 |
| Dadah
- Malaysia has campaigned for a global war against dadah trafficking
at various international fora but "our dadah program (itself) has
failed." The dadah menace has been described as "not only the Government's
problem but everybody's." To date, Malaysia has more than 200,000
dadah addicts. In 1995, Malaysia registered about 13,140 new drug
addicts compared to 11,672 in 1994 - a staggering 1,095 new addicts
a day. In the first quarter of 1996, 3,518 new addicts were picked
up, a rise of 38 percent over the same period in 1995. The rate of
relapse of ex-inmates is high - 20,964 in 1995, which is 3,860 more
than in 1994. In 1995, an Anti-Dadah Task Force report confirmed that
these figures were the highest since 1988, adding "the preventive
measures taken were still ineffective." Drug users make up more than
75 percent of the 15,471 people infected with AIDS, making the drug
problem critical. [ back ] Dams - The construction of hydroelectric dams is one of the major causes of loss of natural forest. The estimated total area of forests that have been flooded as a result of dams could be well over 100,000 hectares. This does not include the Pergau and the Bakun dams that are currently under construction. There are 54 dams in operation in Malaysia. The amount of water stored by the dams constitutes only 2 percent of the total runoff available in a year. Many dams are able to maintain the required water levels throughout the year, basically because sufficient surface runoffs are able to reach the impoundment and some subsurface flows are able to replenish lost water. But given the current state of the environment, many of the dams may not be able to withstand prolonged dry periods. The Durian Tunggal Dam is the most glaring example of the intrusion of development into a water catchment area. [ back ] Deforestation - The depletion of Malaysian forests has been caused by logging, tin mining, agricultural conversions, construction of dams, irrigation schemes and traditional shifting cultivation. Of these, logging has been singled out as having the greatest impact on natural forest ecosystems. In West Malaysia, forest area declined from about 69 per cent of the total land area in 1966 to 55 per cent in 1978, and to 47 per cent in 1990. [ back ] Dengue - Dengue fever has been know to plague Southeast Asia for many years. A debilitating fever with a characteristic pattern of chills and crises, it rarely killed anyone until comparatively recently. In the late 1950s, the disease manifested itself in a haemorrhagic form that is very often fatal. Dengue fever is caused by a virus belonging to a group of viruses known as Arbor viruses, introduced into the body by the bite of two species of mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. The mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti, breed in relatively clear water in and around urban areas. Dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) have been the most common mosquito-borne diseases in urban areas of Malaysia. The first major outbreak of DF/DHF in Malaysia was in the port-city of Georgetown on Penang Island in 1964. A nationwide outbreak happened in 1973-1974, and the disease has been on the increase since the mid-1980s. There appears to be a ten-year cycle of the outbreak in the country. The increase in the number of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever cases is due to the emergence of two sub-types of the dengue virus after a lapse of 10 years. The two strains, clinically termed DEN 1 and DEN 2, which were more dominant than DEN 3 before 1988, re-emerged last year. There was a 101 percent increase in the number of dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever cases in 1997. The dengue outbreak has taken a scary turn now with infected pregnant women transmitting the virus their unborn children. In 1996, for the first time in Malaysia, two such cases were reported. There were only six such cases reported worldwide. In 1997, 31 developers were issued with stop-work orders for failing to prevent the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes at construction sites in Penang alone. At present, there is no effective drug for the treatment for both sicknesses, only for symptomatic treatments. The two species of Aedes mosquitoes, the carrier of dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever, breed in relatively unpolluted water and are both container-breeders. Consequently, the control of the disease centres on the destruction of breeding containers such as flower vases. A study in Penang showed that more schools harbour Aedes mosquitoes in their compounds than residential premises and shophouses. Container management is perceived as the best and practical approach to check the breeding of the Aedes mosquitoes at source but the public education and cooperation essential for the success of the program are sorely lacking. The use of Abate, synthetic insecticide sand granules, has been equally unsuccessful. After more than 30 years of usage, Abate has been shown to have decreased in its effectiveness with suspected resistance being developed in the Aedes mosquitoes. The toxicity to non-target organisms and the effects of chemical larviciding on water quality have not been duly considered. As for the thermal fogging sprays used, public suspicion of the method is widespread. [ back ] Department of Environment (DOE) - The DOE is the main government agency responsible for environmental monitoring and assessment. It collects information on air and water quality, hazardous wastes and noise. Other environmental monitoring agencies include the Malaysian Meteorological Service (MMS) and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID). In order to assist the Director-General of Environment to administer the Environment Quality Act (EQA), a Division (now Department) of Environment (DOE) was established in 1975. The basis of environmental management in the country is three-pronged:
[ back ] Development - The age of development began on 20 January 1949, when Harry S. Truman, the President of the United States, in his inauguration speech described for the first time the Southern hemisphere as 'underdeveloped areas'. On that day, two billion people in all their diversity became underdeveloped. It was a matter of course for Truman and the United States along with the industrialized nations that they were at the top of the social evolutionary scale and the rest of the world as it were below the evolutionary scale. Indeed development has connoted at least one thing: to escape from the undignified condition called underdevelopment. The last 40 years of development have considerably impoverished human as well as the earth's ecology. Today, both the first and the third world are on the brink of ecological disaster - a destiny they share in common. [ back ] Diseases - Industrialization, urbanization, consumerism and a faster, more demanding, pace of life will bring to the fore diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart problems. These diseases will worsen when pollution degrades the environment. In Malaysia, however, basic data to calculate the health impacts of pollution are not always available. Communicable diseases associated with poor sanitation, insanitary water supply and excreta disposal, and poor personal hygiene continue to be important causes of morbidity in Malaysia. The presence of fecal coliform in domestic sewage is responsible for the large incidence of water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, typhoid, diarrhoea, roundworm, Guineaworm and schistosomiasis, while uncontrolled garbage disposal is responsible for vector borne diseases such as dengue fever. Aedes mosquitoes have been know to breed in used tires, septic tanks, and even cocoa-pods! Particulate matter (TSP), especially particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter (PM10), present during the haze episodes, causes a variety of respiratory problems. Sulphur dioxide, beyond the safe threshold (WHO guidelines put it at long-term (1 year) concentration of 50 micrograms per cubic meter), is an irritant; it exacerbates asthma and bronchitis and impairs the lung. It is also a major cause of acid rain that affects vegetation and physical structures. Lead in the atmosphere ingested through the lungs and the gastro-intestinal track affects the circulatory, nervous and reproductive systems and reduces the learning ability of children. Poor solid waste management causes microbiological diseases. Excessive exposure to hazardous waste increase, the risk of cancer, leukaemia, impairment of the heart, lung, kidney and liver functions, and is associated with thyroid and neurological disorders as well as birth abnormalities. [ back ] Drinking Water - Drinking water quality is not yet adequate. The Health Ministry monitors drinking water quality, an important public health program. Drinking water quality although slightly improved, does not yet meet the national standard. For example, three percent of the samples taken in 1989 contained fecal coliforms when it should be zero percent according to the National Standards on Drinking Water Quality, which are based on WHO guidelines. Demand for clean drinking water will rise with the pace of urbanization and modernization of the economy, income growth and industrialization. Urbanization and industrialization will increase the point sources that contaminate the water system. [ back ] Drug Abuse - From 1970 and 1989, the government found that about 63.9 percent of the drug addict population was in the 20-29 age group while 12.5 percent was 19 years old or less. Males and the young were those facing the greatest risk of addiction. Males accounted for 97.7 percent of this population. About 69 percent of those detected were or had been employed; 28 percent were unemployed, and 2.5 percent were schoolchildren. Of the types of drugs, about 79 percent used heroin, 13 percent marijuana, 8 percent morphine and 5.9 percent opium. In 1980, there were a total of 2,447 drug abuse crimes and this rose to 8,904 reported cases in 1989, growing in absolute terms by more than 3.5 times. The ratio per 1000 population rose from 0.18 in 1980 to 0.51 in 1990. The number of drug addicts has been estimated to be about 100,000, or an alarming 5.76 persons per 1000 population in 1990. [ back ] Dugong - Dugong, Dugong dugon, a seal-like marine coastal animal commonly found in the Southeast Asian region has rarely been spotted in Malaysia apart from some sightings off the coast of Sabah. Dugongs have some human-like attributes. According to one observer, they look vaguely like American President Grover Cleveland. Dugongs are sometimes called Sea Cows because they graze on sea-grass (marine plants that look like grass and grow on sandy sea bed in warm, shallow water). Dugongs are hunted for their meat, which has been likened to veal, as well for their oil, hide, bones and teeth, which are made into ivory artifacts. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has classified the dugong as a 'Vulnerable' species. [ back ] Elephant - The Malaysian elephant (Elephas maximus) is the largest of all Malaysia's land mammals although smaller than his African cousin. There are about 1,000 endangered Malaysian elephants in Peninsular Malaysia, although another count estimated their numbers at 3,000. The primary habitat for elephants is lowland dipterocarp forest, however only about 40 percent of this habitat remains. The ancestral territory of a herd of elephants is large, perhaps 51,800 hectares (200 square miles). Elephants and agriculture, particularly monocultures of oil palm and rubber, are incompatible. Elephant destruction of agricultural crops cost the Malaysian government approximately RM250 million to date. Electric fences have been erected in government land schemes and large private plantations to keep the elephants out. Elephants captured are translocated to permanent forest areas, wildlife reserves and Taman Negara. The land schemes were developed by FELDA with funds from the World Bank and technical assistance from Canada and other countries. The animals, including elephants, having no franchise had no say when their habitat was destroyed with little or no regard for their welfare. Elephants have died from the accidental ingestion of material contaminated with sodium arsenite used in the destruction of forests. Elephants have also fallen victim to booby traps set by communist terrorists in upper Perak. Poaching, once not a serious problem, in Malaysia has reached an alarming level, and if left unchecked will eventually affect the survival of the animal. Elephant tusks are highly priced in the black market. The problem is serious in states with critical elephant populations such as Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. [ back ] Endau-Rompin - The Endau-Rompin rain forest straddling the border of the states of Pahang Darul Makmur and Johor Darul Takzim, has been an issue ever since it was identified under the Third Malaysia Plan (1976-80) for conservation. At that time the area designated for protection was 200,000 hectares. This was whittled down to a mere 87,000 hectares by the Fifth Malaysia Plan (1986-90). In 1985-86, the Malayan Nature Society (MNS), Malaysia's oldest scientific society, organized the Malaysian Heritage and Scientific Expedition Endau-Rompin for the following reasons:
[ back ] Environmental Cadets - Penang is the first State in Malaysia to form a troop of environmental cadets. The troop is 3,200 strong, comprising students from 80 secondary schools in the State; and should help realise the Government's aim of greening the nation. It is the first uniformed environmental body to also support public and private sector initiatives to preserve and maintain a healthy environment. [ back ] Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - The Environmental Quality Act 1987, gazetted and enforced on April 1, 1988, requires Environmental Impact Assessments for prescribed activities. The EIA was introduced as an integral part of the overall project planning. Essentially a preventive instrument, it is designed to identify and predict the magnitude of the environmental impact of proposed projects so that adverse environmental effects may be avoided. As such the EIA is a tool in environmental planning of new projects or the expansion of existing ones. The DOE is the main agency responsible for administering the EIA requirements. A special Technical Panel comprising DOE officials and other relevant government agencies, experts from the universities, and representatives from the private sector and environmental non-governmental organizations, reviews EIA reports submitted to the department for consideration. Section 34A of the EQA (Revised) 1985 requires that a report of the impact on the environment resulting from certain 'prescribed activities' be submitted to the Director-General of Environment, who shall decide whether to accept or reject the report. [ back ] Environment-Related Legislation - On paper at least, there is adequate legislation to cope with most of the nation's environmental problems. Between 40 to 50 pieces of environment-related legislation are available for the purpose of environmental management and conservation, while 15 environmental pollution control regulations have been gazette under the EQA 1974 enforced by the DOE. These laws are under the jurisdiction of various government agencies and the state. However, implementing agencies are diverse and generally uncoordinated, resulting frequently in ineffective implementation. Currently, there are some 23 environment-related laws in Malaysia.
