Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Can a dying lake in Pahang be revived?

Can a dying lake in Pahang be revived?



The blues, greens, greys and fiery orange of the evening sky reflected off the waters of Tasik Chini, Pahang, the palette interrupted only by dots of sweet pink from the few blooming lotus flowers. Our boat of journalists whizzed across the water, surrounded by green hills that come down to the lake’s edge.

I had heard years ago that Tasik Chini has been ravaged by poorly planned “development” and that the orang asli here had likened the lake water to teh tarik.

But the Federal and State Governments are trying to rectify the ecological sins of the past.

Prior to this, lotus plants – the symbol of Tasik Chini – and lake fish had been dying, slowly succumbing to the pollution and siltation caused by uncontrolled logging and mining in the surrounding areas.

Improper agricultural practices also led to the leakage of fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides into the lake, affecting plant and animal life.

The hunting, gathering and fishing by the orang asli here (from the Jakun and Semai ethnic groups) had been jeopardised by the logging and mining, while their tourism income dwindled as fewer visitors came.

Even the possible sighting of “Naga Seri Gumum” (Malaysia’s version of the Loch Ness monster) and legends of an ancient sunken Khmer city were not enough to entice visitors.

Now, there is a concerted effort to revitalise the lake that is being undertaken by various government agencies. Spearheading these efforts are University Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Tasik Chini Research Centre.



Orang asli from the Jakun tribe live along the shores of the lake.

A crucial part of the centre is the Tasik Chini Freshwater Laboratory Complex, which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on Oct 15.

This complex, located on 4ha of land granted by the Pahang State Government, will monitor the lake’s water quality. It was built by the East Coast Economic Region Development Council. This is part of the Government’s Strategic Implementation Plan for Tasik Chini up to 2025.

The CEO of the Tasik Chini East Coast Economic Region Development Council, Datuk Seri Jeba-singam Issace John, said real-time monitoring is supposed to ensure that any threat to the lake’s water quality from siltation, logging, mining and agricultural activities will be detected immediately.

“Seven water quality monitoring stations (telemetry stations) located at the major feeder rivers surrounding Tasik Chini have been built,” he said adding that this was in addition to other efforts like slope stabilisation, a fish nursery and lake clean-ups.

He claimed that this work has improved the overall water quality to Class II – up from Class III in 2008 – allowing recreational activities to be safely conducted here again. The goal is to improve the water quality to Class I by 2018, which is safe to drink without additional treatment.

This will also enable Tasik Chini to maintain its Biosphere Reserve status granted by Unesco (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). Only two lakes in Malaysia have been awarded this status: Tasik Chini and Tasik Bera, both in Pahang.

The Pahang State Government has mooted a Special Area Plan to monitor and enforce lake rehabilitation works. The aim is to re-establish Tasik Chini as a premier ecotourism destination in time for Visit Pahang Year 2017.

Responding to questions on how effective enforcement has been, John said there is a special Tasik Chini Enforcement, Conservation and Maintenance committee headed by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

“Enforcement will be a key initiative,” he said.



Now that the lake’s water is Class II – it’s alright for skin contact – the kids from nearby Kampung Cendahan often go for evening swims.

Head of the freshwater laboratory complex Prof Datuk Dr Mushrifah Idris said the water quality improvement has been a catalyst for recovery.

“The lotus iconic to Tasik Chini, which was under threat, was reintroduced and has helped revive the lake’s natural ecosystem,” she said, adding that the diversity of fish in Tasik Chini has also flourished.

Other initiatives by UKM are efforts to reduce river bank erosion and control sedimentation.

The three management zones – the core, buffer and transition zones created in adherence to Unesco’s Biosphere Reserve framework – each has its own level of eco protection and permitted human activities to foster balanced development.

UKM Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Innovation) Prof Datuk Dr Mazlin Mokhtar said balancing environmental needs and development is not easy, and plans to rehabilitate Tasik Chini until it becomes a leading ecotourism destination will ultimately benefit locals through jobs and business opportunities.

“What we have today is borrowed from the future, and in our culture, when we borrow something we have to return it in similar or better condition,” he said.

Tasik Chini challenges

There are still many unanswered questions regarding Tasik Chini’s future, said Prof Dr Maketab Mohamed, a former Malaysian Nature Society president, when contacted for comment.

While current rehabilitation efforts are a good step, he wondered if they were enough to solve existing problems.

