Rehashing plan for 49 km Malacca,-Sumatra bridge

But prospect of bridge linking Malacca, Sumatra still doubtful
S Jayasankaran, Business Times 20 Aug 09;

A 14-year old plan to build a US$12.5 billion, 49 kilometre bridge between Malacca and Sumatra has been dusted off and resubmitted to both governments by a private Malaysian firm for approval. But now, as it was then, its feasibility remains in doubt.

Yesterday, businessman Ibrahim Zain was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying that his private Straits of Malacca Partners had submitted its proposals to both capitals and hoped to start work 'by the end of the year or early 2010'.

He said that the project would cost US$12.5 billion and was based on traffic projections of at least 15,000 vehicles a day. He also said that toll charges would be around US$75-US$85 per vehicle based on current ferry charges of RM100 (S$40) per person one way.

According to Mr Ibrahim, funding was also no problem with his firm generating 15 per cent (RM6.64 billion) and an official from China's Exim Bank being quoted as saying that his bank could provide 'up to 85 per cent funding for such infrastructure projects'.

The plan seems to suggest a return to the Think Big credo that former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad suggested should be the operational philosophy of Malaysia's business community. During the go-go 1990s, all sorts of grandiose projects - including, memorably, a planned city-on-a-river - suggested by the private sector were endorsed by him.

In any case, the plan does reinforce a suggestion in 1995 by Dr Mahathir to build a similar bridge to enhance greater connectivity between Malaysia and the region's largest economy.

At the time, the plan was embraced with enthusiasm by the Renong conglomerate, then no stranger to grandiose projects, which came up with a feasibility study. But the project ran up against the Asian financial crisis and nothing was heard about it again.

The project presupposes that Malaysian businessmen would use the facility and invest in Sumatra in a big way, thus creating enough jobs there to stem the influx of Indonesian immigrants to Malaysia looking for work. It also is based on a belief that trade and tourism between Malacca and Sumatra would boom - at least 7 per cent of Sumatra's 70 million people are middle class.

But some maritime analysts argue that the Straits of Malacca is one of the world's busiest waterways and building a bridge across it could be a hazard looking ahead. Last year, shipping volume grew at 7 per cent and that's been a continuous process.

Indeed, a recent study by the Maritime Institute of Malaysia estimated that the waterway would be at near-peak capacity by 2024. 'Given that the bridge would be spanning 48 kilometres, its pylons could pose a danger to ships especially in stormy weather,' one analyst told BT.

It also isn't clear if permission for such a bridge would be needed from the waterway's users epitomised by the International Maritime Organisation. It also isn't clear if Singapore's wishes must be heeded. Maritime law stipulates that the permission from littoral states must be obtained, but some maritime analysts argue that Singapore's littoral status is confined to the Singapore straits and not the Malacca straits.

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Sugar stocks hit by weather woes

Shortfalls in India and Brazil pushing up prices for commodity globally
Ravi Velloor, Straits Times 20 Aug 09;

NEW DELHI: The unpredictable weather is playing havoc with people who have a sweet tooth or get a sugar rush whenever a festive occasion is around the corner.

Drought in parts of India and excess rainfall in Brazil - two major world producers - are causing shortfalls in sugar cane crops and pushing up prices worldwide to unseen heights.

The international price of raw sugar hit a nearly three-decade high of 23 US cents (33 Singapore cents) a pound last week, compared with 11.8 US cents at the end of last year.

India, the world's biggest consumer of the sweetener, is feeling the pangs.

The world shortage is also poised to cut into the bottom lines of food companies such as Cadbury, Nestle and Danone.

What all this means for the consumer, whether in India, Singapore or the United States, is that the next sugar fix will cost much more.

In India, the demand for sugar, like gold, tends to peak at festive times. The country has a series of festivals starting this weekend, and ending with Deepavali in November. Therefore, one reason for surging global prices is that speculators are eyeing the prospect of India importing vast amounts of sugar.

'Last year, many farmers moved out of sugar cane because of low prices,' Mr Vinay Kumar, president of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories, told The Straits Times.

'This year, the drought has added a new issue. Sugar production may not go beyond 15 million tonnes,' he said. India produced a little more than 26 million tonnes of sugar in the 2007-2008 season.

As food prices tend to be politically sensitive, the Indian government has moved to quickly free up sugar imports in order to try hold prices down. With India looking set to buy at least five million tonnes of sugar, or about twice what was initially expected, an international scramble to sell to the country has broken out, often with hilarious consequences.

Earlier this month, Indian naval boats intercepted a North Korean vessel anchored suspiciously at a remote area close to the Little Andaman Island. Its crew was arrested and the cargo seized, sparking speculation that it could be linked to an illegal nuclear trade with Myanmar.

Interrogation of the crew later revealed that the hold contained 16,500 tonnes of Thai sugar bound for Iraq. But after the ship's charterers heard that New Delhi had allowed duty-free sugar imports, they decided to divert the cargo to an Indian port instead. So, as the captain waited for the official notification to reach customs officials, he dropped anchor off the Andamans, sparking an alert.

Late last week, large US food companies warned that the country could 'virtually run out of sugar' unless the government eased import curbs, the Wall Street Journal reported.

