KUALA TERENGGANU: Two years ago, the state government allocated RM8 million to turn Pulau Bidong, a former Vietnamese refugee camp, into a recreational tourist island.
The promise was that by the third quarter of last year, the island would become the latest product for Visit Terengganu Year. The state is way into Visit Terengganu Year, and the result -- zilch.
Vietnamese-American visitor Scott Huynh was dismayed during a recent visit here although he was not aware of the promise made by the state government.
"It's quite sad. It's like a forest. The island had temples and a church. A museum would be in order.
"If it wasn't for Bidong, we wouldn't have a life," he told the New Straits Times.
....... [dig up the whole story]* * * *
This is Bidong Island - the Vietnamese Refugee Camp. [famous sunken ship]
This is Bidong Island - the UMT research area.
What many of you might not know is that, aside from the Vietnamese refugee camp, the island stores magnificent underwater treasures - the diverse CORAL REEFS cover.
For years, UMT have held Bidong Island as its research ground which spans a few kilometres around the island for marine life study & conservation efforts. At times, I doubt if the outcome of the research would actually be beneficial.
At this time of the year, for every fresh undergraduate's intake since 2005, UMT launched an "Ocean Survival Program" designed especially to exposed first years undergraduates to the beauty of marine life. An also, the boost the university's speciality in oceanography & marine biodiversity.
The adverse effect from this program?
Try to image at least 300 students ferried across the waters in an estimation of 6 boats to the island EVERY WEEK up to four months in a row!!
To add to your dismay, every bunch of students learn to get accustomed to the ocean waves in the waters just by the beach. This is the most sensitive area that houses a wide coverage of shallow water reefs!!! Which creature on Earth that would not be in distress when people started kicking and give a few good blow to the corals?! Corals broken in pieces, sand covering all the stationary organisms, fishes scared away with the constant kicking motion, usage of freshwater & chemicals that alter the water quality [salinity & pH in precise]...
* * * *
I wonder what's left of it now? I was the first batch of students to initiate the success of the "Ocean Survival Program". Not my kind of liking to see the extensive damage taking place. It always kept me in wonder, why would my university which quote their motto
'An Ocean Of Discoveries' would want to destroy their ocean in such a way? Yes, the beach area where the activities took place in Bidong is
'small' comparatively with other
'destroyed' islands. But, it has given a green light to allow such adversity to take part. Certainly, other projects would ensued... claiming to have little effects and would not disturbed the ecosystem within.
I know we have all enjoyed it. It is only time that we learn how to appreciate it in tangible ways. Leaving the marine life undisturbed as it is provides solitude as we harmonize with them. It's time to learn how to live with nature, not control them.
* * * *
Depleting coral reef biodiversity & its resources. The corresponding organisms which had been inhabitants of the reef cover will need to duck for shelter or they'll be bygones in near future.
Soon, the island may risk losing it's heritage value not because of the Vietnamese Refugee Camps, but the irreversible damage towards the highly productive marine life.
In the end, what is left to offer?
Pieces of coral rubbles on sand smothered blue waters.
Greenpeace activists [in red] trying to prevent the transport of illegally-hunted whale.
Japanese ship butchering the minke whale quickly.
Greenpeace activists [in red] trying to prevent the transport of illegally-hunted whale.
Japanese ship butchering the minke whale quickly.