[ back ] Environmental Quality Act (EQA), 1974 - The earliest example of a management response to environmental problems was the introduction of the Waters Enactment in 1920. This was subsequently followed by other legislation. Much of the legislation was not designed to address environmental problems, but rather to promote sound housekeeping practices in specific sectors in line with the government policies of the time. Legislation enacted prior to 1974 was largely sectoral in character, focusing on specific areas of activity. Although extensive, the legislation did not encourage an integrated approach to environmental policy, nor could it cope with the increasingly complex environmental problems. Consequently, the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) was conceived. Passed by Parliament in 1974, the EQA has been described as the most comprehensive piece of legislation concerning environmental management in Malaysia. The Act provides for an advisory Environmental Quality Council (EQC) whose functions are generally to advise the Minister in charge of Environment on matters pertaining to the Act and those referred to it by the Minister. Further the Act provides for the appointment of a Director-General of Environment. His duties include co-ordination of all activities relating to the discharge of wastes into the environment, prevention and/or control of pollution, and protection and enhancement of the quality of the environment. This is achieved through the formulation of emission standards, issuing licenses for waste discharge and emissions. The Director-General also co-ordinates pollution and environmental research, and the dissemination of information and educational materials to the public. The EQA contains specific provisions with respect to various aspects of the environment. They include air pollution (section 22), noise pollution (section 23), pollution on land (section 24), pollution of inland waters (section 25), pollution caused by oil or mixtures containing oil in Malaysian waters (section 27), and discharge of wastes into Malaysian waters (section 29). [ back ] Ethylene - Petronas, Malaysia's oil and gas company, in its bid to expand its production of ethylene and its derivatives, has entered into a joint venture with Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), a major chemical producer. UCC is infamous for the 1984 tragic industrial accident in Bhopal, India, in which over 8,000 people died and 50,000 became disabled. Petronas and UCC are to develop two plants in Kerteh and Tok Arun. Converting gas under high temperature produces ethylene and its derivatives. They are used as feedstock, and for the manufacture of plastic, polyester fibre, resin and other chemicals. The proposed project is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations. The EIA must contain a risk analysis report, quantifying the potential hazard that ethylene and its derivatives pose to the workers and the community near the proposed site. [ back ] Faecal Contamination - E. coli is the best indicator for sewage contamination from domestic and animal wastes, especially pig's waste, which is frequently dumped into rivers and seas in Malaysia. Water pollution, measured in terms of concentration of disease-carrying faecal coliform, indicates the health hazards for human beings in the form of diseases such as typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea, roundworm, Guineaworm and schistosomiasis. The DOE reports on E. coli presence in coastal waters and river estuaries but not in rivers. The quality of coastal waters in Malaysia showed substantially high levels of faecal coliforms. In 1990, 90 percent of the 114 coastal water samples in Penang exceeded the proposed interim standard of 200 MPN/100 ml of faecal coliforms in water intended for recreational purposes. E. coli seriously affected the beaches in Batu Maung, Telok Tempoyak, Batu Ferringhi and Pantai Bersih. Sixty percent of the samples analyzed from the west coast during 1985 to 1991 exceeded the proposed interim standard for marine quality, with the mean E. coli count reaching 11,323 MPN/ml. Out of 38 coastal water samples in Perak and 138 in Johor, about 50 percent exceeded the proposed standard. In Kedah and Perlis, about 45 percent of the 75 samples analyzed were higher than the proposed standard. [ back ] False Gharial - The Malays know it as Buaya Jolong-jolong or Jenjolong, which means long-snouted crocodile. The Malaysian Gharial, or Gavial, a fish-eating crocodile uses its long narrow snout studded with small teeth to stun fishes prior to eating them. Despite a rather fearsome appearance it is quite harmless and very timid. It was a common resident of lakes and rivers. Today its stronghold at Tasek Bera is threatened by habitat alteration through large-scale development in the catchment area of the lake. [ back ] Fish Landing - Fish is still the main source of protein in Malaysia. The