In a letter to the Agriculture Secretary, the companies - including Kraft Foods, General Mills, Hershey and Mars - said there could be a severe shortage of sugar used in chocolate bars, breakfast cereal, cookies, chewing gum and thousands of other products, the paper reported.

They also reportedly warned that they would raise consumer prices and lay off workers if the Agriculture Department did not allow them to import more tariff-free sugar. Current import quotas limit the amount of tariff-free sugar the food companies can import in a given year.

Consumers are complaining of sugar stocks running low in Malaysia, where the Ramadan fasting month starts on Saturday, and ends on Sept 19, the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The shortage, which has hit sundry shops, has forced consumers to buy from hypermarkets and supermarkets, Malaysia's The Star daily reported this week. Shoppers are limited to 2kg each time.

To prevent panic buying, the Perak state government has allowed sugar to be sold temporarily at petrol stations, The Star reported yesterday.

'The Hari Raya celebration is just around the corner, and many people, especially those making foodstuff, are hoarding sugar in fear of shortages and price hikes,' said an official of the Perak Sundry Shops Guild, Mr Diong Khek Chai.

In Singapore, prices holding but for how long?
Straits Times 20 Aug 09;

AS WORLD sugar prices soar on falling yields, suppliers and retailers here are starting to feel the pinch.

A source from a major industry player said that suppliers' wholesale pricing decisions are closely tied to world prices of sugar futures, which have been climbing steadily since the start of the year.

Recent developments, such as unfavourable climatic conditions in the sugar-exporting countries of India and Brazil, are likely to exacerbate the situation and drive prices up further.

Retailers have been absorbing the increases so far. Data from the Department of Statistics indicates that the average retail price of 2kg of white sugar has remained within the range of $2.63 to $2.66 between January and June this year.

Mrs Mui-Kok Kah Wei, deputy director of integrated purchasing at NTUC FairPrice, said the supermarket chain would be keeping sugar prices stable in the next few months, despite recent developments.

'As we have longstanding contracts with our suppliers, we have been able to hold prices and will not be increasing the prices for most of our sugar products in the short run,' she said.

But retailers, including those who make use of sugar in their production processes, are facing mounting costs.

The chairman of the Singapore Bakery and Confectionery Trade Association, Mr Liow Kian Huat, said that while most bakeries will not be raising the price of bread and other baked goods in the near future, he could not rule out price increases should the cost of sugar continue to rise.

According to Mr Liow, a 50kg bag of imported baking sugar used to cost $38 just a month ago, but now costs $46.

'Most bakeries have been absorbing rising ingredient costs - we didn't raise prices when the cost of eggs and butter went up recently as well,' said Mr Liow.

He said that if sugar prices went up by another 50 per cent to 100 per cent, bakeries and confectioneries might be forced to raise prices to cover costs.

CHIA YAN MIN

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Suckling pig imports hit by disease in China

Wendy Hui, Straits Times 20 Aug 09;

DINERS might have to give suckling pig the chop if a severe shortage of imports forces up the price of the delicacy.

Stocks have been badly hit by an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in China.

Around 600 tonnes of suckling pigs were imported into Singapore last year from five farms in various Chinese provinces, according to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

But only 191 tonnes came in from January to July this year, after the disease led to the suspension of imports from Hunan, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces in recent months.

A farm in Zhejiang province is now the lone approved exporter, but The Straits Times understands that this outlet deals mostly with the domestic market. Its last export was made in 2005.

'Our last consignment was in July, when we imported about 6,000 suckling pigs,' said Mr Liew Yew Fah, managing director of Pin Corporation, which used to handle almost 20,000 suckling pigs a month when supplies were readily available.

'We have no choice but to wait the suspension out,' added Mr Liew.

Some importers blame the shortage on tough AVA criteria for meat imports, which include strict hygiene and sanitary requirements, and stringent inspections. 'Some of the farms are not interested (in exporting to Singapore) because they need to spend money upgrading (their facilities) to meet AVA standards; they'd rather cater to domestic demand,' said one importer.

A check with five restaurants found that while orders for suckling pigs are still being taken, two are considering raising prices if supplies stay tight.

The dish is costly, with prices starting from around $128, and is normally eaten at Chinese wedding banquets or Chinese New Year. It is often used as an offering during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Said the manager of a well-known Chinese restaurant in Orchard Road: 'Different importers are saying different things. Ours has been quite honest, saying he has stocks for now, but we expect prices to go up.'

A spokesman for Tiong Bahru Roasted Pig Specialist said they are selling the dish at the same price despite a 10 per cent increase in cost. 'It depends on our supplier - if he raises the cost, we're going to have to raise the price of our suckling pigs too.'

Some suppliers and restaurants are turning to alternatives, such as golden pigs - small pigs that weigh between 5kg and 25kg - of which about 275 tonnes were imported between January and July.

Mr Darren Toh, director of Yan Chuan Roaster, said he encourages clients to order golden pigs instead, given the dwindling suckling pig supplies. 'Although the taste and texture of suckling pigs cannot be replaced, golden pigs are bigger so even though they cost more, customers are getting more for their money,' he said. So far, he has secured about 200 to 300 orders for golden pigs this month.

But some connoisseurs of suckling pigs are unfazed by the current shortage. Student Low Sin Yee, 20, said: 'I will continue to eat suckling pig if the price goes up marginally, but if it gets too expensive, I'll just eat roast pork.'

