apoco no jang

hari ini aku sedikit berkecil hati dengan tipah.aku terlewat sampai. gerai tipah sudah dipenuhi pelanggan. maklumlah kempen dah nak mula. penyokong-penyokong semua parti mula turun. tipah langsung tidak memperdulikan aku. maklumlah aku orang tempatan datang dengan basikal, mereka orang luar datang melaram dengan kereta mewah bawa duit berbakul untuk ditabur.

aku duduk di sebuah kerusi usang, yang tiada siapa pun mahu merebutnya, di penjuru warung. aku membelek sebuah artikel yang aku terima semalam. terkejut aku membacanya. Malaysia...ooops satu malaysia rupanya pengekspot biawak.

sedang aku meneliti artikel itu, tipah datang bertanya pesanan. aku hanya minta air suam. merajuk konon.

aku kembali membaca artikel tadi.terlistas di kepala aku, apa kata kalau aku cadang kat kerajaan untuk menternak biawak di ulu selangor. sekarang ni kerajaan tengah tabur duit. janji projek itu projek ini. ni aku nak cadang projek ni. cadangan anak tempatan takkan meteri tak mahu pertimbangkan. buka ladang biawak. buat syarikat, kutip duit lepas tu cabut. aku nak balik pi jumpa pak menteri nak submit proposal.

aku bangun meninggalkan kerusi ku. dalam keghairahan nak ternak biawak terlupa aku nak tanya tipah harga air suam. aaarggghh! esok masih ada lagi pun nak protes kat tipah.

Monitoring the Large Trade in
Clouded Monitors in Peninsular Malaysia


The Clouded Monitor Varanus nebulosus is native to continental South-east Asia, and Java (Indonesia), and is sometimes considered a subspecies of the
Bengal Monitor V. bengalensis (and then referred to as V. b. nebulosus). One of four Varanus species found in Peninsular Malaysia (Bennett, 1998), the Clouded Monitor is poached for meat and possibly for skins. Recent illegal trade in specimens in Malaysia has reached alarming proportions. According to the annual report of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), 2006 saw a worrying trend of very large quantities of these reptiles found during operations (DWNP, 2006). Seizures made by the Malaysian authorities, largely by the DWNP, exemplify the scale of the trade. Between January 2007 and August 2009, for example, some 27 975 Clouded Monitors were seized in Peninsular Malaysia.
The species is classified as Totally Protected in Peninsular Malaysia under Schedule 1 of the Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 (Act No. 76), which is enforced by DWNP and, as such, specimens may not be killed, taken, or kept by anyone. It is also listed in CITES Appendix I and prohibited from international commercial trade.

Seizures: Figures relating to seizures of Clouded Monitors during 2007 to August 2009 were collected, compiled and analysed from a number of sources, primarily government agencies and press releases. All information compiled here has been verified by the DWNP.
The seized reptiles were discovered concealed in dealers’ warehouses, cold rooms, houses, shops, as well as at airports and jetties, being transported or awaiting transport, principally, it is alleged, to China for the exotic meat market. The Clouded Monitors were more often than not seized with specimens of a variety of other species also destined for the exotic meat market, including Leopard Panthera pardus, Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus, Malayan Pangolin Manis javanica, Reticulated Python Python reticulatus (all CITES species), Wild Boar Sus scrofa, East Asian Porcupine Hystrix brachyura and various owl and eagle species (Shepherd and Shepherd, 2009), among others. The only other specimens of Varanus species seized during this period were 312 Water Monitors Varanus salvator (CITES Appendix II), which can be legally harvested and traded with the appropriate DWNP-issued licence.
Table 1 provides data relating to seizures reported in the media and DWNP’s official records for the study period. The official records only include cases which were or could be brought to court and does not include those cases where compounds—or on-the-spot fines— were issued. DWNP could not provide exact dates of seizures for 2007 and agencies making the seizures other than DWNP are not always recorded.
As shown in Table 1, 2008 saw the highest number of Clouded Monitors seized in a year, within the three-year period. The state of Pahang consistently recorded high
numbers and topped the list in 2009, but Terengganu was the primary location for seizures in 2007, accounting for 81% of specimens seized that year.
Anyone found guilty of unlawfully shooting, killing or taking any species listed as Totally Protected contravenes Section 64 of the Protection of Wild Life Act
1972 (Act No. 76), which provides for a maximum fine of MYR5000 (USD1429) or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both. Further, Section 64(2) provides for a fine of up to MYR3000 (USD857) and/or imprisonment of up to two years for those found guilty of being in possession or carrying on the business of a dealer or taxidermist of Totally Protected species. During the three-year period examined, no gaol terms were meted out in cases brought to court. Gaol terms were only required in the cases of failure to pay a fine. However, many court cases have not yet been concluded and in several, investigations are continuing. Low fines, lack of convictions resulting in prison sentences and high demand are likely the reasons behind the continuing illegal trade in this species. Without serious deterrents, the trade is likely to continue. TRAFFIC encourages the authorities in Peninsular Malaysia to continue their vigilance and for more severe penalties to be handed down to individuals found trading in these protected species.

