Forest City reclamation seen from Singapore's last western reefs at Tuas
from wild shores of singapore
Singapore's last western reefs are alive!
from wild shores of singapore
Underwater fantasy at Tuas
from wonderful creation
Pasir Ris Mangroves: New Beans
from The Green Beans
Close Encounter With A Stag Beetle
from Beetles@SG BLOG
Singapore Waste Statistics from 2003 to 2014
from Zero Waste Singapore
Channel NewsAsia 20 Mar 15;
SINGAPORE: The Fish Farmers Association of Singapore met with the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) on Friday (Mar 20), to discuss possible ways of alleviating the "red tide" plankton or algae bloom problem, as well as providing assistance to affected fish farmers.
This was in response to the red tide occurrence last month, which affected about 55 fish farms and resulted in the deaths of almost 600 tonnes of fish.
Currently, fish farmers can get financial assistance from the Agriculture Productivity Fund. But fish farmers hope authorities can help cover 90 per cent of their equipment costs this year - 20 per cent more than last year - to help them through this difficult period.
In terms of dealing with the cause of the plankton bloom, the Fish Farmers Association proposed spraying clay into the sea to clump the water, hence killing off the plankton - a method which has been successfully tested in Korea and Japan.
Some fish farmers also expressed their hope that authorities will allow the temporary shifting of their farms to Pulau Tekong as a short-term solution if a similar episode reoccurs.
Further discussions with AVA will take place next week.
Mr Chan Wei Loong, Programme Chair for Marine Science and Aquaculture at Republic Polytechnic, said: “Shifting to another area to farm, it could be feasible, really depending on the location because for the south of Tekong, I guess it is actually closer to the open ocean, then obviously the current flow as well as the water flow could be better.
“And if it is better, then obviously chances of having an algae bloom because of nutrients being congregated together at a certain location are (lower)."
Said Mr Timothy Ng, president of the Fish Farmers Association of Singapore: "Unfortunately, what we heard or what was told to us was that the Government at this moment has no plans to give financial assistance for restocking or restarting.
“We were asking basically that apart from fish fry, assistance on restocking of fish fry, that there could be some assistance also on feeding of the fish, the fish feed, because that constitutes the biggest part of the costs of any fish farming operations."
- CNA/ms
Christopher Tan, The Straits Times AsiaOne 20 Mar 15;
WHEN the COE system was just four years old in 1994, well-respected transport and behavioural economist Anthony Chin predicted that, in time, only top earners in Singapore would be able to afford cars.
The Government dismissed his assertion and, in the two decades since, it would seem that Professor Chin - who died last year at the age of 57 after a short illness - got it wrong.
Car ownership has been rising, not falling. By 2012, 45 per cent of households owned cars - up from less than 35 per cent when the certificate of entitlement (COE) system was introduced in 1990.
But the trend is reversing. After allowing the car population to grow at 3 per cent a year since 1990, the Government halved it to 1.5 per cent in 2009. The cap has been lowered three more times since and is now at 0.25 per cent.
And last week, Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo announced in Parliament that it is likely to go to zero per cent some time "in the future".
With Singapore's population growing, what this means is that the percentage of car-owning households will start shrinking. In fact, the contraction has already started.
Currently, it is estimated that 44 per cent of households own cars - one percentage point lower than in 2012. And when the population grows to, say, 6.9 million, that figure could go down to 35 per cent.
That is assuming the number of cars remains constant. But there are signs that the car population has been dipping, even with an allowed 0.25 per cent growth.
Last month, there were 597,152 cars on the road, the lowest number in four years.
If and when zero growth kicks in some time "in the future", the shrinkage might well accelerate. Then, the late Prof Chin's pronouncement in 1994 might ring true indeed.
It is not an unexpected outcome, though. Any pricing mechanism, taken to its logical end, will always mean the less well-to-do making way for the more well-to- do. And in any land-scarce city, it is also logical that the majority relies on public transport.
The question is: Why did we allow the car population to grow at 3 per cent per annum for 18 long years before deciding that it was not sustainable?
