Potrait of a disfugured Afghanistan woman, won the 2010 World Press Photo Award

A personal tragedy depicted in a potrait of a young and beautiful but disfigured 18 year old Afghanistan woman, Bibi Aisha by a South African photographer, Jodi Bieber (not related to Justin Bieber) has won the 2010 World Photography Award.











The potrait shows the 18 year old Afghanistan woman, Bibi Aisha, disfigured, without nose and both ears.

She was punished by the Islamic hardliners, The Taliban, purpotedly for abandoning her marital home.

This extra-ordinary and shocking picture was taken by South African Photographer, Jodi Bieber and has appeared in countless magazines including the Time magazine.

This potrait won the 2010 World Press Photo award, beating more than 108,000 images submitted by close to 6,000 photographers around the world.

First appearing on the front page of Time Magazine on August 1, 2010, Bieber's photograph shows Bibi Aisha staring into the lense, her nose and ears hacked off by members of the Taliban who accused her of abandoning her abusive husband.

"This could become one of those pictures -- and we have maybe just 10 in our lifetime -- where if somebody says: 'you know, that picture of a girl', you know exactly which one they're talking about," jury chairman David Burnett was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the awards committee.

Aisha had fled back to her family home complaining of violent treatment at the hands of her husband.

The shot of the 18-year-old, her black shoulder-length hair partly covered by a purple headscarf, also won in the category "Portraits".

After she was disfigured, Aisha was rescued by aid workers and American soldiers and later underwent reconstructive surgery in the United States, where she now lives.

This picture bore chilling reminder of the plight of another world famous Afghanistan woman photo called the Afghan Girl.





The world famous potrait photo of Sharbat Gula was taken by Steve McCurry at a refugee camp in Pakistan, during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and appeared on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine.

Sharbat Gula was known throughout the world simply as "the Afghan Girl" until she was formally identified in early 2002.

Meanwhile Frenchman Laban-Mattei won the category "General Information" with a photo series on the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.


One of his pictures shows a man throwing the corpse of a dead child onto a pile of dead bodies at a hospital morgue. Sorry for the graphic image.



His compatriot Christophe Archambault came third in the category "Nature" for a series on the erupting volcano Bromo, in Java, Indonesia.

Organisers said a record number of 108,059 images was submitted for this year's contest. A total of 5,847 photographers took part, representing 125 different nationalities.

Kinabalu Shell Press Award Night on 9th July 2010 - List of Winners

The Sabah Media are not only professional in their core business, but also professional entertainers as well - Bakat Terpendam bah!!!



This is the band of the night - RIMBA - a professional music group from Kota Kinabalu



No works... No assignments !!! Let's Rock!!!






Gravin Wong of Overseas Chinese Daily News receiving the Journalism Award as well as the Sports Journalism Award in the Chinese category



Hassan Omar of Berita Harian winner of the Journalism Award and News Reporting Award for Bahasa Melayu category



Mary Chin of Daily Express receiving the Journalism Award for the English category






The winners posing with the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Shell Malaysia chairman, Mohd Anuar Taib and SJA President Datuk Joniston Bangkuai after the presentation ceremony.

Source and pix : Sabah Journalists Association Blog

The Kinabalu Shell Press Award is an annual event of joy to all media fraternities and practitioners in Sabah.

During that night, awards are given to outstanding newsmen and newswomen as well as photographers for all their works in the previous years.

The Kinabalu Shell Press Award is a joint collaboration between Sabah Journalists Association, Sabah state government, Shell and Malaysian Press Institute.

It was first held about 18 years ago.

So on the night of 9th July 2010, it was the 18th Kinabalu Shell Press Award.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, the guest of honour, gave away the prizes and awards to the winners.

A total of 184 entries were received.

As usual, the newspaper who came out top in Sabah is the Daily Express, bagging many prizes and awards including the main one - the coveted Journalism Award. Infact the Daily Express is the undisputed winner in the English Language print media Categories for the past 18 years.

