I refer to the Malaysiakini article Bird watching: Heaven on earth .

Bravo to Dr Kua Kia Soong, what a beautiful, heartwarming article on the appreciation of nature. The photos of the birds are clear and pretty!

I know Kua as a prolific commentator and an active participant of social and political affairs in the country. But I didn’t know that he is also a naturalist and an excellent photographer.

In the past year, Kua was embroiled in a bitter struggle with Dong Zhong chairperson Yap Sin Tian and his cohorts in the Chinese education movement and the direction of New Era College (NEC).

It is quite clear that Kua and his team’s idea of a de-centralised campus around the existing NEC campus (on the outskirt of Kajang town) would be the more suitable and economically viable model to develop and expand the college.

Their proposed development plan for NEC would also help revitalise the neighbouring communities around Kajang.

However, Yap and his cohorts - with the backing of MCA - preferred the ‘big project’ approach. They want to relocate NEC to a piece of swamp land ‘donated’ by Hong Leong in the midst of Hong Leong's development project in Sepang.

Building a new campus in Sepang would involve expensive foundation works not to mention the high cost of new buildings and the relocation of the entire college. It is estimated to cost in excess of RM100 Million! Who to foot the bill but the Chinese community?

Will there be any money leftover for other education projects and software like the employment of top-rate teaching staff? Dong Zhong led by Yap didn’t dare to discuss or debate the development direction of the NEC in an open forum.

Instead Yap and cohorts carried out a campaign of personal smear attacks on Kua and eventually dismissed him as the college principal.

Going back to the above article, I agree very much with Kua that it’s such a pleasure watching the birds flitting about on trees or waking up to their melodious chirping in the morning. I'm also fortunate to be living near a nature reserve and occasionally we can see squirrels darting about in the vegetation that we have planted along the side of our house.

When in office on New Year’s eve, my wife called to say that a squirrel had jumped right into our house to wish us a ‘Happy New Year’! Our children were all excited but they had to quickly lock up our two dogs in their cages before ‘playing’ with the little friend otherwise our dogs would have the little fellow for afternoon tea (ha ha!).

We will have a deeper appreciation of the flora and fauna around us if we know their names and characteristics, just like knowing a new person.

I always have a warm feeling of joy like meeting a friend when I know the names of flowers, trees or birds that I see in a park or even by the roadside. The tree may not return my greetings like a friend but a slight wave of its leaves from a gentle breeze is enough to show that it acknowledges my friendship.

Thank you, Kua. I hope your sharing will simulate more Malaysians to appreciate and take more interest in the environment around us.