SIMBIOMAS 2009

Simbiomas 2009 (Symposium Biology Malaysia 2009) was succesfully organised by the Department of Biology, Universiti Putra Malaysia 17 & 18 November 2009, 9 days after Prof Ahmad Birthday. The Symposium was opened by the Vice Chancelor Prof Datuk Dr. Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah and closed by Deputy Vice Chancelor (R&I) Prof Dr. Abu Bakar Salleh. More than 120 partipants were attended in the symposium, 38 oral,94 posters and 5 plenary papers were presented. Majority of the participants were young scientists and have a great potential in their own fields. It is a trend now the conferences and symposium like this usually attended by young scientists.The seniour scientists should follow this trend and give some feed back to the outcomes of the presentations so that the continuity of reseach in basic biology is significant. The papers presented in this symposium were equally distributed among basic biology fields including biosystematic, genetic, physiology and biochemistry, and ecology. Research in basic biology is very important because there a lot more unknown species, information and knowledge on flora and fauna, as Malaysia is important in the world's biodiversity.Beside that active research in biotechnology, natural products, medicines, environment and engineering demand more research in basic biology. Grant provider and related government agencies should monitor the symposium and conference like this so that they follow the progress. They can appoint the professors in relevant fields to assess and comment what the authorities should do to improve the research and findings.At the same time we can indentify active and quality laboratories and the experts.

Night Herons Under Threat

This is the second issue after first news in Star Metro on Thursday 14 May 2009. Prof Dr. Ahmad Ismail highlighted the issue and attracted Perhilitan, local leaders and Star Journalist Lim Chia Ying. More awareness programme needed and local government must sensitive and support the programme together with positive action such as providing space for the birds
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Friday November 13, 2009
Night herons under threat
By LIM CHIA YING
Photos courtesy of Dr AHMAD ISMAIL


BLACK-crowned night herons are in danger of disappearing if the authorities do not act fast enough to do something for the birds.

These herons can be seen flying and roosting by the thousands at a plot of private land in Kuala Garing, Rawang.

Earlier, the birds had nested at a nearby site but were forced to move after sand-mining were carried out at the initial nesting ground.

A recent visit to the site by the Selangor Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) and Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Ismail from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Biology Department, however, showed that there was a cause for concern.

Disturbing sight: A pair of legs jutting out from the ground is a stark reminder that the birds are still being hunted.

A group of Ahmad’s students who had visited the site to carry out research had been shocked to discover the mutilated carcasses of some of the birds.

Photos taken by the students prompted Ahmad and Perhilitan law and investigation unit head Ab Jalal Kasim to visit the site for themselves.

In May, StarMetro reported that three Vietnamese poachers had been caught stealing the eggs and chicks of the night heron, which is a totally protected wild bird under the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 (Act 76).

They were found guilty of three charges and were fined RM5,000 each.

Ahmad said despite Perhilitan’s efforts, there were still people bold enough to slaughter the birds.

“Perhilitan is doing what it can to raise awareness among the locals. However, after seeing what had happened, we hope that a permanent location for the birds to nest would be found.

“Areas like those under electric cables can be preserved and maintained as a habitat for the birds and we can later develop this as an eco-tourism and educational site,” Ahmand said, adding that this would help safeguard the birds.

Ab Jalal said this was the second breeding season of the year for the birds and a lot of people were out to steal the eggs and kill the birds.

“Our men are monitoring the situation, but we cannot be here throughout the day,” he said.

“We have also enlisted the help of local people we can trust, like M. Sadasivam who lives nearby, to tip us off if he notices suspicious characters trying to prey on the birds.

“Sadasivam has been a great help and we need more such people.

“We also hope that the state government will help identify a breeding site for the herons so that they do not need to continuously migrate as their breeding grounds are disturbed by human activities,” he added.

Selangor state environmental committee chairman Elizabeth Wong said she was open to suggestions and advice on how to move the birds to an appropriate location.


New home: A black-crowned night heron perching in a tree at the new nesting site.

“Space is not an issue, as we have plenty of land at the various forest reserves and state parks. The only problem is the technical and logistic side of it, as the birds might not want to move to the new site.