“There are so many hectares of plantations around the lake, which are sources of water carrying excess fertilisers and pesticides,” he said.

This polluting water is high in nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), resulting in infestations of exotic plants like ekor kuching (which is distinct from the local species) that choke the lake.

Yes, real-time monitoring of the water quality is good. But the East Coast Economic Region Develop-ment Council and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) do not have the authority to stop the development of surrounding land or enforce regulations, as this comes under the state government, said Prof Maketab.

He recalled that there were about 20 or more nearby low-grade iron ore mines that discharged their wastewater, full of sediment, right into the lake. This continued until as recently as a few years ago, when prices declined as demand from China fell.

“The wastewater from chalets and the national service camps were also not treated well until academicians and NGOs complained, and then it was improved,” added Maketab.

“All these problems have been raised since 2012. It’s been four years and a lot seems to have been done, but there is still scepticism among some of us (academicians and NGOs) over the will to resolve these issues,” he explained.

“We have discussed these issues many times with the State Government. The watershed of Tasik Chini MUST be protected from development and only the orang asli should be allowed to develop the area as they are the original occupants.”


v A traditional dugout boat being made at Kampung Cendahan, Tasik Chini.

UKM Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs and Innovation) Prof Datuk Dr Mazlin Mokhtar said that the orang asli, particularly those from the Jakun and Semai tribe, have been engaged in lake conservation efforts. An Orang Asli Cultural Village and Handicraft Centre has also been set up.
v Maketab added that the goal to clean the lake until it had Class I drinkable water is “wishful thinking” and that a more “achievable target” is Class IIB (which allows for skin contact and, thus, water activities).

Another issue is the barrage (small dam) which was built on Sungai Chini, the river that connects the lake to the mighty Sungai Pahang. This was built after then Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamed visited the lake and commented that the water level was too low and that it should be raised.

Maketab recalled that the barrage was built in the mid 1990s despite objections from the Department of Drainage and Irrigation.

“The barrage blocks the natural flushing of Tasik Chini when Sungai Pahang has high water levels twice a year. That flushing used to remove pollutants and safeguard water quality. That is the negative hydrological impact,” Maketab said.

In addition, the natural flushing also brings in fish from Sungai Pahang to Tasik Chini and vice versa. “Ask the orang asli when the officials are not around and they will tell you they want the barrage removed,” said Maketab. “They say that was the start of their problems.”

Head of the lake’s freshwater laboratory complex Prof Datuk Dr Mushrifah Idris said that research on the impact of the barrage is being carried out to address the issue of natural flushing.

She also noted that the fish nursery at the lab has successfully conserved and increased the population of indigenous fish species.

“Therefore, whether there is backflow (flushing) from Sungai Pahang during the storm season or not, the fish population will still be conserved,” she said.

In addition to this, flushing may not be so crucial as Tasik Chini is surrounded by natural wetlands which act as a natural cleanser.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Monday, November 28, 2016

预算案通过计划 东海岸铁路文冬设站

廖中莱:预算案通过计划 东海岸铁路文冬设站

交通部长拿督斯里廖中莱指出,东海岸铁路(ECRL)应是沿着原定计划的路线,在文冬县设站,计划是从雪州鹅唛综合交通总站经过彭亨文冬再通往文德甲以及东海岸。

他也是文冬国会议员,他是于今午到选区内的文冬美律谷土展区拜访问贫穷的垦殖民后向记者这么指出。

他说,中央政府很早以前都已经计划兴建有关铁路,最初是没有文冬站,过后特别向首相争取后,就拟定整个计划,而这计划也在最近的财政预算案通过。

“州政府日前回答州议员的询问时,而没有文冬站,这是州政府没有更新最新的计划,这是较早的计划,所以在文冬设立文冬站是铁定的。”

访问贫穷垦殖民

他说,今日访问6个各族贫穷病患者家庭是要了解他们的需要,并会全力给予他们支持和协助,并会通过福利团体或政府部门给予他们协助。

部长也分发米粮以及奶粉给予所需要协助的家庭。

陪同部长拜访贫穷病患者有马华文冬区会主席拿督英迪拉何启文上议员、马华美律谷支会主席叶成林等人。

政府耗资550亿令吉打造全长600公里的东海岸铁路,路线途径巴生港口、鹅唛综合交通总站、文冬、文德甲、关丹、甘马挽、格底、瓜拉登嘉楼、哥打峇鲁,终点站是道北。

~以上新闻转自中国报~

Saturday, November 12, 2016

首10月盈额730万 彭民宿业收入冠全国

副旅游部长:首10月盈额730万 彭民宿业收入冠全国



来自国内的民宿业者,前来「马来西亚民宿嘉年华会」参展。

旅游及文化部副部长拿督玛丝艾米雅蒂透露,尽管面对经济低迷,但全马民宿业发展仍不俗,彭亨民宿业收入高居榜首,今年首10个月盈额超过730万令吉,不过,柔佛创下最多民宿入住人次,超过4万6000人次。

