Malaysia Concerned About Climatic Variability And Rising Sea Temperature

Bernama 28 Mar 10;

SIBU, MaRCH 28( Bernama) -- Climatic variability and the rising sea temparature due to global warming are two issues of great concern to Malaysia, WWF Malaysia conservation director Dr Arun B. Venkataraman said.

He said climatic variability would cause prolonged periods of drought or heavy rainfall, resulting in floods.

"I think the Malaysian government has already recognised that this variability is a serious challenge with the bad floods in Johor three years ago," he told a candlelight news conference Saturday night after observing the Earth Hour here.

He and a few of his colleagues from the peninsula were invited by the town Barisan Nasional leaders to be part of the event this year.

State Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, Lanang member of parliament Datuk Tiong Thai King and state assemblymen Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah and Vincent Goh Chung Siong were among those present.

Dr Venkataraman said the WWF Malaysia was particularly alarmed by the temperature rise in the sea which would cause widespread effects like coral bleaching where coral could actually die when the temperature rose above a certain level.

"We are especially concerned because the Malaysian coral eco-system, mainly in the east and north coasts of Sabah and some places in Sarawak, is recognised as one of the best in the world," he said.

The coral eco-system in places like Sipadan in Sabah, which is one of the world top five diving spots, generated a lot of tourist income for the government, and if it was lost, the tourist revenue, jobs and others down the line would be seriously affected, he said.

However, in both Sabah and Sarawak, the coral bleaching problem was still not recognised as a serious problem now, he added.

He commended the organisers for inviting them and especially the children to participate in the event as it would inculcate in the children the importance of observing the Earth Hour which is about community energy conservation to reduce global warming.

-- BERNAMA