For the top Journalism Award - English, the Daily Express teams of either Specialist Writers - Mary Chin and Kan Yaw Chong and Chief Editor - James Sarda won the award countless times since 1992..!!!

They are followed closely behind by The New Straits Times and The Borneo Post for the English Language print media Categories.

As usual also, Berita Harian came out top in the Malay Language print media categories - the national newspaper 2 heavyweight journalists - Hassan Omar and Azrone Sarabatin took turns receiving their respective top prizes. For the past 3 or 4 years, the duel in these categories were always between Hassan and Azrone - leaving very little prizes left for the other nominees from other newspapers. This time Hassan came out top winning a total of RM7,000 in cash prizes while Azrone won RM5,000. Hassan set the Sabah record of winning RM9,000 in cash prizes in previous Kinabalu Shell Press Awards.

As for the Broadcasting category, the past winners were always the Sabah TV3 crews, but for this year, TV3 did not submit entries but would instead concentrate for next year's award.

After the presentation of awards... it was party time till dawn!!!

The entertainers including RIMBA and Adira of Akademi Fantasia musim ke 8, were marvellous except for one hiccup - the two unknown guys who tried their best to entertain the crowd as comedians, but failed miserably. Stale and not funny at all jokes turned them into Bozo the clown instead of the best jokers in town.

Perhaps SJA can take steps to prevent this from happenings again. We used to have top class entertainers such as Stacy, Dayang Nurfaizah and Harith Iskandar, enlighting things up in previous press nights..

Malaysia have plenty of top class entertainers, so why picked that 2 amateurish and completely unknown so called comedians who are still learning the trick of the trade, as one of the entertainers for the night?? Sorry to say but based on their disastrous performance that night, they were obvioulsy not ready for shows of that proportion...

Enough of that and the lists of winners of the night are as follows :

JOURNALISM AWARD (Feature and News Feature)

ENGLISH
Winner : James Sarda and Mary Chin (Daily Express)
Entry : Sabah Lost Photos - Spirit of the Borneo (11-part series)
Merit : 1. Kan Yaw Chong (Daily Express)
"Death March: Disastrous Start, Tragic Finish"
2. Roy Goh (New Straits Times)
"Hope Flows with River"


BAHASA MELAYU
Winner : Hassan Omar (Berita Harian)
Entry : Naik Troli Ulang Alik Ke Tenom/Troli Tenom/
5 Kampung Kongsi Gembira
Merit : 1. Suzianah Jiffar (Berita Harian)
"Derita Berpanjangan"
2. Sahar Buraera (Utusan Borneo)
"Sistem Ramalan Ikan Bantu Tingkat Pendapatan"


CHINESE
Winner : Gravin Wong (Overseas Chinese Daily News)
Entry : "Exploring Sabah's Natural Beauty"
Merit : 1. Siong Yin Hua (See Hua Daily News)
"60 years of breakthrough for Sabah interior primary schools"
2. Wong Jwu Yiing (Asia Times)
"Century-old British Tobacco Factories in Lahad Datu, Segama"


NEWS REPORTING AWARD
ENGLISH
Winner : Daily Express Team (Avila Geraldine Samuel, Durie Rainer Fong,
Hayati Dzulkifli, Mary Chin and Chris Maskilone
Entry : "Kudat Boat Tragedy"
Merit : 1. Nancy Lai (The Borneo Post)
"Three reports leading to the proposed Maang Dam project being shelved"
2. Sandra Sokial and Maria Doksil (The Borneo Post)
"We're Only 46 Today"

BAHASA MELAYU
Winner : Hassan Omar (Berita Harian)
Entry : "Pertahan Kampung Sembulan/Sembulan Terhimpit"
Merit : 1. Wille Jude Junaidi (Utusan Borneo)
"Warga emas harungi perjalanan dua hari perjalanan ambil
bantuan kebajikan"
2.Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman (Utusan Malaysia)
"3 siri 6 artikel - transformasi Pulau Bangi"

