen, H., Woods, R. J., & Lieberman, D. E. (2017). Knee osteoarthritis has doubled in prevalence since the mid-20th century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(35), 9332–9336. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1703856114 Wallace, I. J., Lea, A. J., Lim, Y. A. L., Chow, S. K. W., Sayed, I. B. M., Ngui, R., Shaffee, M. T. H., Ng, K. S., Nicholas, C., Venkataraman, V. V., & Kraft, T. S. (2022). Orang Asli Health and Lifeways Project (OA HeLP): a cross-sectional cohort study protocol. BMJ open, 12(9), e058660. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058660 ------------------------------ Contact Dr. Wallace: Website: https://www.ianjwallace.com/; E-mail: iwallace@unm.edu ------------------------------ Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association: Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc Chris Lynn, Host Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu/, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu, Twitter:@Chris_Ly Cristina Gildee, Co-host, SoS Co-Producer, HBA Junior Fellow Website: cristinagildee.org, E-mail: cgildee@uw.edu

Yaramaurd and Pythia discuss the cultures, practices, and cosmology of the Senoi Temiar people of Malaysia and their use of ritual and its correlations with theatre. After consideration of techniques we could bring into our own practices, Yara talks about methods of herbal tincture making and Pythia brings attention to the Aquilaria or lign-aloe tree and sustainability. Cited Sources:Abdullah, Muhammad Fuad, et al. “TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE and the USES of NATURAL RESOURCES by the RESETTLEMENT of INDIGENOUS PEOPLE in MALAYSIA.” Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, vol. 25, no. 1, 20 June 2020, pp. 168–190, https://doi.org/10.22452/jati.vol25no1.9.Benjamin, Geoffrey. “Austroasiatic Subgroupings and Prehistory in the Malay Peninsula.” Oceanic Linguistics Special Publications, no. 13, 1976, pp. 37–128. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20019154.Ch, Russell Maeth. “G. William Domhoff. The Mystique of Dreams ; a Search for Utopia through Senoi Dream Theory. Berkeley, Calif. : University of California Press, 1985. X, 146 P.” Estudios de Asia Y África, vol. 21, no. 2, 1 Apr. 1986, pp. 354–356.Cole, Fay-Cooper. The Peoples of Malaysia. 1945.Domhoff, G William. “Senoi, Kilton Stewart and the Mystique of Dreams: Further Thoughts on an Allegory about an Allegory.” Lucidity Letter, vol. 10, 1 Jan. 1991. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.Fix, Alan G. The Demography of the Semai Senoi. U OF M MUSEUM ANTHRO ARCHAEOLOGY, 1 Jan. 1977.G William Domhoff. The Mystique of Dreams : A Search for Utopia through Senoi Dream Theory. Berkeley, University Of California Press, 1985.Jennings, Sue. Theatre, Ritual and Transformation. Routledge, 20 Dec. 2018.Masron, T. & Masami, F. & Ismail, Norhasimah. (2013). Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia: population, spatial distribution and socio-economic condition. J. Ritsumeikan Soc. Sci. Hum.. 6. 75-115.Noone, H. D. “Report on the Settlements and Welfare of the Ple-Temiar Senoi of the Perak-Kelantan Watershed.” Journal of the Federated Malay States Museums. 1936.Saputra, Riza & Khotimah, Husnul. (2021). BRIDGING TO ANOTHER DIMENSION: THE RELATIONAL SYSTEM OF SHAMANISM AND RELIGIOUS ENCOUNTER AMONGST THE TEMIAR SENOI OF MALAYA. Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Ushuluddin. 20. 72. 10.18592/jiiu.v20i1.5051.Thambiah, Shanthi, et al. “Reclaiming the Eclipsed Female in the Sacred.” Bijdragen Tot de Taal-, Land- En Volkenkunde / Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia, vol. 174, no. 2-3, 1 Jan. 2018, pp. 264–290, https://doi.org/10.1163/22134379-17402002.Toshihiro Nobuta. Living on the Periphery. Trans Pacific Press, 2008.

