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KUDAT: The State Government wants people in coastal areas to keep the shores clean so that turtles will always have a place to lay their eggs.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun said it was still obvious that residents along the coast have not stopped throwing rubbish into the sea, particularly plastic bags, which are often seen strewn all over the beach.
He said the rubbish on the beach have been one main reason why turtles are reluctant to come ashore to lay their eggs because the sea creatures prefer a clean surrounding.
Masidi also lamented that there were less turtles found off Kudat waters, once renowned for the abundance of turtles, due to the sale and consumption of their eggs.
He urged communities to work together to overcome the problem and discouraged them from taking the eggs and especially to stop eating their eggs and meat.
He stressed that protecting the environment and wildlife was a collective responsibility that everybody needed to shoulder.
Masidi said this in his speech at the launch of the Beach Cleanliness Campaign in conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup Day. Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Bolkiah Haji Ismail delivered the text.
The event was organised by the Environmental Action Committee (EAC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) at Simpang Mengayau in Kudat.
Bolkiah, who is the assemblyman for Pitas, was pleased to note that the organisers managed to gather people from all walks of life to care for the area in Simpang Mengayau.
He said it was important to keep all areas clean and not just the beaches.
Also present at the event were Tanjung Kapor assemblyman, Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Kudat district officer, Sebastian Lim, chairperson of the Kudat Turtle Conservation Society (KTCS), Francesca Winfield, SabahEAC members, World Wildlife Fund representatives and heads of government departments as well as local communities.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Masidi Manjun said it was still obvious that residents along the coast have not stopped throwing rubbish into the sea, particularly plastic bags, which are often seen strewn all over the beach.
He said the rubbish on the beach have been one main reason why turtles are reluctant to come ashore to lay their eggs because the sea creatures prefer a clean surrounding.
Masidi also lamented that there were less turtles found off Kudat waters, once renowned for the abundance of turtles, due to the sale and consumption of their eggs.
He urged communities to work together to overcome the problem and discouraged them from taking the eggs and especially to stop eating their eggs and meat.
He stressed that protecting the environment and wildlife was a collective responsibility that everybody needed to shoulder.
Masidi said this in his speech at the launch of the Beach Cleanliness Campaign in conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup Day. Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Bolkiah Haji Ismail delivered the text.
The event was organised by the Environmental Action Committee (EAC) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) at Simpang Mengayau in Kudat.
Bolkiah, who is the assemblyman for Pitas, was pleased to note that the organisers managed to gather people from all walks of life to care for the area in Simpang Mengayau.
He said it was important to keep all areas clean and not just the beaches.
Also present at the event were Tanjung Kapor assemblyman, Datuk Teo Chee Kang, Kudat district officer, Sebastian Lim, chairperson of the Kudat Turtle Conservation Society (KTCS), Francesca Winfield, SabahEAC members, World Wildlife Fund representatives and heads of government departments as well as local communities.