CHINESE
Winner : Ngu Chung Ping (See Hua Daily News)
Entry : "Chinese first man run around the world using his leg"
Merit : 1. Chong Kiew Vui/Jimmy Goh (Overseas Chinese Daily News)
"Awaiting Resurrection"
2. Wong Li Phin (Sin Chew Daily News)
"YB Anak Negeri Status Dispute"

ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM AWARD
ENGLISH
Winner : Kan Yaw Chong (Daily Express)
Entry : "High Profile Boost for Clean Energy and Organic Farming in Sabah"
Merit : 1. Jaswinder Kaur Kler (New Straits Times)
"Lifeline for Orang Utans"
2. Jenne John Lajiun (New Sabah Times)
"Four articles on call for dam project to be relocated elsewhere"

BAHASA MELAYU
Winner : Mohd Azrone Sarabatin (Berita Harian)
Entry : "Sodium Hidrosida Ancam Kehidupan Nelayan"
Merit : 1. Yusop Teppo (Utusan Borneo)
"EFB Alternatif Jana Tenaga Elektrik"
2. Nik Jasni Che Jaafar (Utusan Borneo)
"Ekspedisi Saintifik Muaya IBTP-SI Membongkar Kekayaan
Khazanah Bumi Sabah"

CHINESE
Winner : Bong Tze Pin (Overseas Chinese Daily News)
Entry : "Green Energy An Option For Alternative Energy in Sabah"
Merit : 1. Voo Phin Sang (Asia Times)
"A Lesson From Mamut for Coal Fired Power Plant"
2. Tsen Tzee Leong (Sin Chew Daily News)
"The Environmentally-Friendly Power Supply Energy Option"


SPORTS JOURNALISM AWARD
ENGLISH
Winner : Lester J Bingkasan (The Borneo Post)
Entry : 23rd Mount Kinabalu Climbathon
Merit : 1.Fred Leong (New Sabah Times)
"Welfare Funds for Athletes"
2. Paul Mu (New Sabah Times)
"Elena in Town/Elena agrees to conduct clinic/Moment to Cherish"

BAHASA MELAYU
Winner : Willie Jude Junaidi, Hashim Hj Othman
and Vitalis Gulabok (Utusan Borneo)
Entry : A two part stories on former Sabah no. 1 goalkeeper
Khairul Azman Mohamed
Merit : 1. Desmond Quek (Utusan Borneo)
"Siri Perlawanan Mendaki Gunung Kinabalu Antarabangsa ke-23"
2. Hassan Omar (Berita Harian)
"5 Tempa Sejarah"

CHINESE
Winner : Gravin Wong (Overseas Chinese Daily News)
Entry : "Polo is not the game of Kings in Sabah but King of all games"
Merit : 1. Wong Bak Kion (See Hua Daily News)
"52nd National hope table tennis championship 2009 daily report
Malaysia aim India Commonwealth Games 1st medal"
2. Siong Yin Hua (See Hua Daily News)
"The modern sport 'Chi Ling' development in Sabah"

BUSINESS & ECONOMIC REPORTING AWARD
ENGLISH
Winner : Cheang Poh Hwa (New Sabah Times)
Entry : Three news items on Kopeks positive Development
Merit : 1. Mariah Doksil (The Borneo Post)
"Metrojaya boost efforts to make KK shopping haven"
2. Roy Goh (New Straits Times)
"Tapping into steady livelihood"

BAHASA MELAYU
Winner : Mohd Azrone Sarabatin (Berita Harian)
Entry : "Kraftangan Irranun dari ceruk kampung ke Kota London"
Merit : 1. Suzzianah Jiffar (Berita Harian)
"Petani disyor sertai ladang kontrak FAMA"
2. Nik Jasni bte Che Jaafar (Utusan Borneo)
"Grand Borneo Hotel bukan sekadar tempat menginap"

CHINESE
Winner : Bong Tze Pin (Overseas Chinese Daily News)
Entry : "Partial relaxation of Cabotage Policy couldn't do much to improve
chicken or egg situation"
Merit : 1. Sim Kain Yun (See Hua Daily News)
"Sabah's Famous Southern Pearl"
2. Voo Phin Sang (Asia Times)
"Manufacturing Sabah Industry of Tomorrow"