With Thaipusam just around the corner, this time of year often brings Batu Caves back to the forefront of every Malaysian's mind. While most people remember the site for its colorful stairs and Hindu Temples, we often forget that this limestone structure is a biodiverse hotspot home to some of the rarest species of flora and fauna in Peninsular Malaysia. In this episode, we speak to Zarris Kem, Karst Naturalist and Member of the Malaysian Cave and Karst Conservancy about what makes Batu Caves unique as a geopark. We also discuss protection efforts, ecotourism and the research carried out on the Batu Caves Scientific Expedition.Image: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summary: Join Kiersten as she talk about the largest bats in the world, the Megachiroptera. Don't worry it's not scary at all!   For my hearing impaired listeners, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   Show Notes: https://www.ecologyasia.com https://batcon.org “Bats in Question: A Smithsonian Answer Book,” by Don E. Wilson Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops)   Kiersten - Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… This is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. The second thing I like about bats is Megachiroptera. If you remember from the last episode, which I'm sure you do, Megachiroptera refers to the Old World bats found in Asia, Africa, Australia, and some Pacific Islands. These are the larger bat species and in this episode we're going to take a closer look at them. You may know Megachiroptera by their more commonly used name, Flying Foxes. They get the name from the fact that their faces look a lot like foxes. You may also hear these bats referred to as the Old World Fruit bats or megabats, There is only one Family under Suborder Megachiroptera and that is Family Pteropodidae. There are approximately 170 species of megabats but keep in mind we are always discovering new species of animals and scientists are always rearranging classifications based on new information.  Where are Megachiroptera found? They can be found in Asia, Africa, Australia, and on a few islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is often said that they are Old World species only. That refers to the fact that they are not found in the Americas. No Megachiroptera are found in North, Central, or South America. Since I live in North America that make me a little sad because megabats are freaking awesome! What kinds of habitats are these bats found in? That is often dictated by what they eat and most Megachiroptera are frugivores. So, they will be found where fruits are very plentiful. This places the bats in forested habitats that have large fruit bearing trees for our bigger species and medium size fruits for our smaller species. Forests seems to be the typical choice of most Megachiroptera because it offers the most variable fruit. So what do they eat? We just answered this question. Most Megachiroptera eat fruit. Fruit makes up the majority of their diet, but an occasional flower or leaf might get thrown in the mix. It's very interesting to watch fruit bats eat because they don't actually eat the pulp of the fruit. They bite into the fruit and chew it into a pulpy mess letting the juices of the fruit flow down their throat as the more fibrous portions of the fruit fall out the sides of their mouth. I did a two-week internship at the Lubee Foundation in Gainesville, FL some time ago and got to see this up close and personal. I was all prepared to watch these bats tear into the pieces of fruit and leave nothing behind, but that is not what happened. We were cleaning chewed up fruits off the floor by the shovelful. It was kinda gross, but it did not take away from the majesty of these animals. What kind of fruits are we talking about? A lot of the same things that we eat. In the wild they will eat bananas, mango, papaya, figs, various berries, and citrus fruits. In captivity they get a lot of the same fruits with some different kinds of melons thrown in, as well. The fact that these bats eat the same kinds of fruits that we like is what gets them into trouble with fruit growers, but these bats are looking for the overripe fruit and tend to leave the ripe fruit or slightly underripe fruit that growers pick to sell alone. These bats actually do the fruit growers a favor by getting rid of the overripe fruit that attracts destructive insects and the bats help spread seeds to propagate more fruit plants. Are fruit bats and flying foxes the same kind of bat? Yes and no. The term Flying Foxes typically refers to the Pteropus genus. These bats are the ones that have the long muzzle, the tiny little ears, the round heads, large teeth, and look a lot like foxes. These bats are fruit bats, but there are other species of bats that are also fruit bats but are not Pteropus bats.  One of the questions people ask about Flying Foxes in particular, is why they have such large, scary teeth? They use those large, scary teeth to rip into the tough skin of the fruit they eat. Hav you ever tried to bite into a mango, or papaya or banana with just your teeth? It's tough. Since they don't have opposable thumbs, they use their teeth. Megachiroptera tend to hang out in large groups and roosts during the day in trees. They will hang from their short back legs using the large curved claws that are used only for roosting. You can see them hanging in the tallest trees like Christmas ornaments. Like their smaller cousins, they do tend to be more active at night, but you can see them flying at dawn and dusk. This makes them a bit more crepuscular than nocturnal, but they can still be moving around at night.  Unlike their smaller cousins, they don't seem to use echolocation much, if at all. It does make sense that they might not use this because their prey items are fruit. The fruit typically doesn't fly around at night trying to avoid being eaten by a bat. Scientists are still trying to determine if some species of Megachiroptera use echolocation, possibly in a different way than insect eating Microchiroptera. Fruit bats do have better vision than their smaller, insect eating cousins because they rely on that to find their food. Most flying foxes actually have color-vision to help them find their fruit and determine whether it is ripe enough for them to eat. When they get close enough to the chosen item, they will also use their sense of smell to make sure this is just what they want.  Now both Mega and Micro bats have essentially the same anatomy, with one striking difference. Megachiroptera have a large hook that protrudes from the top of the wing that looks an awful lot like a thumb with a claw at the end. They use this to help grasp fruit and use as a way to grasp onto branches when they need to hold on with their wings for various reasons.  The largest species of Megachirotera comes from southeastern Asia. It is found only on the islands of the Philippines. The Golden-crowned Flying Fox has a wingspan over five feet long and is the heaviest bat weighing in at 3 pounds. It gets it's name from the yellow colored fur that adorns it head and is also known as the Golden-capped Fruit Bat.  The smallest species of megabat is the Spotted-winged Fruit Bat that is found in southern Thailand through Peninsular Malaysia to the Riau Archipelago and parts of Borneo. They weigh in at 15 grams and are only 5-6cm from head to toe. They get their name from the pale spots on the wings, fingers joints, face, and base of the ear. They are fruit eaters and are most often found in lowland primary rainforest or tall secondary forests. As you can see there is quite a wide range of species in the Megachiroptera. Now I could go on, but I have used up my time. Thanks for joining me for my second favorite thing about bats, the Megachiroptera.         If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.  Join me next week for another exciting episode about bats.        (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, piano extraordinaire.

How do we confront difference and change in a rapidly shifting environment? Many indigenous peoples are facing this question in their daily lives. Sensing Others: Voicing Batek Ethical Lives at the Edge of a Malaysian Rain Forest (U Nebraska Press, 2024) explores the lives of Batek people in Peninsular Malaysia amid the strange and the new in the borderland between protected national park and oil palm plantation. As their ancestral forests disappear around them, Batek people nevertheless attempt to live well among the strange Others they now encounter: out-of-place animals and plants, traders, tourists, poachers, and forest guards. How Batek people voice their experiences of the good and the strange in relation to these Others challenges essentialized notions of cultural and species difference and the separateness of ethical worlds. Drawing on meticulous, long-term ethnographic research with Batek people, Alice Rudge argues that as people seek to make habitable a constantly changing landscape, what counts as Otherness is always under negotiation. Anthropology's traditional dictum to “make the strange familiar, and the familiar strange” creates a binary between the familiar and the Other, often encapsulating Indigenous lives as the archetypal Other to the “modern” worldview. Yet living well amid precarity involves constantly negotiating Otherness's ambivalences, as people, plants, animals, and places can all become familiar, strange, or both. Sensing Others reveals that when looking from the boundary, what counts as Otherness is impossible to pin down. Alice Rudge is a Lecturer in Anthropology at SOAS, University of London. She works at the intersection of environmental anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and science and technology studies. She focuses on themes of alterity, ethics, Indigenous justice, plantation agriculture, and sustainable scientific practice to explore conflicting questions of what it means to live a good life in conditions of environmental breakdown. Yadong Li is a PhD student in anthropology at Tulane University. His research interests lie at the intersection of economic anthropology, medical anthropology, hope studies, and the anthropology of borders and frontiers. More details about his scholarship and research interests can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

How do we confront difference and change in a rapidly shifting environment? Many indigenous peoples are facing this question in their daily lives. Sensing Others: Voicing Batek Ethical Lives at the Edge of a Malaysian Rain Forest (U Nebraska Press, 2024) explores the lives of Batek people in Peninsular Malaysia amid the strange and the new in the borderland between protected national park and oil palm plantation. As their ancestral forests disappear around them, Batek people nevertheless attempt to live well among the strange Others they now encounter: out-of-place animals and plants, traders, tourists, poachers, and forest guards. How Batek people voice their experiences of the good and the strange in relation to these Others challenges essentialized notions of cultural and species difference and the separateness of ethical worlds. Drawing on meticulous, long-term ethnographic research with Batek people, Alice Rudge argues that as people seek to make habitable a constantly changing landscape, what counts as Otherness is always under negotiation. Anthropology's traditional dictum to “make the strange familiar, and the familiar strange” creates a binary between the familiar and the Other, often encapsulating Indigenous lives as the archetypal Other to the “modern” worldview. Yet living well amid precarity involves constantly negotiating Otherness's ambivalences, as people, plants, animals, and places can all become familiar, strange, or both. Sensing Others reveals that when looking from the boundary, what counts as Otherness is impossible to pin down. Alice Rudge is a Lecturer in Anthropology at SOAS, University of London. She works at the intersection of environmental anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and science and technology studies. She focuses on themes of alterity, ethics, Indigenous justice, plantation agriculture, and sustainable scientific practice to explore conflicting questions of what it means to live a good life in conditions of environmental breakdown. Yadong Li is a PhD student in anthropology at Tulane University. His research interests lie at the intersection of economic anthropology, medical anthropology, hope studies, and the anthropology of borders and frontiers. More details about his scholarship and research interests can be found here. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/southeast-asian-studies

