Hotels on Islands off East Coast of Malaysia discharging raw sewage directly into the sea

Raw sewage flows into the once pristine waters

This is what can be called: "SHITTING IN THEIR OWN NESTS!"


Unidentified hotels and holiday resorts are amongst the culprits who are seriously, and most likely permanently, damaging the rich ecosystem which is to be found off the coats of the states of Terengganu and Johor, Malaysia.

According to local media reports HERE the hotel owners / operators are unwilling to invest in a pipe connection to oxidation ponds and have been discharging untreated sewage and effluents directly into the once pristine sea off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, adversely affected aquatic species and coral found in the gazetted marine parks off the islands.

The areas lying within a two nautical mile (3.7 kilometre) radius (Except for Pulau Kapas, where it is within a one nautical mile ( 1.85 kilometre) radius) from the shores of these islands are Gazetted Marine Parks. Fishing and potentially damaging activities are prohibited within these marine park zones.

“1994

• 38 islands in the state of Kedah, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Federal Territory of Labuan were declared and gazetted as Marine Parks Malaysia under the Fisheries Act, 1985, which covers water stretching 2 nautical miles from the shore to the surrounding islands (exception for Pulau Kapas where marine park waters covers one nautical mile seaward from the outermost points of the island – Second Schedule)”. [of the Fisheries Act 1985]

2007

• Effective on 16th of July 2007, Marine Park Section {of the Fisheries Department] officially it becomes Department of Marine Park Malaysia with job growth as many as 154 new positions in addition to 86 present posts.

Souce: http://www.dmpm.nre.gov.my/jtl/content.php?lang=1&ctn_trans_id=296

More jobs for the bureaucratic paper pushing boys and girls!

But, almost one year on, much of the website is still under construction!

These marine parks are rich in exotic marine life, about 500 species of coral reef and 300 species of fish thrive there.

Their future survival is now in serious jeopardy, the Terengganu State Commerce, Industry and Environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw has admitted that the poor waste disposal system had caused an adverse impact on the coral ecosystems surrounding the islands.

“We are aware of this and are working closely with environmentalists and other marine agencies to monitor the situation,” he said.

MORE THAN JUST MONITORING IS URGENTLY NEEDED!

Toh reportedly said most of the hotels and resorts operating in the islands felt the onus was on the Government to provide them with a proper sewage system.

“The operators should realise that there are existing drainage system at the isles and they should emulate the prominent hotels and resorts that comply with the requirement for waste management,” he said.

Passing the buck, is the usual modus operandi in Malaysia, he certainly confirmed this by saying, according to this news report (link as above) that "the Terengganu state government has no jurisdiction to act as marine parks come under the purview of a federal agency, the Marine Parks Department."

That maybe the case, but surely the Terengganu state government has control at least over the land use, and licensing of the hotels and resorts, as well as over waste disposal.

Could bribery and corruption be one of the reasons for the lack of action?

Perhaps it could be, not to mention avarice and greed!

“Malaysian coral reefs are being poisoned and choked by organic pollution and sedimentation, particularly from construction near the Palau Redang marine reserve. Reefs off Sabah are being overexploited, and the Malay Peninsula's reefs as a whole are expected to decline significantly due to increasing water pollution and sediment loads during the next 20 years.”

For more information click HERE & HERE

Unidentified hotels and holiday resorts on several holiday islands are among the culprits who are irreparably damaging the rich coral ecosystem found off the coast ot Terengganu.

As a consequence, soon coral reefs will be perhaps no more, how very sad for the future generations.

Action now is needed to preserve the irreplaceable coral ecosystems

A coral reef

Dira necessitas


- The dire necessity.

MAYBE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR MALACCA?

Mohd Ali to rethink Malacca city plans.

Ali, minus the 40 thieves

The Star reported:

“MALACCA: Although assuring continued development in Malacca, newly sworn-in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the “drive” to spur development within the city may be disrupted.

Mohd Ali said he would have to “think twice” with regard to new projects coming into the city as hopes of making it a more vibrant one had been dashed owing to DAP’s control of it.

“We wanted to develop it further but the rakyat is not so interested.

