 |
| Acid
Rain - Acid rain is caused when coal or oil
is burned, which in turn generate vast amounts of polluting gases.
Airborne by-products of certain industrial processes add to the pollution.
Rain acidity in Peninsular Malaysia is on the rise and the number
of areas affected by acid rain is growing. A Malaysian Meteorological
Service (MMS) study shows that Malaysia is beginning to experience
effects of acid rain similar to those in such industrialized countries
as the United Kingdom, Japan and the United States. Areas most seriously
affected by acid rain are Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Kedah and Selangor,
while rain acidity in Petaling Jaya and Senai has gone up four times
from 1985 to 1988. The Malaysian Watch Acid Rain 1990 project showed that except for Malacca, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak, all states in Malaysia are experiencing acid rain. Studies by the Meteorological Service Department revealed that acid rain is fast becoming an environmental problem. Acid rain is corrosive of metals such as iron and zinc roof, marble and limestone. Low pH values have been attributed to increased industrial activity and large numbers of motor vehicles emitting considerable amounts of sulphur and nitrogen compounds into the atmosphere. Acid rain is detrimental to life and life-support systems. Acidity is measured by hydrogen ion concentration, designated as pH, and is measured on a scale of 1 to 14. A pH value below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline. Rain water of pH less than 5.6 is considered acidic. Emissions of waste gases from industries, vehicle exhausts and power generation are causes of rainwater acidity. When the pH levels of lakes and rivers fall below about 5.5, many species of fish will die, and this in turn is followed by changes in the ecosystem. [ back ] Agricultural Wastes - Amongst the agro-based industries, pollution from palm oil and rubber processing mills is the most severe. Wastes from these industries contain very high concentrations of organic material, suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus, while rejected agricultural materials such as straw, leaves and other by-products, which are burned, dumped and disposed of, account for nearly half of all agricultural production. In Peninsular Malaysia, a total of 4.2 million tons of crop residue and 2.3 million tons of livestock waste were produced. Agricultural waste from livestock farms and pesticides and fertilizers constitute the second highest source of organic pollutants polluting our rivers and coastal waters, second only to sewage. From 1986 to 1990, agricultural waste contributed 13 percent of the total BOD pollution load. It has been estimated that 10 to 25 percent of the agricultural organic waste from animal effluents, mostly from pig farms adjacent to rivers, are dumped into our coastal waters. Environmental quality regulations have somewhat contro y is the most polluting industry. The worst polluters are wood-based, palm oil, food processing non-metals, textiles, rubber products, iron and steel industries. The main sources of air pollution in Malaysia are motor vehicles, power stations, industrial fuel burning and processes, domestic fuel burning, burning of municipal and industrial waste. Power stations and industrial boilers use high sulphur fuel oil producing large quantities of sulphur dioxide. Sulphur dioxide emissions from vehicles are on the rise. Lead pollution, one of the principal forms of air pollutants in Malaysia, is entirely due to vehicle emissions. Suspended particulate matter is the other principal pollutant. Lead emission declined for a while after the introduction of unleaded petrol, but levels are still quite high in certain localities and continue to pose a serious health hazard to children. In 1991, vehicle emissions contributed 75 percent of the total emissions into the air, an increase of 12 percent over 1987. Kuala Lumpur is now one of 15 Asian cities that have the greatest levels of pollution from TSP: the average reported suspended levels at 53 percent of monitoring stations far exceed WHO standards. The five states with the largest number of air polluters are Selangor, Perak, Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor. As urbanization and industrialization become more intensified, the situation will worsen unless due consideration is given to the incorporation of air pollution control measures in development planning. [ back ] Air Pollution Index - The Air Pollution Index measures the concentration in the atmosphere of particulate matter smaller than 10 microns (PM10) in diameter, ozone (03), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Fine particulates are released directly into the air from sources such as forest fires and exhaust pipes. They can lead to major reductions in visibility. PM10 remain suspended in the air where they can be inhaled and deposited in the respiratory system. Current research indicates that fine particulate matter has the greatest impact on health. It is associated with respiratory symptoms, asthma, impaired lung function, lung cancer and death from cardiopulmonary disease. Children, the elderly, smokers, asthmatics and others suffering from respiratory disorders are especially vulnerable to this type of air pollution. Researchers believe ozone is the second greatest cause of lung disease - after fine particulates from smoking, second-hand smoke, vehicle exhaust and wood burning. Respiratory diseases including asthma increase when the concentration of ozone rises above 80 parts per billion. Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless gas that was not traditionally considered a pollution problem because it is a normal, although minor (.03 percent), part of the natural atmosphere. Nitrogen dioxide can reduce atmospheric visibility with a distinctive brownish haze. Both nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide can increase susceptibility to respiratory infection and airway constriction in those with asthma. Also both gases may be altered in the atmosphere to become fine particulate in the form of sulphates and nitrates, or acid rain when combined with water. Acidic contaminants affect human health directly when inhaled, and indirectly when they fall on surface water, land and plants. For each of the five parameters, an average reading is taken over 24 hours. The highest reading of the five is taken as the API for the day. [ back ] Air Pollution Levels in Schools - Early findings of an ongoing nationwide study of more than 500 primary school children suggest that air pollution levels in certain urban areas, even during periods of no haze, are impairing physical skills and IQ levels. The study also shows that air pollution in developed areas can reduce the lungs' ability to function properly, cause a higher number of asthma attacks and increased levels of lead in the bloodstream. If present environmental conditions are not corrected, we may see the impact of air pollution on the physical, intellectual and motor skill abilities of our workforce between 15 and 20 years from 1997. The preliminary report by the 11-member research team from local universities included a list of recommendations to combat the present levels of air pollution :
The expedition marked an important milestone in Malaysia's conservation history, as it was the first of its kind to be organized on such a large scale by Malaysians. The Pahang and Johor State Government under Separate State Park Acts subsequently gazetted the area as a state park. [ back ] Alcohol - Alcoholism in Malaysia is as serious a problem as smoking. Often the alcohol problem has been sidelined as merely the "samsu problem of the poor Indians". Samsu, beer and toddy are the most commonly consumed alcoholic drinks. Per capita consumption of beer alone is 11 litres, while annual sales of Guinness alone amounted to 240 million litres. The amount of alcohol in a drink is measured by the percentage of alcohol by volume. Although very little data is available on the extent of alcohol ost of alcoholism have not been given due consideration nor seriously calculated. The Road Safety Council estimated in 1994 that drinking and driving caused 30 percent of accidents on Malaysian roads. A study conducted by the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital in 1991 showed that 2 out of 5 Malaysians killed in road accidents were under the influence of alcohol. [ back ] Alor Gajah Industrial Estate - The Malacca River Rehabilitation Project's (MRRP) study found pollutant levels discharged into the Malacca river at the Alor Gajah Industrial Estate to be higher than the DOE's figures. The levels also exceeded those allowed under the Environment Quality (Sewage and Industrial Effluents) Regulation 1979 for a Standard "A" River. The MRRP study indicates that 1,500 to 7,500 cubic meters of effluent were discharged daily into drains that flowed into the river. The person equivalent (PE) of pollution loads was around 10,000. This means that from just one industrial area the waste discharged was equivalent to waste discharged by 10,000 people! The MRRP study found the average biological oxygen demand (BOD) was 60 times the DOE values. This exceeded the allowable standards by about five times. The inaccuracy and inadequacy of the present river monitoring criteria and standards has resulted in the DOE certifying that 95 percent of the industries in the Alor Gajah Industrial Estate had complied with its regulations. [ back ] Amang - The Malay word "Amang" means "foreign elements or by-products in tin". In amang factories, the naturally occurring radioactive element monazite is physically separated from the tin tailings (tahi bijih). From monazite, a rare earth called yttrium oxide is extracted for commercial use to manufacture incandescent gaslight mantels, refractors, chemical catalyst, pigment for colour TV screens and nuclear fuels. Curiously enough, the Malay word mengamang means, "to threaten, to menace", and the process of extracting monazite from amang has become became mengamang to the Malaysian environment. [ back ] Ant-Eater - Known as Tenggiling in Malay, the Pangolin or Scaly Ant-eater is insectivorous or insect-eating. A defenceless creature that protects itself by rolling up into a ball; all its visible parts are covered with overlapping scales which in common with rhinoceros horn, are composed of compressed hair. The hide of the Anteater is made into shoes or belts, or billfolds. It is also sought by Chinese sin seh (medicine men), who believe that Anteater flesh is a remedy for boils and asthma. The animal is killed cruelly - it is sus laysia preserve her rich genetic pool. [ back ] Aquaculture Effluents - Most of the brackishwater ponds in Malaysia are use for tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) culture and those ponds are usually sited in mangrove swamps. The National Working Group on Mangroves has formulated guidelines on the use of mangroves for this purpose. Semi-intensive cultures are recommended, as intensive culture has been associated with eutrophication of the coastal waters, and spread of disease. Pollution associated with cage farming used for rearing grouper, sea-bass and snapper is caused by faeces and uneaten food, and nutrient discharges which reduced dissolved oxygen in the water and cause high BOD. Adverse effects on water quality due to cage farming have generally gone unreported. [ back ] Arowana - Ikan Kelesa or Asian Bony-tongue (Scleropages formosus), also known as the Arowana or Kum Loong (Gold Dragon fish) to the Chinese, prized for its mythical ability to bring its owner good fortune, is being poached towards extinction by over-collection for the aquarium trade. Current prices range from RM20,000 to RM60,000. Red Arowana is the most popular and costly. The silver, yellow or golden Arowana are also highly sought. The more common grey Arowana, found mostly in the wild, is not so popular. The deterioration of its freshwater habitat as a result of pollution and siltation has also contributed to the species' decline. Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITIES) of which Malaysia is a member, it is illegal to trap, kill or keep the fish. [ back ] Artificial Reefs - Artificial reefs have been created in Malaysian fisheries waters as a marine resource enhancement as well as one of the steps to alleviate the problem of depleting fish resources in the coastal waters. A total of 54 artificial tire reefs, 10 boat reefs and 10 concrete reefs have been constructed. An experimental reef using PVC pipes is being studied. [ back ] Asbestos - Asbestos, a mineral that is fibrous and fluffy when it is separated from the rock in which it is found, is used in as many as 3,000 domestic and industrial products. It becomes hazardous to health when asbestos-based products undergo wear and tear, break and peel, and microscopic fibres present in the asbestos dust are released into the air. Our body system cannot filter the tiny fibres, which enter and lodge in our lungs. The fibres can also enter the body through food and drink. They caused incurable asbestos diseases like asbestosis (the scarring and thickening of the lung tissue and lining), mesothelioma (the thickening of the microscopically thin lining of the chest or abdomen), lung and other cancers, leading to a certain death. In 1986, Malaysia imported about RM23 million worth of asbestos, twice the amount of a decade earlier, for building materials, clothes, brakes and other products. According to official figures, Malaysia has about 25 factories with 2,000 workers. The largest of these factories is located near Ipoh. The dumping of asbestos waste in Malaysia has been carried out indiscriminately. Once such example is the case of United Asbestos Cement (UAC) in Perak. In May 1988, newspapers reported that UAC dumped asbestos waste in an open unfenced site in Chemor (near Ipoh), posing a health hazard to 500 families. Residents, ignorant of the health hazards collected the sheets and pipes to build their homes. The DOE declared the dumpsite safe, but the dump was subsequently moved to a less polluted area near the Kanthan Industrial Estate, further inland. In 1989, the DOE gazetted new rules for toxic waste disposal including asbestos. The rules require factories to inform the authorities how they dispose of their waste. The DOE has powers to monitor the transportation of asbestos products to ensure that there is no spillage or leaks into the environment. Containers filled with asbestos waste must be labelled, and nearby residents must be informed about the presence of asbestos waste and its dangers. [ back ] Asian Rare Earth - Mitsubishi Chemical or Mitsubishi Kasei set up a joint venture company called Asian Rare Earth (ARE) in Malaysia after its monazite processing plant was closed down in Japan for failing to comply with strict environmental standards. Incorporated in 1979, Asian Rare Earth Sdn. Bhd. (ARE), a Japanese-Malaysian joint-venture company, was awarded pioneer status. Mitsubishi jointly with Beh Minerals were the majority shareholders (70 per cent), Lembaga Urusan dan Tabung Haji, the state-owned Pilgrims' Management Fund Board, had a 20 per cent interest while the rest of the cake was distributed amongst several bumiputera businessmen. ARE was to extract rare earth from monazite in the state of Perak. In 1982, before ARE began production, a contract was drawn up whereby the radioactive waste generated would become the property of the Perak State Government. Mitsubishi Chemical, Japan's largest all-round chemical producer, has wide expertise and experience in the handling of dangerous chemicals and radioactive materials as well as the technology needed for the production process. ARE did not carry out an environmental impact assessment before it began operations in spite of the hazardous nature of the operation. Its first consideration was that it had to be near the centre of tin-mining activities, the source of monazite. Mitsubishi Chemicals was the first Japanese firm accused of "exporting pollution" in the form of waste-producing factories to other countries. In 1984 an alliance of several citizens' organizations in Japan in their statement of concern described ARE's operations as the worst case of exporting pollution to other countries. In April 1990, representatives of the Japan Action Commission of Victims by Environmental Pollution and the People's Action Network submitted a petition to the Malaysian Prime Minister calling for the shutdown of ARE. A collective group of Japanese unions and non-governmental organizations calling themselves the Japan, Asia, Africa and Latin America Solidarity Committee with over 4 million members started a signature campaign to pressure Mitsubishi to close ARE unconditionally. ARE was forced to close its operation in Bukit Merah in part due to mounting public pressure in Japan. [ back ] Asthma - Asthma, a respiratory problem characterized by wheezing and breathing difficulty, is on the rise worldwide. At present, 12 per cent of the world's population are asthma sufferers and the number of asthma cases is increasing globally at the rate of about one per cent every three years. It is estimated that 9 percent of the Malaysian population - about 1.54 million - suffers from asthma. Although it has not been scientifically proven, medical researchers have openly postulated the cause to be worsening environmental pollution that results in a higher level of irritants and allergens in the air. Contrary to popular belief, asthma is not exclusively a hereditary malady. It can be triggered by inhaling excessive smoke, dust, chemical and exhaust fumes, sawdust or spray paint. Experts say that those who