How do we confront difference and change in a rapidly shifting environment? Many indigenous peoples are facing this question in their daily lives. Sensing Others: Voicing Batek Ethical Lives at the Edge of a Malaysian Rain Forest (U Nebraska Press, 2024) explores the lives of Batek people in Peninsular Malaysia amid the strange and the new in the borderland between protected national park and oil palm plantation. As their ancestral forests disappear around them, Batek people nevertheless attempt to live well among the strange Others they now encounter: out-of-place animals and plants, traders, tourists, poachers, and forest guards. How Batek people voice their experiences of the good and the strange in relation to these Others challenges essentialized notions of cultural and species difference and the separateness of ethical worlds. Drawing on meticulous, long-term ethnographic research with Batek people, Alice Rudge argues that as people seek to make habitable a constantly changing landscape, what counts as Otherness is always under negotiation. Anthropology's traditional dictum to “make the strange familiar, and the familiar strange” creates a binary between the familiar and the Other, often encapsulating Indigenous lives as the archetypal Other to the “modern” worldview. Yet living well amid precarity involves constantly negotiating Otherness's ambivalences, as people, plants, animals, and places can all become familiar, strange, or both. Sensing Others reveals that when looking from the boundary, what counts as Otherness is impossible to pin down. Alice Rudge is a Lecturer in Anthropology at SOAS, University of London. She works at the intersection of environmental anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and science and technology studies. She focuses on themes of alterity, ethics, Indigenous justice, plantation agriculture, and sustainable scientific practice to explore conflicting questions of what it means to live a good life in conditions of environmental breakdown. Yadong Li is a PhD student in anthropology at Tulane University. His research interests lie at the intersection of economic anthropology, medical anthropology, hope studies, and the anthropology of borders and frontiers. More details about his scholarship and research interests can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

How do we confront difference and change in a rapidly shifting environment? Many indigenous peoples are facing this question in their daily lives. Sensing Others: Voicing Batek Ethical Lives at the Edge of a Malaysian Rain Forest (U Nebraska Press, 2024) explores the lives of Batek people in Peninsular Malaysia amid the strange and the new in the borderland between protected national park and oil palm plantation. As their ancestral forests disappear around them, Batek people nevertheless attempt to live well among the strange Others they now encounter: out-of-place animals and plants, traders, tourists, poachers, and forest guards. How Batek people voice their experiences of the good and the strange in relation to these Others challenges essentialized notions of cultural and species difference and the separateness of ethical worlds. Drawing on meticulous, long-term ethnographic research with Batek people, Alice Rudge argues that as people seek to make habitable a constantly changing landscape, what counts as Otherness is always under negotiation. Anthropology's traditional dictum to “make the strange familiar, and the familiar strange” creates a binary between the familiar and the Other, often encapsulating Indigenous lives as the archetypal Other to the “modern” worldview. Yet living well amid precarity involves constantly negotiating Otherness's ambivalences, as people, plants, animals, and places can all become familiar, strange, or both. Sensing Others reveals that when looking from the boundary, what counts as Otherness is impossible to pin down. Alice Rudge is a Lecturer in Anthropology at SOAS, University of London. She works at the intersection of environmental anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and science and technology studies. She focuses on themes of alterity, ethics, Indigenous justice, plantation agriculture, and sustainable scientific practice to explore conflicting questions of what it means to live a good life in conditions of environmental breakdown. Yadong Li is a PhD student in anthropology at Tulane University. His research interests lie at the intersection of economic anthropology, medical anthropology, hope studies, and the anthropology of borders and frontiers. More details about his scholarship and research interests can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/geography

The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672) is one of Malaysia's key legislative frameworks, and was designed to address the shortcomings of waste management laws across Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territories, ensuring better coordination, enforcement and sustainability. What are some of the pressing issues Malaysia is facing when it comes to dealing with its waste, and how does this Act close the gaps or address inefficiencies in waste management here? We explore the history of Act 672, the reasons behind its introduction, and its applications here in the country with Khor Sue Yee (Co-founder and Director, Zero Waste Malaysia) and Tasha Sabapathy (Senior Programme and Communications Officer, Zero Waste Malaysia).Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summary: Is the stinkiest flower in the world in danger of disappearing forever? Join Kiersten as she discusses the conservation status of Rafflesia.   For my hearing impaired listeners, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   Show Notes:  “Most of the world's largest flowers (genus Rafflesia) are now on the brink of extinction,” by Pastor Malabrigo Jr, Adriane B. Tobias, Joko Witono, Sofi Mursidawati, Agus Susatya, Mat Eunuch Siti-Munirah, Adhityo Wicaksono, Reza Raihandhany, Sarah Edwards, and Chris J. Thorogood. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10431 “Colossal Blossom: Pursuing the peculiar genetics of a parasitic plant,” by Jonathan Shaw. Harvard Magazine. https://www.harvardmagazine.com Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops) Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. This is episode five of Unbelievable Unknown Plants and the final episode of rafflesia. The fifth thing I like about rafflesia is awareness that conservation discussions are bringing to this unknown plant. Awareness is always important for any conservation efforts. That is one of the main reasons I decided to do this podcast. Getting the word out is the best weapon in a conservationist's tool belt for saving an imperiled species. When it comes to rafflesia the conservation efforts is what really brought this flower into the public eye. The first paper I found when diving into the research on this lifeform was titled “Most of the world's largest flowers (genus Rafflesia) are now on the brink of extinction.”  Despite the recent increased interest in Rafflesia, the flower as a species is in danger of extinction. When we say that we mean all species of Rafflesia not just one species. What makes Rafflesia so vulnerable to disappearing? If you've listened to the last four episode you might be able to piece it together yourself. In the second episode in this series, I talked about where Rafflesia can be found. All species of Rafflesia are restricted to one area of the world. They are found on several islands within the southeast Asian region but they are only found in the Philippines, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Peninsular Malaysia. They rely on the tropical rainforest areas of these islands, which restricts them to only a portion of the terrain.  The number one reason Rafflesia are endangered is habitat loss. The above mentioned paper predicts that 67% of known habitats for Rafflesia are not in a protected area. This means that these habitats are at risk from human encroachment for lumber, clear cutting for farming, and greed, in general. Rafflesia are found only on Tetrastigma vines, as far as we currently know, and these are only found in rainforests of southeast Asia. If these vines are removed, we lose all species of Rafflesia.  Those of you that are loyal listeners may be saying, what about protections that come with IUCN listings of endangered species? That is a good point, but the International Union for Conservation of Nature only lists one Rafflesia species as Critically Endangered. In 2008 Rafflesia magnifica was listed as Critically Endangered with a population trend of decreasing.   Rafflesia magnifica is found only on Mindanao Island, Philippines. The habitat in which this particular flower is found is being destroyed for road construction and conversion of the rainforest into banana plantations.  Why are more species not listed by the IUCN? Even though researchers that published this paper urge the world to take action to list all Rafflesia as endangered, there are steps that must be taken to warrant this listing. The biggest obstacle is the lack of data determining the population numbers of Rafflesia. These flowers are hard to find as they bloom at random times and have no indication that they are about to bloom. It's hard for scientists to find them, much less make an accurate count of them. Without this hard evidence, a listing by IUCN is impossible. So scientists are doing the next best thing. They are bringing awareness of this plant to the world. Many international news companies have picked up this story and run with it. Smaller news outlets are highlighting this flower, and people like me are getting the name out there as well. The best way to save any species is to get the public interested. The more that they know the better. What can we do? The scientists involved in the research of Rafflesia populations have proposed a four-point action plan.  1. We need greater protection of Rafflesia habitats which targets the populations at most risk. Southeast Asia has the fastest disappearing forests on the planet, and as we know this is the only place where Rafflesia are found. 2. We need a better understanding of the full diversity of Rafflesia that exists which will better inform decision-making. A big problem with current protections is that the species diversity of Rafflesia are still under debate. How many species actually are there of Rafflesia? Sampling expeditions and genetic testing must be a priority. 3. We need to develop methods to successfully propagate Rafflesia in captivity. 4. If we introduce new ecotourism initiatives to engage local communities in Rafflesia conservation, it can go a long way. When given alternatives to destructive farming to feed your family, locals get on board with protecting local wildlife. Several of the countries that host Rafflesia are doing their best to protect these flowers through ecotourism initiatives, local laws, and research in National Parks. For example, local villagers in West Sumatra are benefiting from Rafflesia ecotourism by building social media platforms that announce blooming events to attract paying tourists, bring awareness to the Rafflesia, and carefully manage the risks of trampling the flowers due to unsupervised visitors.  Indonesia celebrates Rafflesia as one of its national flowers.  In Sarawak, Malaysia all Rafflesia are listed by the local government as “Total Protected Plants” under the Wildlife Protection Ordinance of 1998. Let's go bak to number three of the four-point action plan. Many species of wildlife, flora or fauna, have benefitted from our efforts to breed or propagate individuals in captivity, so why not do this with Rafflesia? I love your thought process, listeners! The problem with this is that Rafflesia is a parasitic plant that relies on a host plant for survival, it's not like other flowers where we just collect some seeds and put them in the ground. Rafflesia seeds have to get into the Tertrastigma vine to germinate and we still don't know how that happens. No having said this, Bogor Botanic Garden in West Java, Indonesia has had some success in propagating Rafflesia. They have successfully bloomed Rafflesia patma 16 times. There are several botanical gardens around the world that are in line to learn the secrets discovered at Bogor Botanic Garden, so they too can help conserve this amazing plant. Even with these efforts, most Rafflesia species are still at great risk of disappearing forever, but hopefully with more exposure we can help Rafflesia have a bright future. This is the final episode of Raflessia but only the fifth in the Unbelievable Unknown Plants series and my fifth favorite thing about Rafflesia is the conservation effort being made to secure their future.   If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.    So join me next week for another episode about Unbelievable Unknown Plants.       (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, piano extraordinaire.

