Putatan needs water treatment and sewerage systems – Yahya

PUTATAN:  Despite the vast development here, the district is still lack of two important systems – water treatment and sewerage.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin, in disclosing this yesterday, said that most of the discharges are released into the rivers untreated.
“Housing and building projects are mushrooming in the district, as well as government departments, and yet we do not have any proper sewerage and water treatment system.
“Lacking in these two systems has forced the discharges to be released into the rivers untreated, raising claims that the Petagas River is polluted,” he said when speaking at the launch of the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Borneo Marine Research Institute’s first phase of the Lobster Ranching Project at the Muhibbah Hall in Petagas here yesterday.
He also noted that excessive fishing activities are also among the contributing factors to the depletion of marine life.
“People are too greedy and it is affecting our marine life … they do not have enough time to mature. Some people practise fish bombing or use other types of poisons which kill the fish and their fries. This greediness must stop,” warned the Agriculture and Food Industry Minister.
Taking Japan as an example, he said the country emphasised on the importance of conserving the sea and marine life.
“That is why they are able to produce supplies of tuna fish, and earn millions from it,” he said.
Yahya also added that the move to set up the tagal committee would also help to monitor the fishing activities in the district.
“This innovative strategy could be the solution to change our way in managing our resources for the good of all,” he said, complimenting UMS for its initiative to promote the importance of conserving and protecting the environment.
On another development, Yahya also hoped that more programmes would be organised by UMS here.
“Although Putatan is close to the State capital, not many UMS projects are being done here. The university was built in Sepanggar and Sandakan is made the education hub, while many other projects are concentrated on the rural areas and the interior of Sabah.
“It is my hope that this project will be the beginning of many more to come,” he said.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/24/putatan-needs-water-treatment-and-sewerage-systems-yahya/#ixzz1tftupwrx

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Two more projects to release aquatic life into rivers

PUTATAN:  Universiti Malaysia Sabah Borneo Marine Reseach Institute (BMRI) will carry out another two more projects to release aquatic life into rivers this year.
Disclosing this, the school’s director, Professor Dr Saleem Mustafa, said they were in the stage of discussion to plan the best strategy to implement the projects in the hope of producing sustainable supplies of marine life.
He stressed that the selection of suitable marine life was vital, adding that several factors were taken into account such as its biological nature, natural habitat, economic factor and the support from the local community.
“While we are working closely with the relevant bodies on this project, it will not succeed without the support and cooperation from the local community. We are looking forward to their feedback for the implementation of this first project launched today (yesterday),” he said referring to the launch of the first phase of the Lobster Ranching Project at the Muhibbah Hall in Petagas, here, by Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin.
Saleem added that BMRI will hold discussion sessions from time to time to identify the suitable species to be released at several locations for the next phase.
He said there have been requests from individuals to release fries or shrimps into the rivers.
Saleem added that the project was initiated to rehabilitate and restock the fisheries in the rivers in Sabah.
“This upgrading and fish releasing project is the latest science subject that has gained public interest due to its benefits,” he said.
He added that while the quality of fries and shrimps produced is important, another vital factor is its new habitat.
“That is why we hope that this district will not ignore the quality of environment, river and sea despite the race for development.
“It is important for the people to help create a conducive and comfortable environment for their new ‘guests’ … let us do it for the good of biodiversity and fisheries here.”

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/04/24/two-more-projects-to-release-aquatic-life-into-rivers/#ixzz1tftm5N36

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Happy arrivals in Kinabatangan jungle

KINABATANGAN: March proved to be a happy month for researchers when they sighted a couple of new arrivals in the jungle of the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Kinabatangan Nocturnal Primate Programme that started at Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) in March 2010 saw a baby tarsier and a newly born slow Loris when tracking their mothers that had been fitted with radio collars.

The good news was released in a joint press statement by the Sabah Wildlife Department and DGFC yesterday.

An adult female tarsier that was collared on 8 March this year turned out to be an expecting mother.

“Whilst tracking her the following week, she was observed with a tiny offspring. The baby was thought to be no more than a few days old,” said Alice Miles, a Cardiff University student leading the programme at DGFC.

“It will be extremely interesting to follow the behavior of the mother and her offspring, and document maternal care in the species. This is very exciting,” concluded Alice.

On 16 March, a slow Loris was caught and named ‘Boss’. She was fitted with a radio-collar and released where she was found.

“While finding her sleeping site on the 21st of March, we were surprised to see her resting with an infant amongst vines. The infant was possibly a few months old,” said Saroto Payar, a research field assistant at DGFC, who is working on the nocturnal primate programme with Alice.