live in polluted areas are more prone to asthma. While there is no known cure for asthma, it can be controlled effectively with proper medication and treatment. In Malaysia, the highest incidence of asthma cases among children was reported in Perak, which has a long history of quarrying and mining activities. A common misconception that haze makes a normally healthy person asthmatic has been found to be baseless and it does not follow that continuous exposure to haze brings on an asthma attack. An Asthma Society of Malaysia (ASMA) study showed that there was no correlation between the haze and asthma. People who developed asthma during the haze are those who already have the condition. The impression that allergens in the environment and pollution can bring about asthma is changing as several studies indicated that the incidence of asthma is not directly related to the outdoor environment. It is now believed that asthma is brought about in the home environment due to indoor pollution such as dust mites, drapes and upholstery. [ back ] Bakun - The highly controversial and high-risk Bakun Dam project in Sarawak, shelved in 1990, made a comeback in 1995, when Ekran Bhd., a publicly listed company was awarded the project without tender. The construction of the RM15 billion dam is the most expensive privatized project in Malaysia to date. At 198 metres high and 300 metres wide, it is touted as the largest hydroelectric dam project in Southeast Asia. The installation of two 648 kilometers long electricity transmission lines between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia will be the longest in the world. Despite claims that the dam will provide the cheapest and cleanest electricity, detractors say that Bakun's power supply will actually be more expensive than the current rates. The 10-year project will cover almost 200,000 acres or fell 73 million cubic meters of forest, and create a lake the size of Singapore. 9,000 Orang Ulu (upriver or interior people) from ethnic groups comprising the Kayan, Kenyah, Ukit, Kajang and Penan will be uprooted from their ancestral lands. Environmentalists argue that the project would entail massive deforestation resulting in the loss of biodiversity of fauna and flora, and aquatic life. Impounding would disrupt local climatic patterns, and produce high levels of greenhouse gases. The entire downstream [ back ] Bats and The Durian - rs. The Cave Fruit Bats pollinate the durian flower; one tree may produce 60,000 flowers in three or four weeks. A continued good crop of the favourite fruit of Malaysians hinges on the tiny fruit bats. [ back ] Batu Caves - Batu Caves or Gua Batu, found in a limestone massif 11 km north of Kuala Lumpur, are the most frequently visited caves in Malaysia, popular with tourists, religious devotees, and scientists alike. They were "discovered" in 1879 by a hunting party led by Syers, a superintendent of police in Kuala Lumpur. In 1891, a devout Hindu, K. Thambusamy Pillai, erected a shrine of Lord Muruga in the cave, and since then the caves have become the destination of the yearly Taipusam processions. In 1930, the British Colonial Office gazetted Batu Caves as a Public Recreation reserve. In 1940, 227 steps were constructed from the foothills to the main cave. In 1954, the Colonial Office leased a portion of the hill for quarrying. In 1964, the Batu Caves Protection Association (BCPA) was formed to stop the quarrying, and through its efforts, the caves were officially recognized as a tourist asset several years later. Although part of the hills are now legally protected from further quarrying, much irreparable damage has been done. Blasting of limestone rock may physically damage the structure of the caves while expansion of tourist and religious facilities at the caves, may frighten away or destroy fruit bats roosts in the roof of the cave. Either way, the bats would leave and many durian trees in the surrounding areas would fail to fruit. The Third Malaysian Plan presented Batu Caves as a unique national heritage and proposed that they be conserved as a national monument. [ back ] Belum - Belum (the name means 'not yet' in Malay) is the butt of jokes when the question: 'Have you been to Belum?' is asked. 'Belum' the rejoinder becomes humorous. Belum lies in the most northerly region of Perak, and is bounded to the north by Thailand and to the east by Kelantan. Belum was first proposed as a wildlife reserve in 1968, but has yet to be recognized as such. The proposal covered an area of 220,000 hectares in Belum, Grik and Temengor. Belum forms a major catchment area providing the country with power and water. A scientific expedition in 1993 mounted by the Malaysian Nature Society supported by the Gesellschaft fr Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), the German aid agency, found plants and animals present there that occur nowhere else in the world, and species diversity in Belum is richer than in many other parts of the country. [ back ] Biodiversity - Malaysia ranks fourth, behind China, India and Indonesia, on the list of 12 megadiversity centres. Malaysia's forests contain more than 50 per cent of the world's biological species, about 45 per cent of all vascular plant species, 30 per cent of all avian species, and up to 96 per cent of all the terrestrial arthropod species. There are some 14,500 species of flowering plants; indeed in Peninsular Malaysia alone there are around 8,000 flowering plants, of which 2,650 are tree species, and well over 800 species of non-flowering plants. The animal fauna is equally diverse, with about 1,000 species of vertebrates and an estimated 20,000-80,000 invertebrate species. Many of these species are indigenous and can be found only in Peninsular Malaysia. As most of our biodiversity resources have yet to be indentified, studied and documented, we don't even know what we are losing at the rate at which habitats are disappearing.