The Mak Jintan peat swamp forest in Terengganu is the last known virgin peat swamp in Peninsular Malaysia. Peatlands are essential ecosystems, teeming with biodiversity and playing a critical role in carbon storage and water regulation. So when plans emerged to convert the Mak Jintan peat swamp forest into an oil palm plantation, it sparked significant concern among scientists, conservationists, and even an industry regulator. We speak to Law Yao Hua, an environmental journalist and co-founder of environmental journalism portal Macaranga, about his recent investigations into this project, and we also explore the importance of these fragile ecosystems, and discuss sustainable ways to protect and manage them. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summary: Where are rafflesia found? Join Kiersten as she visits Southeast Asia (not literally) to find out.    For my hearing impaired listeners, a complete transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean   “Most of the world's largest flowers (genus Rafflesia) are now on the brink of extinction,” by Pastor Malabrigo Jr, Adriane B. Tobias, Joko Witono, Sofi Mursidawati, Agus Susatya, Mat Eunuch Siti-Munirah, Adhityo Wicaksono, Reza Raihandhany, Sarah Edwards, and Chris J. Thorogood. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10431 Music written and performed by Katherine Camp   Transcript (Piano music plays) Kiersten - This is Ten Things I Like About…a ten minute, ten episode podcast about unknown or misunderstood wildlife. (Piano music stops) Welcome to Ten Things I Like About… I'm Kiersten, your host, and this is a podcast about misunderstood or unknown creatures in nature. Some we'll find right out side our doors and some are continents away but all are fascinating.  This podcast will focus ten, ten minute episodes on different animals and their amazing characteristics. Please join me on this extraordinary journey, you won't regret it. The second thing I like about rafflesia is where it is found. This genus of plant has a very small distribution. Let's talk about where you can find these amazing flowers. You probably remember from last week's introductory episode  that rafflesia our found in southeast Asia. None have been found outside this region at the recording of this podcast in 2024, although researchers believe that there are more within this region that have yet to be seen and described by science. The majority of rafflesia are found in the Philippines, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, and Peninsular Malaysia. For your reference, Peninsular Malaysia refers to the western portion of Malaysia, or the island portion, and consists of 11 states and two federal territories. Let's take a look and where specific species of rafflesia are found. Before I get started, please excuse any mispronunciation of country names. I mean     no offense.  Rafflesia arnoldii, the largest species of rafflesia with a spread of three feet in diameter, is found in Malaysia in Borneo and Sarawak. This rafflesia has two varieties, the second variety is Rafflesia arnoldii atjehensis which is found in Indonesia on West Kalimantan and Sumatra. Rafflesia aurantia is fund in the Philippines in Luzon and the Quirino Province. Rafflesia azlanii is found on Peninsular Malaysia in Perak and Pahang. Rafflesia baletei is fund in the Phillipones on Southern Luzon and the Camarines Sur Province. Rafflesia bengkuluensis is found in Indonesia in Souther Sumatra. Rafflesia cantleyi is found in Peninsular Malaysia and on Tioman Island. Rafflesia consueloae, the smallest rafflesia at only 9.7cm in width, is found in the Philippines in Luzon, Nueva Ecija Province.   Rafflesia gadutensis is found in Indonesia on the Western coast of Sumatra and Benkulu. Rafflesia hasseltii is found in Indonesia's central Sumatra. Rafflesia keithii can be found in Malaysia's Borneo and Sabah and Indonesia's East Kalimantan. Rafflesia kerrii is found in Peninsular Thailand as well as Peninsular Malaysia. Rafflesia lagascae is found in Luzon in the Philippines. Rafflesia lawangensis can be found in North Sumatra and the Gunung Leuser National Park of Indonesia. Rafflesia leonardii is found in Luzon, Phillipines. Rafflesia lobata can be seen in Panay, Philippines. Rafflesia manillana lives in Samar Philippines. Rafflesia meijeri blooms in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Rafflesia micropylora is also found in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Rafflesia mira and Rafflesia mixta are both found in Mindanao, Philippines. Rafflesia patna is found in Java, Indonesia. Rafflesia philippensis is, you guessed it, found in the Philippines, Luzon Island, Quezon Province, Mt. Banahaw. This flower also goes by R. Banahaw or R. banahawensis in an homage to where it grows. Rafflesia pricei is found in Borneo, Sabah, possibly N. Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan. Rafflesia rochussenii lives in Western Java and Sumatra, Indonesia.  Rafflesia schadenbergiana and Rafflesia speciosa are both found in the Philippines in Mindanao and Panay respectively. Rafflesia tengku-adlinii is found in Borneo and Sabah Malaysia. Rafflesia tuan-mudae is also found in Malaysia but in West Sarawak. Rafflesia verrucosa resides in Mindanao, Philippines. Rafflesia zollingeriana is found in eastern Java, Indonesia. The remaining species of rafflesia that we currently know of have incomplete taxonomic identification, so we are not sure if they are all seperate species from the one described above, but they are all found in Indonesia or Peninsular Malaysia. Thanks for hanging in there listeners, I didn't list these all out just so I could say rafflesia a lot, although I have to admit it is fun to say, I want to highlight how many places each specie is found. If you didn't tune it out, you may have noticed that most species are only found in one place. Only five species are found on more than one island. Since most of these flowers are found on islands, the theory of island biogeography applies. This theory, in a nutshell, says that larger islands should host a larger amount of species than smaller islands because larger islands are, well, larger. This holds true for the majority of islands that host rafflesia, but when dealing with nature, there is always an exception to the rule.  This is true of rafflesia. The island of Luzon is seven times smaller than Borneo yet both of them host the same amount of rafflesia. Scientists are not sure why yet, but research into this is ongoing. When discussing distribution of this plant, we do have to keep in mind that scientists are still discovering new species or discovering known species in new locations, so our knowledge is continually evolving.  Most rafflesias are found in a rainforest habitat on the island where they bloom and that is due to the nature of the host plant upon which they rely. The vines in the genus Tetrastigma seem to be the only vines that host these amazing flowers and they are mostly found in rainforests. Now that we know what rafflesia is and where to find it, next week we will delve into its unusual life cycle.  Thank you for listening to episode two of rafflesia. The locations where this incredible flower is found is my second favorite thing about them.  If you're enjoying this podcast please recommend me to friends and family and take a moment to give me a rating on whatever platform your listening. It will help me reach more listeners and give the animals I talk about an even better chance at change.    So join me next week for another episode about Rafflesia.       (Piano Music plays)  This has been an episode of Ten Things I like About with Kiersten and Company. Original music written and performed by Katherine Camp, piano extraordinaire.