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Chances of escaping bad haze are slim

Ministers of affected nations to strengthen efforts to fight the fires
Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 20 Aug 09;

THE chances of the region being shrouded in a bad haze this year have gone up a notch.
This is because the El Nino weather pattern, which brings sustained dry weather, will hit harder than expected, it was revealed yesterday at a regional ministerial meeting on the haze.

Previous predictions were for a mild to moderate El Nino, but the weatherman has since revised the forecast to 'moderate to strong'.

The continuing practice by farmers in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sarawak of setting forests and scrub land ablaze to clear land for planting amid the drought will create a smoky pall.

That this is the period of the south-west monsoon will not help. The prevailing winds will blow the haze into South-east Asia, and each time this has happened in the past decade, the region's economies have suffered, as has the health of its people.

Singapore's Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, ruling out the possibility of 'zero haze' this year, said: 'Let's prepare for the worst, do what we can.'

He was at the 8th meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution, attended by representatives from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Asean Secretariat.

With El Nino expected to make a stronger stamp in the coming months, the ministers at the meeting agreed to renew efforts to outlaw all open burning in the region and to step up enforcement.

To date, such bans have been called for, but have gone largely unenforced.

Other measures agreed on include suspending permits for prescribed burning activities in fire-prone areas in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Indonesia, an epicentre of raging forest fires for much of the past decade, unveiled a slew of new initiatives at the meeting. Key among them is its ban on open burning, which took effect this month in Kalimantan, and will be extended to other areas.

Malaysia, on its part, said it had stepped up enforcement on companies in Sarawak, where wildfires consuming more than 1,000ha sent the Air Pollutant Index to unhealthy levels last week.

The ministers noted the efforts made in the past three years to raise awareness of the problem and to share technical expertise and equipment. Indonesia's collaborations with Singapore and Malaysia were highlighted as having played a role in cutting the number of hot spots.

Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar was asked during the conference to respond to the controversial comment made recently by his forestry counterpart M.S. Kaban: that Jakarta would intervene in the slash-and-burn activities only if neighbouring nations protest and regional flights are disrupted.

Mr Witoelar said Mr Kaban's remarks were his own opinion and probably made for 'sexy' quotes in the media, but were not reflective of the work done on the ground to douse the fires. But he said results will take time to show, given that the task involved changing the outdated farming techniques of 240 million people.

At the meeting, Dr Yaacob later made a call for a concerted war by the region on the problem.

The 1997 haze, also during a severe El Nino year, wrought more than $9 billion in damage to the region's tourism, transport and farming.

Dr Yaacob said that cost aside, the haze issue was hurting the regional grouping's international credibility in tackling climate change: 'If we are able to tackle this, then we can gain some credibility in our ability to preserve forests as a contribution to climate change.'

The next MSC forum, to be held here in October, at the same time as the 11th Asean Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, will involve the local authorities of MSC countries and international groups sharing strategies against forest fires.

Said Dr Yaacob: 'The urgency is there, and the ministers recognise that if the situation deteriorates as in 2006, it will not be good for the region.'

Mr Afdhal Mahyuddin of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature in Indonesia's Riau, a fire-prone province, said it was now important to walk the talk: 'What is needed is to make things happen in the field. If the government can mobilise all the stakeholders at the district, village and provincial level, then the talks will not be in vain.'

New initiatives launched by Indonesia
Straits Times 20 Aug 09;

INDONESIA announced yesterday that it would take the following measures to curb the practice of slash-and-burn farming:

# Issue warning letters to local government officials and plantations against slash-and-burn farming. This move has been implemented and is expected to gain pace.

# Douse fires with water bombs launched from military planes.

# Beef up firefighting. This now includes mobilising the Forestry Ministry's Forest Fire Prevention Brigade, known as Manggala Agni, in places that are ablaze. This brigade is responsible for disseminating information, improving early-warning systems and fighting forest fires.

# Train 600 oil palm farmers and 240 other villagers and provincial officials in the nine areas supervised by Manggala Agni.

# Launch a pilot project to encourage zero burning in five provinces covering eight districts.

# Revise an environmental management law to give the Environment Ministry powers to take to task companies which start the fires and regional governments which slacken in their efforts to stop the burning.

# Step up enforcement against offenders in the fire-prone provinces of Riau and Kalimantan.

# Supply poor communities with mechanical land-clearing equipment so that they do not practise slash-and-burn agriculture.

# Ban open burning. The ban took effect in central Kalimantan this month and will be extended to other fire-prone areas.

INDONESIAN Forestry Minister M.S. Kaban, in comments made earlier this month, said the haze issue 'was being exaggerated domestically'. He was quoted as having said: 'Why should we care about domestic affairs? Our international image is what's important.'

Asked about this later by The Straits Times, he had said: 'What I said was that this haze issue was being exaggerated domestically. Why are we ourselves making the noise? Even they (Singapore, Malaysia and other neighbours) are keeping quiet.'

Responding to these comments yesterday, Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar (below) said: 'Every official is free to comment...on this. It is his position. If he were to highlight the difference of our opinions, then my opinion and his opinion are two opinions.

'I do not want to enter into a debate with the foreign press. As I say, we will both adhere to the law as it is addressed...

'He is just setting a timeline for his ministry and, in fact, his actions do not reflect what he is saying, as we are, in fact, dousing the fires...