It is much harder to persuade someone who has been driving to give up his car than to convince him he does not need a car before he went out and bought one.
So why 3 per cent? Actually, the growth rate was pegged at just below the historical growth rate of Singapore's car population in the pre-COE days before 1990.
And it was pegged well below the foreseeable growth rate that would have resulted from rising income levels.
Here's the interesting thing, though. The actual growth rate was more than 3 per cent. Between 1991 and 2010, the car population grew by an average of 4 per cent per annum.
This was largely because the Government could not get the COE supply formula right and, for many years, dished out far more certificates than the number of cars taken off the road.
It came to a point where people who would normally buy a motorcycle decided to fork out a bit more for a car instead. One could get a new budget car for well under $30,000.
The oversupply situation was so serious that even motor traders publicly called for the COE supply to be cut.
Channel NewsAsia 20 Mar 15;
SINGAPORE: New industries in the Republic will have to meet tighter industrial emissions standards over a range of pollutants with effect from Jul 1, the National Environmental Agency (NEA) announced in a news release on Friday (Mar 20).
The introduction of more stringent standards is part of NEA's "continued effort to further improve air quality and safeguard public health", said the release.
NEA said existing plants will be granted a grace period - until Jul 1, 2018 - to comply with the revised standards for compounds of mercury, lead, cadmium, ammonia and hydrogen fluoride. The standards for particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide have also been revised, and for this the grace period will end on Jul 1, 2023.
“NEA has been in consultation with the affected companies since early 2014 on the revision of industrial emissions standards,” the release added. “The grace period will give them time to adjust their plans - for example, upgrades of equipment - and processes so that they can meet the standards and still achieve their business outcomes.”
The NEA is also introducing a daily site-average limit for sulphur dioxide, that it says will help regulate the emissions generated from combustion sources on a daily basis. The industrial activity in Singapore accounts for about 99 per cent of the locally generated sulphur dioxide emissions, it added.
“Tightening the emissions standards will encourage industries to continually review and improve their industrial processes, equipment design and daily operational protocols to reduce emissions of pollutants,” it added.
LIST OF REVISED EMISSION STANDARDS
- CNA/ct
Tougher emission standards for companies here from July
Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 21 Mar 15;
Companies in Singapore will have to meet tougher emission standards for a wide range of pollutants from July this year, to help improve the country's air quality.
Announcing the new guidelines yesterday, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said the pollutants include mercury, cadmium, ammonia, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.
From July, new industrial plants will have to comply with the higher standards.
Existing plants have until July 1, 2018 to meet some of the guidelines, and until July 1, 2023 for the rest.
The NEA said: "The introduction of the more stringent standards will serve to improve our air quality as we strive towards achieving our air quality goals for 2020 and beyond."
It added that it had been in consultation with affected firms since early last year, and the grace period will give them time to adjust.
For example, they can upgrade their equipment.
Tightening the standards will encourage firms to continually review and improve their operations.
It is also in line with the Government's goal of growing industries here sustainably in the long term.
The NEA also introduced a daily limit for sulphur dioxide emissions from combustion sources, since industrial activity makes up 99 per cent of the emissions generated locally.
In 2012, motor vehicles made up the remaining 1 per cent, according to statistics on the NEA's website.
Last year, the Republic's sulphur dioxide, fine particulate matter, particulate matter and ozone emissions all exceeded World Health Organisation guidelines.
Emissions here, however, are affected by haze from neighbouring countries.
Today Online 20 Mar 15;
SINGAPORE: Haze was reported by members of the public on Friday afternoon (Mar 20), with the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading hitting 102 at 4pm, dipping into the 'Unhealthy' range.
The three-hour PSI reading at 8am was 65, before steadily rising. It continued to increase throughout the day. At 2pm, the 24-hour PSI was 64 to 73.
It crossed into the 'Unhealthy' range at 102 at 4pm and by 6pm, it peaked at 106. At 8pm the 3-hour PSI dropped back in the 'Moderate' range, at 99.
The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) said that the "slight haziness could be due to the accumulation of particulate matter in the air under light wind conditions".