A new analysis by global energy think tank Ember reveals that solar power generation in Peninsular Malaysia was 53% cheaper than fossil fuels in 2023, offering significant cost savings and energy security benefits. The report highlights the untapped potential of Malaysia's solar resources, particularly in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak, and advocates for accelerated solar growth and grid integration to meet the country's renewable energy targets. We discuss the report with Shabrina Nadhila, the Electricity Policy Analyst for Southeast Asia at Ember, and how Malaysia needs enhanced policies to integrate solar and battery storage, emphasizing the need for a holistic, system-wide approach to ensure a secure and resilient energy future.Image Credit: EmbersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asian elephants are the largest land mammals on the Asian continent and play a crucial role as keystone species and ecosystem engineers. Distinguished by their smaller ears and domed heads compared to their African counterparts, these gentle giants once roamed across diverse habitats from grasslands to rainforests throughout Asia. However, their population has sharply declined due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-elephant conflicts. It's conjunction with World Elephant Day, celebrated annually on the 12th of August, we want to discuss why ensuring their survival is crucial to both people and planet, with Associate Professor Dr Wong Ee Phin, an elephant ecologist and the Principle Investigator from the Management and Ecology of Malaysian Elephants or MEME, which is a research organisation working on developing evidence-based approach to the conservation of Asian elephants in Peninsular Malaysia. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Problematic forest plantations prompted Malaysia to call for a 15-year moratorium on new projects in Peninsular Malaysia, to buy time to plug the gaps in the system. But two and a half years on, states are still licensing planters to clear new sites. Why? In Macaranga's latest series, environmental journalist Law Yao Hua follows up on the issue of forest plantations in forest reserves, which is said to be one of the biggest drivers of forest loss in Peninsular Malaysia. Yao Hua joins us to delve into the many issues surrounding forest plantations, and we also speak to environmental activist Meor Razak bin Meor Abdul Rahman, a member of the NGO Sahabat Ekologi Perak, to discuss the impacts of forest plantations on local communities, flora and fauna. We also ponder - can forest plantations ever be sustainable in Peninsular Malaysia?Image Credit: YH Law via Macaranga Media Sdn BhdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

fWotD Episode 2576: George Town, Penang Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day where we read the summary of the featured Wikipedia article every day.The featured article for Friday, 24 May 2024 is George Town, Penang.George Town is the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is the core city of the George Town Conurbation, Malaysia's second largest metropolitan area with a population of 2.84 million and the second highest contributor to the country's GDP. The city proper spans an area of 306 km2 (118 sq mi) encompassing Penang Island and surrounding islets, and had a population of 794,313 as of 2020.Initially established as an entrepôt by Francis Light in 1786, George Town serves as the commercial centre for northern Malaysia. According to Euromonitor International and the Economist Intelligence Unit, it has the highest potential for revenue growth among all Malaysian cities and contributed nearly 8 per cent of the country's personal disposable income in 2015, second only to the national capital, Kuala Lumpur. Its technological sector, anchored by hundreds of multinational companies, has made George Town the top exporter in the country. The Penang International Airport links George Town to several regional cities, while a ferry service and two road bridges connect the city to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia. Swettenham Pier is the busiest cruise terminal in the country.George Town was the first British settlement in Southeast Asia, and its proximity to maritime routes along the Strait of Malacca attracted an influx of immigrants from various parts of Asia. Following rapid growth in its early years, it became the capital of the Straits Settlements in 1826, only to lose its administrative status to Singapore in 1832. The Straits Settlements became a British crown colony in 1867. Shortly before Malaya attained independence from Britain in 1957, George Town was declared a city by Queen Elizabeth II, making it the first city in the country's history. In 1974, George Town was merged with the rest of the island, throwing its city status into doubt until 2015, when its jurisdiction was reinstated and expanded to cover the entire island and adjacent islets.The city is described by UNESCO as having a "unique architectural and cultural townscape" that is shaped by centuries of intermingling between various cultures and religions. It has also gained a reputation as Malaysia's gastronomical capital for its distinct culinary scene. The preservation of these cultures contributed to the designation of the city centre of George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:42 UTC on Friday, 24 May 2024.For the full current version of the article, see George Town, Penang on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm Kendra Neural.

