20
landform stability, etc.), and which is home to and inclusive of our heritagr of plant
and animal species. It is vital to ensure that our home and heritage of plants and
animal species will survive throughout generations to come. Of course, there are
multiple ideas of what sustainable development means, what it looks like on the
ground, and how it should be achieved. We see that in the emerging conversations
today about climate change and how to maintain viable populations of threatened
and endangered species.
The day after I visited Tasik Chini in 2000, I was invited to visit DARA’s office.
Old friends, not forgotten, were there — Tuan Haji Samsudin Othman, Tuan Haji
Mohd Zin Abd Karim, Tuan Haji Ab Ghani Mustaffa, Tuan Haji Mohd and Tuan
Yunus Haji Hussain. The conversation flowed easily and was heartfelt. Just before
we parted ways, director Othman asked what I thought about sustainable development in Malaysia. Being so far removed, I told him that I did not know how to
answer the question, but I suggested this: If people in the new towns, along rivers or
in the forest could still catch fish, wash their clothes, bathe and safely drink the
water supply, then I think Malaysia has done well. If not, a problem well defined is
just half solved.
Acknowledgements I thank the first Forestry Class of 1972 students in ITM for asking thoughtprovoking questions and their heartfelt commitment in preserving Malaysia’s environment and the
people’s way of life. I thank Saufi and my former colleagues at DARA for providing leadership and
support in all my work activities. They included financial support, high-level discussions to
develop technical strategies, air and ground transport, technical support and inter-governmental
coordination with multiple agencies (1972–1976). I thank the US Peace Corps Programme for its
initial enablement and support of my work at DARA, including cross-cultural and language training (1972–1974). I thank the Asian Development Bank for their support during my employment as
a Development Ecologist (1974–1976). I thank Freeman Fox Associates International (England)
for the volumes of technical documents they provided DARA in characterizing the physical environmental attributes of Pahang, Malaysia. I thank the wonderful people of Malaysia for their hospitality and heartfelt kindness. I also want to thank the social worker Bot Bot and his wife for
showing my wife and I the good “heart” of the Orang Asli at Tasik Chini. Finally, my utmost gratitude to my wife, Sheila (Holcomb) Abee, who has tirelessly supported me in producing my publications, such as accompanying me to Orang Asli villages to take dictation during interviews.
References
Beetles 1970. Let It Be; Joni Mitchell 1970. Big Yellow Taxi; Neil Young 1972. Heart of Gold;
James Taylor 1976. Traffic Jam.
Carson, R. (1962a). Silent spring. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Rachel Carson, Rachel. ‘Silent spring’, Houghton Miffin Publisher, September 1962b.
Clean Air Act. 42 USC #7401 et seq. 1970.
Clean Water Act. 33 U.S.C. #1251 et seq. 1972.
Endangered Species Act. 16 U.S.C. #1531 et seq. 1973.
Government of Malaysia. (1966). First Malaysia Plan 1966–1970. Kuala Lumpur: Government
Printing Office.
Government of Malaysia. (1971). Second Malaysia Plan 1971–1975. Kuala Lumpur: Government
Printing Office.
A. Abee
landform stability, etc.), and which is home to and inclusive of our heritagr of plant
and animal species. It is vital to ensure that our home and heritage of plants and
animal species will survive throughout generations to come. Of course, there are
multiple ideas of what sustainable development means, what it looks like on the
ground, and how it should be achieved. We see that in the emerging conversations
today about climate change and how to maintain viable populations of threatened
and endangered species.
The day after I visited Tasik Chini in 2000, I was invited to visit DARA’s office.
Old friends, not forgotten, were there — Tuan Haji Samsudin Othman, Tuan Haji
Mohd Zin Abd Karim, Tuan Haji Ab Ghani Mustaffa, Tuan Haji Mohd and Tuan
Yunus Haji Hussain. The conversation flowed easily and was heartfelt. Just before
we parted ways, director Othman asked what I thought about sustainable development in Malaysia. Being so far removed, I told him that I did not know how to
answer the question, but I suggested this: If people in the new towns, along rivers or
in the forest could still catch fish, wash their clothes, bathe and safely drink the
water supply, then I think Malaysia has done well. If not, a problem well defined is
just half solved.
Acknowledgements I thank the first Forestry Class of 1972 students in ITM for asking thoughtprovoking questions and their heartfelt commitment in preserving Malaysia’s environment and the
people’s way of life. I thank Saufi and my former colleagues at DARA for providing leadership and
support in all my work activities. They included financial support, high-level discussions to
develop technical strategies, air and ground transport, technical support and inter-governmental
coordination with multiple agencies (1972–1976). I thank the US Peace Corps Programme for its
initial enablement and support of my work at DARA, including cross-cultural and language training (1972–1974). I thank the Asian Development Bank for their support during my employment as
a Development Ecologist (1974–1976). I thank Freeman Fox Associates International (England)
for the volumes of technical documents they provided DARA in characterizing the physical environmental attributes of Pahang, Malaysia. I thank the wonderful people of Malaysia for their hospitality and heartfelt kindness. I also want to thank the social worker Bot Bot and his wife for
showing my wife and I the good “heart” of the Orang Asli at Tasik Chini. Finally, my utmost gratitude to my wife, Sheila (Holcomb) Abee, who has tirelessly supported me in producing my publications, such as accompanying me to Orang Asli villages to take dictation during interviews.
References
Beetles 1970. Let It Be; Joni Mitchell 1970. Big Yellow Taxi; Neil Young 1972. Heart of Gold;
James Taylor 1976. Traffic Jam.
Carson, R. (1962a). Silent spring. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Rachel Carson, Rachel. ‘Silent spring’, Houghton Miffin Publisher, September 1962b.
Clean Air Act. 42 USC #7401 et seq. 1970.
Clean Water Act. 33 U.S.C. #1251 et seq. 1972.
Endangered Species Act. 16 U.S.C. #1531 et seq. 1973.
Government of Malaysia. (1966). First Malaysia Plan 1966–1970. Kuala Lumpur: Government
Printing Office.
Government of Malaysia. (1971). Second Malaysia Plan 1971–1975. Kuala Lumpur: Government
Printing Office.
A. Abee