In today's STAR (9 June 2006), the lost surveyor who had been missing for 22 days in the Gua Musang jungle spoke about being kept alive by Kacip Fatimah.

News clip from Star showing lost surveyor Mohd Nordin Omarr, 44 in hospital

So what is this plant called Kacip Fatimah.
Kacip Fatimah (Labisia Pumila) is a common plant in the jungle of Malaysia. "It was sweet and sour, and tasted quite nice actually," as mentioned by Nordin in the Star. Look a little like fern, Kacip Fatimah has been known as the aphrodisiac for women while the famous Tongkat Ali is the equivalent to men. The whole plant can be eaten but the shoots are tender and taste better. Capsules and can drinks are now commercially available in the market. It has been used to increase libido of female. Gays were seen drinking Kacip Fatimah to increase their feminineness. This bring us to the question whether our surveyor will have his manchoness affected?

Kacip Fatimah found in the wild

To the surveyor, Kacip Fatimah will be his saviour and will be cherished by him for the rest of his life. I wouldn't dare imagine what would happen if Nordin had not know about Kacip Fatimah. We hikers need to learn more about eatable plants in the jungle. We never know when we will lose our sense of direction. So the next time you go hiking look out for this Kacip Fatimah. Unfortunately, there are only a few places where you can see Kacip Fatimah in Penang. Development after development and flower farms after flower farms have almost wiped out this plant in Penang. Are you in favour of more development on our Malaysian's jungle?

Take care!
  

9 Jun 06

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