Giant pandas arrive in Kuala Lumpur
Kow Gah ChiePublished: May 21, 2014 8:30 AM | Updated: May 21, 2014 11:18 PM
The long-awaited pair of giant pandas China is loaning to Malaysia for 10 years - Fuwa and Fengyi - arrived at the MASkargo terminal of the KL International Airport in Sepang this morning.
[PHOTO GALLERY]
The giant pandas sent from China yesterday were received by the Malaysian government at the National Zoo today in a low-profile ceremony, shadowed by the loss of Flight MH370.
Fuwa and Fengyi - arrived at the MASkargo terminal in KLIA at 7.45am this morning on a 10-year loan to Malaysia.
The two eight-year-olds, one male and one female, left their Dujiangyan base at the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas in southwest China's Sichuan province last night.
China has a policy of ‘panda ambassadors’ and currently has 47 of the animals abroad in 18 zoos in 13 countries.
It was reported that China’s media was not invited to cover their departure which was held only in the presence of Malaysian media, as a mark of respect for the disappearance of MH370.
The pandas were placed on board a special MASkargo plane adorned with a picture of pandas. They were accompanied by Zoo Negara director Dr Naim Ramli, a Chinese veterinarian, and 10 technical officers.
Upon arrival, they were immediately transported to the national zoo in a special van and will be introduced to the public at the giant panda complex after a month-long quarantine.
Welcoming the giant pandas at the terminal were Minister of Natural Resources and Environment G Palanivel, and Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang.
"I was told that the ceremony to bid farewell to the pandas was simple yet beautiful. I hope with Huang's presence here this morning, our equally simple ceremony is no less beautiful and just as meaningful," Palanivel said in his welcoming speech.
However at a press conference later, both Palanivel and Huang denied the two countries purposely held low-key ceremonies because of the MH370 tragedy, as they were certain the pandas would be well received in Malaysia.
Palanivel did agree that the arrival of the pandas, originally set for April 15, was delayed due to MH370.
"We has a discussion at the cabinet, and the prime minister said, 'let's postpone the arrival'. They were supposed to arrive earlier.
"It was just because of some issues regarding the MH(370)," he said when asked the reason for delay in the arrival of the pandas.
40th anniversary
But Huang played the issue down, saying there was no delay as the pandas arrived one week before the 40th anniversary of the China-Malaysia bilateral diplomatic relations.
"Let's us remember this great day and moment - 8am May 21, 2014. This is a moment in history – the first time when a lovely pair of pandas, which are treasures of China, arrived in this country," he said.
There was some tension when the pandas arrived as officials only unveiled Fengyi for 30 seconds to the media - some of whom had been waiting for three hours - for photohraphs to be taken.
At the press conference, when a journalist complained, the emcee tried to explain that the pandas cannot stand the local weather.
"Shut up. Leave the technical issues to us. I was the one who brought them back," chided James Dawos Mamit, the deputy minister of Natural Resource and Environment.
The pandas will be quarantined for 30 days. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will officiate at the opening of the panda exhibition hall by end of next month, and new names will be given to the pandas.
Adults will have to pay an extra RM20 and children an extra RM10 to see the pandas.
Their arrival marks 40 years of bilateral ties between Malaysia and China. Malaysia established diplomatic relations with China in 1974, initiated by second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.
The giant pandas sent from China yesterday were received by the Malaysian government at the National Zoo today in a low-profile ceremony, shadowed by the loss of Flight MH370.
Fuwa and Fengyi - arrived at the MASkargo terminal in KLIA at 7.45am this morning on a 10-year loan to Malaysia.
The two eight-year-olds, one male and one female, left their Dujiangyan base at the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas in southwest China's Sichuan province last night.China has a policy of ‘panda ambassadors’ and currently has 47 of the animals abroad in 18 zoos in 13 countries.
It was reported that China’s media was not invited to cover their departure which was held only in the presence of Malaysian media, as a mark of respect for the disappearance of MH370.
The pandas were placed on board a special MASkargo plane adorned with a picture of pandas. They were accompanied by Zoo Negara director Dr Naim Ramli, a Chinese veterinarian, and 10 technical officers.
Upon arrival, they were immediately transported to the national zoo in a special van and will be introduced to the public at the giant panda complex after a month-long quarantine.
Welcoming the giant pandas at the terminal were Minister of Natural Resources and Environment G Palanivel, and Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang."I was told that the ceremony to bid farewell to the pandas was simple yet beautiful. I hope with Huang's presence here this morning, our equally simple ceremony is no less beautiful and just as meaningful," Palanivel said in his welcoming speech.
However at a press conference later, both Palanivel and Huang denied the two countries purposely held low-key ceremonies because of the MH370 tragedy, as they were certain the pandas would be well received in Malaysia.
Palanivel did agree that the arrival of the pandas, originally set for April 15, was delayed due to MH370.
"We has a discussion at the cabinet, and the prime minister said, 'let's postpone the arrival'. They were supposed to arrive earlier.
"It was just because of some issues regarding the MH(370)," he said when asked the reason for delay in the arrival of the pandas.
40th anniversary
But Huang played the issue down, saying there was no delay as the pandas arrived one week before the 40th anniversary of the China-Malaysia bilateral diplomatic relations.
"Let's us remember this great day and moment - 8am May 21, 2014. This is a moment in history – the first time when a lovely pair of pandas, which are treasures of China, arrived in this country," he said.
There was some tension when the pandas arrived as officials only unveiled Fengyi for 30 seconds to the media - some of whom had been waiting for three hours - for photohraphs to be taken.At the press conference, when a journalist complained, the emcee tried to explain that the pandas cannot stand the local weather.
"Shut up. Leave the technical issues to us. I was the one who brought them back," chided James Dawos Mamit, the deputy minister of Natural Resource and Environment.
The pandas will be quarantined for 30 days. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will officiate at the opening of the panda exhibition hall by end of next month, and new names will be given to the pandas.
Adults will have to pay an extra RM20 and children an extra RM10 to see the pandas.
Their arrival marks 40 years of bilateral ties between Malaysia and China. Malaysia established diplomatic relations with China in 1974, initiated by second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.
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