Anti-shark's fin campaign catching on with MPs?
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By Cheow Xin Yi, TODAY | Posted: 02 May 2012 0624 hrs
SINGAPORE: Even as an animal welfare group prepares to submit a formal proposal to the authorities for the banning of the shark's fin trade here, a movement to get the dish off the dining table is catching on among some Members of Parliament and grassroots leaders.
At least three wards - Chong Pang, Canberra and Cashew - have stopped serving shark's fin soup during grassroots functions.
Nee Soon GRC Member of Parliament (MP) K. Shanmugam, who looks after the Chong Pang ward, told TODAY: "I took the view that we should avoid shark's fin on the menu for functions which Chong Pang organises. I spoke with my grassroots leaders and they were supportive of the move."
Mr Shanmugam, who is also the Law and Foreign Minister, said the decision was made in June last year after an animal welfare forum held by Chong Pang Community Club in collaboration with the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES).
He added that, personally, he had decided for some time not to consume the dish.
At a youth forum in 2010, Nee Soon GRC MP Lim Wee Kiak, along with other MPs present, was asked if he would refrain from serving the Chinese delicacy during constituency dinners.
Dr Lim, who takes care of the Canberra ward, replied that he did not think he would and, while he did not want any sharks to become extinct, he pointed out that not all shark populations were endangered.
Alluding to his earlier comments, he told this newspaper that his position remains unchanged. The recent decision is not a "ban" per se, he said.
"The step forward was not an official position ... part of it was also not to be too 'extravagant'. Nutrition-value wise, other things are more nutritious. Fish maw is better," said Dr Lim, who added that the issue is sensitive and "not everybody" will agree with the decision.
Cashew ward is under the charge of Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan. Grassroots leader Linda Ng said a "conscious effort" has been made to replace shark's fin with fish maw at the ward's functions since late last year. Their reasons included budget considerations and residents' preferences, as well as "the knowledge of how shark's fin is created" as a dish, said Mdm Ng, who chairs a residents' committee. - TODAY -
wow.......... big fish not eating smaller fish
now after exoctic or bigger fish?
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Originally posted by lce:
wow.......... big fish not eating smaller fish
now lookin for bigger fish?
these sharks scare fins kena pluck.
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I saw cashew... I really tot they ban cashew nuts
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Originally posted by ^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~:
I saw cashew... I really tot they ban cashew nuts
cash you.
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so really got a place name call cashew ah???
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cashew is at bukit panjang..
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Ya got Chestnut also
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Even sharks are more important than Sg citizens and warrant more attention.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Even sharks are more important than Sg citizens and warrant more attention.
They've been around well before ANY human citizen walked the earth.
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Originally posted by Kuali Baba:
They've been around well before ANY human citizen walked the earth.
Since Ministers not eating sharks any more, can we also petition them to stop "eating" Singaporeans too?
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Don't eat me, don't eat me.
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Just had a good shark fin soup this evening.
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Never mind about no shark fins, they still can be free to continue to travel on private jet to go Japan to buy ingredients for cooking. hahahahahahhahahahaha, the damn lees .....
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Singaporeans should dress up as sharks and go "dunch eat me, dunch eat me!"
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As long as the shark fins are always sold out, who cares you do not order them.
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Want to eat better eat now.
2012 year end coming.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Since Ministers not eating sharks any more, can we also petition them to stop "eating" Singaporeans too?
Singaporeans are not reproducing enough.