The National Environment Agency (NEA) added that "burning activities in the Northern ASEAN region, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra could have contributed to the increased concentration of particulate matter."
NEA said hazy conditions are expected to persist for the rest of the day, with Saturday's 24-hour PSI expected to be in the 'Moderate' range. It said "given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, everyone can continue with normal activities".
At 12.40pm, Channel NewsAsia received a call from Mr Wee, a member of the public, who said it was “very hazy” in Macpherson. A Twitter user, Jonathan Leong, said that it was "slightly hazy in Jurong this morning."
Yudi Setiawan also posted a photo on Instagram of hazy conditions this morning.
- CNA/ct
Air quality hits unhealthy levels, PSI peaks at 106
Today Online 21 Mar 15;
SINGAPORE — Air quality reached unhealthy levels yesterday, when the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) breached the 100-mark. And the hazy conditions could continue into today, with the 24-hour PSI to be in the moderate range of 51 to 100.
Yesterday, the three-hour PSI crossed into unhealthy territory at 4pm, and peaked at 6pm at 106, before dipping out of the unhealthy range at 8pm. By 9pm, the three-hour PSI reading was 88. The 24-hour PSI readings ranged between 75 to 83.
Responding to media queries, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said: “The haziness is likely due to an accumulation of increased particulate matter in the atmosphere under light wind conditions throughout today. Burning activities in the northern ASEAN region, peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra could have contributed to the increased concentration of particulate matter.” The regional haze map posted on its website showed that clusters of hot spots were detected mainly in Myanmar and some were scattered in Thailand.
Air quality enters the unhealthy level when PSI is between 101 and 200. The three-hour PSI readings began climbing after 7am yesterday, reaching 71 at 11am, 74 at noon and 80 at 1pm. It then hit 86 at 2pm and 94 at 3pm.
The agency added that PM2.5 levels were elevated in most regions of Singapore yesterday. Noting that prevailing winds today are expected to be light and variable in direction, they said hazy conditions can still be expected.
Given the air quality forecast for the next 24 hours, the public can continue with normal activities, the NEA said, but noted that the health impact of haze is dependent on one’s health status, the PSI level and the length and intensity of outdoor activity.
Haze returns, expected to continue today
Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 21 Mar 15;
Hazy skies returned to Singapore yesterday and are expected to darken part of the island today as well.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said last night that the return of the haze was likely due to an accumulation of increased particulate matter in the atmosphere under the light wind conditions. "Burning activities in the northern ASEAN region, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra could have contributed to the increased concentration of particulate matter," it added.
The day began yesterday with relatively clear skies, but the air quality deteriorated throughout most of the day, from 1am to 6pm, before improving slightly in the night.
By 4pm, the three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) had crossed 100, the threshold where air becomes unhealthy. The three-hour PSI averages air quality readings in the previous three hours.
By 5pm, even the 24-hour index, which the Government has said is a better indicator of whether people should worry about their health, had inched close to that threshold, ranging from 69 to 92 across the island.
People in eastern Singapore, where the haze was worst yesterday evening, said they were worried that the burning smell was here to stay. "I was really hoping we wouldn't have to go through the face masks and air purifiers again," said 28-year-old sales assistant Joy Thng.
The NEA said hazy conditions can still be expected today, although the 24-hour PSI is expected to be in the moderate range.
Everyone can continue with normal activities given the air quality forecast, but people who are not feeling well should seek medical attention, it said.
Lita Aruperes, The Jakarta Post 20 Mar 15;
Efforts made by activists to obstruct mining projects in North Sulawesi due to their negative environmental impacts have been made increasingly difficult by the issuance of new licenses in the sector by local governments.
Head of North Sulawesi Energy and Mineral Resources Agency, Marly Gumalag, said that as of March 2015, 145 mining licenses (IUP) had been issued by regency, city and provincial administrations.
“They are spread in 12 out of North Sulawesi’s 15 regencies and cities, covering a combined area of 403,000 hectares,” Marly said.