'The Environment Ministry does not put out fires. We prevent and try to institute new measures as well as conduct negotiations with other countries.

'But the ones fighting the fire are Jakarta - I mean his department, and there is more power given to him for doing it.

'Maybe these comments are sexy for you to quote, but they do not really reflect what we are doing. We are fighting the fires.'

ASEAN countries pledge to ban all open-air burning activities
Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia 19 Aug 09;

SINGAPORE: Environment ministers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have agreed to ban all open-air burning activities in a bid to combat the recurrent haze.

Open-air burning activities like slash-and-burn agriculture are the biggest culprits of the region's haze problem.

Permits for burning activities at fire-prone hotspots will also be suspended and ministers have promised a quicker emergency response to fight fires should the need arise.

In addition, Indonesia revealed that it is introducing a law next week that will impose penalties for open-air burning.

These measures were announced at a news conference on Wednesday, following the eighth meeting of the sub-regional ministerial steering committee (MSC) formed in 2006, which was tasked to look into the haze situation in the region.

But while the political will is strong, how it translates into action is another matter.

Indonesia, which has been blamed for causing the pollution, hopes that its new law will give it more teeth to punish offenders. The law is expected to be passed on September 8.

Singapore's Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Yaacob Ibrahim, said: "I appreciate the difficulty that Pak Rachmat has on the ground, because enforcing it (the law) is not easy. But at least there is a movement by the Indonesian government to enforce this, and now that Pak Rahmat's ministry has the power to penalise (offenders), I think that's a very major move."

Indonesia also played down recent comments by its Forestry Minister, M S Kaban, who was earlier reported to have said that the Indonesian government will not take firm action against those setting fires in Sumatra, unless flights are disrupted and protests break out in neighbouring countries.

Indonesian State Minister of Environment, Rachmat Witoelar, said: "These comments are maybe sexy for you to quote, but does not really reflect what we're doing. We are fighting fires."

The ministers also said the measures by the ASEAN MSC had helped to reduce the haze in their own countries.

Thailand's Supat Wangwonwatana, director general of pollution control at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said southern Thailand had not experienced any haze for the past three years.

Brunei's Environment Minister, Abdullah Baker, summed it up by saying, "If the MSC had not been there, the situation would have been worse."

The ministers noted that the haze situation had improved in recent years as a result of joint efforts, but said it would be impractical to aim for a "zero-haze situation".

They also cautioned that with a stronger El Nino event predicted this year, haze pollution may become worse in the next few months as dryer weather will lead to more hotspots and fires.

- CNA/yt
End to slash-and-burn practice in sight?
Indonesia pledges to introduce tougher laws to combat offenders
Zul Othman, Today Online 20 Aug 09;

THE region's haze problems would be solved if an agreement between environment ministers from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia to ban all open-air burning activities is put into effect.

For the first time, these ministers have collectively decided that practices like the slash-and-burn agricultural methods used in fire-prone areas in the region must be stopped.

They also agreed to step up enforcement measures and to promote public awareness to control fires.

Announcing this yesterday at a news conference following the 8th meeting of the sub-regional ministerial steering committee (MSC) on Transboundary Haze Pollution, the ministers also noted that the situation has improved.

The commission, formed in 2006, was tasked to look into the haze problem.

However, the ministers also said that it would be impractical to aim for a "zero-haze situation", which might worsen in the coming months.

A strong El Nino event is predicted this year, prolonging the current dry season till October and increasing hotspot activities in fire-prone areas in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sarawak.

Forest fires occur regularly during the dry season but the situation is made worse by farmers and palm oil plantation firms in Indonesia who start fires to clear their land.

Perhaps with this in mind, Indonesian State Minister of Environment Rachmat Witoelar told reporters that his country is in the process of introducing tougher laws to combat offenders.

The proposals will be tabled to the Indonesian Parliament next week and could be passed as early as next month, he added.

But with its vast territory and millions of farmers, Indonesia would need a longer time to reduce the hotspots and curb the haze pollution. In the last three years, the Indonesian authorities have undertaken preventive efforts such as promoting awareness, as well as training, providing equipment and technical assistance to farmers - all of which have helped bring down the number of fires in the country's hotspots.

Mr Rachmat also downplayed recent comments by Indonesia's Forestry Minister M S Kaban, who reportedly said his government will not take firm action against those starting fires in Sumatra, unless flights are disrupted and protests break out in neighbouring countries.

He added: "These comments are maybe sexy ... to quote, but does not really reflect what we're doing. We are fighting fires."

The plan is definitely a step in the right direction but observers told Today "corruption and resistance by the big companies" might hamper that implementation.

Chief among the hurdles would be the simple issue of cost, said Associate Professor Victor Savage from the department of geography at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

"It would cost only US$5 ($7) to slash and burn plantations while more eco-friendly methods would set these companies back by US$250 per hectare," he noted.

"Given those costs, obviously many would still opt for the cheaper solution. As such, farmers who tend to smaller plots of land need to be taught to look for alternative methods."

Assoc Prof Matthias Roth, who is also from NUS' department of geography, said it is good that the affected countries have come together to discuss the issue and "apparently have come with some agreements and put in place an action plan".

However, he said: "The question really is about the implementation and effectiveness as discussed."

