17 December 2006, New Sunday Times
Loving Our Islands To Death.

Marine Parks islands alone welcomed over 300,000 visitor’s last year and half a million the year before. For many, the crowds are strain. Those are with limited fresh water, like Pulau Payar and Sibu supply, can’t even cater for present needs.

2 October 2006, News Straits Times
Rethink This Development.

It was reported recently that Tioman’s airport project and other construction work is on. This will prove to be an ecological and economic disaster for Tioman. The end result of unwise development- construction, roads, airport, etc,-on Tioman will sooner or later, discourages divers from going there.

26 September 2006, The Star
Checking On The Reefs.

The Marine Parks Division has long ignored the task of scrutinising coral reefs, leaving the job to scientists and conservation bodies. Hence, surveys have been piecemeal and occasional, depending on interest, fund availability and in 2002, the report Reefs At Risk found 85% of Malaysian reefs to be under medium to high level of threats from mostly human activities.  Intermittent scientific studies by universities.

Reef Check is not entirely new in Malaysia, however. Various individuals and the Malaysian Nature Society had employed the survey method in the past. In 2001, Reef Check appointed a co-ordinator for Malaysia, who has carried out a number of training and awareness activities. But a lack of funds and manpower prevented the programme from taking off like it has in Indonesia and the Philippines.

24 September 2006, New Sunday Times
How Do We Save An Ailing Jewel?

We have to be very cautious in developing the whole thing and we have to make sure we study the safety standards and socio-economic impacts.

There are corals, but they are not the best on the whole island. That’s one of the reasons why this site was chosen.

Blasting through granite could cause severe erosion; he said they were considering other option like viaducts for the proposed one-lane road.

24 September 2006, New Sunday Times
An Ecological Nightmare.

Prior to the construction, they found 220 coral species in waters surrounding the site, 17 of which were considered rare worldwide. These included at least 200 giant clams, classified as "vulnerable" on the Red List of threatened species.

For surviving coral beyond the 30m radius, the future looks bleak. Under stress from the sediment that shrouds them, the corals excrete mucus to remove it from their rainbow-hued bodies. But this slimy protector prevents the corals’ tentacles from emerging to capture food.

Sedimentation is a major headache in any construction project on an environmentally-sensitive island like Tioman, says Universiti Malaya sedimentologist Dr Azhar Hussin. And harmful effects from the large-scale marina project will never end, says the deputy director at Universiti Malaya’s Maritime Research Centre.

27 August 2006, New Sunday Times
Nation’s Biggest Sea grass Area Under Threat.

Malaysia’s biggest tract of sea grass near the estuary of Sg.Pulai in Tebrau Straits will disappear if no measures are taken to safeguard the ecosystem.

KUSTEM Department of Marine Science lecturer Choo Chee Kuang said massive development nearby and boat movement are posing a threat to the sea grass ecosystem.

When the sea grass ecosystem is threatened the survival of the unique marine species will be affected as well.

They have started a sea grass conservation programme with participation of students and fishermen from Gelang Patah. Their aim is to protect the unique marine species from extinction.

27 August 2006, New Sunday Times
The Custodians Have Spoken - Protection Is The Priority.

Diving is revenue, but protection is the priority says the islands custodians.

Sabah State Secretary Datuk K.Y Mustafa said Sipadan would soon be gazetted as a marine park and visitor numbers will be restricted.

8 August 2006, The Star
Leatherbacks In Malaysia Extinct.

The endangered leatherback turtle population is effectively extinct in Malaysia and this has deprived the country of one of its most charismatic tourist lures.

Leatherback turtle nesting along the Terengganu coastline used to number in the thousands in the 1960s but in recent years only a handful of infertile nests have been laid.

The main threats to leatherback turtles included mortality in fisheries, egg harvesting by humans, and depredation of eggs by pigs and dogs and loss of critical habitat, especially beaches needed for nesting.

The impact of the December 2004 tsunami on marine turtles and their habitats.

4 August 206, New Straits Times
Tourists The Bane Of Corals.

Too many tourists are hindering the natural rehabilitation process of the spoiled coral reefs in Pulau Payar, the oldest marine park in the country.

28 July 2006, The Star
Damaged Reefs Slowly But Surely Recovering.

The Sipadan coral reefs which were damaged by a barge carrying construction material in mid-May are slowly but surely recovering.

There was no one complete destruction zone but several scattered small patches. Chances of recovery are better as the adjacent healthy reef will help replenish the damaged areas.

Ceramic structures made in the US and designed to resemble the underwater landscape will be place in the worst-afflicted sites to promote coral regeneration.

20 June 2006, The Star
Lay Off Sipadan.

PM lashed out at Sabah Chief Minister for going ahead with the RM4.5mil clubhouse project at Pulau Sipadan despite his objection.

PM said he was upset with the general quality of environment in the country, and that Malaysians should learn to appreciate the environment as it was a gift from God.

7 July 2006, The Star
Sipadan’s Lure Takes A Dive.

Scraps of iron and other debris appear to be replacing corals on the shore of the world-renowned island off Sabah.

The divers and visitors to the island claimed they spotted debris on at least two locations- one of which was close to where corals were scraped off by a barge carrying construction materials on May 14.

Datuk Musa Aman ordered the construction project to be stopped but later allowed it to continue, provided environment-friendly building materials were used.

27 July 2006, The Star
We’re Not Doing Enough For Our Islands.

The islands should be better protected and conserved.

The tourists, more importantly, should always be reminded to never pick corals and to dispose of their waste properly.

If all parties don’t play their part, our islands will soon lose their natural beauty forever.

13 June 2006, The Sun
Take Care Of Tioman’s Charms.

Poor maintenance of roadside vegetation and the dirty, stagnant water with floating debris that pervaded the town, especially at the ferry jetty.

Try to make the area more attractive and clean since it serves as the “doorway” to Tekek and Pulau Tioman for visitors.

Do something about proper town planning before the island deteriorates further and drives away visitors, the primary source of the island’s income.

6 June 2006, The Star
MB Acts On Beach Protest.

Shop lots will not be allowed to be built on the beachfront of popular Pulau Perhentian Kecil if they mar the beauty of the place.

MB said he would check with the council on the extent of the construction work and what is important is that the traditional setting of the place must be preserved.

5 June 2006, Star Biz
DHL Reef In Tioman -The Extra Mile In Coral Conservation.

DHL sponsored a new entry into the Malaysia Book of Records in the category of “Longest Underwater Reef Observation” by organizing 24 hours on the DHL Reef.

5 June 2006, The Star
Protecting Our Future.

World Environment Day- to acknowledge the importance of the sustainable development while making a conscious effort towards preserving the future for the coming generations - at Pulau Perhentian Terengganu.