I pick up Dr David Wells and wife Prof (retired) Jeyamalar at 7.30am at their hotel and arrive at the launch place, Wisma WIM, TTDI, at 8. The crowd starts trickling in, among the earliest, senior birders Lim Kim Chye (never got around to take a photo), Rafi Kuddus and Angela. The launch itself is kicked off by Henry Goh, past president of Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), at about 9.30. It is an informal launch with the only reference to the book is by the use of photos from the book. I want the 9-11am allotted to the launch to concentrate on David’s talk and the following discussion.
Ezanor MK of MNS together with Balu Perumal, Head of Conservation, MNS, and of MyForest, have been very supportive of the launch. I am very thankful to them indeed.(Dr) Tan Beng Hui who often goes birding with me and who edited my book with Johan Saravanamuttu ( Emeritus Prof, USM) in front, with Syafiq Sivaraman and son at the back. Syafiq used to be the administrator of the now closed bird sightings reporting website of MNS and Birdlife, Birds-I-Witness, which I used a lot in my book. (Dr) Colin Nicholas of the Centre of Orang Asli Concerns, an old friend who came even though he has an appointment at 10am. But I guessed he wanted to have his copy of David’s book to be autographed. Didn’t know he was that keen on birds to get such a serious work 🙂Rosla Mustakim, author of the three volume books, Burung-Burung di Semenanjung Malaysia, and Mike HN Chong who was the expert reviewer for my book. He edited the book too. Rosla is a birding expert on the old Gombak road.Rosli Hashim, a retired prof of Universiti Malaya, on right, a colleague of David’s. He arranged for David’s former colleagues to meet him the day before.Mohammad Khan Momin Khan, second from left, former head of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) with Allen Jeyarajasingam (Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore). I feel bad for signing my book for MKMK as Mohd Momin. Couldn’t be rectified…Peter Leong on left, the secretary to Friends of Bukit Kiara, of which I’m a member. It advocates for the protection of Bukit Kiara as a green lung. The former BN government has been promising to gazette it as such for the last decade. Let’s see what the Pakatan government will do.Chong Ton Sin of Gerakbudaya and Strategic Information for Research Development Centre, my publisher. I think he’s happy enough to sell 50 books today. It helps that David too sign the book.David in full swing Dennis Yong, a renown local bird expert, comes out of “retirement” to see his old friend, David. Yeap Chin Aik, a bird expert with MNS, assisting. Henry Goh has kindly agreed to be the emcee for the launch. He is the past President of MNS.(Dr) Lilian Chua of Forest Research Institute MalaysiaProf Ahmad Ismail, President of MNS, a keen conservationist.Rafi Kuddus, a former Chairman of the Bird Conservation Council of MNSDatuk Dr Dino Sharma, former head of WWF MalaysiaAnuar McAfee of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu.Leon Koay, a fighter against the attempt by DBKL (KL City Hall) to convert half of Taman Rimba Kiara into a high-end condominium. His wife Tashia is a keen birder. We have organised a birding session for beginners at the Taman.Hamza (of UNiSZA, as Anuar McAfee?). He suggested data from the annual Fraser’s Hill birdrace be compiled for analysis, for example to see trends in it. Allen Jeyarajasingam said it is kept by the organiser, the Fraser’s Hill Corporation. I’m not hopeful…Everybody wants to be photographed with Jomo (Council of Eminent Persons). From left, Siti and Leela of TrEES, Ange, Nisha, Lymun, Jomo, Surin PitsuwanThe bird the literature (and I in my book) has identified as the Brown-streaked Flycatcher (and others as Asian Brown Flycatcher, williamsoni) is questioned by David. He thinks it’s a different species. He is now analysing it further with additional photos that I’ve supplied to him. I photographed it at the old Gombak Road, Selangor State Park (Taman Warisan Negri Selangor)
Dear En Rosli Omar,I have just bought your book “Birds of the forests of Peninsular Malaysia”. It is an interesting, educative and informative. I have always been wanting to be a birder. But when i saw your book while searching the net for a book on birds of Malaysia. Your book came out and i immediately bought it from Shopee.
Now that i have your book as a reference to the birds that i am going to watch out for in my birdie adventure. To be frank, it’s really refreshing and relaxing being able to enjoy all those nature walk while looking t the flora and fauna besides spotting for birds. I am truly happy to say that i should have got your book much earlier. Now i know what i miss out in life. Life is not just all about wealth accumulation but sometimes we need to stop and smell the roses. I have now decided to retire early (i am 58 now) and spend more time with nature. Wish to see more of the wild side of Malaysia.
Once again thank you for your great book that inspires me to fulfill my wish of becoming a nature lover and birder.
Hi Mr Sam Chee Kong, many thanks for your kind comment. Glad you’ve taken the first step to enjoying birds and nature more by retiring early. Hope you’ve got binoculars to enjoy the birds more.
All the best. Enjoy life through nature 🙂
Rosli
Hello, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your website in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
Sam Chee Kong
12 Jan 2021Dear En Rosli Omar,I have just bought your book “Birds of the forests of Peninsular Malaysia”. It is an interesting, educative and informative. I have always been wanting to be a birder. But when i saw your book while searching the net for a book on birds of Malaysia. Your book came out and i immediately bought it from Shopee.
Now that i have your book as a reference to the birds that i am going to watch out for in my birdie adventure. To be frank, it’s really refreshing and relaxing being able to enjoy all those nature walk while looking t the flora and fauna besides spotting for birds. I am truly happy to say that i should have got your book much earlier. Now i know what i miss out in life. Life is not just all about wealth accumulation but sometimes we need to stop and smell the roses. I have now decided to retire early (i am 58 now) and spend more time with nature. Wish to see more of the wild side of Malaysia.
Once again thank you for your great book that inspires me to fulfill my wish of becoming a nature lover and birder.
Syabas !!
Rosli Omar
13 Jan 2021Hi Mr Sam Chee Kong, many thanks for your kind comment. Glad you’ve taken the first step to enjoying birds and nature more by retiring early. Hope you’ve got binoculars to enjoy the birds more.
All the best. Enjoy life through nature 🙂
Rosli
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26 Jul 2021Hello, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your website in Ie, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
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