GEORGE TOWN, Nov. 18 -- Surrounded by a circle of nervous participants with a live King Cobra in the centre, a top expert from the Fire and Rescue Department set out to prove one thing: the world's longest venomous snake is dangerously misunderstood.

According to the department's King Cobra Squad northern region chief Noorizun Kechik, widely known as "Raja Ular Kedah," the snake will not attack, chase, or spring through the air unprovoked.

Through a series of live demonstrations at a recent workshop, he showed that understanding the snake's behaviour is the key to staying safe.

Understanding the King Cobra's defensive nature

Noorizun demonstrated that the King Cobra is primarily defensive and reacts to perceived threats, not mere pres...