Malaysia: 17 mln turtle hatchlings released to sea

Borneo Post 21 Nov 17;

KOTA KINABALU: The RM1 million allocation for turtle conservation under the State Budget 2018 reflects the State Government’s seriousness in conservation efforts, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun.

Masidi said an estimated 17 million turtle hatchlings have been released to the sea since the government became involved in turtle conservation.

He said this at a press conference after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) and Sabah Parks Board of Trustees yesterday.

Masidi said the signing of the MoU will enable Sabah Parks to receive continuous guidance in its publications from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, besides enhancing the cooperation between the two bodies in terms of the quality and types of books produced.

He said the cooperation between DBP and Sabah Parks have been established since 2004. To date, eight books authored by Sabah Parks staff have been published under the guidance of DBP.

The two bodies are also in the process of producing an encyclopedia on Sabah Parks that will enlighten readers on the biodiversity, conservation efforts and uniqueness in all the parks.

Masidi hoped that the natural treasures under Sabah Parks could be shared with Malaysians and even the international community through the publication of such books.

He said Sabah Parks was among the most successful government agencies not only in book publications, but also in terms of efforts to expand its activities on land and sea.

Sabah Parks is actively expanding the scope of marine parks to be gazetted, the latest being the Tun Mustapha Park in Kudat which is the largest marine park in Malaysia with an area close to one million hectares.

To date, Masidi said seven percent of the seas in Sabah, equivalent to two million hectares, have been gazetted as marine parks.

“Our goal is to increase (marine parks) to 10 percent as recommended by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),” Masidi said.

All these efforts were undertaken to achieve balance in progress and environmental conservation, he explained.

“This is clearly reflected in the (State) Budget 2018 by the Chief Minister, that we want conservation efforts and physical development to be carried out in parallel. Meaning to say that we can be a progressive state but also maintains the beauty and wonder of the environment in Sabah,” Masidi said.

The MoU was signed between Sabah Parks Board of Trustees chairman Datuk Seri Dr Tengku Zainal Adlin Bin Tengku Mahamood and DBP deputy director-general (policy) Datuk Haji Abang Sallehuddin bin Abg Shokeran.

Also present were Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministers Datuk Pang Yuk Ming and Datuk Kamarlin Ombi, and Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais.

Sabah Parks, Dewan Bahasa sign MoU on marine park publications
OLIVIA MIWIL New Straits Times 20 Nov 17;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will expand its means of showcasing its marine parks through special publications, state Culture, Tourism and Environment minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said on Monday.

He was speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sabah Parks and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).

"Both have been working closely since 2004 and have published eight books (of high quality).

"(Currently), they are finishing an encyclopaedia on the biodiversity of the parks, and the agency's efforts in conserving the area," he added.

Previous publications by DBP and Sabah Parks include Rafflesia Bunga Terbesar Di Dunia by Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais in 2004; Lotong Merah by Dr Maklarin Lakim; and Biologi dan Ekology Rusa Sambar Sabah by Fred Tuh – the latter two of which received the Chief Minister's Awards.

Also present at the MoU signing was assistant state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming; Sabah Parks chairman of Board of Trustees Datuk Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Mohamood Jamili; and DBP deputy director-general (policy) Datuk Abang Sallehuddin Abang Shokran.

Masidi added that Sabah Parks has done a good job of overseeing the parks under its purview.

Sabah has so far gazetted about two million hectares of marine park, which is equivalent to seven per cent of the state’s sea area.

Sabah Parks has also released about 17 million baby turtles out to sea.