Only three regions in North Sulawesi province are currently free of mining concessions, namely Sitaro regency, Kotamobagu city and Manado city.
Of the 145 licenses issued, according to Marly, 63 have been allocated for stone-mining activities, 60 for gold mining, and the rest for iron sand, manganese, nickel and iron ore.
Flora Kalalo from Sam Ratulangi University (Unsrat) Manado has blamed the environmental damage in the province on the numerous mining licenses issued by the local administration, many of which were illegal.
“Still, licenses continue being issued. Why? because its money doing the talking,” said the environmental law expert.
As an example, Flora pointed to the licenses handed out to mining companies on Bangka Island, East Likupang district, North Minahasa regency.
Flora said Bangka Island was a small island where mining was prohibited, but that the licenses were given out anyway.
“When money interferes in the name of investment, then many rules are put aside. The result is damage to the environment,” said Flora, who is also Unstrat’s deputy rector overseeing administration and finance.
In recent months, locals have staged regular demonstrations against mining in the province.
On Tuesday, for example, dozens of people from Buyat subdistrict, East Bolaang Mongondow (Boltim) regency, filed a complaint against a mining company with the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Manado.
A local representative for Buyat, Alfian Lasabuda, said mining had damaged the environment and created social divisions.
“People are now divided into two groups: those who are against and those who are for the mining. In such a situation, horizontal conflicts can just pop up, both mentally and physically,” Alfian said.
Alfian urged the Boltim administration to respond to the situation by siding with the people whose communities were being divided by the mining interests.
- See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/03/20/mining-activities-continue-unabated.html#sthash.j5ch9y8T.dpuf
Battling the curse of marine litter – a challenge we will face with determination!
from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore
CNY Day 3: St John's Island
from wonderful creation
Spine-tufted Skimmer mating and ovipositing
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Which Honey Buzzard is this? Alan OwYong and Tan Gim Cheong.
from Singapore Bird Group
SHANNON TEOH, MALAYSIA CORRESPONDENT IN KUALA LUMPUR Straits Times 19 Mar 15;
KUALA LUMPUR - The developers of Malaysia's controversial Forest City reclamation project, close to Singapore's Tuas Second Link, have insisted that they have made compromises and concessions due to environmental concerns.
Pointing out that their project is on a far smaller scale than reclamation done by Singapore, Country Garden Pacificview (CGPV) boss Othman Yusof told reporters today that the plan, worth RM450 billion (S$169 billion) in gross development value, had been reduced by 30 per cent after a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) and Hydraulic Study.
"Singapore's land reclamation of Tuas, some parts are only 200m from the (maritime border)," Datuk Othman said, adding that Malaysia's Department of Environment (DoE) recommended that Forest City build at least 1km from the border.
"Even the nearest island to the border is 1.1km away," he said.
The original 1,978ha project has been mired in controversy due to concerns from the local population, some of whom fish in the Johor Straits for a living, and from Singapore over damage to the marine environment.
It was reduced to 1,624ha after a hydraulic study forced the company - which the Sultan of Johor reportedly has a significant interest in - to split the development into four islands to protect sea grass and other marine wildlife.
The DEIA approved it in January, then reduced it further to 1,386ha - about three times the size of Singapore's Sentosa Island.
CGPV is 60 per cent owned by one of China's largest property firms Country Garden, while Esplanade Danga 88 - controlled by the Sultan - holds the remaining 40 per cent.
The company expects to launch its first units for sale by the end of this year, and expects the first owners to move in around 2020.
Forest City reclamation work starts, developer says
Infographic of coastal reclamation projects off Straits of Johor, by The Malaysian Insider
Today Online 19 Mar 15;
KUALA LUMPUR — Reclamation work on the controversial Forest City project in Johor has restarted after eight months, with its developer saying yesterday that it had obtained approval from Malaysian authorities and had carefully looked at how to minimise any impact on the environment.
The developer, Country Garden Pacific View (CGPV), said the Malaysian Department of Environment had approved its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in January, and its Environmental Management Plan (EMP) last month.
