Pandas set to take Malaysia-China ties to greater heights
Giant panda craze
BY LIM SUE GOAN
Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE
Sin Chew Daily
American computer-animated action comedy film Kung Fu Panda received a global box office of over US$600 million and has further intensified the giant panda craze.
Giant pandas look funny and are very well accepted among children. And now, Malaysians will soon be able to see them here.
China agreed to loan two baby giant pandas to Malaysia for 10 years, proving a close relationship between the two countries. It might not be successful for Vietnam and Philippines if they make the same request.
China has always advocated a peaceful rise and thus, it has adopted a soft culture to conquer and attract the people of the world, just like how the US did. It was the Ping Pong Diplomacy in the 1970s and it is the Panda Diplomacy today.
There was an implication behind the move of China to offer two giant pandas, later named Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, as a gift to the people of Taiwan. It had also triggered a dispute in the society. However, when the giant pandas were moved to the Taipei City Zoo, it had still set off a giant panda craze.
The two giant pandas lent to the Thailand's Chiang Mai Zoo have attracted many visitors while Singapore also hopes that Kai Kai and Jia Jia can further boost its tourism industry.
What is the purpose of Malaysia to bring the giant pandas here? The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry did not mention about tourism in its statement, but stressed that "the cooperation would enable Malaysia to conduct conservation research, adding that the presence of the pandas would promote public awareness on China's panda conservation efforts."
However, there is something similar to Singapore. China agreed to loan two giant pandas to Singapore in commemoration of the countries' 20th anniversary of diplomatic relationship, while Malaysia and China will celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relationship in 2014.
The diplomatic relationship between China and Malaysia was established in the 1974 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's father, Tun Abdul Razak and the posters showing the moment when Abdul Razak was shaking hands with Mao Zedong could be found across the country during the following general election campaign. It brought a landslide victory to the BN.
And now, the next general election is approaching and inevitably, the giant panda loan agreement was reminiscent of the election. However, the countries will sign the agreement only on June 15, the giant pandas would not be able to arrive before the general election. Moreover, today's situation is different from the situation 38 years ago, when the Chinese had a very deep affection for China. Today, young people do not have much feeling even the Shenzhou 9 is about to launch.
Since the giant pandas would not bring a great political effect, it should then serve diplomatic, economic and biological purposes.
Economically, the country would have to pay a loan fee of up to US$1 million per year and spend a few millions ringgit for maintenance, including maintaining the sanctuary, planting bamboo and training staff. Therefore, it needs a large number of visitors to offset the cost.
The pandas will be placed in a special exhibit in Taman Wetland, Putrajaya. I have been there and it is actually a few dozen kilometres from Kuala Lumpur. The place usually has very few visitors.
I doubt that how many people would be willing to travel all along the way to the wetland just to see a pair of pandas, as the place has no other attraction. Moreover, our neighbouring countries are having their own pairs of pandas.
Perhaps, money is not an issue to Malaysia, since we could spend RM10 million for the recent Hari Belia Negara 2012 event, it should not be a problem to keep a pair of giant panda, right?
In fact, during the administration of former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi, the government has shown its interest in keeping a pair of pandas. And now, two pandas are finally coming. However, the passion has receded and it is just the matter of we are having what others are having, that's all.
Debonair Big Daddy
KUALA LUMPUR: China's decision to send a pair of Giant Pandas to Malaysia is an important goodwill gesture symbolising the harmonious relationship between the two countries, said the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong).
Its president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah said he was glad the plan of bringing the mammals here was able to be done within a short period of time.
“They are not just animals, they are treasures of China serving as goodwill ambassadors to Malaysia, symbolising the harmonious relationship and unity between the two countries.
“The Giant Pandas also forge a bridge to strengthen Malaysia-China ties, which was started by the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak.
“The father initiated the relationship, and now the son Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has strengthened the ties. This means a lot to both countries,” he said.
Chinese newspapers reported in April that Malaysia would spend RM20mil for the upkeep of the pandas.
The budget is expected to cover the construction of an air-conditioned sanctuary for the pandas, the import of bamboos from China for their meals as well as to train local handlers for the animals.
On Monday, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry announced that China had agreed to loan two pandas to Malaysia for 10 years.
An agreement will be signed on Friday.
Malaysians will also get the chance to name the pandas in a nationwide contest.
Separately, a source said Putrajaya Corporation, which is in charge of developing the enclosure for the animals, was in the midst of planning and designing it.
Malaysia will be the third country in the region, after Thailand and Singapore, to receive Giant Pandas from China.
Thailand received a pair of Giant Pandas in 2004, now in the Chiang Mai Zoo, while the Singapore Zoo had two, called An An and Xin Xing on loan from China for 100 days in 1991.