ENTERTAINMENT REPORTING AWARD (NEW)
ENGLISH
Winner : Jaswinder Kaur Kler (New Straits Times)
Entry : "Sabah man makes a bamboo sax"
Merit : 1. Suraidah Roslan (The Borneo Post)
"Fauziah first women gambus artiste"
2. Chok Sim Yee (The Borneo Post)
"Sabah culinary pride"

BAHASA MELAYU
Winner : Zuraidah Ahmad (Jabatan Penerangan)
Entry : "Disebalik Nama - Asmin Mudin"
Merit : 1. Petrus Valentinus (Harian Ekspress)
"Kemuncak debaran tiga peserta dari Sabah melabuh saingan
di final Bintang RTM2009 malam ini"
2. Siti Kazalinah Kamaludin (Harian Ekspress)
"Toyol Nakal Tampil Kelainan"

CHINESE
NO WINNER
Merit : 1. Samuel Tsen Tzee Leong (Sin Chew Daily News)
"First locally-produced Hakka dialect album in Sabah"
2. Wong Jwu Ying (Asia Times)
"Sabah super model - Evonne Teah"

KADAZANDUSUN SECTION
Winner : Marryan Razan (New Sabah Times)
Entry : "Kakal ogumu tulun amu kasang gaji amah pinoinkawas"
Merit : Maziah Abdullah @ J Sipanil (Daily Express)
"Homestay kopogiot pionitan id piahatan tinaau"

BROADCAST JOURNALISM AWARD
No Winner
Merit : 1. Azlinah binti Nineng, Asmat Oyah, Francis Fahir and
Victor Jeprine (RTM)
"Laporan Khas - Tragedi Aidil Adha"
2. Julaina Bangot, Mohamad Haji Ali, Zainuddin Jamlu and
Mat Muidin (RTM)
"Laporan khas- Cabaran pesakit talasemia di Sabah"

Note : TV3 did not take part, but next year will take part.


BEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPH AWARD
Winner : James Tseu (The Borneo Post)
Entry : "All Gone"
Merit : 1. Lo Teck Loong (Daily Express)
"Contractor Almost Buried Alive"
2. Normimie Diun (The Star)
"Furniture Stores Were Damaged In Fire"

SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY
Winner : Edmund Samunting (New Straits Times)
Entry : "Ranau farmer third in Mt Kinabalu race"
Merit : 1. Eddie Angat
"Action during final"
2. Ho Chih Wei (See Hua Daily News)
"Basketball: lay up"

BEST PICTURE AWARD
Winner : Datu Ruslan Sulai (New Straits Times)
Entry : "Joy and Grief"
Merit : 1. Lo Teck Loong (Daily Express)
"RIver of Filth"
2. Zamain Singkui (Bernama)
"Hidup Aman Damai di lautan"


YOUNG MOST PROMISING JOURNALIST

Avila Geraldine Samuel Chong (Daily Express)

Wartawan Bernama, Melati Mohd Ariff menang Anugerah Kajai

Di bawah ini adalah rencana "Mencari Dingin Udara Cameron Highlands" yang menobatkan penulisnya, Melati Mohd Ariff dari Bernama (Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia) sebagai pemenang Anugerah Kajai pada malam Hadiah Kewartawanan Malaysia MPI-Petronas yang diadakan di Kuala Lumpur, Jumaat, 16 April 2010.

Majlis disempurnakan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Anugerah Kajai adalah anugerah tertinggi profesyen kewartawanan di Malaysia, membawa hadiah wang tunai RM30,000 serta pingat emas bernilai RM12,900.00

Anugerah tertinggi kewartawanan dunia pula ialah Pulltizer Award.

Mencari Dingin Udara Cameron Highlands

Oleh Melati Mohd Ariff

Rencana mengenai Cameron Highlands ini ialah bahagian pertama daripada tiga siri.