“We are pleased to be able to recommence our work, and, with our proven track record and quality of delivery, we are confident that the project will be completed within our timeline,” said CGPV executive director Md Othman Yusof.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said that Singapore has recently received the EIA reports, and is studying them closely.
“As conveyed to Malaysia earlier, Singapore is concerned about the potential transboundary impact from Malaysia’s land reclamation projects in the Straits of Johor, given their close proximity to Singapore,” said the spokesman, who was responding to queries from TODAY.
Since May 2014, Singapore had requested for all relevant information regarding such reclamation projects in the Straits of Johor, including EIA reports, from Malaysia in accordance with its obligations under international law and in particular under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“Singapore has recently received the EIA reports for Forest City and R&F Princess Cove from Malaysia, and is studying the reports closely. We will work with Malaysia to address any potential transboundary impact on Singapore,” added the spokesman.
The R&F Princess Cove is a separate development project in Johor involving reclamation.
Forest City, an origiinally 1,978 hectares project, has been mired in controversy due to concerns from the local population, some of whom fish in the Johor Straits for a living. Locals had argued that the reclamation would lead to the loss of their land and livelihood. Local fishermen have blamed the ongoing reclamation works for mass fish deaths in the Johor straits recently. During a public dialogue on September 21 last year, residents accused developer CGPV of bulldozing the project through.
The project was reduced in size to 1,386 hectares after a hydraulic study forced the company to split the development into four islands to protect sea grass and other marine wildlife.
“At 1,978 hectares, we estimated it (gross development value) to be RM600 billion (S$225 billion). With the reduction of size by 30 per cent to 1,386 hectares now, the gross development value is around RM450 billion,” Mr Othman told the media yesterday (THURS).
The mixed-development project, which will include residential and commercial lots, is estimated to be completed in 2045.
CGPV said the company had voluntarily stopped its reclamation works earlier to conduct the EIA, in line with its commitment to preserve the environment and to ensure all mitigation measures were in place prior to the recommencement of work.
Mr Othman said that during the construction period, various environmental preservation, safety, health and environment related measures would be implemented according to their EMP to minimise inconvenience to the community and environment.
The measures, he said, included the installation of a double silt curtain and a daily water monitoring system to ensure no major or sustained anomalies were found in the water readings.
CGPV also defended the reclamation work, saying the project was further from Singapore’s maritime border than the Singapore’s own reclamation work in Tuas.
The Sultan of Johor Ibrahim Ismail spoke in defence of the project in an interview published on Wednesday, saying that it would benefit both Malaysians and Singaporeans who find housing in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore too expensive. The ruler added that reclamation was a strategic necessity for the state especially since Singapore has been reclaiming land as early as the 1820s while Johor has yet to do so.
CGPV is expected to make a profit of nearly RM290 billion over the next 30 years through the project.
The company is a 66 per cent - 34 per cent joint venture between China’s Country Garden Holdings Ltd and Esplanade Danga 88 Sdn Bhd, whose main shareholder is the Johor sultan. AGENCIES
Forest City size revised, GDV now cut to RM450bil
NG BEI SHAN The Star 20 Mar 15;
PETALING JAYA: Work at the high-profile Forest City project, which has seen its gross development value (GDV) cut by 25% to RM450bil, has recommenced after a halt since June 16 last year.
The acreage of the development, which has been revised twice, was reduced from its original 1,978ha to 1,386ha, the developer of the project Country Garden Pacificview (CGPV) said in a statement.
With the downsizing, the GDV of the project was expected to decrease to RM450bil from RM600bil initially.
It said construction work on the project had started again after the Department of Environment’s approval on the detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) in January and environmental management plan last month.
Its executive director Datuk Md Othman Yusof said the company was confident the project would be completed by 2045.
To recap, CGPV completed the land alienation of the project site in November 2013 and fully paid all land premiums.
The resizing of the project by 354ha was to ensure the sea grass was preserved for future generations while maintaining the flora and fauna of the surrounding area, the company said.