The Giant Panda is the rarest member of the bear family and among the world's most threatened animals.
M’sia-China sign deal on loan of giant pandas
The Wetland Park will be installed with infrastructure similar to the natural habitat of the animals, says Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
The agreement was signed by Peninsular Malaysia’s director-general of the Wild Life Protection and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), Abd Rasid Samsudin and the secretary-general of CWCA Zang Chunlin this afternoon.
The signing was witnessed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and a Member of the Permanent Committee of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) Central Political Bureau Committee, He Guaqiang.
The two giant pandas to be loaned to Malaysia for a period of 10 years represented a symbol of the 40th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations to be celebrated in 2014.
Based on the experiences of neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Singapore, Malaysia will receive the pair of pandas within one year from the date of signing of the agreement.
At the signing ceremony here, Najib said the two pandas were being loaned upon his personal request when he met his Chinese counterpart, Wen Jiabao, during his visit to Nanning last April.
“I was truly delighted when Premier Wen responded immediately and gave his consent for the pandas to be loaned to Malaysia.
“The pandas are very lovely animals and appreciated not only by the Chinese but the whole world. Their presence in Malaysia will certainly be an attraction for Malaysia and visitors here,” he said.
Najib said relations between Malaysia and China now were becoming stronger and the Great Wall nation was Malaysia’s biggest trading partner and an important source of investment in future.
“I wanted a symbol of our relationship which the ordinary people can identify. I can’t think of a greater idea than having a pair of pandas in this country. I’m sure it is going to be a great hit in Malaysia and we will generate income as well from the presence of the pandas in the country,” he said.
Najib said the two pandas would be placed at the Wetland Park, here which would be installed with infrastructure similar to the natural habitat of the giant pandas, and the Yayasan 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) would bear half the cost of constructing the facilities.
“Once the facilities have been set up, we will do what is necessary to meet all the technical requirements, we are looking forward to receiving the pandas,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said in a statement that a national-level competition would be held specifically to name the unique giant pandas to encourage Malaysians to know more about the animal.
Further information on the competition can be obained by surfing the official website of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry at http://nre.gov.my.
-Bernama
thoxinyi@thestar.com.my
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha
June 2, 2012 at Zoo Atlanta: Yang Yang, male Giant Panda (born 09-09-97) throws back his head and gives a hearty laugh at son PO's discomfort of the recent PUBLIC announcement that PO is INDEED a Boy ...!
PUTRAJAYA: The pair of giant pandas that will make their home here for 10 years will be housed in a 1.13ha air-conditioned enclosure at the Wetlands Park.
Another 6.07ha will be used to plant bamboos for their consumption.
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry had announced on Monday that China would loan to Malaysia two baby giant pandas to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The agreement for the transfer of the pandas, regarded as national treasures by China, will be signed between the Malaysian Government and the China Wildlife Conservation Association today.
The loan request was made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao during his visit to Nanning in April.
Putrajaya Corporation president Tan Sri Samsudin Osman said the pandas ate 15 types of bamboo.
“We already have three here buluh Thailand, buluh betong and buluh pagar,” he said after the soft launch of the Putrajaya Flower and Garden Festival (Floria) 2012 at the Maritime Centre here yesterday.
He added that FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Abd Latif Mohmod, who is a bamboo expert, will share planting tips with the corporation.
Samsudin said in Thailand (where China had also sent its pandas) the animals were fed “bamboo cakes” made of minced bamboo shoots.
“The food has to be kept in an air-conditioned store. Otherwise, the pandas will not eat them,” he said.
Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, who was present at the event, said six experts from China were here to inspect the site for the pandas yesterday.
“The enclosure, which has yet to be designed, will resemble the panda habitat as close as possible.
“We will propose the design to the Chinese authorities,” he said.
Raja Nong Chik added that a Malaysian team had visited Singapore and Chiang Mai in Thailand to get first-hand information on preparations as well as caring for the pandas.
The arrival date of the pandas has yet to be fixed.
KUALA LUMPUR: MCA is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the baby giant pandas from China, saying that they will further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China was mutually beneficial and this was important in areas like trade, culture and education.
“In fact, our relationship with all countries in the world has became better under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“We always value good government-to-government relationship and respect countries which place emphasis on this,” he said on Tuesday.
Malaysia will soon be home to two iconic but endangered giant pandas after tomorrow's signing of an agreement between the Government and the China Wildlife Conservation to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China.
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry had announced on Monday that the two baby pandas would be loaned to Malaysia for 10 years.
“It is not easy for China to loan their pandas to just any country.
“The offer is for those countries that share a strong, special relationship with China, and this loan demonstrates the strong bilateral ties China has with Malaysia,” Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said at the Malaysia-China People's Friendship photo exhibition here.
Najib had requested for the loan during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao in Nanning.
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