If there are new things (projects), maybe I have to think twice,” he said, adding that he would not shift projects which had been previously earmarked.

“I had a vision to brighten and liven up the city but this drive may be disrupted now,” he said, adding that that was the reason for his appeal for voters to support Barisan in the polls.

Despite the setback, he said he would continue towards achieving a developed state status by the year 2010”

The fact that the woolley headed ‘development’ schemes of Mohd Ali will be roped in is really good news for Malacca.

The centre of Malacca has been almost totally destroyed already by previous hair brained projects which seemingly were designed solely for the purpose of self enrichment for a few.

This could be a glimmer of good news for Malacca.

The building of a huge shopping complex on what was the seafront padang was tantamount to rape and pillage!

This monstrosity was built on the Malacca
waterfront padang!

As far as Malacca becoming a developed state by the year 2010, this is a far flung foolish fantasy which obviously will be impossible to realise.

A realistic optimistic target date may be 2100!!!!

But with a low calibre self-centred Chief Minister like Mohd Ali, what real progress can the people of Malacca really hope for?

Many tourist have told me, amongst others, that:

• they are appalled by what has happened to Malacca, the character of the town has been destroyed
• they are shocked that the scenic view from St. Paul's Hill has been obliterated
  
• they find that the environment is now more dusty and much hotter as the sea breezes can no longer reach the town.
• they consider the street market to be very disappointing as most of the goods sold are not made in Malaysia, but are imported from neighbouring SE Asian countries, such as Thailand & Indonesia, and also from China
• they condemn destruction of the padang fronting the sea, as it is a great loss
  

Redeeming features, which have been commented on, are the food and the friendliness of the local townspeople.

God help Malacca!

MALACCA RIVERSIDE RAPE PLANNED?

The view from St. Paul's Hill is these days, of a concrete jungle, can't even see the sea!
The lighthouse has long been useless.

Once again the historic town of Malacca is going to suffer, already the building of a monstrosity of a mega shopping centre on what was the seaside green, known as Padang Pahlawan, the historic ground where Tunku Abdul Rahman declared Malaysia Independent, has disappeared, and the massive coastal reclamation and other misguided projects have changed Malacca beyond recognition, and have totally cut the town off from the sea.

In the quaint narrow streets, the air is now choked with dust and the exhaust fumes of vehicles as there are no longer any sea breezes to disperse them. The temperature in the town seems to be several degrees warmer too.

Yet, once again the historic heritage of Malacca is going to be tarnished, by a harebrained scheme to try to transform the town into the "Venice of the East", what a joke!

The newly sheet piled riverbank

The Malaysian print media reported, yesterday, 21 February 2008, that the owners of 143 pre-war shop-houses and houses in old Malacca town were shocked when they told the state had gazetted their buildings for acquisition.

They only knew about the state’s secret intentions after opposition party DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng showed them a letter dated 17th January 2008, from the state Land and Mines Department.

However, state Housing and Development Committee chairman Koh Nai Kwong urged the building owners to ignore the letter, claiming it was a mistake.

“We will investigate how the letter was leaked. I want to stress here that the letter referred only to abandoned buildings or buildings found to be in ruins,” said Koh.

He visited the site recently and found that many of the shops and houses were occupied and in good condition.

“In that afternoon, I directed officials of the state Land and Mines Department to conduct a thorough inspection before proposing which buildings were for gazette,” he said.

The 143 buildings are situated along Malacca River stretching from Kampung Hulu to Kampung Pantai and Jalan Hang Jebat.

They include a bank, warehouses, shops and several homes – some may have been proposed to be classified as heritage buildigs.

The Malacca state government has come up with a plan to restore the Malacca Riverside as the “Venice of the East”.

The plan includes river beautification, RM91.2mil was spent on a water treatment plant, a river walk, a board walk, landscaping and lighting, and this was only the first phase.

At a press conference in late January, Lim said the letter mentioned that the buildings would be acquired in 'the public interest'.

“Such a letter would have been issued only after the state executive council under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam had deliberated on and approved it,” said Lim.

Lim said the views of the building owners should have been sought first.