Singapore's Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Yaacob Ibrahim, noted that Indonesia is taking "a very major move" to penalise offenders.

"We must acknowledge the fact that Indonesia is trying to do something to bring down the fires, but as to whether or not their plan of action is on target ... this is best left to Indonesia to review,"

Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand have also offered Indonesia assistance in combating outbreaks of fire but no concrete details on fundings or measures have been disclosed.

"Indonesia has expressed gratitude for that and we will wait for Indonesia as and when to mobilise," said Mr Yaacob.

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Indonesia tight-lipped as SE Asia braces for worsening haze

Reuters 19 Aug 09;

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Indonesia appeared to bat away offers from other Southeast Asian countries to help stop haze pollution on Wednesday, leaving the region facing worsening skies as a result of a brewing El Nino weather pattern.

Worried about the potential impact, environment ministers of the region met on Wednesday in Singapore to discuss ways to mitigate the haze, which cost over $9 billion in damage to the region's tourism, transport and farming during an El Nino weather pattern in 1997/98.

"Recognizing the situation will be drier than normal, the ministers now agree that: 'Let us prepare for the worst, do what we can,'" Singapore Environment Minister Yaacob Ibrahim told a news conference after the one-day meeting in the city-state.

Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Thailand offered help to Jakarta to combat outbreaks of fire, but gave no details of concrete funding or measures such as providing fire-fighters.

Asked at a news conference if other Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) members had offered Indonesia help in fighting the fires, Indonesian State Minister for Environment Rachmat Witoelar did not respond.

But Singapore's Yaacob said there had been such a discussion. "Indonesia has expressed gratitude for that and we will wait for Indonesia as and when to mobilize," he said.

Ministers and senior officials from the five countries agreed to ban all open burning and to suspend permits for burning in fire-prone areas, but the region's track record in combating fires that lead to international pollution has been weak.

Regional grouping ASEAN has a policy of non-interference in its members' domestic affairs and is seen by some as a talking shop.

Forest fires are a regular occurrence during the dry season in Indonesian regions such as Sumatra and Borneo, but the situation has been aggravated in recent decades as farmers, paper and palm oil plantation firms start fires to clear land.

The result is smog-like haze in cities such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Thailand's Hat Yai, reducing visibility and increasing health problems. The ministers said Indonesia had made progress in the past three years to reduce fires.

Indonesian environmental groups said the government of President-elect Yudhoyono should put forest protection at the top of its agenda, ahead of a international meeting in Copenhagen in December to agree action against climate change.

"Every day more precious forest and peatland is being destroyed, burned and cleared by climate and forest criminals ... leading to an exponential increase in greenhouse gas emissions that is causing climate change," Greenpeace said in a statement.

(Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan; Editing by Neil Chatterjee and Jeremy Laurence)

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Johor: Nurture this natural treasure

The Star 20 Aug 09;

JOHOR is among the most developed states and the richness of the diverse biodi­versity is still there as seen in the several parks and protected areas.

Mt Belumut, Sedili, River, Mt Ledang (Ophir) and the islands off Mersing coast are some of them, among which Panti forest reserve is a definite “hidden natural treasure”.

The mountain range of Panti, in the Kota Tinggi district, may be only about 1,500 feet but the richness of the biodiversity is unequalled, offering an array of rich fauna and flora. It can compete with any of the parks in Malaysia of a similar size.

Fresh sightings of leopards, wild boars and elephant dung are common.

Birding, with more than 320 species recorded, is one of the main activities.

Many Singaporeans and foreigners visit this forest reserve during weekends and public holidays. They are aware of this place as it is regularly featured in foreign bird forums and also in several blogs and foreign Internet bird sites. Birds such as hornbills, pittas, the Malaysian Rail-babbler, Eagle-owl and Rufous-backed Kingfisher are found here.

The second most important activity is trekking up the mountain. It is a three-hour challenging walk with manageable obstacles that are popular with day-trippers. The view from the top is breathtaking and unobstructed. A camp at the peak is a must for nature enthusiasts.

It hurts when villagers indicate that poaching and the removal of rare orchids and birds are common.

These poachers seek wild game including deer, porcupines, ant-eaters and snakes. Some of the wildlife are sent to neighbouring countries.

The modus operandi is to approach from the west side of Panti and do a lot of damage, including illegal harvesting of gaharu, to be sold for direct export.

Bullet pellets are a common sight, especially at the foothills. It could be from the hunters or army personnel who use the reserve as a training ground.

Demarcation here is vital to ensure the safety of visitors. The army must be reminded about the proper upkeep of the environment as army leftovers are often seen.

After doing some Internet research, I gather that the Panti mountain range was designated as a potential state park in 2003. This was announced by Freddie Long, who was in charge of the Environment and Tourism portfolio then.

Why does it take so long to gazette it? The state government needs to act fast to protect this beautiful area, which is only an hour’s drive from Johor Baru and Singapore.

If properly managed, it can be a boon to tourism and research. Imagine schoolkids coming to appreciate and learn about nature.

My trekking friends and fellow naturalists from Thailand, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore appeal to the Johor state government to quickly protect this area and gazette it immediately as a state park.

By doing this it will also promote eco-tourism, agro-tourism and local culture under the home-stay programme.

The Johor Tourism Ministry has long complained that the state needs new products – this can be a potential source of revenue.

