We would like a bigger budget allocation for environmental conservation and protection, Dato Seri Najib Razak.
The authorities are urged to create greater awareness of the importance of taking care of corals in Johor. Pic by Dato Dr Siow Kuang Ling.
by Chuah Bee Kim
JOHOR BARU: A 71-YEAR-OLD doctor and an award-winning inventor,
Datuk Dr Siow Kuang Ling, recently called on environmentalists and the
relevant authorities to create greater awareness of the importance of
taking care of corals in Johor.
Dr Siow, who took up diving seven years ago, said most of the corals
in the state, namely in Pulau Rawa and Pulau Sibu, are dead.
“When divers, whether foreigners or locals, see all these dead corals, they are not going to come again.
“Johor has the resources but this lack of awareness is killing the
resources that nature has blessed the state with,” said Dr Siow who
has been to Indonesian islands like Komodo Island, Raja Ampat, Manado
Island, Bali and Lembek Straits, and also to the Maldives and Johor.
He said the dying corals have turned either blackish or whitish and appeared to have dried up.
When there is no movement or signs of life around the corals, it is also an indication that the corals are dying.
To spread awareness of corals and marine life, Dr Siow is organising
an underwater photography exhibition at Sutera Mall here from Aug 15 to
Sept 1.
“I will put up 300 pictures in A3-size hardboard for sale from RM200
to RM300 each. Part of the proceeds will go towards charity,” he said.
Dr Siow said he could produce 20 copies of each photo which was taken in all the countries he had visited over the years.
“I took up scuba diving in 2009 and became an open-water diver
before becoming a speciality diver (peak performance buoyancy) several
years later,” he said.
“I believe that if the Johor government were to take care of its
straits, and the corals, it can draw more scuba divers to Johor.”
Dr Siow said that divers should not touch any of the corals when they are underwater.
However, he said he had seen many, namely, Asian divers who do not abide by this rule.
“One should also never go scuba diving alone. It is important to
request for two instructors, one to lead the group ahead and one to be
behind the group.
“It is good to go in a group of four to 12 divers,” said Dr Siow.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Nature Society (Johor branch) chairman Vincent
Chow said corals which are found in rivers near industrial sites become
the first victims of industrial pollutants which are discharged into the
sea.
As in the case of corals found in waters near resorts, Chow said
the corals could be dead or dying due to diesel discharge from boats,
climatic change and silting accumulated over the years.
“The resort operators do make an effort to protect the corals but
nature lovers and the MNS would appreciate it if the relevant
authorities like the Marine Parks and Johor state executive councillors
in charge of the environment can give us an update on the conservation
efforts being made to protect marine life."
“The relevant authorities are seen to care so little for the environment, even in its budget allocation,” said Chow.
He cited the Sungai Kim Kim and Sungai Masai, both in Pasir Gudang,
as two rivers that are carrying industrial pollutants into the sea.
“The water current causes the effect to get bigger and bigger until the pollutants reach the islands.
“Besides this, there are also sewage discharge from households and
logging works which cause sediment to build up over the years in other
areas.
“It is the corals that get smothered when the silt particles get accumulated over the years,” he said.
Chow said he would not say all the corals are dead as it would depend on the sea depth and the vastness of the sea.
However, he urged the relevant parties to come up with more proper
planning measures before giving the green light for the building of
industrial parks so that the river eco-system is protected.
“We are losing our unique and fragile eco-system due to ignorance and indifference,” he said.