It would preserve a 48.5ha sea grass area to synergise with the existing ecosystem, ensuring the anchorage area is wide enough for ships to sail through and also took consideration of the Port of Tanjung Pelepas’ future expansion plans.
There were earlier allegations that reclamation work between southwest Johor and northwest Singapore had disrupted marine life and affected the livelihood of fishermen. The luxury project consists of four man-made islands of 979 acres, 1,896 acres, 405 acres and 145 acres.
It is a 66:34 joint venture between China-based developer Country Garden Holdings Ltd and Johor state government’s subsidiary company, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor.
Othman also said the company was applying for incentives such as tax relief as the project fell under the economic region of Iskandar Malaysia.
The project was currently being funded internally while it did not rule out financing from local or foreign banks, he added.
Forest City developers insist green issues tackled
They say project is on a far smaller scale than reclamation done by S'pore
Shannon Teoh, Malaysia Correspondent, Straits Times 20 Mar 15;
DEVELOPERS of the controversial Forest City reclamation close to the Tuas Second Link insisted yesterday that they have made compromises and concessions to assuage environmental concerns.
Saying that their project is on a far smaller scale than reclamation done by Singapore nearby, Country Garden Pacificview executive director Othman Yusof told reporters that the development was 30 per cent smaller after a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) and Hydraulic Study, with its gross development value reduced by a quarter to RM450 billion (S$169 billion).
Datuk Othman said Malaysia's Department of Environment recommended that Forest City build at least 1km from the border.
"Even the nearest island to the border is 1.1km away," he said of the plan to build four man-made islands in the Johor Strait just west of the Second Link.
The original 1,978ha project has been mired in controversy because of concerns from the local population, some of whom fish in the strait for a living, and from Singapore, over damage to the marine environment. It was reduced to 1,624ha after a hydraulic study forced the company - in which Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ismail has a significant interest - to split the development into four islands to protect seagrass areas.
The environmental assessment approved in January then reduced it further to 1,386ha, about three times the size of Sentosa island and requiring an estimated investment of RM230 billion. Country Garden Pacificview (CGPV) is 60 per cent owned by one of China's largest property firms, Country Garden, while Esplanade Danga 88 - controlled by the Sultan - holds the remaining 40 per cent.
The company expects to launch its first units for sale by year end, with the first owners moving in around 2020. This is despite delays due to a voluntary halt in June last year, when CGPV chose to await full approvals before continuing work on-site.
However, Forest City's first offerings are likely to enter the market when there is a supply overhang. Some real estate consultants calculate that about 550,000 residential units will be available in southern Johor by 2017, too many for a population of about two million people.
Although the expected timeline for completion of Forest City is 20 to 30 years, CGPV admitted it was carefully studying potential oversupply in its business model.
"We see a lot of oversupply in residentials but... we choose an employment-based model, rather than residential-based," said its business strategy chief Yu Runze, referring to plans to create up to 250,000 jobs in Forest City.
Part of its environment management plan includes mangrove edges and breakwaters, and avoiding dredging until after 2030.
Melody Zaccheus The Straits Times AsiaOne 20 Mar 15;
Late last year, 80 former island-dwellers returned to their home on St John's Island for their first reunion in four decades.
They spent a day swimming in its familiar waters and tracing the winding paths they once took to get to school. Many took their grandchildren along to give them a glimpse of kampung life, pointing out familiar sites along the way.
The islanders were reunited on the initiative of photographers Edwin Koo, 36, Zakaria Zainal, 30, and Juliana Tan, 25, for their project Island Nation, which documents life on 12 of Singapore's Southern Islands.
It took them almost four months to piece together the name list of St John's Island residents who now live on mainland Singapore.
Mr Koo said they had set out to "capture a part of history not recorded in textbooks and to reunite forgotten communities". The end result will be a multimedia website.
Their work is one of 74 irememberSG fund projects that will go on show from next month till August as part of the National Library Board (NLB) Singapore Memory Project's Past Forward event, launched yesterday by Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim.
The fund offers each project up to $50,000 and projects can take the form of short films, photo exhibitions, publications, websites, digital games and animation. A preview of 20 projects, including Island Nation, is on at the National Library's plaza in Victoria Street until tomorrow.