CAMERON HIGHLANDS, 16 Feb (Bernama) -- Aktiviti pertanian semakin rakus merubah landskap pusat peranginan tanah tinggi tersohor Malaysia, Cameron Highlands.

Bermula dengan teh yang ditanam di lereng bukit, daerah yang paling kecil di Pahang ini semakin diasak penanaman sayuran secara intensif. Sudah habis tanah rendah digondolkan, kini lereng bukit semakin ditarah dan kawasan hutan pula diredah dan ditebang.

Hawa tanah tinggi yang sebelum ini dingin menyusuk hingga ke tulang, kian menjadi panas. Angin yang bertiup di tengah-tengah cuaca yang kering, membawa bersama cemar bau baja yang begitu kuat menusuk hidung.

Inilah realitinya! Pengunjung ke tanah tinggi ini akan semakin kempunan kepada udara segar dan nyaman yang sering dikaitkan dengan pusat peranginan pergunungan.

BERMULANYA PEMBANGUNAN

Ditemui pada 1885 oleh juru ukur kerajaan penjajah Inggeris, William Cameron, kawasan pergunungan ini, dengan puncak paling tinggi terletak 1,500 meter di atas paras laut, dibangunkan sebagai pusat percutian seawal 1925.

Transformasi drastik pantas merubah landskap Cameron Highlands selepas negara memperoleh kemerdekaan pada 1957 dan tahun-tahun berikutnya tatkala iklim sejuk pergunungan didapati amat sesuai untuk tanaman sayuran.

Berikutnya, bermulalah aktiviti besar-besaran menebang hutan dara untuk memberi laluan kepada pembukaan ladang teh dan sayur-sayuran. Pembinaan jalan raya, bangunan dan kawasan perumahan turut pesat dijalankan.

Dengan kawasan seluas kira-kira 71,000 hektar dan penduduk melebihi 30,000, Cameron Highlands kini mempunyai lapan pekan iaitu Blue Valley, Kampung Raja, Kuala Terla, Tringkap, Brinchang, Tanah Rata, Lembah Bertam dan Ringlet.

Sebahagian besar aktiviti pertanian bertumpu di Lembah Bertam, sementara Blue Valley gah dengan ladang teh, antaranya Ladang Teh Blue Valley dan Ladang Teh BOH.

SUATU HARI DULU

Bagai kenangan lama mengusik jiwa. Demikian gambaran yang diberikan warga emas Cameron Highlands.

Betapa mereka mendambakan suasana silam, mendatangani waktu pagi sambil menghirup udara segar yang dingin, dikelilingi panorama kehijauan, mendamaikan.

Namun segalanya kini tinggal dalam lipatan memori. Tanah tinggi ini sudah lama bertukar wajah atas nama pembangunan dengan pembinaan 'hutan batu' dan pembukaan besar-besaran tanah untuk pertanian.

Menjelang musim perayaan atau cuti sekolah, tanah tinggi ini juga pasti sesak dengan ribuan pengunjung dan kenderaan.

"Memang aman masa itu. Orang tak ramai. Kereta pun tak banyak. Dulu anak-anak boleh main tengah jalan.

"Cuaca pula amat sejuk. Bekerja pun pakai jaket. Sejuknya sampai minyak kelapa boleh jadi beku dan keras, boleh bungkus dengan kertas surat khabar," cerita Zainal Abidin Shafie, 77, yang datang ke Cameron Highlands pada 1948, ketika berusia 18.

Keriangan Zainal Abidin yang dipilih sebagai Tokoh Maal Hijrah Cameron Highlands 2009 apabila berkongsi kenangan manis sewaktu mula-mula tinggal di tanah tinggi bertukar bimbang apabila ditanya keadaan yang dilihatnya pada hari ini.

"Rumah dibina sampai tepi jalan, tepi sungai pun ada, bayangkanlah.... Tengok di Tringkap (kira-kira lapan kilometer dari Brinchang) rumah sampai tepi jalan, nak letak kereta pun susah.