Because documentation is scanty, scientists are unsure about other losses. [ back ] Biological Resources Legislation - Legislation relating to and relevant for the protection of biological resources, enforceable both at the State and Federal levels, is:
Subsidiary legislation includes:
Except for the Environmental Quality and Fisheries Act, the rest are applicable only to West Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak have their separate legislation that covers native people's rights, forestry, protected areas and wildlife. [ back ] Birds - Some 637 species of birds have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and 554 species from Sabah and Sarawak. 248 are residents of the lowland forest in Peninsular Malaysia, 26 of mangroves, 75 of montane forest, and the respective figures for East Malaysia are 244, 17 and 62, respectively. This total is increasing at about the rate of two new species recorded each year, most of the additions being vagrant birds of the sea, coast or open country. All of these are ultimately vulnerable to forest loss, and it is no longer safe to assume that montane forest is immune to land development. Local migrants, colonial breeders, birds of the freshwater/forest interface and of extreme lowland forest are most at risk. Peninsular Malaysia has probably lost 4 resident birds within historic times, three of them inhabiting wetlands and all large shotgun targets. Sabah and Sarawak have lost 2 residents. A recent listing gives 35 Malaysian birds as threatened and another 34 as near-threatened, but this does not reflect the gross population decline of many species. The speed of forest depletion, and the lack of detail in our knowledge of species' population processes permit neither sophistication nor variety in the conservation process. [ back ] Bukit Merah, Perak - Bukit Merah New Village, set up in the 1950s at the height of the Emergency, emerged as the scene of "Malaysia's most famous environmental battle." In 1982 the village became the site for the first radioactive plant in Malaysia - the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia. The villagers were not consulted about the choice of their village for the site. In 1984, a Bukit Merah Action Committee was formed. In 1985, eight Bukit Merah residents filed an application against Asian Rare Earth, the operator of the plant, to stop a Japanese multinational from doing in Bukit Merah what it could do in Japan, against the interests of public health and clean environment. They sued ARE on behalf of themselves and 10,000 other residents. This was the first time in Malaysian legal history that an entire community had taken a class action on an environmental issue. It became one of the longest civil cases in Malaysian legal history. In October 1986, an estimated 3,000 residents in and around Bukit Merah staged a demonstration against ARE's plan to store radioactive waste in its permanent dump in the Kledang Range. In December 1986, residents from seven areas including Bukit Merah formed the Perak Anti-radioactive Committee (PARC). In April 1987, Malaysia witnessed the country's largest demonstration of people's power when about 10,000 Bukit Merah residents and their supporters marched through the village in protest against ARE resuming its operations. In September 1987, an estimated 1,000 protesters - many of them women - marched from Bukit Merah to the Ipoh High Courts, eight kilometers away to hear their case against ARE. In October 1987, the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary and committee members of PARC were detained under the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA). In July 1992, 5,000 residents turned up at the Ipoh High Court to hear the verdict of their eight-year legal battle. In August 1992, over 2,000 residents of Bukit Merah gathered at the Supreme Court in Kuala Lumpur to hear the appeal by ARE against the Ipoh High Court order suspending its operations. The Supreme Court overturned the Ipoh High Court decision stating that ARE's closure would cause harm to the company and hardship to its workers. Not one word was mentioned about the harm to the health and lives of the 10,000 residents of Bukit Merah. [ back ] Bukit Nanas, National Waste Treatment Centre - In 1992, a RM200 million concession was awarded to Kualiti Alam Sdn. Bhd. for 15 years, to set up the national centralized toxic waste treatment and disposal centre at Bukit Nanas, Negeri Sembilan. After several delays, the scheduled date for full operations of the centre is now June 1998 instead of June 1997. The delay to the waste intake by 1995 caused further stress on the storage capacity of waste producers. Government surveys found waste generation to be in the range of 300,000 tons per year. Kualiti Alam sources out only 78,000 tons per year. Under the project, waste transfer stations and attached landfills will be provided at strategic locations such as at the Penang-Perak border, and in Terengganu in the East Coast, and Johor for the southern states. [ back ] Cameron Highlands - One of Malaysia's most popular hill stations; it is well known for its cool weather, hill cottages and tea plantations. A soil erosion study in 1995 found the Cameron Highlands to be the hill resort most affected by erosion in the country, due to the rapid increase in inappropriate