The possible income generated is enormous considering that it is close to Desaru and Singapore.

Such activities would correspondingly generate employment and create more spin-offs for the local tourism related industries.

MOHD HANIPAH SALLEH,

Kluang.

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Call for detailed EIA on Pulau Upeh development

WWF-Malaysia Calls for Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment Study for Proposed Development on Pulau Upeh, Melaka
WWF 18 Aug 09;

The recent news that the development on Pulau Upeh by the State Government has been deferred pending the outcome of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Fisheries Impact Assessment, and possible establishment of a hatchery on the island by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry offers only slight relief (State defers Pulau Upeh redevelopment, 7 August 2009 & Hatchery plan for Hawksbills, 13 August 2009).

The entire coastline of the mainland fronting Pulau Upeh has been reclaimed causing major changes to the coastal dynamics of the area. A project of this magnitude with the corresponding detrimental impacts to the hawksbill turtle and its habitat of Pulau Upeh justifies the preparation of a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) and not merely an EIA.

This call is justified as WWF-Malaysia fears that the proposed development and any reclamation to accommodate the proposed development could be carried out in phases, thereby escaping the requirement to prepare a DEIA. WWF-Malaysia calls on the Chief Minister of Melaka to ensure the preparation of a DEIA for the proposed development project due to the extreme sensitivity of the area. Impact studies of the proposed development should take into account the cumulative impacts of all development in the area on the hawksbill turtles and their habitats. Additionally and more importantly, a DEIA will enable the study to be open to public review and allow transparency of the State Government’s development plans on and near the island.

The State Government, with the help of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry and Department of Fisheries, must bear the ultimate responsibility for the care and protection of this critically endangered species. It takes more than setting-up a hatchery to ensure their survival. The viability of Pulau Upeh as a nesting home to the hawksbills is contingent upon the protection of the whole island and its surrounding waters. WWF-Malaysia stresses that only sustainable low-impact turtle-based ecotourism will ensure minimal disturbance to the turtles and its habitat.

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Social Marketing Techniques to Help End Fish Bombing

WWF Malaysia 18 Aug 09;

Kudat, 18 August 2009: The District Office of Banggi, RARE Pride and WWF-Malaysia successfully launched an Anti-Fish Bombing and Cyanide Fishing Campaign in Karakit, Banggi last Saturday (15 August 2009).

The campaign uses an innovative method of social marketing to change the behaviour of people to reduce fish-bombing and the use of cyanide, which are destructive fishing methods that threaten coral reefs, other marine life and the environment.

The year-long campaign will involve the participation of seven communities within the proposed Tun Mustapha Park; namely Kampung Sibogo, Kampung Perpaduan, Kampung Singgahmata, Kampung Maliangin and Kampung Karakit of Banggi; Kampung Berungus of Pitas; and Kampung Tanjung Kapur of Kudat.

“Support from communities, enforcement agencies and the general public is needed for the success of this campaign to reduce and ultimately stop fish bombing and cyanide fishing practices in the proposed Tun Mustapha Park,” said Encik Abdan Abdul Majid, Pemimpin Kemajuan Rakyat of Banggi in representing the Wakil Rakyat of Banggi to launch the campaign. “Maliangin and Berungus are role model communities that are already supporting the campaign to combat fish bombing and cyanide fishing, and they should be emulated”. Encik Abdan also stressed the important role played by a Ketua Kampung in leading a good example and ensuring that fish bomb and cyanide is not used in any kampung.

The event also marked the start of a three-day Reef Check Training in Karakit and nearby Maliangin Island right after the campaign launch. In collaboration with Reef Check Malaysia, WWF-Malaysia is conducting the training to build the capacity of local communities to monitor the status of coral reefs around their islands. Apart from monitoring and reporting destructive fishing methods, the communities will: 1) monitor the health of reefs to better understand the role of reefs in sustaining fish and marine habitat, and 2) participate directly in managing their coral reefs and marine environment.

“Active community participation in the management of marine resource is the foundation for the implementation of collaborative management. This is the key management approach recommended for the proposed Tun Mustapha Park,” said Dr Rahimatsah Amat, Chief Technical Officer of WWF-Malaysia.

Move to check destructive fishing
Jaswinder Kaur, New Straits Times 20 Aug 09;

KUDAT: Seven communities at the proposed Tun Mustapha Marine Park in northern Sabah are taking part in a year-long campaign to teach them about the dangers of fish bombing and cyanide fishing.

The campaign aims to change the way villagers relate to nature by explaining how destructive fishing threatens coral reefs, fish stocks and the environment.

The Anti-Fish Bombing and Cyanide Fishing Campaign in Pulau Banggi is being carried out by the Banggi district office, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Malaysia and conservation group Rare Pride.

Rare Pride provides training to communities on biodiversity conservation.

Pulau Banggi people's development leader Abdan Abdul Majid said cutting down on and eventually stopping destructive fishing needed the support of communities and enforcement agencies.

"Village heads must also play a role in making sure fish bombs and cyanide are no longer used," he said at the launch of the campaign during the weekend.

He said two villages -- Maliangin and Berungus -- are role models, as fishermen there are already supporting past efforts to stop fish bombing.