“It depends on the kind of habitat they need and it should not be too far away, so the birds would feel more comfortable,” Wong said, adding that she hoped Perhilitan would step up its monitoring of the site.

Wong was also ready to discuss the matter with the relevant parties to see if land under electric cables could be provided for the birds.

“I welcome any kind of feedback that the interested parties can give me so that we can start discussing the issue,” she said.

Ahmad, however, reiterated that the state government should take the lead by showing its commitment to the issue so that other related agencies would act accordingly.

“It is good if Perhilitan, the forestry department and the land office can come together for this project.

“Birds like herons are very sensitive to disturbances.

“Proper management is a must. There are also many other birds like migratory shorebirds and hornbills in various parts of the state that we hope the government can look into,” he said.

Kenapa mereka berani menambah cemar perairan kita?

KEGIATAN pemindahan minyak secara haram yang berlaku di perairan Johor dilihat semakin serius meskipun pihak berkuasa maritim negara meningkatkan penguatkuasaan sejak akhir-akhir ini.

Ini terbukti apabila 12 buah kapal ditahan di perairan Pengerang hanya dalam tempoh lapan hari atas pelbagai kesalahan termasuk memindahkan minyak kotor dari kapal ke kapal.

Hasil operasi Agensi Penguatkuasaan Maritim Malaysia (APMM) Wilayah Selatan kelmarin, dua buah kapal asing yang sedang memindahkan minyak kotor secara haram ditahan di perairan Tanjung Piai, di Pontian, Johor.

Apa kita perlu buat?

1. Permonitoran yang berkala dan data yang lengkap.
2. Meningkatkan kualiti data, teknologi analisis, tenaga mahir dan peruntukan kewangan.
3. Publisiti kepada dunia yang kita prihatin kepada pencemaran dan kita mahu Selat Melaka bebas dari pencemaran luar. Kita tahu lebih 5000 kapal minyak melintasi Selat Melaka setiap tahun dan tersibuk di dunia. Kita mempunyai data lengkap dan tahu daripada mana pencemaran perairan kita datang atau berasal. Kita ada kepakaran untuk menilai status dan sumber pencemaran perairan kita. Persekitaran pantai sangat penting untuk sumber perikanan dan kesihatan rakyat Malaysia.
4. Kekuatan, kepakaran, undang-undang dan Penguatkuasaan maritim. Tahniah pasukan berkaitan.

global warming, threatening the livelihood of many

KOKONOGI, Japan: A blood-orange blob the size of a small refrigerator emerged from the dark waters, its venomous tentacles trapped in a fishing net.
Scientists believe climate change - the warming of oceans - has allowed some of the almost 2,000 jellyfish species to expand their ranges, appear earlier in the year and increase overall numbers, much as warming has helped ticks, bark beetles and other pests to spread to new latitudes.
Increasingly polluted waters - off China, for example - boost growth of the microscopic plankton that "jellies" feed upon, while overfishing has eliminated many of the jellyfish's predators and cut down on competitors for plankton feed.
Agricultural and sewage runoff are spurring plankton growth, and fish catches are declining. The waters of the Yellow Sea, meanwhile, have warmed as much as 1.7 degrees C (3 degrees F) over the past quarter-century.
Addressing the surge in jellyfish blooms in most places will require long-term fixes, such as introducing fishing quotas and pollution controls, as well as capping greenhouse gas emissions to control global warming.

How much basic science can contribute to the global warming, ecological changes and their effects on the biodiversity. Malaysia as one of the top biodiversity country in the world should be quick enough to support knowledge in basic science. More money needed for research and capacity building. Without basic information on ecology and biota, to application and solution in managing natural disasters become inefficient.

Semua pakat cakap nak jadi universiti bertaraf dunia. Tapi macam mana?