fisheries resource within the inshore waters appears to have reached its maximum level of exploitation. The declaration of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has enabled Malaysia to actively encourage the development of the offshore fishery. The fishing industry comprises marine fisheries, aquaculture and public water bodies or inland fisheries. In 1993, the total fish landing amounted to 1.4 million tons with a wholesale value of RM2.7 billion, and contributed to 1.63 percent to the country's GDP. The landing from marine fisheries alone contributed about 1,047,350 tons. The demand for fish is expected to increase from an annual consumption of 630,000 metric tons to over 1.5 million metric tons by the year 2010 based on an estimated population of 26 million at per capita consumption of 60kg/year. Intense fishing activities have impacted negatively on coastal marine ecosystems and fishery resources. Heavy exploitation, especially on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, coupled land reclamation and destruction of aquatic habitats such as mangrove as well as degradation of the aquatic environment from coastal development, industrial and agricultural discharge, has caused changes in the composition of biota in the ecosystem. As a result, there is a decline in certain commercial species or species composition as shown in the increase in trash fish landing. The low-valued fish landing is expected to increase following the removal of their natural predators (high-valued fish species). [ back ] Fishing Licences - A comprehensive and uniform licensing policy was launched simultaneously in Peninsular Malaysia in 1982 with the objective of ensuring that fisheries resources are exploited at the optimum levels so that fish landings could be sustained at the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). However, to prevent over-exploitation of coastal fisheries resources, a moratorium has been imposed on the issuance of new or additional fishing licenses for vessels fishing in the coastal waters. Commercial fishing vessels like trawlers and the fish purse seiners are prohibited from fishing in waters less than 5 nautical miles from the shore as a measure to protect the nursery grounds of juvenile prawns and fish. In the 1960's and 1970's the introduction of trawling in the coastal waters created much conflict between the traditional fishermen and trawlers. In order to overcome this problem, four fishing zones have been established through a licensing scheme whereby zones were designated for specific fishing gears, class of vessels and ownership. The four zones were aimed at providing equitable allocation of resources and to check conflict between traditional and commercial fishermen. [ back ] Floods - Millions of ringgit have been spent de-silting rivers, building bigger storm drains and cleaning up, but the flooding continues. An estimated RM3.5 million a year is spent in the Klang Valley alone to contain the flooding. The Klang River Basin Integrated Flood Mitigation Project studied the flood reduction effects of the peat swamp forest and found that without it, the amount of water flowing in the Klang River would increase by 20 percent. Peat swamps' thick peat soils are about 90 percent porous. They absorb excess water during the rainy season and release it slowly during the dry period. They also filter the silt out of muddy waters and release clear water! [ back ] Food Poisoning - The incidence of food poisoning has been increasing over the years in Malaysia. According to the Ministry of Health there has been an increase in food poisoning from 1,599 cases in 1993 to 2,283 in 1994. In 1995, there were more than 2,000 cases. In 1996, food poisoning from the cholera outbreak alone amounted to more than 1,000 cases nationwide. Penang alone accounted for about 90 percent of the cholera cases. A water-borne epidemic, the cholera outbreak was the worst for the state in recent times. Outbreaks of foodborne disease have been linked with inadequate cooking or re-heating, the use of contaminated ingredients and unsafe water, unhygienic food preparation, poor storage as well as cross contamination between raw and prepared food. Of the 3508 school canteens inspected by the Health Ministry in 1994, only 21 percent were classified, as 'clean', the rest were moderately clean, meaning that schoolchildren were relatively protected from food poisoning. In 1994, of the 1,517 hawkers inspected, only 6.4 per cent were classified as 'good', 10 per cent were classified 'poor' and 'very poor', the rest were classified as 'average'. Average for standards of cleanliness is not good enough to prevent food poisoning. [ back ] Foreign Equity - Foreign equity in the food-processing sector, the main source of water pollution, stands at 41.7 percent. Foreign equity in the electronics and electrical components sector, the largest producer of hazardous waste, is 71.7 percent - the largest of all the manufacturing industries in Malaysia. [ back ] Foreign Fishing - Foreign fishing in the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has always been problematic in the waters off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Illegal fishing activity can result in economic losses to the country, impact negatively on the socio-economic status of local fishermen and pose a threat to the national security. To overcome the problem of foreign fishing in Malaysian waters, the Fisheries Department has set up a Monitoring, Control and Surveillance program. The program provides for effective and efficient scientific data acquisition for resource evaluation, design of effective monitoring and control of fisheries enforcement activities to ensure that only authorized vessels fished within designated areas in the Malaysian fisheries waters. [ back ] Foreign Workers - Migrant workers in Malaysia are employed mainly in the construction and plantation agriculture sectors, shunned by locals because of poor pay and working conditions. Some are forced to live in crowded and unsanitary conditions because their employers provide inadequate housing. These migrants and their families are exposed to parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases. Early in 1994, the Home Ministry revealed that as many as 30 per cent of the total number of foreign workers in Malaysia were not of sound health. More and more foreign workers are seeking treatment for dangerous and highly contagious diseases such as TB, malaria and leprosy. Overall, 1993 statistics from the Ministry of Health showed that foreigners made up 15 per cent of malaria cases, 11 per cent of TB cases, 30 per cent of leprosy and four per cent of HIV/AIDS cases. In Sabah, migrant workers make up 30 per cent of the cases treated in government hospitals and health clinics. Diarrhoea diseases and respiratory diseases are common occurrences, and outbreaks of measles, E. coli, salmonella and other diseases have been reported in migrant communities and camps. The number of psychiatric cases among foreign workers is a cause of concern. In the General Hospital Kuala Lumpur alone, 220 foreigners have been treated for mental health problems since 1992. [ back ] Forests - Malaysia's land area is recorded at 32.7 million acres or 13.2 million ha. In total, over the 1966-1984 period, Malaysia lost a total of 3.8 million acres or 1.5 million ha of forest to other uses. There was more deforestation in the 1970s when 0.8 hectares (2 acres) of forests were being destroyed every minute, whereas in the 1980s there was more selective logging of forest land. Older than jungles anywhere else in the world, the tropical rain forests of Malaysia are unique. There are a good many reasons why forests should be conserved and protected. Forests serve as a diverse storehouse of plants and animal species which can provide useful and medicinal products for humankind. These include fruit trees, ornamental plants, medicinal plants, vegetables, tubers and carbohydrates, essential oils, rattans, resins, gums and tannins. Forests have long been recognized as an important variable in the heat and water balances of the earth. Forests have been shown to serve as a moderating medium in the hydrological cycle, acting as buffers against the impact of heavy rainstorms, increasing filtration of water into the soil, reducing surface run-off, minimizing soil erosion and river siltation and moderating temperatures and winds. Forests also have the ability to absorb and utilize certain substances from the air, thus acting as a cleansing agent to reduce pollution levels. For example, forest absorbs about 87 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare per year through photosynthesis, and at the same time releases an equal amount of oxygen into the atmosphere. The effectiveness of the process depends on the extent and type of forests as well as the type of pollution. Thus, forests offer a continuous supply of clean air which is so essential to man and life-support systems. About 50-65 per cent of Malaysian wildlife depends on the forest and cannot normally survive if their habitats are disturbed. Wildlife performs special functions in the maintenance and conservation of the forest ecosystem. A number of insect, bird and bat species, for example, are either pollen vectors or otherwise assist in fruit and seed dispersal. Thus when a forest system is disturbed or destroyed, these wildlife species are also lost, resulting in detrimental effects, not only to plant and animal life within the forest ecosystem, but also to man's survival. In recent years there has been an increasing awareness of the role of the forests as carbon sinks, as deforestation is a major source of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, contributing to the greenhouse effect. [ back ] Fraser's Hill - Fraser's Hill, a century-old hill resort just over 100km