development. The study found that the road from Tanah Rata to Robinson Falls had an average of two gullies (the most severe category of erosion) every kilometre. The Cameron Highlands Structure Plan disclosed that between 1950s and 1990s, silt levels in Cameron Highlands rivers increased 11-fold. Various surveys from 1993 to 1996 by the DOE, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute and the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) found that land clearance for human settlement has caused more erosion than any other activity. The 1993 Development Impact Study of Cameron Highlands reported the annual average temperature had increased three degrees since the 1960s. Daily average rainfall dropped from 2.7 millimetres (mm) in the period 1951 to 1960, to 2.58mm in 1981 to 1990. The number of rain-days per month was reduced by three to five days. A DOE study showed that water quality in the Ringlet Lake as well as in the Ikan, Terla, Telom and Bertam Rivers was degraded. [ back ] Cardiovascular Risk Factors - As environmental pollution in Malaysia is reaching alarming proportions, there is a growing concern that environmental pollution is hazardous to health. Although smoking, obesity and hypertension have been known to cause heart disease, evidence is growing to show that environmental pollution can cause both congenital and adult cardiovascular disease. From 1980 to 1988, the principal causes of deaths in Peninsular Malaysia were heart and cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have shown that mothers drinking water containing solvents made from halogenated hydrocarbons give birth to children with congenital heart defects. Areas with a high level of industrial pollution had recorded an increase in the number of infants born with malformations of the heart and circulatory system. In a study from a heavy metal mining site, there was a statistically significant increase in risk of death from heart disease and stroke, even after risk factors such as smoking and weight were checked. Air pollution may also contribute to heart disease. Carbon disulphide can accelerate atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease and cause hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and altered carbohydrate metabolism in humans. Exposure to automobile exhaust alters platelet function and blood viscosity. Carbon monoxide exacerbates existing myocardial ischaemia during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease. Tobacco smoke causes and aggravates heart disease. It is estimated that over half of the annual deaths from heart disease in non-smokers are related to this. [ back ] Catchment Areas - Catchment areas are where water is gathered, collected, stored and transmitted from forested areas. Water resources utilization in Malaysia depends greatly on surface water drawn from rainfall. The rainfall pattern in West Malaysia has changed over the past 50 years. The unexpectedly long dry spell in 1990 caused serious problems in many parts of the country such as Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Johor. Water catchment areas on the west-coast states of Peninsular Malaysia are shrinking. Major catchment sites are no longer available in Selangor, Melaka, Kedah, Perlis and Penang. [ back ] Cengal, Cengai - Once the best timber hard wood found in the tropical forest of Malaya, cengal was to Malaya what teak was to Burma and Thailand. It is only found in Peninsular Malaysia where it grows in lowland forest below 600 meters above sea level. It grows exceptionally slowly, taking about 100 years to attain a diameter of 16 inches. Characterized as "hard, strong, heavy (and), durable", it is brownish-yellow in colour, and becomes harder on exposure to the elements. Where strength and durability was required such as for construction of lamp posts, beams, sleepers and bridgework, cengal was "the standard wood" used. As over-logging made cengal scarce, it was replaced with reinforced concrete columns for structural work. The prized hard wood was also used to build the bedor, the ancient Malay sailing ships of Terengganu. This highly valued and sought-after timber tree is one of Malaysia's 10 most endangered plants. [ back ] Chlorine - Chlorine used in the treatment of water supply in Malaysia certainly kills germs but the health hazards posed to the consumers' well being have not been examined seriously. Chlorine can undermine the body's defences against atherosclerosis - the hardening and thickening of arteries. It has also been linked to high blood pressure, anaemia and diabetes, and is a contributor to heart disease. Chlorine creates electrically charged molecules called "free radicals", which combined with alpha tocopherol (Vitamin E) eliminates vitamin from our system. In addition, free radicals directly damage the lining of blood vessels and in turn create the environment for the formation of plaque. If water is left to stand, some but not all of the chlorine will evaporate over 48 hours, and this process can be further aided by pouring the water from one jug to another in a steady stream to aerate it. [ back ] Clean Air Action Plan - The Clean Air Action Plan formulated by a Government-appointed task force in 1994 was put on hold because several Ministers opposed it, citing as reasons the fact that industries cannot afford such measures. Among the proposals that should be implemented in view of the recurrent haze episodes, which have an adverse effect on the nation's economy and health, are:
