All articles of environment in Sabah

11Jun

28-room hostel soon at Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Parks is about to complete the construction of a 28-room hostel at Laban Rata, 11,000ft on Mt Kinabalu. It will be managed by Sabah Parks staff, said State Culture, Tourism and Environment Minister Datuk Sri Panglima Masidi Manjun. "We have intention for more but we'll study it because we don't want to spoil it," Masidi said, during "The Bandalureate Country Branding Award 2013-14" celebration luncheon, Wednesday. Asked if this means increasing the capacity of Kinabalu, Masidi said: "No, it remains at 192 persons. What has been privatised was accommodation and restaurants, we did not privatise the number of people who can go up. It remains within the power of Sabah Parks," he said. On why management of the new hostel would be by Sabah Parks, Masidi said it was to make sure that it is affordable to everyone. "We'll have to look at affordability but the intention is we want our Park to be actively involved in the running of the mountain,"said Masidi. The hostel is viewed as the Government finally responding to persistent clamour from ordinary Sabahans who complained of the loss of easy and cheap access to their own mountain ever since a previous Minister decided to privatise the operations more than a decade ago. Asked whether this could mean the restoration of a hassle-free tradition among Fifth formers to take to the mountain after exams, Masidi said: "Obviously it involves some costs but it would be good if students have sponsors," he said. Asked if the park would consider sparing a week after the SPM exams to enable special access to local students, Masidi said: "I am sure it's (hostel) going to be very cheap year long because what made it expensive last time was because they had to stay for two nights in the park but now you can stay outside the park or homestay and then stay only one night at Laban Rata," Masidi said. "Sutera Sanctuary Lodge charged only RM25 but only for Sabahans in a special package - cheap, economic, and all inclusive - porters, guide fee, for only RM130," Masidi noted. Sabah Parks Director Dr Jamili Nais said local climbers snapped up the bargain SSL offer, indicative of vibrant local interest. Asked if a Sabah Parks-managed new hostel at Laban Rata is putting Kinabalu Parks back to the old days, Dr Jamili said: "What we are looking at like Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, giving people alternatives. "Those who want high end accommodation can have that, we support that also but those who want no frills, we cater to them because the domestic market has been crying out for affordable climbs. "I am looking into the idea of volunteerism, which means people can volunteer at the park for one week or even three weeks without pay while we take care of their food and accommodation , "Dr Jamili said. Meanwhile, Kinabalu Park, Malaysia's first Heritage Site, was chosen as a recipient of "The Brandlaureate Country Branding Award 2013-2014" for its status as a heritage site as it has a diverse biota and high endemism. The prestigious award was presented to Kinabalu Park during the Brandlaureate Award 2013-2014 presentation on May 30, organised by Asia Pacific Brands Foundation held in Kuala Lumpur. Masidi presented the certificate and the trophy of the award to Kinabalu Park Manager Justinus Guntabid. Asia Pacific Brands Foundation (APBF), which was founded in 2004, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to developing brands in a myriad of business backdrops and led by fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad together with a Board of Governors who are experienced captains of industries and established brand icons. The Brandlaureate Awards recognise world-class achievement in branding amongst individuals and companies. The other recipients of the award were Perbadanan Putrajaya (Floria Putrajaya), Captain James Anthony Tan and Crystal Lee. Masidi said Kinabalu Park deserved the award not merely due to its status as World Heritage Site but also because of the fact that Kinabalu Park had the highest number of plant species per unit area in the world. He said Kinabalu Park had 5,500 plant species in 30kmx40km beside housing 866 species of orchids, ferns (609), okas and chestnuts (63), pitcher plants (14), mosses and liverworts (450), 326 birds (326), 625 butterflies (625), 90 lowland mammals (90), montane mammals (22), snakes (67), frogs and toads (61) and fishes (40). "More interesting, in the single day of climb, you can experience spring, summer, autumn and winter, all together". Source: Daily Express
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10Jun

International Conference on Serpentine Ecology Sabah

International Conference on Serpentine Ecology Sabah The official launching of the International Conference on Serpentine Ecology Sabah on the 9th of June 2014 at Sutera Harbour Resort by YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun. Majlis perasmian pembukaan International Conference on Serpentine Ecology Sabah pada 9 Jun 2014 bertempat di Sutera Harbour Resort oleh YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.
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14May