NLB chief executive Elaine Ng said Past Forward showcases the curated stories of the man in the street.
"We hope the memory movement that the Singapore Memory Project helped to generate will inspire more Singaporeans to capture memories for posterity," she said.
Dr Yaacob said: "This year, as our nation celebrates SG50, it is timely to reflect on our past, appreciate the progress we have made, and look forward to the future with confidence."
Another project on show involves Singapore icons made of Lego bricks, including the Merlion, a conserved shophouse and a double- decker bus.
Dr Yaacob said his ministry, together with its statutory boards, has planned a series of events to mark Singapore's jubilee year. These include the Singapore Memory Project's film festival in May, screening of films from the 1940s to 1960s at the newly restored Capitol Theatre by the Media Development Authority in August, and the Infocomm Development Authority's festival of technology the following month.
The Star 20 Mar 15;
Watery grave: Villager Hafizie Jamaludin, 20, scooping up ‘ikan duri’ among the dead fish found along the Sungai Kerian riverbank.
NIBONG TEBAL: Thousands of dead fish were found afloat along the Sungai Kerian riverbank near the Ampang Jajar water gate.
Comprising mostly of ikan duri, ikan moyong and prawns, they were first found in small numbers belly up on Tuesday. However, by yesterday, they numbered in the thousands.
Authorities are investigating the cause but speculation is rife that there could be water pollution or that the fish died due to the current hot weather.
Ampang Jajar sluice gate caretaker Saiful Alehzaidin, 42, said a strong stench now came from the river.
“Villagers nearby are finding it unbearable,” he said.
“The fish are decaying and the smell is revolting. I have been working here for the past 18 years and this is first time I have seen so many dead fish and prawns,” he said yesterday.
Seri Ampangan Village Development and Security Committee chairman Ahmad Furanji Shariff said: “The situation has worsened as the sluice gates remain closed.
“We hope the authorities will help get rid of the dead fish as they are posing a health problem.”
Fishermen Supian Mohd said their catch would be affected if the problem was not solved soon.
“It is going to affect out income. If the problem is caused by irresponsible people, action must be taken against them,” he said.
Contractor hired to clear dead fish near Penang water gate
The Star 21 Mar 15;
GEORGE TOWN: A contractor has been tasked to clean up thousands of dead fish along the Sungai Kerian riverbank near the Ampang Jajar water gate.
Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) South Seberang Prai district engineer Zahid Zainal Abidin said the process would take a few days.
“The contractor started the work this morning,” he said when contacted by The Star yesterday
It was reported yesterday that the fish, comprising mostly of ikan duri, ikan moyong and prawns, were first found in small numbers belly up on Tuesday. However, by Thursday, they numbered in the thousands.
Zahid said the DID has ruled out claims by the public that the fish and prawns died due to changes in water salinity.
“Sungai Kerian flows across Perak and Penang. The water in the Perak side consists of fresh water while the Penang side contains a mixture of fresh and salt water.
“However, we have ruled out this reason as the cause for the deaths,” he said.
Zahid said the state’s Department of Environment took water samples and samples of the dead fish on Thursday for further testing and a report would be ready in a month’s time.
State Health Department director Datuk Dr Zailan Adnan said his department was also checking whether the fish could cause any side effect on humans if consumed.
“I can only comment further after the report is out,” she said.
Meanwhile, Penang Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said he had instructed the state Fisheries Department to investigate the river’s condition.
MARTIN CARVALHO, RAHIMY RAHIM, CHRISTINE CHEAH, RAHMAH GHAZALI, AND DINA MURAD
The Star 20 Mar 15;
The Government wants to impose higher penalties under the Wildlife Protection Act to deter smuggling of ivories and hunting trophies involving endangered animals, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos Mamit said the Government was considering a higher fine for those caught smuggling hunting trophies such as tiger skin.
“If the authorities seize these items, we want to slap the offenders with higher fines,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor), who asked whether the Government was looking to increase higher penalties against those caught smuggling ivory into the country.
