Perbadanan Putrajaya's Head Ofice
By GEETHA KRISHNAN
THE area cordoned off opposite the Malaysia Airlines office at the Putrajaya Corporation Complex in Putrajaya has piqued the curiosity of many.
Closer observation of the square within the small park would reveal a sign indicating the presence of honeybees (Apis dorsata) in one of the trees above. The bees are also referred to as “lebah tualang” in Malay.
A general worker carrying out cleaning duties in the area said the hive has been there for a month and has been steadily increasing in size. The faint buzzing of the bees could be heard from the height of the hive at about 10m from ground level.
Curiously enough, the hive is within a stone’s throw of the complex where local authority Putrajaya Corporation is based.
A check on the Internet revealed that Apis dorsata bees are known for their viciousness if their nest is disturbed and the mass of defending worker bees have been observed in pursuit of their attackers over long distances, sometimes more than 100m.
Although honey from Apis dorsata bees is highly prized locally, the presence of bees is a threat to the public.
The local authority should do something before someone gets hurt.