The wildlife conservation landscape in Malaysia, is changing, and while there have been many wins, such as recent amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act, there remains challenges, such as the delays in the actual enforcement of the Act, which threaten their efficacy. A comparison between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah's wildlife legislation underscores the need for tailored, comprehensive frameworks to address unique ecological needs and challenges. Notably, Sabah's Wildlife Conservation Enactment (1997) exemplifies a holistic approach, emphasising habitat preservation and species conservation. The proliferation of wildlife trade on social media underscores the urgency for dedicated NGOs specialising in rescue and rehabilitation. Drawing lessons from successful collaborations in neighbouring countries, Malaysia can enhance conservation efforts by fostering partnerships between NGOs and government agencies. Transparency, accountability, and adherence to international guidelines, facilitated by Malaysia's membership in the IUCN, are paramount to safeguarding the nation's biodiversity. The Gibbon Conservation Society of Malaysia is an NGO that believes in the importance of approaching conservation from every possible angle, in order to truly solve the issues faced by our wildlife. They work towards a comprehensive approach that not only tackles rehabilitation and the wildlife trade, but also empowers individuals, collaborates with communities, and contributes to scientific research, all while spreading awareness on issues such as these, across the globe. The society submitted an application to Perhilitan under Section 12(2) for a rehabilitation permit a few years ago, but the permit has still not been approved. We speak to Mariani Ramli, the President & Founder of the Gibbon Conservation Society (GCS) to discuss this ongoing issue, and to also find out how such delays are affecting their ongoing rehabilitation efforts, and the challenges that have arisen from the slow enforcement of these amendments in the Wildlife Act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rantaian Urban Green Spaces or RUGS is a conservation initiative with the primary objective of overseeing and fostering collaborative efforts among multiple stakeholders to preserve, revitalise, and interconnect the dispersed green areas within the Klang Valley. Throughout the Klang Valley, smaller, isolated green patches often receive less attention compared to larger forest expanses in other regions of the country. But these green pockets remain crucial habitats for Malaysia's diverse flora and fauna, thus the need for protection and restoration of these spaces. Under the stewardship of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), RUGS works on inclusive planning processes and the empowerment of local communities, and is said to be the first of its kind in Klang Valley and Peninsular Malaysia. As we celebrate International Day of Forests and World Water Day this March, we find out more about RUGS from Vivian Soon (Wildlife and Conservation Officer) and Ng Sean Fong (Data and Policy Officer) who are both with the Malaysian Nature Society.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Langur Project Penang (LPP), is a social enterprise in Penang that works for the conservation of primates, specifically to cultivate coexistence among humans and urban monkeys in Peninsular Malaysia. The team has been studying dusky langurs in urban Penang for several years and found that there is a need to help langurs and other treetop animals cross roads more safely. Artificial crossing structures like rope canopy bridges have been used in several countries, to reconnect separated forest patches or habitat fragments and to allow safe passage for small animals. In 2019, LPP made history by successfully setting up Malaysia's first urban canopy bridge in Teluk Bahang, Penang. The bridge has since been used by various wildlife to cross the busy road to this day, with zero primate roadkill at the site. Recently, the group successfully launched the first of three residential road canopy bridges in Penang UNESCO Biosphere Reserve's residential areas and we find out more from Dr. Yap Jo Leen (Head of Langur Project Penang (LPP), Wildlife Researcher and Environmental Educator), Lee Joey (Project Executive, Langur Project Penang) and Wong Hui Yi (Environmental Communicator, Langur Project Penang).Image credit: The Langur Project Penang (LPP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's always a delight to spot butterflies, not just for their aesthetic value, but also because we know they are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. But even for these gentle Lepidoptera, threats abound, impacting their survival. Habitat change, development, climate change, widespread pesticide use, and invasive species are just some of the threats they face, because of both direct and indirect impacts on native host plants. In Malaysia, Dr Rosli Omar, a naturalist and wildlife photographer took part in two surveys on butterflies - one in Batu Caves back in 2019, and more recently, one in Bukit Dinding in Wangsa Maju, KL. Dr Rosli has also published a book called Butterflies of Peninsular Malaysia, with a checklist of Scientific, English and Malay names. He joins us to share more about his discoveries and observations of butterfly species in Malaysia through such surveys, and his recommendations or actions to protect remaining species.Image Credit: Omar, R., Aziz, A.A. & Badrud'din, S. (2023). Butterflies of Peninsular Malaysia: with a checklist of Scientific, English and Malay names. Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, MalaysiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has imposed a windfall tax levy of 3% on palm oil prices above RM3000 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM3500 for East Malaysia since 1998. Industry players have made calls to the government to do away with this levy - what justifications are they putting forth? We speak with economist Khor Yu Leng of Segi Enam Advisors to find out what needs to be done for Malaysia to remain relevant in the palm oil supply chain.Image credit: Shutterstock.com

I am always excited to highlight conservation on the podcast. Especially when it comes to turtles. If you know me, you know I am a fan of turtles. In this episode, I interview Ginny and Seh Ling from Lang Tengah Turtle Watch located off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. I speak to them about day-to-day operations, conservation efforts, typical days off, and much more. Please enjoy!Website:https://www.langtengahturtlewatch.org/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lang_tengah_turtle_watch/https://www.instagram.com/ginnycheok/https://www.instagram.com/lsehling/

Sarawak's electoral borders are due for redrawing soon, with Sabah's set to expire in 2025, and 2026 for Peninsular Malaysia. Ahead of the delineation exercise, it's worth examining some best practices on boundary delimitation, and the potential for improvement in Malaysia. On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Adhy Aman, Danesh Prakash Chacko and Professor Wong Chin Huat.

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) is a global initiative focused on “making nature's values visible”. Back in early July 2023, the United Nations Development Programme in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam (UNDP Malaysia) unveiled the results of site-level economic valuation exercises conducted in three protected areas in Malaysia. The study estimates that ecosystem services of Taman Negara National Park, Royal Belum State Park and Endau-Rompin National Park are respectively valued at over RM1.7 billion, RM531 million and RM 428 million annually, and the study was aimed at developing an evidence base for increased finances and investments for terrestrial protected area systems in Peninsular Malaysia. We speak to Niloy Banerjee (UNDP Resident Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam) and Gan Pek Chuan (Head of Nature, Climate and Energy, UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam) to break down the results of this study, and also discuss why is it important to put tangible numerical values on habitats and green spaces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wondering if it's worth visiting Taman Negara on your Malaysian adventure? A massive national park in the centre of Peninsular Malaysia, Taman Negara National Park is the perfect place to get outdoors and enjoy the natural attractions that Malaysia offers. From thick rainforest to deep caves, this park is a dream come true for outdoor enthusiasts.  Taman Negara is calculated to be around 130 million years old and is home to one of the world's oldest rainforests as well as the highest point in Peninsular Malaysia, Gunung Tahan. This is the place to head to see the natural beauty of Malaysia. And it's not far from Kuala Lumpur! In fact, you can even visit here on a day trip, although I highly recommend you stay longer. In this episode, I'm discussing why (and when) you should visit Taman Negara, what to do when you're there and where to stay as well as how to get there. By the end of this episode, you'll be all set for a visit to Taman Negara. Read the show notes here: https://diveintomalaysia.com/episode17

Being one of 19 culturally and linguistically distinct groups of Orang Asli living in Peninsular Malaysia, the Mah Meri are a coastal people living along the coast of Selangor from Sungai Pelek up to Pulau Carey as well as Pulau Ketam. Mah Meri Animal Folklore is a collection of seven tales, and is described as being filled with entertaining animal characters that provide a glimpse into how the Mah Meri perceive their environment. With no written language, their folklore is a repository of their wisdom, culture, customs, traditions, and history, handed down from generation to generation. The compilation of seven tales as told by cultural activist Julida Uju, was written by Ann Marie Chandy, with illustrations by Sharon Yap (Creative Director, Gerimis Art Project), and the bilingual book also features translations by cultural worker Shazni Bhai. We find out more about Mah Meri culture and the tales that are documented in this new book from Julida Uju (Tompoq Topoh Mah Meri Women's Initiative), Maznah Unyan (Tompoq Topoh Mah Meri Women's Initiative), and Ann Marie Chandy (writer).

