KUCHING: Any proposal to rename the Rafflesia flower must be backed by scientific grounds, said Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development, Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
He stressed that caution must be exercised when dealing with such matters, noting that renaming flora or fauna could not be done arbitrarily.
“Any proposal for renaming must have a scientific basis. We cannot simply change the name without proper justification,” he told reporters after attending the Ministry’s Integrity Day programme at Sheraton Hotel here today.
Len Talif added that the process of naming species must adhere to established scientific protocols, which are the same procedures used when identifying and naming new discoveries.
He also questioned the need to rename Rafflesia, pointing out that its origins are already well-documented.
“For new species, whether flora or fauna, we have protocols that must be followed before naming them. This is even more important if we intend to change the name of an existing species,” he said.
On the number of Rafflesia species, Len Talif said records exist in both Sarawak and Sabah, and any decision should not be taken from a narrow or regional perspective.
“It has to be looked at more broadly, not just from one area,” he added.
During a Dewan Rakyat session last Tuesday, Machang Member of Parliament, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad, had proposed renaming Malaysia’s largest flower, the Rafflesia, in conjunction with the nation’s 68th National Day to break free from the legacy of coloniser, Stamford Raffles.
He raised the proposal to Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, in the Dewan Rakyat, urging him to bring the matter to the Cabinet.
“In conjunction with Malaysia’s 68th National Day, and in the spirit of the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who urges us to view our history beyond the colonial framework, could the minister use his powers under NRES to rename Malaysia’s largest flower, the Rafflesia?
“The name was taken from Stamford Raffles, our coloniser, a man without morals or ethics. Yet, we gave such a beautiful name to our national flower.
“Perhaps the minister could propose to the Cabinet to find a more suitable name. Even naming it after Anwar Ibrahim would be fine, no problem, as long as it is better,” he said.