Acknowledgements: The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Malaysia), Loretta Ann Shepherd, and Kim Lochen are acknowledged for their assistance with this article.

References
Bennett, D. (1998). Monitor Lizards. Natural History, Biology and Husbandry. Edition Chimaira (Andreas S. Brahm), Frankfurt am Main. Germany.
Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia
(2006). Annual Report, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia
(2007). Annual Report, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Shepherd C.R. and Shepherd, L.A. (2009). An emerging Asian taste for owls? Enforcement agency seizes 1,236 owls and other wildlife in Malaysia. Birding ASIA 11:85—86.

Chris R. Shepherd, Senior Programme Officer, TRAFFIC Southeast
Asia; Elizabeth John, Senior Communications Officer, TRAFFIC Southeast Asia

apoco na jang

pagi ni aku sampai awal di warong tipah. aku pesan kopi janda dengan roti telor. ubah selera la sikit. kelmarin baru jual getah.
sedang aku mengelamun menanti pesanan sampai, sampai empat orang warga emas duduk disebelah ku.mereka memanggil tipah. sementara menanti tipah datang mereka berbisik-bisik dan kemudian ketawa berderai, mungkin mengata sesuatu tentang tipah. maklumlah lelaki ni makin tua makin menjadi sedikit gatal.

kemudian aku mendengar mereka berbicara.
" lompat lagi?"
" apa tu?"
" ni wakil rakyat keadilan sungai petani ni!"
" la......bukan lompat lagi...lompat dah!!!"
" kenapa kata begitu?"
" kan dulu digugurkan dari jawatan EXCO negeri Kedah!!"
" oooo!!!!tentu ada cerita kalau tidak takkan nak digugurkan?"
" ni la yang kita pusing. dulu masa kempen macam-macam janji nak buat, nak bela rakyat. baru kena ambil balik jawatan exco dah latah"
" macam ni bukan wakil rakyat ........"
" dulu rakyat undi dia bukan kerana dia tetapi kerana dia mewakili keadilan. kalau diri dia tak ada apa yang menonjol kecuali dua buah kedai urut kaki. lepas jadi exco tambah dua lagi. tak ada lesen pula tu !!!!!!"
" hah !!!!!!!!!!"

tipah pula sampai dengan hidangan aku. mereka masih ghairah dengan topik mereka tetapi aku sudah tidak ada masa lagi.

apoco na jang

aku terlambat sampai untuk sarapan pagi semalam. Pelanggan sudah hampir penuh dalam kedai tipah. Aku duduk di sebuanh meja kosong dan terus meminta makanan kegemaran ku, roti perata banjir. sebenarnya aku tidak perlu membuat pesanan lagi kerana tipah telah arif akan selera ku kecuali aku mahu mengubah selera.

sementara menanti hidangan sampai aku cuba memasang telinga mendengar perbualan rancak tiga orang pelanggan sebelah meja ku. rupanya mereka sedang mengutarakan hujah-hujah tentang apoco. aku tidak tahu apa itu apoco. tetapi aku jelas mendengar seorang dari mereka berkata apoco itu orang yahudi punya. kini syarikat itu telah dapat kontrak di bukit aman. Tapi pak menteri kata tak ada orang yahudi bekerja di bukit aman. Kata rakan yang seorang lagi tu, bukan soal orang yahudi bekerja di bukit aman tetapi syarikat yahudi yang dapat kontrak tu samalah seperti orang yahudi buat kerja di bukit aman. teman mereka menjawab kalau kerajaan bagi yahudi buat kerja tu maka bererti kita iktiraf yahudilah.

pesanan aku sampai. aku tak ada masa lagi nak dengar hujah mereka-mereka itu lagi. apoco tu apa dia. apoco na jang kut?