[ back ] Clouded Leopard - The Clouded Leopard or Harimau Dahan is one of the world's most beautiful animals. Its markings resemble those of the python rather than the conventional spots of its cousin the Spotted Leopard or Harimau Bintang. The Clouded Leopard is rather smaller and much less fierce than the Spotted Leopard. The leopards often take to the trees, which gives the arboreal primates cause for much anxiety. Like the tiger, it has succumbed to the onslaught of human beings upon its habitat. With the loss of prey, it has been forced deeper into the forest. Its survival in Peninsular Malaysia is now under severe threat. [ back ] Coastal Waters - Malaysia's coastline is about 4,800 kilometers long with an estimated marine space of 418,00km inclusive of her 12 nautical miles (NM) territorial sea and 200 nautical miles (NM) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to the Environmental Quality Reports (1987-1993), our coastal waters are contaminated mainly with oil and grease, fecal coliform and suspended solids. Increased sediment load, pesticide run-offs, heavy metal discharges, palm oil and rubber effluents, sewage reclamation of coastal and inshore areas for industrial or housing or agricultural use are the main causes of water pollution. [ back ] Coastal Erosion - According to statistics released by the Coastal Engineering Division of Malaysia's Department of Irrigation and Drainage, 1,400km of our coastline are subject to some form of erosion. This constitutes 29.1 per cent of a total of 4,809km of coastline. Of this, about 200km are categorized as critical with another 200km considered to be undergoing significant erosion. Coastal erosion nationwide has reached an alarming stage and the number of problem sites has increased over the last 12 years. In 1997, at least 74 sites were identified as having serious problems, compared to only 47 in 1985 when the National Coastal Erosion study was conducted. The study revealed that erosion was mainly caused by poor siting and planning of coastal development projects. Coastal erosion was also associated with engineering works like land reclamation, construction of ports and harbours, jetties, breakwaters and groynes (timber framework breakwaters). Dams, sand mining from riverbeds and barrages (artificial barriers) also result in coastal erosion by interfering with the natural cycle of sediment depositing and wave action that removes sand from beaches. Removal of natural vegetation such as mangroves and unregulated or uncontrolled dredging and sand mining activities near shore areas also contribute to erosion. [ back ] Coastal Pollution - Oil and grease, total suspended solids (TSS) and E. coli continue to be the main contaminants of the coastal areas in all the states in Malaysia. The State of Environment Report 1997 found that about 84 per cent of the total number of monitoring stations were polluted by oil and grease, 65 per cent by TSS and 37 per cent by E. coli. Tar balls found in the beaches of Johor and Pahang between the months of February and July were attributed to "intentional or accidental" discharges of oil sludge or oily wastes from vessels, fishing boats or oil platforms. Measured against the Proposed Interim Standards (PIS), high E. coli readings were found in the coastal waters off Malacca and Selangor, high TSS levels off Pahang, Perak, Penang, Kelantan, Melaka, Terengganu and Selangor, high lead levels off Perak, Penang and Sabah, high mercury levels were off Melaka, Selangor, Penang and Perak, and high copper levels off Terengganu, Penang, Kelantan and Sarawak. [ back ] Commuting Hours - The traffic congestion in most urban areas in Malaysia has deteriorated in recent years as a direct result of increased vehicular transport, a higher level of economic activity and migration of people into urban centres. This has been partly due to the poor state and quality of urban public transport. The emphasis on private transport has been exacerbated by the government's heavy investments in the Proton car project and the ruling party's control of most toll roads. Car occupancy levels are very low, often with only one person - the driver - per car. Commuting hours generally increased between 1980 and 1990. Those who have to take public transport are adversely affected. It is estimated in 1992 that it would take an average of about one to two hours for a person using public transport to go to work, and about 30 minutes to an hour for someone using his own vehicular transport. It is conservatively estimated that traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur has added 15 minutes to the average car journey time. In the absence of a major policy shift, travel time would more than double to 30 minutes by the year 2000. It is estimated that the cost of time lost in traffic delays in 1992 was RM1 billion. Unless remedial action is taken this will increase to a staggering RM13 billion in the year 2000. [ back ] Computer Chips - Electronics is the world's largest and most rapidly expanding industry. Malaysia is the largest producer and exporter of semiconductors in the ASEAN region. The electronics industry revolves around one minuscule