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to relocate to the beautiful country of Malaysia. Anytime I can highlight and show off this amazing place, I jump at any opportunity.  On this week's episode, I'm excited to speak with Malaysia's very own Stacy Chee. Born and Raised in Malaysia, Stacy is the owner and founder of Moby-Tek, a recreational and technical dive center on Tioman Island on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. We get a chance to speak about some different dive destinations in Malaysia, some of her favorite places to dive around South East Asia, her journey as a diver, and of course, Moby-Tek and Tioman Island.Instagram:@Stacychee@MobyTek.DivesWebsite:https://www.moby-tek.com/Facebook:Moby-Tek Dive CentreStacy Chee

Six states in Peninsular Malaysia are heading to state elections by August, in what is widely viewed as a referendum on the fledgling unity government of Prime Minister Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim. What are the current dynamics at play in Malaysia's ever-shifting political landscape, and how will this determine what happens at state level polls? We discuss themes and trends ahead of state elections with our panel of experts.

On this episode of Consider This, Melisa Idris speaks to the lead author of a report on statelessness in Peninsular Malaysia, Dr Melati Nungsari, Faculty Director of the ASEAN Research Centre, Associate Professor of Economics at the Asia School of Business, and Research Affiliate at the MIT-Sloan School of Management. Formerly stateless ​​Wong Yew Lee joins the conversation to help us better understand the intersectional lived experience of a stateless person.

As six states in Peninsular Malaysia gear up for the state elections, what can be done to prevent hate speech and false information from spreading online? We discuss the findings of a recent study on GE15 social media trends for lessons learned with Watshlah Naidu of the Centre for Independent Journalism.Image by: VDB Photos / Shutterstock.com

KonTra is an on-going experimental dance series helmed by choreographer Zhafir Muzani which honours our traditions while forging a new way forward through contemporary dance. The latest edition, KonTra: Borneo, promises to be a showcase of five talented choreographers from East Malaysia along with one more from Peninsular Malaysia, who have all drawn inspiration from the people of East Malaysia, their culture and their way of life, to weave a rich tapestry of movements and stories into six contemporary dance works. This experimental dance show aims to celebrate Bornean culture, and is being held in conjunction with the upcoming Kaamatan and Gawai festivities. We discuss more with Ethel Deidre, a dancer and choreographer who will be presenting the piece titled “Don't Slam The Door” in the production.Image Credit: CloudJoi

RimbaWatch recently brought attention to the Department of Environment's (DOE) approval of an EIA for a palm oil project in Pahang, which amounts to 8,498ha. This project involves the deforestation of intact natural forests nearly twice the size of Putrajaya, and is the largest single palm oil project approved in Peninsular Malaysia in recent years. Why is this happening, considering the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification (MSPO) does not allow for deforestation occurring after 2020? We discuss the major issues related to this project, including how the EIA was approved without there being adequate measures to mitigate impacts that include unavoidable adverse impacts to the area's ecology and biodiversity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier in March, RimbaWatch - formerly known as the Rimba Disclosure Project - released a study which revealed that Malaysia is set to lose 2.3 million hectares of forest, reducing forest cover in the country to 47.35%. The "State of the Malaysian Rainforest 2023" report further put that into perspective by explaining that the area earmarked for deforestation would roughly be 100 times the size of Kuala Lumpur, and larger than the size of Perak, Penang and Melaka combined. The top driver of this loss was said to be fuelled by timber plantations - the “forest” plantation program in Peninsular Malaysia, the licenses for planted “forest” (LPF) in Sarawak and industrial timber plantations (ITP) in Sabah - but also by regulatory, social and environmental issues. We speak to Adam Farhan, the co-founder and director of RimbaWatch, to dive into the findings of their study.Image Credit: RimbaWatchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a recently published two-part series, local journalism portal Macaranga, in collaboration with the Pulitzer Center's Rainforest Investigations Network, identified gaps in forest data for the years 2002—2021, with a focus on Peninsular Malaysia. Their investigations revealed that the data is pretty messy - supposed forest reserves not gazetted, oil palm plantations inside reserves, outdated maps - discrepancies and bad forest data that will hamper Malaysia's conservation, flood management and sustainability plans, just to name a few. In conjunction with International Day of Forests, we catch up with Law Yao Hua, an environment journalist and editor with Macaranga, and a former fellow with the Rainforest Investigations Network with the Pulitzer Centre, to discuss his navigation through the multiverse of forest data in Peninsular Malaysia. We discuss what official government documents reveal about forest reserve changes in Peninsular Malaysia, and the implications and impacts of inaccurate forest datasets.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know that there are still new species of tree to discover? Wei Harn does, and in this episode he tells us all about his trip surveying Malaysian Royal Belum State Park and an unexpected new species discovery. How does one collect a tree, this entomologist host would like to know! (there certainly aren't any vials big enough). We learn all about the stunning diversity of the park including its unique assemblages and history, and the importance of studying and valuing natural areas like it. Wei Harn's paper “Castanopsis corallocarpus (Fagaceae), a new species from Royal Belum (Perak) in Peninsular Malaysia” is in the 219th issue of Phytokeys. It can be found here: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.219.95991 New Species: Castanopsis corallocarpusEpisode image courtesy of Wei Harn To learn more about the evolutionary history, diversity, identification and conservation of this new species and over 700 others, check out www.asianfagaceae.com Be sure to follow New Species on Twitter (@PodcastSpecies) and Instagram (@NewSpeciesPodcast) and like the podcast page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NewSpeciesPodcast) Music in this podcast is "No More (Instrumental)," by HaTom (https://fanlink.to/HaTom) If you have questions or feedback about this podcast, please e-mail us at NewSpeciesPodcast@gmail.com If you would like to support this podcast, please consider doing so at https://www.patreoNesticuscom/NewSpeciesPod

More than 50,000 people displaced, and 4 people dead. The southern states of Peninsular Malaysia is facing yet another severe case of floods, especially in Johor, as the Malaysian Meteorological Department warns that the current monsoon season is likely to last until April. But with one flood after another, how much of it is “natural” and how much is driven by uncontrolled human activity? And how are all these instances of floods upending the lives of people? We find out from Aroe Ajoeni, Communications Director with Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY). If you are interested to help with KAMY's fundraising efforts for JPOAJ, click here to find out how you can help. Image credit: Facebook/Balai Polis Segamat

