Remove Oil Palm Tress along Riparian Reserve - Saddi

Sukau Assemblyman Saddi called on the large number of oil palm trees planted along the riparian reserve in Kinabatangan , particularly in Sukau, to be removed immediately in order to protect the river from pollution. Authorities will take serious action towards errant oil planter that refuse to comply the order.

Irresponsible palm oil mills will be suspended by the State if they keep discharging effluents into Sabah's rivers. Fishermen in Sukau along the river have been complaining that the fish and prawn catches from the river have been depleting and this affected their earnings. Saddi said he has raised the same issue on mills polluting the Kinabatangan river several times in the State Legislative Assembly and called on the relevant authorities to take action on those found committing the offence and destroying the environment, unfortunately no concrete action has been taken. In a related development, he proposed that the inter departmental committee headed by the permanent sec of Masidi's ministry's, Michael Emban, should include the elected people's representatives in the respective areas and the local authorities like the district office; he also recommended that the environmental issues affecting the Kinabatangan be brought up and fully addressed in the committee.

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Stop the River Pollution

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has urged oil palm plantation owners in Kinabatangan to fulfil their promises to ensure that river pollution problems caused by factory discharge are solved immediately.  

According to Borneo Rhino Alliance (Baro) executive director Datuk Dr Junaidi Payne, existing vegetation along the water courses is better to leave unmanaged in order to minimize soil erosion and runoff of chemicals. It means weeding and herbicide or fertilizers should not be applied for the row or rows of oil palm plants closest to the water courses.

Dr. Junaidi also added that if oil palm industry players cannot address the issue of water pollution that results from their activities, then the government has to do so, by policy, legislation and enforcement. 

For every metric tonne of palm oil produced, 2.5 metric tonnes of effluent are generated from processing the palm oil in mills. Direct release of this effluent can cause freshwater pollution, which can affect downstream biodiversity and people. Control of effluents from mills was probably one of the most difficult challenges, but if not tackled would result in a bleak future.

Therefore, oil palm plantation owners must play their role in ensuring they are following the rules and regulations in managing the plantations. Getting big profits is meaningless if at the same time the environment is polluted.

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Special committee to tackle river pollution in kk suburbs

PENAMPANG: A Special Task Force will be set up to find the best way to tackle river pollution, especially in suburban areas of Kota Kinabalu city, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

He said the state cabinet ordered for the setting up of the committee following a study by the Environment Protection Department which found that Sungai Inanam, Sungai Likas and Sungai Darau were polluted.

“I’m quite alarmed by the finding; so it’s only proper for us to find ways to at least lessen the impact to the tourism industry,” he told reporters after opening SMK Peter Mojuntin’s “Hari Ekspo Lestari” — an environmental awareness programme.

Masidi said the setting up of the committee, which would convene its first meeting soon, demonstrated the government’s commitment to seeing the success of its urban cleanliness programme, which covers rivers in suburban areas.

He said that although there was an improvement in terms of cleanliness, particularly in Kota Kinabalu city, there was still much that could be done.

Masidi added that he still received complaints from tourists about the level of cleanliness in the state.

“My ministry takes serious note of all the complaints to make sure they would not affect tourist arrivals to Sabah.

“I think, what is important is education or effort to raise awareness among the society on the importance of keeping a clean surrounding,” he said.

He also said that the state government would continue to help SMK Peter Mojuntin and SM St Micheal Penampang, which had won accolades for their environmental awareness initiatives. — Bernama

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/20/special-committee-to-tackle-river-pollution-in-kk-suburbs/#ixzz1tfu3IqlH

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Special committee to tackle river pollution

Posted on April 20, 2012, Friday

PENAMPANG: A special task force will be set up to find the best way to tackle river pollution, especially in suburban areas of Kota Kinabalu city, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

He said the state cabinet ordered for the setting up of the committee following a study by the Environment Protection Department which found that Sungai Inanam, Sungai Likas and Sungai Darau were polluted.

“I’m quite alarmed by the finding; so it’s only proper for us to find ways to at least lessen the impact to the tourism industry,” he told reporters after opening SMK Peter Mojuntin’s “Hari Ekspo Lestari” — an environmental awareness programme.

Masidi said the setting up of the committee, which would convene its first meeting soon, demonstrated the government’s commitment to seeing the success of its urban cleanliness programme, which covers rivers in suburban areas.

He said that although there was an improvement in terms of cleanliness, particularly in Kota Kinabalu city, there was still much that could be done.

Masidi pointed out that main issue was educating the people on the need to keep the environment clean.

“We need to impress upon the people living in the hinterland that what you throw in the rivers is what we get in the town and what we get in the town is what the tourists will complain about. It is as simple as that,” he added.

Masidi in his speech pointed out that the commitment of a school and its students is very important when it comes to conservation of the environment.

“Cleanliness is part of environmental conservation,” he said, adding that conserving Sabah’s environment is very important as it is one of the reasons why tourists visit Sabah.

Masidi however lamented that one of the problems faced by the state’s tourism sector was environmental pollution as the rivers and sea are in a sorry state.

He said that the level of pollution of the state’s rivers and seas is at a worrying and critical level, and added that the cause is the lack of public awareness on the importance of having a clean environment.

Masidi also reminded the public that City Hall and the local authorities are not duty bound to clean them as it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the cleanliness of the state.

According to Masidi, he had received many complaints from tourists and most are about the cleanliness or lack of it in Sabah.

As tourism is one of the main contributors to the state’s economy, it is important to ensure that tourists will continue to visit the state because if they stop coming, the effect will be devastating to Sabahans.

“The tourism industry employs 90 per cent locals, most of whom will lose their jobs if tourists stop coming to Sabah. Others who will be affected are the taxi drivers and business community so we must not give the tourists reason to complain,” he stressed.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/20/special-committee-to-tackle-river-pollution/#ixzz1sYQAhfol

Green Sabah says: Water is a not a renewable resource anymore, experts believe that in a few years humans are going to be facing a major lack of clean water, making it crucial for our society to rethink our water usage and waste disposal methods and do something about them before is to late. 

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