Historic action on riparian reserve

Kota Kinabatangan: The State Government has finally asserted its power as the sole legal land owner of all riparian (riverside) reserves across Sabah as provided explicitly in the Land Ordinance Sabah (Cap 68) Section 26(1)(2) and the Sabah Water Resources Enactment 1998 Sections 41 & 42. In a historic event at Batu Puteh to kick-start the first officially sanctioned removal of oil palms that had allegedly been illegally planted in violation of riparian reserve laws in a replanting process, Assistant Minister of Culture, Tourism and Environment Datuk Pang Yuk Ming mounted the controls of an excavator and ceremoniously dug out a young oil palm which Ladang Kinabatangan had planted at a site that the Land and Survey Department authenticated last month as part a riparian reserve of the 560km Kinabatangan River. Pang forewarned that what looks like "just a small function" to remove 20 acres of oil palms (1.3km long and 20-50 metres in width) that had encroached riparian reserves should be seen as precursor to deal with "plenty more" similar situations, including a study to look into the possibility of punitive measures on those who have done harm to mother nature. "We don't want people to have the perception that if we don't follow up, those people responsible can get away with it without any consequence," added Pang, who agreed that Sections 41 & 42 of the Sabah Water Resources Enactment 1998 give the legal mandate to the State Government to make violators pay for the cost of putting back natural vegetation from riparian reserves that had been removed for commercial agriculture and also for causing pollution of the river. "In fact, it is something we have been toying with and waiting for an occasion like this to indicate our intention to set up a proposed Special Task Force with this instruction: your job is focused on just to recapture back all the riparian reserves throughout Sabah, that's all!" Pang said. "You and I know that throughout Sabah, such encroachment runs into thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of acres by many, many people," Pang noted. "I know I have the support of my Minister Datuk Seri Masidi who is very keen and ready to do it, because plenty of people outside are willing to help - a lot of NGOs and corporations - in putting the trees back," he said. "It's just that the State Government has to take the lead," Pang cited the exemplary event on Saturday which demonstrated such political leadership. "But it is very important to stay more focused with a Task Force set up specifically to look into and claim back all the riparian reserves because it is difficult to rely on the District Offices and Land Office which already have their never-ending day-to-day duties to do," Pang explained. "But we want to make this a collective responsibility, especially those in charge, to ensure that the laws of the land are followed," said Pang, who praised the Batu Puteh community for taking ownership of their rights as citizens. On reasons for this new-found tough stand, Pang said: "We know riparian reserves are very important for protecting our rivers. The livelihood of many people depends heavily on the riparian reserves, especially the Kinabatangan, which is riddled with wildlife and very tourism sensitive. Once they rip off the river bank forests like this, all the agro chemicals will be thrown back into the river when the big floods come and kill aquatic life," Pang explained. "So, it is high time that we protect our environment because the State Government now realises and has come to the conclusion that tourism is one of the key pillars for Sabah with far-reaching ripple effects on local livelihood, compared to plantations, most of which are owned by companies from outside the State while industries still face many uphill challenges such as logistics and manpower-wise. Knowing this, the State Government is taking serious steps to not only protect but also enhance the environment," said Pang. Source: Daily Express
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23Apr

The Snake of Borneo 2nd Edition Book Launching

The Snake of Borneo 2nd Edition Book Launching   YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun launched another book by the Natural History Publication entitled "The Snake of Borneo 2nd Edition" on the 21st of April 2014 at the GC Wooley Hall, Sabah Museum. For more information please go to, http://www.nhpborneo.com or call Tel: 088-233 098. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun telah merasmikan sebuah lagi buku terbitan Natural History Publication yang berjudul ' The Snake of Borneo 2nd Edition' pada 21 April 2014 bertempat di Dewan GC Wooley, Jabatan Muzium Sabah. Sebarang pertanyaan lanjut mengenai buku tersebut, sila ke laman web  http://www.nhpborneo.com / Tel: 088-233 098. 
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22Apr

Masidi: Snake hunting should be stopped

Kota Kinabalu: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said snake hunting for commercialisation should be stopped to preserve the 160 snake species in Borneo. "Look after our assets and snakes are one of our tourism assets. Naturalists come here to see our flora and fauna. There's no reason for them to come here if they are gone." Masidi, who was officiating at the launch of "A Field Guide to the Snakes of Borneo" (second edition) at the State Museum, acknowledged that the snake is a well-known delicacy here and admitted that he feared them due to tales and experiences in the past. But, to shed some light on the better side of the story concerning snakes, he said that one of the co-authors of the book, Dato' Dr. Robert Inger told him that by nature, snakes fear human beings more than human beings fear them. "They bite because of the self defence mechanism." "A Guide to the Snakes of Borneo" is a 318-pages book which contains the first photograph ever taken and published of the extremely rare and beautiful Blanford Pipe Snake, Cylindrophis lineatus in Sarawak by a well-known wildlife photographer - Ch'ien Lee. This book was first published in 2002 by the Natural History Publications (Borneo) and has been constantly used as the standard reference by numerous amateurs and professional herpetologists not only in Malaysia, but in Southeast Asia in general, added Director of Natural History Publications (Borneo), Chan Hin Ching. Over a period of 12 years, a significant body of knowledge about the snakes of Borneo has been accumulated and this new edition documents in detail all of the 160 species recorded from this island which is renowned for its rich wildlife. Robert Stuebing, Dr. Inger and Bjorn Lardner travelled all the way from the US to attend the event at the museum. This second edition will remain as the standard reference for the herpetological community for many decades to come. Also present was State Museum Director, Joanna Datuk Kitingan. Lardner will be giving a talk on snakes on April 22 at Sabah Society (Damai) at 7.30pm. For further information, call 088 - 250 443. Source : Daily Express
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