from Kuala Lumpur, is a gazetted wildlife reserve. However, protection is accorded only to the flora and fauna, but not to the land. Jeriau Valley in Fraser's Hill is the only place where the ancient Trig oak species is found. It is also home to 260 species of birds and 884 species of plants of which 23 are endemic. As of 1996, 15 plant species have become extinct and 170 endangered or rare. Bird-watchers claim that the number of species spotted during the annual bird race has been falling every year. As far as erosion goes, Fraser Hill is second only to Cameron Highlands. In March 1994 a landslip caused the collapse of part of Pines Resort, a 96-unit apartment block built on a slope. In 1995 alone, about 38 cases of erosion occurred over the 40km of road in Fraser's Hill. The most well known to date was the 1996 landslides along the road to Fraser's Hill. One of Fraser's Hill's most famous attractions, the Jeriau waterfall, is silted and muddy as a result of the development of a 140-ha golf course and resort by the Malaysian General Investment Corporation Berhad (Magic). The resort's 138-unit apartment block has drastically changed the natural skyline. Since the 1970s, temperatures have increased, and rain become less frequent. [ back ] Freshwater Fishes - There are some 200 to 382 known species of freshwater fishes in Peninsular Malaysia. Taman Negara and its vicinity have the richest fish fauna with more than 50 percent of the fish fauna. A 1983 freshwater fishes study found that more than halve of these species are extinct. 118 species of fish were classified as very rare or are already extinct and 59 fish species are endangered. The same study predicted that the remaining freshwater fishes might become extinct by 1993. Deforestation has been identified as the main factor contributing to the physical changes in the aquatic environment causing the decline of riverine fishes. Many species that cannot adapt to the change in environment have become extinct. Insecticides, cyanide and explosive have been used to kill freshwater fishes. In order to protect rare and endangered species, licensing/permits for anglers should be extended to cover all fishing areas. Currently only the fishes in certain parts of Taman Negara are managed to a limited extent. This includes prohibition of gill netting in upstream rivers and requiring anglers to obtain licenses/permits. Further water pollution, siltation from mining and land clearance have been identified as the major factors for the depletion of fish fauna in Malaysia. Sources of pollution in Malaysian waters are domestic and industrial effluents, agricultural discharge, pesticides and poisons, and effluents from palm oil mills. Improving fish habitat and restocking species have been recommended. [ back ] Genting Highlands - Located near the densely populated Klang Valley, it is the most frequently visited hill resort in the country. The casino, theme parks, hotels, restaurant and cool climate are some of the major attractions. A landslide in June 1995 claimed 21 lives and injured 22 other people. At the current rate of development, species extinction on the highlands exceeds Malaysia's average of two per cent per year. Indeed the highlands' ecological carrying capacity has probably been exceeded. While existing buildings on the peak are anchored to solid bedrock - hence their stability - the new developments are being constructed on slopes. The upcoming Sama World, an RM200 million theme park on 60 ha of land, is built on the tops of several ridges. The new projects will necessitate the clearing of large tracts of forest, the impact of which will be seen downstream. [ back ] Giant Clams - A Fisheries Department survey in 1995 showed that the number of giant clams, the world's biggest shellfish, still in existence in Peninsular Malaysia was only between 280 and 780 compared to thousands, years ago. Pollution and illegal fishing including the use of dynamite and its purported aphrodisiac properties had taken its toll on the clams. The giant clams know by the scientific name Tridacna, forms an integral part of the natural and cultural heritage of Johor. Their Malay names for the different species are kima, selit batu and lompat. However, two of the biggest species, Tridacna gigas and Tridacna derasa, are extinct, with only fossils found on the seabeds of islands around Johor. The other smaller breeds are on the brink of extinction. Research has shown that the clams can live up to 150 years and grow to huge sizes. The Tridacna gigas can be as long as 1.2 metres and weigh up to 200kg, while the Tridacna squamosa can grow to about 60cm. The clams need clear water with up to nine meters visibility to breed. The sunlight that filters through photosynthesises the algae within its flesh. The clams produce microalgae, which is vital for the survival of coral larvae. The presence of these giant clams is often regarded as a barometer of the cleanliness