WWF-Malaysia chief technical officer for the Borneo programme Dr Rahimatsah Amat said active community participation in caring for marine resources is the foundation of the collaborative management of the proposed Tun Mustapha Marine Park.

The launch of the campaign also saw the start of a three-day Reef Check Training programme by Reef Check Malaysia and WWF-Malaysia to get local residents to monitor the condition of coral reefs.

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Malaysia to export rice in two years’ time

The Star 20 Aug 09;

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia will able to export rice when the new padi cultivation areas in Sabah and Sarawak produce the crop within the next two years.

Infrastructure work on the 12,140ha in Kota Belud and 16,187ha in Setumbin-Bijat padi cultivation areas has already started, said Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim.

“The country will be able to export the rice from the new padi hybrid that produces six tonnes of rice per hectare.

“Also, more Malaysians, especially the younger people, are reducing rice intake in their diet,” she said.

The additional rice production from Sabah and Sarawak would reduce dependency on traditional sources such as Thailand and Vietnam.

At present, Malaysia imports 30% of its rice. Under the National Guarantee Supply Policy 2008-2010, the country can be considered self-sufficient if it can produce 86% of its needs.

“However, the Government wants to bring the figure down to 80% by 2010,” Rohani said in a press conference here on Wednesday.

She added the Government lowered the target from 86% to 80% due to several factors - such as the hike in the crude oil prices last year and less land available in the peninsula for rice cultivation.

Rice bowl projects give hope of exports
Satiman Jamin, Straits Times 20 Aug 09;

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia will not only achieve complete self-sufficiency in rice production, but could even become a rice exporter once the rice bowl projects in Sabah and Sarawak are fully implemented.

The combined size of the rice bowls is l Larger than the area of Singapore, and is located in Setumbin-Bijat in Sarawak and Kota Belud in Sabah.

They would propel Malaysia into the league of global rice exporters.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry deputy minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim said the country's rice self-sufficiency level (SSL) was currently at 76 per cent and the ministry was upbeat about increasing it to 80 per cent next year.

She said although the SSL fell to 72 per cent during the recent fuel price crisis, the government was able to improve the local rice production through the National Food Security Policy 2008-2010.

"We had focused on rice production as it is the staple food in the country.

"As the rice production areas in Peninsular Malaysia could not be expanded any more, the government had decided to develop new rice bowl areas in Sabah and Sarawak."

She said the new padi planting areas will cover a total of 70,000ha, which would translate into 420,000 tonnes of rice production per season based on the current national output of six tonnes per hectare.

"It shows that once the rice bowl projects in Sabah and Sarawak were in full production, we will produce more rice than we consume.

"This would enable us to be a net rice exporter instead of being an importer currently."

However, she declined to give a time frame for the projects' completion as many infrastructure and supporting projects need to be completed before the projects could get off the ground.

A check with the ministry website showed that next year, Malaysia will need to increase rice production by 305,000 tonnes to be 100 per cent self-sufficient because the projected rice production figure stood at 1.92 million tonnes compared to the consumption figure of 2.225 million tonnes.

If the new rice bowls were in full-production by then, it would mean a total of 115,000 tonnes of surplus rice that could be exported.

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Some Indonesian Prawn Breeders Struggle to Meet Demand as Stock Grows Rarer, Pricier

Arti Ekawati, Jakarta Globe 19 Aug 09;

Breeding stock for giant tiger prawns has become rarer and more expensive over the past 10 years due to a decline in the quality of seawater and overfishing, local government fisheries officials attending an aquaculture conference said.

Cultivators of giant tiger prawns now have to pay anywhere from Rp 150,000 ($15) to Rp 1 million for one high-quality breeding female prawn, compared with only Rp 75,000 as cultivation peaked in 1985-95.

“Environmental degradation and the increased exploitation of the oceans, such as overfishing, have badly affected the prawns,” said Murdjani, head of the Lampung Provincial Marine Aquaculture Agency.

“This has had a significant effect on the prawn breeding stock in the sea.”

Murdjani was speaking in Jakarta on the sidelines of a one-day seminar on shrimp cultivation on Tuesday.

Production has been gradually declining since 1995 because of white spot and other diseases.

Haerani Saleh, the head of the East Kalimantan Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Agency, who also attended the seminar, acknowledged that the province could no longer meet its own demand for prawn fry because of the lack of breeding stock.

In the past, the agency had fulfilled the demand for breeding stock by catching large tiger prawns from the waters of Balikpapan. During the 1990s, Haerani said they could catch about 500 female breeding prawns every month. But this has dropped by about 50 percent.

The province needs about four million prawn fry annually to produce about 6,700 tons of cultivated tiger prawns.

However, with the breeding stock available at the moment, the province can only produce one million annually.

“We must buy another 3 million fry from other areas, such as Situbondo and Makassar,” Haerani said.

In 2008, the country produced 540,000 tons of prawns, including 162,355 tons of tiger prawns and 377,645 tons of vannamei prawns.

Some 124,835 hectares of aquaculture ponds across the country are devoted to the cultivation of tiger prawns, and 102,581 hectares to vannamei prawns.

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Chinese city aims for greener growth

Guy Newey Yahoo News 19 Aug 09;

HUIZHOU, China (AFP) – The mayor of Huizhou, Li Ruqiu, likes to tell a story that he believes highlights the southern Chinese city's environmental credentials.

