土曜日, 12月 20

Museum of Natural History: Where should it be? 2

Continue from here.

After foraging old newspaper clips, I've managed to come across this clip; dated January 2008; concerning an idea to gazette the current Bukit Persekutuan as a hutan simpan and locate the much awaited Museum of Natural History there.
I strongly believe that this idea is unique and should be highlighted.

Hmm...have a feeling that most probably, the government already have some other ideas (to turn the whole federal hill area into a housing estate for the elite? The area should be able to fetch good price owing its strategic location within KL city center) for Bukit Persekutuan?


Proposal to preserve Bukit Persekutuan as urban park

Proposal to preserve Bukit Persekutuan as urban park


KUALA LUMPUR: A proposal to turn the 70ha Bukit Persekutuan here into an urban park where the planned Natural History Museum of Malaysia can be located has been submitted to the Prime Minister. 

The Malaysian Nature Society and Badan Warisan Malaysia handed over the concept proposal on Dec 31. 

The proposal recommends that the hill, as an extension of the Lake Gardens, be conserved for ecological functions, environmental education and recreational use, said the society's executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong in a conference to highlight the proposal yesterday. 

“We are concerned as the land faces continuous development pressure from its surrounding areas. The land is private and has been earmarked for development, especially along Jalan Travers,” he said 

The hill is the only living forest in the city centre now, he added. 

“It has many mature trees, animals and it is a stopover area for migratory birds,” he said. 

The Government has been trying to identify a site for a Natural History Museum and the place is centralised, has good transport facilities and is near to other museums and tourist sites, he said. 

The land belongs to the Federal Government and is not a protected area, said former society president Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor. 

“We hope the Government will gazette the hill as an urban park by the end of the year,” he said. 

Badan Warisan Malaysia president Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji said the hill has 119 old government bungalows that could be restored and become part of the museum to host exhibitions. 

The conservation effort is consistent with the Government's green lung policy for cities, he added. 

Bukit Persekutuan is regularly used by society members for activities and is a favourite haunt for joggers and strollers. Formerly known as Federal Hill, it was set up in 1896 as the residential enclave for Europeans working for the Federated Malay States administration, according to the proposal content. 

The current Institut Kesihatan Umum Bangsar, established in the early 1900s, was among the earliest government buildings built and was known as the hospital that served the Europeans while Sri Perdana, now renamed Galeria Sri Perdana, was the official residence of the fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Museum of Natural History: Where should it be?

I read the news and learnt that the Malaysian government is planning to set up a new museum.
This new museum will house Malaysia's numerous natural history under one roof.
This is a definitely a good thing. 
I can still recall how mesmerized I was, looking at all the strange looking animals on display at the Natural History Wing in Malaysia's National Museum; Muzium Negara.
I know that it would be wonderful if people can actually see those animals, alive and well in the wild, but lets face it.
Not many among us are willing to go into insect infested jungles to experience close encounters with wild creatures.
Static exhibits displayed in air conditioned buildings are the next best, realistic option that we can have.
This is a positive move that I readily support.

What I find intriguing is the spot that the government put forth to house our nation's natural treasures, PUTRAJAYA.
This choice of place is something that I can't agree with.
WHY on earth does this new museum has to be built in Putrajaya?
WHY can't we have the museum build somewhere nearer to it's present location, Muzium Negara?
Can't the government pick a better place to house our nation's natural treasures within the compound of Lake Gardens?
I personally believe that, locating the much anticipated Muzeum of Natural History within the grounds of Lake Gardens, nearer to Muzium Negara (and to other attractions, eg Muzium Kesenian Islam, etc) are much more practical and is so much more convenient for people to visit, if compared with far away Putrajaya.

And I don't think that I am alone in this.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?



Friday December 19, 2008

Better to site museum at Tasik Perdana area

THE Government’s effort to finally set up the Museum of Natural History is most commendable and long overdue.

Most of us can still remember the natural history section when we visited the old Muzium Negara in Kuala Lumpur. To some of us, this section was more fascinating than the others because of the exquisite collections.

Today, the newly refurbished and revamped exhibits at Muzium Negara are more streamlined to portray the early history till the present day of the country.

What does not seem right is that the proposed RM5mil Museum of Natural History will be sited in Putrajaya. Why at the seat of the government?

I am of the view that the present tourism and cultural belt or precinct around the Tasik Perdana area will be a more suitable choice.

If land or building is the stumbling block, perhaps the Civil Ser vice Museum at the fringe of the lake area can be swapped with the proposed Natural History Museum.

The Tasik Perdana area already boasts of many tourist attractions, including the Islamic Arts Museum, the Police Museum, the Tun Razak Memorial, Planetarium, the Historical Museum and, of course, our pride, the National Museum.

To include the Museum of Natural History in the area would not just be more convenient to tourists, it would also enrich the area.

Again, the proposed Museum of Natural History should have the best collections. Let’s hope it would not be just another tourism edifice.

ZARI MALAYSIANA,

Petaling Jaya.