of the seas, and their absence could indicate serious pollution. Johor state intends to reintroduce the now extinct species of Tridacna gigas by transferring brood stock from other countries. [ back ] Golf - While the majority of the people have to make do with limited public recreational areas and parks, much land has been devoted to golfing for the privileged few. Golfing has been blamed for water depletion, high pesticide use, soil contamination, erosion and siltation, endangering wildlife and golf elitism. Proliferation of golf courses in Malaysia, particularly those located on islands, and the high levels of pesticides are used for their maintenance are of concern. Pesticides run-off from golf course into the marine environment may contaminate aquatic life. Altogether a total of 13,090ha of land has been taken up for golf to date, not including the 30 new projects that are in the works. The cost of maintenance ranges from RM50,000 to RM80,000 per month for a golf course using cow grass and RM80,000 to RM120,000 for one with foreign grass. For night golfing, the cost of lighting installations can amount to up to RM3 million per nine holes while monthly electricity bills run up to RM20,000. The Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) stands at the pinnacle of Malaysian golfing extravagance, boasting a cost of RM1 million per hole for a 36-hole club. In an effort to protect nature from golf courses, the Global Anti-Golf Movement (GAG'M) was formed in 1993, and celebrates April 29 as the World No Golf Day. Presently, any proposed golf course of 50ha or more is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), but there are plans to make the EIA mandatory for all golf projects regardless of land area. [ back ] Golden Hope Plantations Bhd - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) awarded Golden Hope the Global 500 Roll of Honour for its environmental efforts, especially their zero burning replanting technique in place of the traditional method of clearing and burning and utilizing the waste material for nutrient recycling. Golden Hope, an agro-industrial company, adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practice include monitoring of pest levels and use of biological control agents to reduce pesticides application to crops. The results of their in-house efforts to mitigate adverse effects of plantation production have led to refined planting and processing operations, and self-regulatory measures in accordance with global environmental standards. From BOD levels of 43,000 mg/l in the 1960s, Golden Hope reduced BOD to less than 100 mg/l in the 1990s. [ back ] Green Turtles - Three species of sea turtles nest in Malaysia; the commonest being the Green Turtle. The Green Turtles nest on the small island of Pangkor in the State of Perak, Penang Island, Pulau Perhentian Besar and Pulau Redang - islands off the coast of Terengganu, on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. They have also been sighted on the beaches at Tanjung Keling in Malacca and Pantai Remis in Perak. They also nest on turtle islands of Pulau Selingan, Pulau Bakungaan Kecil and Pulau Gulisaan in Sabah, and on the turtle islands of Talang Talang Besar, Talang Talang Kecil and Satang Besar in Sarawak. Their eggs are favoured on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysian Chinese have no religious scruples about eating turtle meat although turtles do have a considerable religious and symbolic significance to them. The meat and the carapace of the turtle is reputed to have medicinal value. Nesting records have registered a decline, with current nesting representing only 12 to 40 percent of the nesting recorded in the 1940's to 1950's. Numbers are now considered critical. In Sarawak, it is believed that the Green Turtle is on the verge of extinction. [ back ] Gunung Tempurong - At 612 meters above sea level, Gunung Tempurong in the Kinta Valley, Perak, is one of the highest limestone peaks in West Malaysia. The peak is rounded like a coconut shell, hence its name. The largest and best known of its caves is Gua Tempurong, one of the few river caves in the country. It is the home of the Serow, the Leopard and the Dusky Leaf Monkey. The Cliff Swallow (Layang-Layang) nests there and so does the Blue Whistling Thrush (Burung Goa). The threat was from quarrying operations. The North-South Highway was originally supposed to cut through the Tempurong massif, but the authorities were persuaded to divert the road. The Tempurong cave and hills are threatened by a RM 3.9 million eco-tourism development project proposed in 1993, which would include building a road to the cave, landscaping and setting up changing rooms, toilets, parking bays, a caravan site, mini chalets, souvenir and food stalls in the surrounding area. Members of the Perak Branch of the Malaysian Nature Society have been campaigning for the preservation of the limestone massif. [ back ] |