A 4.3 billion dollar petrochemical joint venture between Chinese energy giant CNOOC and Anglo-Dutch firm Shell -- one of the largest ever foreign deals in China -- was halted suddenly when developers found a bird's nest.

"The company would rather postpone the construction process, wait for the two eggs to be hatched and for the birds to fly away, before they resumed construction," he said. The tree was, of course, later destroyed.

The question of whether China can move beyond such nods to environmental protection and create a genuinely green model is a huge challenge for the country, amid increasing worries growth is being stifled by terrible pollution.

The southern province of Guangdong -- for many years the centrepeice of China's no-holds-barred, heavily-polluting growth model -- is a crucial testing ground for this upgrade and this city of 3.6 million is at the forefront.

Huizhou's city centre is full of beautifully maintained lakes and a tree-lined river more like a European capital than the hastily constructed nearby cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

The city even organises fish-releasing ceremonies into the main river to promote a culture of conservation.

Alongside such measures, Huizhou is also becoming one of China's petrochemical and energy hubs, with ambitious plans for several refineries at Daya Bay, a coastal area about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from downtown.

Li is adamant such expansion, which will see huge areas of the sea reclaimed, would not compromise the city's environment.

"Petrochemicals are generally considered a highly polluting industry, but as long as you use new technologies and new materials, the problem can absolutely be solved," he told foreign reporters on a recent visit.

Li said the city has rejected 700 proposals for new business in the last two years over pollution worries.

The Shell-CNOOC plant is a state-of-the-art facility, processing 800,000 tonnes of ethylene a year, a crucial chemical for making packaging that is used in the endless toy, clothes and electronics factories that populate Guangdong.

When announced, the project drew criticism from green groups in nearby Hong Kong, but much of it has tapered off. Li said the air quality in Daya Bay is better that in Huizhou's city centre.

Southern China's manufacturing boom over the last 30 years has left a dreadful environmental legacy.

The endless rows of factories throughout Guangdong's Pearl River Delta have often operated without strict supervision and now the region's air and water quality are dire.

This has become a major problem in Hong Kong, where the city is shrouded in a haze for large chunks of the year, much of it caused by Guangdong factories.

Governments on both sides of the border -- Hong Kong and mainland China operate separate political and legal systems -- have pledged to take measures to clean up the filthy air.

State media have reported improvement in the past year in Guangdong's air quality, but much of that could be a result of factories shuttered because of the global economic downturn.

However, there are tentative signs that tough decisions -- such as those already made by Li -- are being made by senior leaders.

Last month, officials confirmed that a nine billion dollar joint venture between Sinopec, one of the China's most powerful firms, and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation would be moved from the original site.

The site, in Nansha district, was close to heavily built-up areas near the regional capital of Guangzhou and just 37 kilometres from Hong Kong.

The refinery will still go ahead, but Guangdong's Communist Party chief, Wang Yang, made an unusual admission that pressure from environmental groups in China and Hong Kong had forced the relocation.

"The question of balancing economic growth with environmental protection is indeed a very challenging one," said Wang, who is often touted as a future top leader.

To highlight how difficult the relocation would be, Wang pointed out the original Nansha site had already received approval from the state council, one of China's top decision-making bodies.

Edward Chan, Greenpeace's China campaign manager, said the decision showed a tentative step forward in the thorny struggle between balancing growth and environmental fears.

"It shows that Chinese leaders are responding to concerns from the community both from mainland China and from Hong Kong," he told AFP.

Zhou Yongzhang, director of Sun Yat-sen University's Environment research centre in Guangzhou, said officials were now prepared to take tough decisions rather than simply gesturing to the green lobby, even if it meant slowing growth in the short-term.

"Because the province's environment is limited, officials now take more precautions when it comes to mega projects, and their attitudes are more serious," he told AFP.

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Scientists discover 18 new species of invertebrates in Africa

Scientists have discovered 18 new species of invertebrates, including spiders, snails, millipedes, earthworms and centipedes.
Ben Leach, The Telegraph 19 Aug 09;

The discoveries were made over eight days by researches for the environmental charity Earthwatch at the Mkhambathi nature reserve on the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape.

But scientists have warned that the ecosystem there could be threatened by proposed developments for a toll road and titanium mining – denying them the chance to identify other species in the area.

Jan Venter, an ecologist working for Eastern Cape Parks, which manages the reserve, said the team suspects that another 18 species might be discovered.

"To get so many species in one survey shows the importance of the reserve. It's a very special area, conservation-wise. If we do another survey, we'll find just as many.".

Experts predict that the 2 million identified species on the planet could represent only 2 per cent of all those that exist. Many of these are likely to be in South Africa, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

Michelle Hamer, a scientist at the South African National Biodiversity Institute, said: "These discoveries are important because they highlight just how little we know about our biodiversity, even in a relatively well-studied country like South Africa … many of the species we collected seem to be unique to a small area in or around Mkhambathi."

"There is also a lot of pressure to develop tourism infrastructure inside the reserve. This means that many of these species could have disappeared before even being discovered. If we understand the importance of the area in terms of its invertebrate fauna, then we can try to protect it.

"Will it make a difference … if these species go extinct? We don't know for sure, but we do know that every species that is removed … results in some weakening of the ecosystem."

The freshly discovered species are now being named and described in South African research institutes.

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