Kalau betul-betul nak jadi universiti bertaraf dunia senang saja.
1. Niat kena betul dan bersungguh-sungguh mengarah kepada matlamatnya.
2. Semua kena pakat buat, jangan harap kat ketua saja.
3. Ketua pulak kena faham erti universiti kelas dunia. Jangan pakai agak-agak atau ikut orang saja. "Jangan Dengar Khabar Angin"
4. Sanggup berkorban masa, tenaga dan wang.
5. Sediakan plan strategi yang mantap.
6. Sediakan infrastruktur yang sesuai dengan universiti bertaraf dunia. Mulakan dengan kekuatan bidang yang sedia ada bukan fokus kepada benda yang baru nak bertunas dan belum tahu arah tujuannya. Kalau 10 tahun dulu sudah kita lakukan maka sekarang sudah ada 10 makmal atau bidang berkelas antarabangsa.
7. Menghargai kekuatan yang telah terbina sekian lama.Kaji sejarah universiti berkenaan kerana sejarah, tradisi dan kecemerlangan selalunya berkaitan. "must have a good succession plan"
8. Kenalpasti dan menghargai pelupor bidang-bidang yang telah terkehadapan dan bertaraf dunia.Jangan biarkan mereka ini menunggu pencen sahaja. Sokong bidang mereka dan didek orang baru.
9. Bidang terkehadapan tidak semestinya bidang yang dipatenkan atau dikomersilkan. Bidang asas juga yang menjadi rujukan antarabangsa patut dikategorikan sebagai bidang yang terkehadapan.Misalnya bidang biodiversiti satu bidang tertua dan terkehadapan di Malaysia, kenapa sekarang kurang tarikan?
10. Sediakan baget yang mencukupi bagi membangunkan bidang berkaitan.
11. Pihak pengurusan mesti serius dan bertindak cepat apa-apa keputusan yang telah dibuat. Tidak seperti pahat dengan merton. Tengok jam selalu pastikan ianya berdetik dan jarumnya bergerak. Tidak pakai jam mati.
12. Pihak pengurusan mesti ada target dan milestone. Pencapaian perlu dipantau. Minit mesyuarat, arahan, dan pekeliling bukan satu pencapaian beerti. Pencapaian yang beerti adalah apabila projek berkenaan berjalan seperti yang dalam objektifnya.
13. Rujuk rakan sebaya seperti universiti di Thailand, Singapura dan Indonesia.... atau Maldive dan mana universiti di Afrika(?). Adakah kita lebih baik, setara atau tercorot.
14. Faham matlamat dan strategi kerajaan pusat atau kementerian.
15. Laksanakan matlamat negara dengan penuh strategik dan perlaksanaan yang mantap dan bukan sekadar menyediakan laporan tanpa melihat kesannya.
16. Hubungan antarabangsa. Bagi universiti yang dah tua tak payah pening kepala cari hubungan baru. Guna saja hubungan yang sedia ada dan perkukuhkan. Universiti tua sudah tentu ada pegawai atau profesor yang sudah ada kenalan atau kerjasama dengan universiti bertaraf dunia. Berikan pengiktirafan kepada mereka, sokong mereka dan sediakan baget yang secukupnya. Lebih menjimatkan dan cepat berhasil berbanding dengan bina hubungan baharu.
17. Sediakan baget, infrastruktur dan buat strategi yang baik serta fokus. Hubungan antarabangsa jangan dilihat sebagai peluang untuk melancung. Buatkan perancangan hubungan dengan universiti bertaraf antarabangsa yang boleh dipantau perkembangannya.
18. Berani mengambil pelajar terbaik diperingkat ijazah pertama dan lepasan ijazah. Anggapkan universiti bukan badan kebajikan masyarakat tetapi sebagai agen menjana kecemerlangan bertaraf dunia. Pastikan nisbah pelajar:pensyarah bertaraf dunia.
19. Aturkan strategi dan bersungguh-sungguh menjadikan universiti yang mempunyai kriteria yang memberikan kesan kepada peningkatan kualitinya, kaedah pengajaran yang berkesan membangunkan intelek bertaraf dunia, meningkatkan kualiti penyelidikan dan mendapatkan serta mempunyai pelajar yang berkualiti dari semua aspek termasuk Bahasa Inggeris yang menjadi ukuran antarabangsa.
20. Universiti kena menerima hakikat bahawa menghargai pegawai yang berkualiti dan cemerlang adalah lebih baik dari pegawai yang mencari penghargaan. Ketua kena berani mencari dengan adil pegawai yang benar-benar cemerlang daripada melihat kepada janggut, kepala, belakang, perut yang boroi atau ekor ikan patin yang berebut roti yang ditabur dilubuk (dimana ketua ikan agaknya?).Institusi intelek sepatutnya membuat penilaian tepat dalam menghargai dan menghormati individu berkenaan.

