Sabah NGO: Stop felling mangrove forests

The Star 22 Mar 11;

KOTA KINABALU: Steps must be taken immediately to stop the felling of large tracts of mangrove forests along Sabah’s coastline as they are the best natural buffer against tsunamis.

Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) president Wong Tack said the earthquake-triggered tsunami in Japan was the latest reminder to the state that it must take steps to preserve coastal mangrove swamps.

“The swamp forests along our coastline are God’s gift because they are a natural buffer to trap tsunamis.

“We must make sure that these areas remain undisturbed as Sabah, especially the east coast, lies just outside the Pacific ring of fire,” Wong told reporters after SEPA’s committee meeting here yesterday.

He said there were many places in east coast of Sabah like Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Kunak where mangrove forests had been cleared to make way for legal and illegal development.

Wong said SEPA also wanted the Government to drop the idea of building a nuclear power plant in the country.

“No matter what the experts say, the incident at the Japanese Fukushima nuclear plant shows no safety measure is fool-proof,” he added.

Focus on green energy instead
New Straits Times 21 Mar 11;

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Environment Protection Association (Sepa) urged the government to stop its plans for nuclear powered energy and re-channel the funds into the generation of green energy.

Its president, Wong Tack, said after the effects on nuclear plants in Japan post-quake, Malaysia, and Sabah in particular, should stop focusing on nuclear power.

"The minister in charge should call for a halt on the feasibility study on nuclear energy and channel the funds into creating an environment to allow green technologies to take off," he said in a press conference yesterday.

"We are very concerned that we haven't heard of any cancellation of the plans so far.

"Other countries have put their plans on hold, but apparently, we are still going ahead.

"We are in the same line of fire as Japan, on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and we have to be ready to face any eventuality in the future.

"If not for our sake, then for our future generation's sake."

Wong said Malaysia was incapable of handling nuclear energy and any disaster could have adverse effects lasting for generations.

Wong also asked that all coastal projects be reviewed, particularly those that involved clearing of mangroves that provide the necessary buffer or natural cushions.


"Priority should be given to solar, wind, biogas and biomass energy which can be found in abundance here," he added.