Human lives are cheep cheep in Peesai lah!
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Nov 16, 2008
Tiger attack at Zoo
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Almost all 100 people polled by The New Paper on Sunday found that the white tigers should not be blamed for the zoo cleaner's death and should stay. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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ALMOST all 100 people polled by The New Paper on Sunday found that the white tigers should not be blamed for the zoo cleaner's death and should stay.
Ninety-nine of them said the tigers should not be sent away or 'punished' in any way.
Even the lone voice of dissent did not want the tiger to go. Instead, she suggested that the White Tiger exhibit should be closed - just temporarily.
TNP on Sunday said the majority felt that the big cats were behaving according to their instincts.
Mr Jeff Yeo, an events organiser, told TNP on Sunday: 'It is not the tigers' fault. Animals, being what they are, will retaliate if provoked, or if they feel they are in danger, especially in their territory.'
He added that even if the tigers had escaped from their enclosure - which they had not - the zoo should be held culpable, not the animals.
Mr Kenneth Tan, 30, a writer, said that the tigers should stay as it was the man who had leapt into the tigers' way.
'We might as well shut down MRT stations since people jump onto the tracks there too,' he said.
Others cited the white tigers' beauty and the fact that they are an endangered species as reasons for maintaining the exhibit.
But some felt that the zoo could do more to safeguard its employees and visitors.
Mauled victim did not want to die
Meanwhile, a new video provided to TNP on Sunday by a reader has shown that the cleaner Nordin Montong, 32, fought tool and nail to stay alive.
TNP reader Aziz Ansari, 16, a student, filmed the initial part of the horrific attack with his handphone.
The video clip showed Mr Nordin's desperate fight to save himself, first by trying to get up and back into the moat, then by kicking one of the two tigers.
Mr Nordin's body was flown back to his hometown in Kuching, Sarawak on Saturday afternoon and buried in the Kampung Sambir Muslim cemetery, more than an hour's drive from Kuching.
About a dozen people were at the cargo terminal to receive the body, including Mr Nordin's father, Mr Montong Sahom, 54, his mother, and close relatives.
Later, 80 relatives and friends gathered for the burial, which took place at about 5 pm.
Many among them remained puzzled about what happened. Mr Nordin's mother, Madam Baduyah Ahmad, 52, who was closest to the victim, the eldest son, said he had called her on Thursday morning, and he sounded fine.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Nov 16, 2008
Tiger attack at Zoo
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>Tigers should stay <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Almost all 100 people polled by The New Paper on Sunday found that the white tigers should not be blamed for the zoo cleaner's death and should stay. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
</TD></TR><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
ALMOST all 100 people polled by The New Paper on Sunday found that the white tigers should not be blamed for the zoo cleaner's death and should stay.
Ninety-nine of them said the tigers should not be sent away or 'punished' in any way.
Even the lone voice of dissent did not want the tiger to go. Instead, she suggested that the White Tiger exhibit should be closed - just temporarily.
TNP on Sunday said the majority felt that the big cats were behaving according to their instincts.
Mr Jeff Yeo, an events organiser, told TNP on Sunday: 'It is not the tigers' fault. Animals, being what they are, will retaliate if provoked, or if they feel they are in danger, especially in their territory.'
He added that even if the tigers had escaped from their enclosure - which they had not - the zoo should be held culpable, not the animals.
Mr Kenneth Tan, 30, a writer, said that the tigers should stay as it was the man who had leapt into the tigers' way.
'We might as well shut down MRT stations since people jump onto the tracks there too,' he said.
Others cited the white tigers' beauty and the fact that they are an endangered species as reasons for maintaining the exhibit.
But some felt that the zoo could do more to safeguard its employees and visitors.
Mauled victim did not want to die
Meanwhile, a new video provided to TNP on Sunday by a reader has shown that the cleaner Nordin Montong, 32, fought tool and nail to stay alive.
TNP reader Aziz Ansari, 16, a student, filmed the initial part of the horrific attack with his handphone.
The video clip showed Mr Nordin's desperate fight to save himself, first by trying to get up and back into the moat, then by kicking one of the two tigers.
Mr Nordin's body was flown back to his hometown in Kuching, Sarawak on Saturday afternoon and buried in the Kampung Sambir Muslim cemetery, more than an hour's drive from Kuching.
About a dozen people were at the cargo terminal to receive the body, including Mr Nordin's father, Mr Montong Sahom, 54, his mother, and close relatives.
Later, 80 relatives and friends gathered for the burial, which took place at about 5 pm.
Many among them remained puzzled about what happened. Mr Nordin's mother, Madam Baduyah Ahmad, 52, who was closest to the victim, the eldest son, said he had called her on Thursday morning, and he sounded fine.