她说,去年我国的民宿业总收入达1570万令吉,今年截至10月,就有超过1705万令吉收入,增加9.5%。

她指出,彭亨的金马仑高原最受游客喜爱,本地游客达8万6728人次、外国游客852人次,民宿业者收入高达731万4174令吉。

甲排第5

她说,彭亨的民宿业收入最高,接着是砂拉越、沙巴、雪兰莪,马六甲排第5。

玛丝艾米雅蒂昨晚为“马来西亚民宿嘉年华会”主持仪式时,这么指出。在场的包括甲州旅游、河流、海滩及岛屿发展事务副行政议员拿督卡查里等。

该嘉年华会首次举办,吸引180来自国内民宿业者参与,其中还售卖各地的传统美食。

玛丝艾米雅蒂说,在该部注册下的民宿共有193间,至于民宿合法问题,这是地方政府权限。

她说,民宿发展潜能非常大,而不只是限于提供住宿。 “真正的民宿含意是让住客体验乡村或甘榜生活,让游客品尝道地的传统美食,而不是住了就离开。”

她说,有些业者误解民宿用意,其实经营民宿不需要太大成本,只需加强周围现有的资源即可,善用资源,共同推动以社区为基础的旅游,就足以吸引旅客到来,了解当地人的本土风情。

~以上新闻转自中国报~

Friday, November 11, 2016

土产特色多‧旅业依旧旺 少了榴梿 魅力不减

土产特色多‧旅业依旧旺 少了榴梿 魅力不减



■文冬姜的特色具有强大的吸引力,游客来到文冬一定要购买。

榴梿季节虽过,但文冬特色众多,依然可吸引大批游客到来观光,带旺了文冬。

尽管没有猫山王榴梿,但文冬一:样能够吸引游客到来旅游,因为文冬姜、文冬豆腐卜、文冬云吞面和文冬雪糕,一样名气远播。

目前,文冬市区巴刹都看到不少旅客到来,旅客除了购买土产,也品尝文冬各种美食,特别是广西餐也受欢迎。

武吉丁宜姜,也就是游客所称的文冬姜,由于种植地方环境良好,出产的姜也够纯够辣,别;地区的姜也不能媲美,因此这也是吸引许多游客到来观光的原因。

文冬巴刹姜贩张志康说,榴梿季节时,每天都有好几辆巴士驶进市区,有摆卖榴梿的摊位也带动了附近的档口。

文冬姜手信首选

他补充,虽然榴梿季节过了,但文冬姜也是游客的首选手信之一,平时假日时也有许多游客到来。

“各人喜好不一样,游客能为猫山王慕名而来,也有些会被文冬姜的特色而吸引。文冬旅游业在目前大力推动下,不会因为缺少了某样特色,导致游客不会再来,而目前旅客没有榴梿季节那么踊跃,但生意也很好。”

水果摊小贩张志兴说,市场行情还尚可以,偶尔也会有数辆巴士载游客到来,生意还是不错的。

他说,文冬还有许多特色可吸引游客到来,榴梿季节过去了只是一个过渡期,也不太过影响到小贩的生意。

建筑物古早味浓

★陈金美(家庭主妇,来自霹雳州)

首次来到这里旅游,觉得文冬特色繁多,附近的建筑物也有古早味,非常值得来观光的景点。

虽然目前没有榴梿,但文冬很闻名,我们都要来走走,吃文冬的美食,并感到值得到来。

尝美食爱豆腐卜

★林志坚(退休人士,来自霹雳州)

经常听朋友说,文冬豆腐卜有特别之道,专程跟旅游团来文冬看看,也顺便尝试其他著名的特产。

我们品尝了不少文冬美食,豆腐卜也获团员们的喜欢,也有不少人购买回去烹饪。

~以上新闻转自中国报~