"Tengok di Tanah Rata, gerai sana-sini. Tak ada tempat letak kereta. Buat bangunan pun sampai tepi jalan. Bila pelancong datang, nak berhenti kereta pun tak boleh.

"Harap pihak berkuasa fikir dan adakan lebih banyak tempat letak kereta. Berapa ratus ribu kereta bila cuti. Kami penduduk di Cameron Highlands bila musim cuti memang tak keluar rumah, kalau keluar memang sangkut," Zainal Abidin memberitahu Bernama, sambil menjelaskan, beliau biasanya membuat perancangan membeli barang keperluan sebelum musim cuti bagi mengelakkan kesesakan.

SEJUK TAPI SUKA

Bagi Kolandapayan a/l Sengkali Kaundan, 74, banyak memori indah tinggal di Cameron Highlands.

Dilahirkan di India, Kolandapayan datang ke Cameron Highlands pada 1953 untuk bekerja di ladang teh di Blue Valley.

Cukup, katanya, menyara diri dengan upah RM2.30 sehari di mana RM1 untuk belanja makan sementara bakinya disimpan.

"Mula-mula mari (datang) banyak sejuk tapi lama-lama suka. Lagi pun tak boleh pergi tempat lain. Masa itu ada sikit pondok kecil, orang tak ramai, kereta kurang.

"Takut ada juga sebab keliling hutan. Komunis pun ada, memang takut pada komunis. Ada yang minta duit," kata Kolandapayan. Beliau melakukan banyak kerja selepas berhenti dari ladang teh.

Ditanya kehidupan di Cameron Highlands sekarang, dia pantas berkata: "Panas. Orang pun ramai, kereta sudah banyak. Dulu satu bulan dua hari panas, sekarang satu bulan panas. Banyak hutan, bukit kena potong."

Bagi Francis Thangam, 74, keputusan berhijrah ke Cameron Highlands ketika berusia 23 membuka lembaran baru dalam hidupnya setelah mendapat tahu tentang tempat ini daripada kawannya yang mempunyai kedai gunting rambut di sini.

"Saya bayar RM1.80 untuk tiket bas ke Cameron Highlands. Naik bas dari Klang ke Tapah. Basnya kecil, boleh muat 16 orang sahaja. Perjalanan memang meletihkan, jalannya berliku-liku.

"Mula-mula datang, banyak sejuk, semua orang pakai jaket, tak boleh tahan," katanya.

Berkat kesabaran dan ketekunan meskipun terpaksa berjauhan daripada keluarga dan terpaksa melakukan pelbagai kerja, Francis akhirnya mendapat kerja yang lebih baik. Pada 1963, beliau mula bekerja sebagai pengurus di Ladang Teh Bharat sehingga bersara pada Disember 2004.

MENCARI KABUS

Zulkifli Mohd Ariffin, 67, pula datang ke Cameron Highlands pada 1981 selepas dinaikkan pangkat sebagai ketua kerani dengan Pejabat Tanah dan terus menetap di tanah tinggi ini.

Bagi beliau, yang paling dirinduinya ialah kabus Cameron Highlands.

"Masa muda dulu saya banyak bersukan. Kadang-kadang tengah bermain terpaksa berhenti dulu sebab kabus tebal lalu. Tak semestinya hujan, kalau hujan, lagi tebal kabus. Kalau bercakap, keluar wap dari mulut, begitu sejuknya.

"Sekarang nak dapat kabus sebulan sekali pun susah. Itu pun lepas hujan. Tengok sahaja pelancong yang datang ke Cameron Highlands, tak macam dulu pakai tebal-tebal. Ada yang pakai kemeja-t dan seluar pendek sahaja!

"Masa dulu-dulu, mesti pakai jaket dan tidur malam pun kena pakai baju dua tiga lapis dan sarung kaki," kata Zulkifli.

Beliau turut mengeluh apabila bercakap tentang apa yang sedang berlaku di Cameron Highlands.