yet important component: the semiconductor chip. This chip, a 20cm-long silicon wafer, the most complex and expensive part of the computer, also requires the most chemicals for production. On average the production of one wafer requires 17,000 litres of wastewater, 12kg of chemicals, 0.6 cubic meters of hazardous gases and 4kg of hazardous waste. These chemicals and gases include glycol ethers, which have been identified as "serious reproductive toxins", and arsenic, one cylinder of which if leaked could be lethal to an entire semiconductor factory staff. With 220 billion chips produced per year, the electronics sector contributes to hazardous waste generation and has increased risk of exposure to this deadly form of pollution. [ back ] Convention on Biological Diversity - Malaysia was one of the signatories to the Convention on Biodiversity at the historic UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (Rio Earth Summit) in 1992, where an unprecedented 150 countries signed the Convention. In doing so, Malaysia clearly spelt out our commitment to conserve biological diversity, to use our resources sustainably and to share equitably the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Malaysia has since been elected the Asian representative for the Convention. A National Steering Committee, headed by the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment has been established with an Environmental Conservation and Management Unit playing a secretariat role. The Unit has conducted a nationwide inventory and economic evaluation of biodiversity. [ back ] Coral Reefs - The coral reef areas of Peninsular Malaysia are found around the groups of islands located off the coast of Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Kedah and Perak. The islands include are Pulau Redang, Pulau Perhentian and Pulau Tenggol, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Payar and Pulau Sembilan. The most extensive and exotic coral reefs are found on the north coast of Sabah and the Spratley islands. Coral reefs are essential breeding and nursery grounds for many types of fish. Exploitation for commercial and tourism coupled with siltation and sedimentation caused by development projects has been the gravest threats to the corals. The Department of Fisheries has taken steps to conserve and rehabilitate the country's coral reefs by gazetting them as marine parks. However the setting up of marine parks can hardly protect coral reefs because the Fisheries Department, under whose purview such parks fall, cannot prevent unbridled coastal development. [ back ] Coxsackie Virus - In early 1997, a virus outbreak in Sarawak, East Malaysia, believed to be caused by the Coxsackie B virus, claimed 31 children's lives. At the same time, hand, foot and mouth disease broke out in West Malaysia causing a large number of hospitalizations but no deaths. Both outbreaks affected children aged between two weeks and five years. According to the Oxford Reference Concise Medical Dictionary, the virus categorized as types A and B, has more than 30 known strains. Coxsackie virus B is said to be the more dangerous because it can cause inflammation of the brain, muscles and heart. The type A virus cause only fevers and throat infections. The World Book Illustrated Home Medical Encyclopedia says that the virus is named after a town in New York where it was first detected in 1948. Both references say that the disease rarely results in death. The virus frequently infects humans without presenting any obvious symptoms, but can result in a number of illnesses including hand-foot-mouth disease and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart). It multiplies in the alimentary tract and is spread primarily by the fecal-oral route, although infection through the respiratory tract (airborne transmission) is also common. [ back ] Criteria and Indicators - Malaysia's Criteria and Indicators (C & I) for a proper and sustainable forestry management based on the standards set by the International Tropical Timber Organization's (ITTO), criticized for being weak in conservation and social considerations, are suspect. In order for a forest to be properly managed, 84 types of activities have to be carried out. [ back ] Crows - There are three species of crows in Malaysia; the Large-billed Crow (Gagak) is the commonest. A colony of House Crows is found in Klang, where they were introduced from Ceylon at the end of 19th century to deal with caterpillars that were damaging the coffee plantations. They later became a pest. However, the eradication of crows could lead to an upsurge in rats and cockroaches. The story of the crow clearly illustrates the effect of disturbing the ecological balance. [ back ] Currency Manipulation - The Malaysia economy, undermined by rogue currency speculators, saw the ringgit falling to a 20-year low and slump in the stock market, which has wiped off RM300 billion in market capitalization. As a direct result of the manipulation of market forces, the Government has deferred projects costing about RM65.5 billion. The projects deferred were largely environmentally damaging:
Other deferred projects include the procurement of military vehicles such as armoured cars and helicopters, highway projects that are yet to be implemented and the LRT projects in Penang and Johor. [ back ] |