The 3rd International Symposium on Oryzias Fish

The central committee of "The 2nd International Symposium of Oryzias Fish" has decided this afternoon in Bangkok that "The 3rd International Symposium of Oryzias Fish" will be held in Malaysia and will be organised by Universiti Putra Malaysia in November 2011.Prof. Ahmad Ismail was given the task to chair the organising committee. The task given to him by the central committee was due to his strong push, active scientist in medaka studies and commited to promote this small fish for big potential. This fish is small with big eyes. In this coming symposium more participants from India, Korea, Taiwan, Hongkong, China (mainland), Indonesia, Vietnam and Philippines will be invited. This is because of a lot more information on medaka fishes are lacking and in some areas these fishes are not known even though they are available. In the second symposium, which participated by Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Hongkong, Laos and Cambodia, the discussions were about the biology, ecology, genetics and application of technology related to medaka fishes. A lot more are not clear about medaka fishes, from taxonomy to their ecology. Hopefully in the third symposium which will be held in Malaysia in November 2011 will try to answer many of the uncertainties about medaka and develop more new technologies related to this fish.In the first symposium 2007, only participated by three countries Malaysia, Japan and Thailand.

Graduan yang berkualiti dan berdaya saing?

Saya melihat universiti tempatan bersaing hebat untuk mendapatkan pengiktirafan tempatan dan antarabangsa. Masing-masing mempunyai strategi sendiri untuk mencapai matlamat yang sama. Semangat ini bertambah giat lagi apabila kerajaan ingin menjadikan Malaysia sebagai Hub Pendidikan Dunia.
Pelbagai produk dan prosedur diperkenalkan bagi meyakinkan agensi pengiktirafan dan masyarakat awam.Saya harap semua perkara yang diperkenalkan tidak tersasar dari fungsi sebenar universiti dan keperluan masyarakat Malaysia yang berbagai kaum dan lapisan taraf ekonomi. Masyarakat Malaysia masih memerlukan pendidikan tertiari yang berkualiti.
Misalnya apabila kita hendak menghasilkan graduan yang berkualiti dan berdaya saing di peringkat kebangsaan dan antarabangsa, pelbagai pendekatan baru diperkenalkan daripada memperkemaskan kurikulum, perlaksanaannya, pendekatan baharu yang menarik, kelayakan dan kemahiran pensyarah, frasarana dan kualiti mahasiswa. Soalannya adakah mahasiswa yang datangnya dari pelbagai latarbelakang budaya, sistem sekolah yang sedia ada mampu ditukar segera dalam masa tiga tahun dengan pendekatan baharu ini. Kalau kita lihat penilaian pengajaran pensyarah oleh mahasiswa, masih ada yang tidak berani melangkaui budaya umum "tidak berani bertanggung jawab". Misalnya kalau pelajar ditanya adakah pensyarah memberikan sinopsis, perancangan kuliah dan selalu menggalakkan mahasiswa bertanya dalam kelas, dan di minta memberikan pernyataan tidak setuju, setuju dan sangat setuju. maka ramai mahasiswa tidak berani menyatakan sangat setuju walaupun sudah diberikan semua perkara di atas. Begitu juga apabila ditanya adakah pensyarah memberikan markah dalam masa dua minggu selepas ujian. Mahasiswa tidak berani menjawab tidak setuju walaupun pensyarah belum lagi memberi ujian dan masih menjawab setuju sahaja (kononnya ingin menjaga nama baik pensyarah). Inilah kualiti mahasiswa kita yang tidak berani menghadapi kenyataan, tidak mahu komited dan akhirnya mereka menjadi seorang graduan yang tidak berwibawa dan tidak jujur. Budaya masyarakat lebih memberikan kerjasama kepada penjenayah daripada pihak polis. Apa kita boleh lakukan untuk mengubah budaya, amalan, pemikiran dan kualiti mahasiswa kita?