To the initial question, Dr James said the Customs Department had seized a total of 4,624 elephant tusks involving 11 cases between 2011 and last year.
He said the seizures were made at several entry points including Pasir Gudang Port, Butterworth Port, Port Klang, KL International Airport (KLIA) and LCCT.
“However, the seizures made by the Customs Department only involved consignments of illegal trading and investigations have been launched under the Customs Act 1967, as authorities have yet to identify the culprit,” he told Zairil Khir Johari (DAP-Bukit Bendera).
Zairil had asked the ministry to reveal the number of ivory confiscated, arrests and those charged for selling ivory.
Dr James said the Wildlife and National Parks Department also arrested four suspects involving a seizure of 43 units of ivory.
“A Chinese citizen has been sentenced to two months’ jail and a fine of RM250,000 for possession and exporting of 16 units of elephant tusks without special permit, a local was fined RM200,000 or 36 months of jail for having in possession nine units of elephant tusks while another was fined RM2,000 for having two units of elephant tusks.
“Another case involving the possession of 16 units of elephant tusks is still under investigation,” he said, adding that the seized ivories were kept by the Government.
STEPHANIE LEE The Star 19 Mar 15;
KOTA KINABALU: A team of biologists are frantically trying to save a stranded dolphin that was found in shallow waters near Likas Bay not far from here.
Villagers found the dolphin, measuring three metres and believed to be a female, at a reef area barely able to move at about 5.30am on Thursday.
They called the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Marine Research Unit and the Wildlife Department for help.
UMS staff and students transferred the dolphin using a boat and placed it in waters within the varsity compound for observation.
Lecturer Dr John Madin from the Marine Research said the dolphin was in a weak condition.
Students of UMS are helping to keep the dolphin alive with a veterinarian from the wildlife department.
Wounded dolphin stranded in Likas waters
AVILA GERALDINE New Straits Times 19 Mar 15;
KOTA KINABALU: A wounded dolphin was found stranded in shallow waters near Likas here, this morning.
Villagers discovered the 3-m long dolphin stuck at a reef area at about 5.30am and immediately informed the Marine Research Unit of Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
UMS staff and students transferred the dolphin using a boat and placed it at waters within the varsity compound for observation.
Lecturer Dr John Madin from the Marine Research said the dolphin, believed female, was in a weak condition.
"Our students are helping it to keep afloat so it will not drown," he said when met at UMS.
A veteranian from the department was also there to check on its condition.
Not much hope for stranded dolphin
RUBEN SARIO The Star 20 Mar 15;
KOTA KINABALU: One can only hope for the best for a male dolphin that was stranded in reefs near Likas Bay three days ago.
Sabah Wildlife Department assistant director Dr Sen Nathan said the mammal was believed to have suffered from chronic bacterial, virus or parasitic infection.
“That’s what made it too weak to go against the currents causing it to be stranded in the shallow areas,” he said.
The Risso's dolphin has been moved to the Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Dr Sen said marine biologists had given the dolphin antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, appetite stimulants and vitamins.
“Realistically, its chances for recovery is slim as with any other stranded marine mammal. But we can only hope for the best,” he said.
The dolphin was spotted at a reef area in the Likas Bay about 5.30am on Friday and the department was immediately alerted about its presence.
The department contacted marine biologists at UMS who immediately rushed to the area and provided initial treatment before transporting it to a tank at the BMRI.
Rescuers hope sick dolphin will live
The Star 21 Mar 15;
KOTA KINABALU: Marine biologists are keeping their fingers crossed that a male dolphin found floundering in shallow waters of the Likas Bay will survive
The risso dolphin has since been moved to the Borneo Marine Research Institute at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Sabah Wildlife Department assistant director Dr Sen Nathan said the dolphin was believed to have suffered a chronic bacterial, virus or parasitic infection.
“That’s what made it too weak to go against the water current, causing it to be stranded in the shallow areas,” he said.
“Realistically, its chances for recovery is slim as with any other stranded marine mammal. But we will hope for the best,” Sen said.
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