In our last Earth Matters show for 2022, we catch up with Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of environmental journalism portal Macaranga, who share some of the big stories that they covered throughout the year, on macaranga.org. We cover five main topics including food security and climate change, the impacts of African swine fever in Malaysia, calls to modernise Penang's pig farming business, the need for coral restoration (and coral awareness in general), and also the strange beast that is forest plantations in Peninsular Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock and Macaranga

In our last Earth Matters show for 2022, we catch up with Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of environmental journalism portal Macaranga, who share some of the big stories that they covered throughout the year, on macaranga.org. We cover five main topics including food security and climate change, the impacts of African swine fever in Malaysia, calls to modernise Penang's pig farming business, the need for coral restoration (and coral awareness in general), and also the strange beast that is forest plantations in Peninsular Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock and MacarangaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's that time of the month, where we catch up with the good people from environmental journalism portal Macaranga, for a round-up of the top environmental news of the month past. For October's round-up, we speak to Macaranga co-founder Law Yao Hua, and discuss three main topics - firstly, the many issues surrounding quarrying plans for the Bukit Lagong forest reserve, secondly, the Central Forest Spine public outreach exhibition that was organised by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia together with the state Forestry Departments of Johor, Pahang and Perak that was held last week, and finally some pre-elections talk on whether the green agenda is on the list of candidates and parties contesting in GE-15.Image Credit: Shutterstock and Wikimedia / Creative Commons

It's that time of the month, where we catch up with the good people from environmental journalism portal Macaranga, for a round-up of the top environmental news of the month past. For October's round-up, we speak to Macaranga co-founder Law Yao Hua, and discuss three main topics - firstly, the many issues surrounding quarrying plans for the Bukit Lagong forest reserve, secondly, the Central Forest Spine public outreach exhibition that was organised by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia together with the state Forestry Departments of Johor, Pahang and Perak that was held last week, and finally some pre-elections talk on whether the green agenda is on the list of candidates and parties contesting in GE-15.Image Credit: Shutterstock and Wikimedia / Creative CommonsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An international team of researchers have analysed the movement and habitat preferences of 102 Asian elephants in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo, recording over 600,000 GPS locations. They found that most elephants spent more than half of their time outside of protected areas, preferring slightly disturbed forests and areas of regrowth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The inclusion of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia under one national banner has created a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, including generational knowledge in producing crafts and handiworks. Can more be done to promote the economic potential of craftwork and cottage industries to elevate the livelihoods of indigenous and rural communities in the country? For reflections on this issue from an East Malaysian perspective, we speak to Jaqueline Fong, Founder of Tanoti Crafts.

The inclusion of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia under one national banner has created a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, including generational knowledge in producing crafts and handiworks. Can more be done to promote the economic potential of craftwork and cottage industries to elevate the livelihoods of indigenous and rural communities in the country? For reflections on this issue from an East Malaysian perspective, we speak to Jaqueline Fong, Founder of Tanoti Crafts.

Just recently, many Malaysians were affected by a sudden power outage. TNB shared that the issue came from a station in Yong Peng, Johor, that affected up to 10% of the electricity supply in Peninsular Malaysia. Despite knowing the cause of the issue, how can one PMU station have such a major impact? Is there something more behind this power outage? On this episode of Let's Talk About, Alex and Amin share their personal thoughts and theories about the power outage.

Pan Asia is an Asian focused minerals exploration and development company with tungsten and lithium projects located in southern Thailand.The Company is specifically focused on Asia for both geological and economic reasons.  Our projects are located in the Southeast Asian Tin – Tungsten Belt, which extends from Myanmar in the north through Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia to the Tin Islands in the South.  This belt appeals due to the occurrence of a suite of specialty metals associated with granite related tin, tungsten, lithium, tantalum, niobium, rubidium, cesium, rare earths and other rare metals – including kaolin clay.  This belt, which contains some of the largest historical tin producing districts in the world, specifically in Southern Thailand and much of Peninsula Malaysia, has experienced very limited modern exploration.

There are five species of gibbons, found in Malaysia. The white-handed gibbon, dark-handed or agile gibbon, and the siamang are found in Peninsular Malaysia, while Muller's gibbon and Abbott's grey gibbon live in Sabah and Sarawak. Gibbons are known for providing one of nature's most enchanting concerts - welcoming the sunrise with their songs. But their songs and cherubic faces make them a sought-after commodity in the illegal wildlife pet trade, and coupled with habitat loss, gibbons are being pushed further into the endangered species list. We speak to Mariani Ramli, the President of the Gibbon Conservation Society, and the Head Director of the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project about these gibbons found in Malaysia, and also about the second conservation and rehabilitation project for Malaysia's Singing Apes in Kota Belud, Sabah - The Borneo Gibbon Rehabilitation Project or Borneo GReP. The ABC's of Biodiversity is an ongoing series where we explore why biodiversity loss is our loss.Image credit: gibbonconservationsociety.org

With Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof saying that the ministry needs an allocation of RM3.4 billion to repair sick or damaged federal roads throughout Peninsular Malaysia, we ask Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, Professor of Transport Engineering, USM on what needs to be done to fix our expired roadsImage credit: Shutterstock.com

Late last month, the Rimba Disclosure Project (RDP), released its findings for 2021, and found that Peninsular Malaysia will see deforestation amounting to a minimum of 72,584.73ha in the near future, which is nearly equal to the size of Singapore. They based their findings off a total of 86 environmental impact assessments (EIAs) involving forested land had been approved, 28 listings of forests for sale identified, and one project involving deforestation that was ongoing. The group points out that deforestation would not be possible without the support of the financial industry, and have called on all financial players to step up and recognise the connections between the biodiversity and climate crisis and urgently end all financial flows towards deforestation. They join us to discuss their findings and calls to action.Image credit: Shutterstock

In this episode we're off to Penang, the fabled island off the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Colonised by the British in the early 1700s, Penang today is one of Malaysia's most ethnically diverse and cosmopolitan regions, a dynamic business hub as well as a repository of local cultural history. Its capital George Town is known for its Unesco World Heritage listed zone, but there is much more to discover on the island - as you'll find out in this episode's love letter, narrated by local journalist Marco Ferrarese, who leads us on a two-day hike from the north to the south of Penang via its mountainous, rainforest-clad interior. Penangite Alan Tan, managing director of Habitat Penang Hill, shines a light on the island's lush environment and its complex, fascinating mingling of cultures. Rounding out the episode is Bettina Chua Abdullah, a local broadcaster, writer and passionate foodie, who waxes lyrical about Penang's lip-smacking culinary scene, one of the best in Asia. Bettina is also director of Hikayat, bookshop and events space in George Town. Episode producer: Simon Richmond Presenters: Belinda Dixon & Simon Richmond Sound editing: Belinda Dixon Co-producers: Kate Armstrong, Doug Murray & Tasmin Waby Theme Music: Instant by Nettson Music in episode: Buddha Beat

Ivan Tacey, lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Plymouth, joins us to discuss conflict avoidance/resolution and religion. His research among the forest peoples of Peninsular Malaysia explores how political marginalization, rapid environmental change and historical conditions of subordination and violence have shaped changes and continuities in Batek and Manya' animistic practices and cosmologies. https://itacey.wixsite.com/website