Someone has now let the cat out of the bag before the General Election on 8th March, so now the denials will come out thick and fast, all will be hushed up, and then after the election, the compulsory acquisitions will probably start, unless the state government get a pounding in the election.
One can but hope for a change for the better! People power needs to come into play!
Otherwise it will be autocracy, or democracy Malaysian style, as per usual!

Cheers!

Carnage on the Roads, Tapir Road Kill

FROM THIS

AND THIS


TO

THIS

The Carnage on the Roads of Malaysia Continues

The sickening sight of a Malayan tapir or Asian tapir (Tapirus indicus) lying motionless (see above picture) on the road side slowed the traffic to a crawl along the Kuantan to Kemaman, on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, yesterday, 15 February 2008.

The young adult Tapir, weighing an estimated 250 kg, was killed, when it was hit by a vehicle, whilst the gentle animal was attempting to cross the road.

The animal’s body had been mutilated, and it its tail, right ear and tongue were missing; some bastard had cut off these body parts after the animal was run over.

The body parts of a tapir are not known to have value either as exotic food or as ingredients for traditional medicines, but who knows what was in the tiny mind of the apology for a human being who mutilated this Malayan Tapir, which is a vulnerable endangered species

Malayan or Asian tapir.

Physical characteristics:

This species of tapir is 6 to 10 feet (1.85 to 2.50 meters) long with a tail measuring 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters). They weigh 550 to 825 pounds (250 to 375 kilograms) and have a shoulder height of 35 to 41 inches (90 to 105 centimeters). This large tapir has a black coat except for the rear half above the legs, which is white.

Geographic range:

Malayan tapirs are found in Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Classification

Order: Perissodactyla (odd-toed ungulates)

Family: Tapiridae (tapirs)

Genus: Tapirus (tapirs)

Status

Classified as Vulnerable (VU A2c+3c+4c) on the IUCN Red List 2004, and listed on Appendix I of CITES .

Habitat:

Malayan tapirs live in the lowland forests of swamps and mountains up to an elevation of 6,560 feet (2,000 meters). This species needs a permanent water source with plenty of water for drinking and bathing. Highest populations are found in swamps and lowland forests.

Widely abundant in Southern Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in the early 1930s, Asian tapir populations have rapidly declined and now survive only as isolated populations in remote or protected areas.

Habitat destruction poses the predominant threat, as a result of land being cleared for human settlement and agriculture, and rivers being dammed and land flooded for hydroelectric development.

In Sumatra, uncontrolled illegal logging still occurs.

The tapir population is strongest in Malaysia, where deforestation had declined somewhat in the recent past, however the cutting of virgin forests for hardwood logs has increased in the past few years, so the habitat of the Malayan tapir is becoming severely threatened once again..

The Asian tapir is hunted both for food and for sport. Although the flesh of tapirs was previously forbidden (haram) to Muslims areas due to the species' resemblance to pigs , very recent reports indicate that Muslims no longer equate the two and thus more people hunt them for subsistence food.

In Thailand and Myanmar the meat is considered distasteful and some tribes believe killing a tapir brings bad luck.

However, a flourishing Asian zoo trade has put a tempting price on the tapir's head, with a single animal fetching up to US$ 6,000.

Tapirs also occasionally get trapped in steel wire snares set for wild boars.

Low reproductive rate, coupled with fragmented distribution of Malayan tapirs mean that populations have a low recovery potential, and this makes the species particularly vulnerable when they are hunted or trapped, or are killed when crossing roads and highways.

Roads and Highways in Malaysia and other countries in Asia do not provide alternative crossing paths (tunnels or bridges) for wildlife to use to enable them to cross safely. Road kill is common, the victims apart apart from tapir, include, wildlife such as replitles, primates, small, medium and large mammals, and of course many types of domesticated animals and pets.

Is life, even human life, considered to be so cheap?

The relentless carnage on the roads and highways in Malaysia clearly indicates this may be true.

My post Carnage on Malaysia's Roads can be found here.

Pura Vida!

Sign the Petition to Stop Whaling

Join me in the campaign to stop whaling.

Please visit the website shown, and sign the on-line petition and join over 912, 000 people who have already signed.


HELP TO SAVE THE WHALES



Cheers!