"Bukan sahaja cuaca tetapi juga pembangunan yang tak menentu. Tepi jalan banyak gerai, tempat letak kereta tak ada, keadaan semakin meruncing.

"Sampai bila struktur muka bumi Cameron Highlands dapat bertahan. Yang dihakis, ditebang dan digondolkan. Apa yang akan diwarisi generasi masa depan Cameron Highlands?" tegasnya.

APA KATA ORANG ASLI

Bagi masyarakat Orang Asli Kampung Kuala Boh di Ringlet, meskipun, perkampungan mereka terletak nun jauh di dalam hutan, ia masih terkena tempias pembangunan pesat dan hiruk-pikuk kehidupan moden Cameron Highlands.

Keruh air Sungai Mensoon yang mengalir di kampung itu bukti nyata pencemaran yang berpunca daripada banyaknya kegiatan pertanian di kawasan hulu sungai berkenaan.

Bahdin Pulai, 67, terkenang zaman mudanya memancing dan berenang di sungai berhampiran kawasan petempatan Orang Asli itu.

"Kebun sayur belum ada, air sungai jernih dan boleh diminum, ikan pun banyak, tak ada racun. Binatang dalam hutan banyak, ada kijang dan rusa.

"Sekarang banyak kebun sayur, ramai pekerja asing. Air sungai tak lagi bersih, ikan dah pupus. Anak-anak tak berpeluang menangkap ikan atau berburu. Buat sumpit pun tak tahu," keluh Bahdin yang terpaksa menggunakan tongkat untuk berjalan kerana penyakit gout.

Katanya air sungai mula tercemar penghujung 1970-an dengan pembukaan banyak kebun sayur di Ringlet.

TURUT HAMPA

Rasa kecewa dan hampa Bahdin turut dikong Tok Batin Kampung Kuala Boh, Nordin Abu Bakar, 45.

"Dah empat tahun tak merasa ikan dipancing sendiri. Dulu dalam Sungai Mensoon ni boleh tangkap ikan kelah, besar-besar peha, ikan tengas. Semua dah tak ada. Sungai dah kotor, tercemar," katanya.

Terdapat 92 keluarga di Kampung Kuala Boh dan semuanya beragama Islam. Orang tua di kampung itu masih bekerja mencari rotan, menanam pisang dan ubi kayu serta mengerjakan padi bukit. Anak-anak muda pula ada yang keluar merantau, bekerja di bandar besar.

Dilahir dan dibesarkan di Kampung Kuala Boh yang meliputi kawasan seluas 100 hektar, Nordin menyandang jawatan Tok Batin pada 1992, mengambil alih jawatan daripada bapanya yang meninggal dunia pada 1991.

Di sebalik lokasi kampung yang dikelilingi hutan tebal, Nordin berkata cuaca sekitar amat berbeza daripada masa dia kecil.

"Masa kecil, kami tak boleh pakai baju tak berlengan macam yang saya pakai sekarang. Kena pakai pakaian tebal, tak kira pagi atau tengah hari. Sekarang pagi boleh minum ais, oren ke. Itu yang beza. Sampai tahun 70-an, masih lagi sejuk.

"Banyak tanah dibuka untuk ladang sayur. Saya harap mereka tak menceroboh sampai ke kampung ini. Kami tak mahu pencemaran," kata Nordin yang pernah berkhidmat sebagai askar komando selama 12 tahun sebelum kembali ke kampung halamannya, Kampung Kuala Boh.

Bagi Zainal Abidin, Kolandapayan, Francis Thangam, Zulkifli, Bahdin dan Nordin, Cameron Highlands adalah terlalu berharga dan istimewa.

Mereka sudah menghirup udara segar dan dingin Cameron Highlands serta menikmati keindahan dan kedamaian hidup di tanah tinggi.

Apa yang mereka dambakan sekarang agar legasi tanah tinggi ini, dengan segala keistimewaannya dapat diwarisi tanpa sebarang honar dan cemar kepada anak cucu mereka serta generasi akan datang.

-- BERNAMA