“We believe that she hid her offspring while she went on a hunt for insects. She was very nervous during the collaring, we then understood why. She was worried about her infant left behind. We released her at the same spot where she was caught, and a few days later we saw her with her infant,” said Saroto.

The programme fully funded by three American zoos (Columbus, Cleveland and Phoenix), is reaching its climax with four individuals currently tracked in the forest, two female tarsiers, one male tarsier that was rescued in a plantation and released here, and one female slow Loris.

“Little is known about the nocturnal primates in Borneo and this project will provide valuable information on their behaviour and ecology in degraded forests. We are also happy to be able to provide good news to the people of Sabah about their wildlife. We are convinced that it will raise their interest in protecting their forests,” explained Benoit Goossens, Director of DGFC.

Source: http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/57351

Green Sabah says: Its great that some new species have made their way into our Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, it shows that the conservation works are done well till more animals are making this their new habitat. Good job from the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Cleaning Up Rubbish Can Make Tanjung Aru Beach New Tourism Product

Sandakan: The long beach at Tanjung Aru can be a new tourist destination in Sukau near here if concrete measures are taken to clean up the heaps of rubbish littered along it and to prevent further waste materials being washed ashore.

"The sandy beach is beautiful if not for the rubbish from the Sandakan area that is being washed ashore during high tide and waves," Sukau Assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman said after touring the beach located about five minutes' ride by speedboat from here two days ago.

Villagers can benefit from the spinoff of the economy if the beach is turned into a tourist attraction.

Tanjung Aru can be a new tourism product in Sukau instead of being known only as a traditional fishing village, he pointed out.

Unfortunately at present, the rubbish that littered along the beach is an eyesore and necessary actions must be taken to address the problem, he said.

"Look at the surrounding area of the multipurpose hall near the beach.

It is littered with logs, pieces of wood and rubbish swept ashore during high tide and strong waves," he said.

"Because the coastal areas and Tanjung Aru are under the jurisdiction of Sandakan Municipal Council, I am requesting them to look into the matter," Saddi said.

Perhaps the Sandakan Municipal Council and Environment Protection Department can build some form of barriers along the seafront to prevent rubbish from being washed ashore on the beach, he added.

Saddi said as Sukau is under the administration of the Kinabatangan District Office, they could also play a role in the efforts.

"This problem has dragged on for quite a long time and it's high time for us to do something about it. The Sandakan Municipal Council can coordinate with the Kampung Tanjung Aru Village Security & Development Committee to temporarily clean up the rubbish," he continued.

Saddi said he would seek allocations from the State government to implement measures to stop the rubbish pollution at the Tanjung Aru shoreline.

"As the Assemblyman for Sukau, I am prepared to give my full support and cooperation to the local authorities and other quarters to keep the Tanjung Aru beach clean," he said.

Source: http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/New-Sabah-Times/cleaning-up-rubbish-can-make-tanjung-aru-beach-new-tourism-product.html

Green Sabah says: Clean up the shores to ensure that our beach are always clean so that the tourist will enjoy coming to our beaches more often.  

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Pairin: Don’t take for granted our abundance of clean water

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia, which is blessed with abundant clean water, should not take for granted that freshwater will always be available as the global warming is evidently taking its effect.

Opening the state-level World Water Day conference here yesterday, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said climate change in the country has shown negative impacts on human habitats including water resources.

“It will have a major impact on the availability of water for growing food and on crop productivity in the decades to come.

“The livelihood of the rural people as well as food security of city populations will be at risk…but the poor people will be the most vulnerable,” he pointed out.

Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister, said the theme for this year’s World Water Day – “Water and Food Security” – was timely to remind the people and the government to take serious measures with regard to the impact of global warming.

The future generations, he added, would experience shortage of water, which in turn would result in poor health.

And according to Pairin, almost a billion people in this world lived without clean drinking water, and many have to travel far to gather little water for their family.

In this respect, he said global warming should be taken seriously by all parties to ensure that the physical and human environment was not greatly affected.

“This is a task for all of us. Various incentives have to be offered by the authorities including the government and non-government organisations, our development partners and individuals to enhance our own self-awareness about the factors leading to global warming,” he said.

As such, Pairin called on the community to be sensitive to each other’s actions to avoid a more severe negative impact “and to ensure that the prosperity of this land remains for the next generations.”

Source: http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/57206

Green Sabah says: Pairin is right, we should never take for granted that our resources will last forever. Global Warming is a problem faced by the world, and we should be prepared to face it.

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