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National
Biodiversity Policy - As a follow-up
to the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992, Malaysia formed a National
Committee on Biodiversity under the aegis of the Ministry of Science,
Technology and Environment to formulate a National Biodiversity Policy.
Its initial draft was in 1993, and since then there have been various
versions. The policy is almost ready and is expected to be launched
in 1998. The vision of the National Biodiversity Policy is "to transform
Malaysia into an international centre of excellence in conservation,
research and utilisation of tropical biodiversity by the year 2020."
Its policy statement is "to conserve Malaysia's biological diversity
and to ensure that its components are utilised in a sustainable manner
for the continued progress and socio-economic development of the nation."
Its main objectives are:
It outlines 14 strategies for effective management of biodiversity including improving scientific knowledge and research, enhancing the use of biodiversity, improving the institutional framework, strengthening conservation programmes, integrating biodiversity considerations into planning, enhancing skills and capability, reviewing existing legislations, minimising human impacts on biodiversity, improving international cooperation, and funding. Under the strategies, 86 action plans are proposed. Critics questioned the implementation of the policy. The overriding concern is the lack of jurisdiction that the Federal Government has over biodiversity since natural resources comes under the purview of each state. The policy in its present form, at best, is merely another framework to guide conservation efforts. [ back ] National Environmental Policy - The National Environmental Policy objectives are:
The ultimate aim of the federal government working in close co- operation with the state governments is to ensure as far as possible that all man's activities are in balance with his environment. To this end, in recognizing that the environment transcends national boundaries, the government will also co- operate with foreign governments either directly or through competent regional and international organizations'. [ back ] National Park - The National Parks Act 1980 is not popular with the State Governments. Since its inception, no National Parks have been gazetted under the Act. There has been no shortage of proposals for national parks. The Third Malaysia Plan (1976-80) proposed 11 parks under the Act, including forests in Belum, Grik, Segari and Kuala Gula (all in Perak), Ulu Terengganu and Pulau Redang (in Terengganu), the Ulu Muda forest in Kedah, and Sungai Nenggiri in Kelantan. In the case of Belum and Ulu Muda forests, proposals have been forwarded to the state executive councils countless times but to no avail. [ back ] Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) - The national oil and gas company, PETRONAS embarked on a pilot program in 1985-1988 to promote the use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs), which are now being introduced on a wider basis. PETRONAS arranges cheap loans for the conversion of vehicles at about RM2300, and organizes training program for mechanics. The government, through exemptions from import and excise duties, subsidizes the program. The retail price of fuel for natural gas vehicles has been set at half the price of premium petrol. The goal of the program is to convert 1,100 petrol vehicles to bi-fueled natural gas/petrol vehicles by the end of 1993. NGVs emit less of a number of air pollution than petrol or diesel vehicles. The program was restricted to the Klang Valley and Miri in Sarawak. [ back ] Natural Resources Inventory - Areas gazetted under existing other categories do not fully represent all the major biological communities and ecological habitats in the country. Freshwater swamps, mangroves, open lake systems, limestone hills, and quartz ridges which have many specialized biological species have received inadequate protection. There are still no national repositories where live as well as preserved biomaterial can officially be deposited. There has never been any priority placed on national natural resource inventories and systematic studies. A review of the major habitats within the country taking into consideration bio-geographical, latitudinal, and edaphic factors that need protection, is long overdue. It is also urgent to establish national policies and strategies to protect the biological diversity, which should be incorporated within the national development program. [ back ] Nenasi, Pahang - Since 1988, Song Cheng Sdn Bhd, a joint venture involving Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean partners, has been involved in the construction of the world's largest eel farm on 5,000 acres of rich peat swamp forest in Nenasi, Pahang. More than 400 tube wells, each 100 meters deep, were constructed to pump groundwater 24 hours a day, and to fill up several hundreds of its ponds for eel cultivation. The massive extraction of groundwater and the conversion of the peat swamp forest into freshwater ponds resulted in the depletion of groundwater. The disruption was so drastic that there was no water during the dry season in 1992. The PWD was forced to supply water from house to house - the first time in the Bebar district's history. [ back ] Nibong - Nibong, a commercial palm, whose stem is resistant to salt water and marine borers, is under threat as mangrove forests are rapidly being destroyed. Among other uses, Nibong is used to build kelong, large fish traps erected at river mouths. [ back ] Noise Levels - Noise levels are becoming higher due to the increase in the number of motor vehicles, air traffic volume, industries, construction, and population concentration in urban areas. DOE surveys in 1984 and 1988 showed that the noise levels in urban areas were high. Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest level followed by Prai and Ipoh. Nearly 90 per cent of the sites surveyed in Kuala Lumpur had values exceeding 70 dB(A). Exposure to excessive noise can significantly damage human health. The recommended guideline value by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for urban communities is 55 dB(A). [ back ] Noise Levels in Schools - All the schools monitored by the Department of Environment (DOE) showed that students were exposed to a maximum noise level exceeding that recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The noise levels could affect the students' concentration. The problem has been identified as rapid urbanization leading to noise pollution. Installing noise barriers and relocating schools to areas 'free from noise pollution', are costly and short-term solutions. A more realistic solution would be to introduce traffic-calming, pedestrianisation, improved public transport, tariffs on private vehicles, and cycling. [ back ] Nuclear - In response to the Papan protests against the dumping of radioactive waste in their vicinity, Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamed said: "If nobody wants the dump to be situated anywhere, it would put an end to Malaysia's nuclear industry". He said the government "has taken every precaution, and the people who are conversant with the problem think it isn't dangerous". However, he added that the government "can't guarantee the safety of the people if they get into the area, dig the soil, bathe in it or throw it over their heads". [ back ] Occupational Heatlh - With rapid industrialization and urbanization currently taking place in Malaysia, occupational health problems as a result of environmental pollution are becoming more common. The number of industrial mishaps especially death at workplace has been increasing since the 1990. In 1991, 541 deaths were reported and in 1996, 925 deaths were reported. In the majority of these cases, proper preventive action was either not fully understood or totally neglected. Concern about the quality of the workplace is also rising. [ back ] Oil and Grease Contamination - Despite the existence of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 and tighter regulations, studies show that the Straits of Malacca are suffering a progressive increase in oil and sediment levels in the water. Grease and oily substances and tar balls are the main forms of pollution from the heavy shipping traffic in the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. The threat of oil spills and operational discharges is greatest in the narrow and shallow Straits of Malacca in particular. 30 percent of the ships passing through the Straits were found to be tankers. From 1975 and 1993, 30,000 tons of oil were released into the sea in 71 incidents. From 1976 to 1992, there were a total of 42 oil spill incidents in the Straits of Malacca. The largest spill was estimated at 13,000 tons. In 1995, the Department of Environment reported the highest number of oil spills in twenty years - 92 in all. Of these, 59 spills occurred in the South China Sea, 26 in the Straits of Malacca and seven in the Johor Straits. In 1995, a 400-meter oil slick in the waters off Port Dickson resulted in the removal of 72 tons of stained sand. The presence of a total of 16,033 licensed vessels registered in the states bordering the Straits of Malacca in 1991 adds another dimension to the pollution of the sea. Reducing the world's dependence on oil for fuel would reduce global warming as well as water pollution. [ back ] Orang Utan - It was the Europeans who gave the Malay name of Orang Utan to Malaysia's most celebrated and loved mammal. The misnomer has since been accepted as the animal's official name. Orang Utan means literally 'Man of the Forest'. The Malays themselves call this mammal 'mias' or 'mawas'. Changing the scientific name of Orang Utan from Simia satyrus to Pongo pygmaeus, further confused the identity of the 'man of the forest'. Why an animal exclusively confined to the archipelago was given the African Bantu name for Chimpanzee has never been satisfactorily explained. The Kadazans of remote parts of Sabah killed the Orang Utan for both food and trophies, collecting ape heads as they would those of humans. The Orang Utan now is jeopardized by loss of forests to logging and development. The Orang Utan is totally protected under the Fauna Conservation Ordinance 1963 in Sabah, and under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1990 in Sarawak. The Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and the Danum Valley Field Centre are two sanctuaries dedicated to ensuring the survival of this species. [ back ] Orchids - It is estimated that there are now 2,500 species of orchids in Sabah and Sarawak. Based on very preliminary data, over 200 species fall into the rare, endangered or vulnerable categories of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Species Survival Commission. This is mainly due to the rapid rate at which forest land is being cleared for agriculture and other development, and to the drastic disturbances caused by the poorly managed logging industry in the permanent forest reserves. Commercial harvesting of desirable species from their natural habitat has also caused their depletion. Various ex-situ orchid conservation centres managed by state or federal governments have been established in Sabah and Sarawak. In-situ conservation is realized in new parks and special reserves. In future, special emphasis has to be place on conserving unique habitats rich in rare or endemic species of orchid. These must have forested buffer zones around them to protect them against the ever-increasing hazard of shifting cultivation, illegal logging and other human encroachments. [ back ] Organic Farming - Organic farming in Malaysia is still in its the infancy. With increasing public awareness of the health problems posed by the chemical contamination of foods, particularly by pesticides, organically grown and pesticide free vegetables are in demand. However, the number of genuine organic farms is small. Some of the organic farms in Malaysia are the CETDEM Community Farm in Sungai Buloh, Selangor; Penang Organic Farm; Ecofarm Centre, Sinkyo Sdn Bhd; GK Organic Resources near Dengkil, Selangor; OMX Marketing Sdn Bhd at Sungai Long in Kuala Lumpur; Pahang Association of Consumers; MINSOC (Management Institute for Social Change) in Kuantan, Pahang; 7th Adventist Church in Melaka; Helen Todd in Negeri Sembilan and Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP). Small-scale organic farms range from one to five hectares in size. [ back ] Padi Angin - Padi angin is a hybrid between weed rice Oryza rufipogon and cultivated rice Oryza sativa. The plant, which appears together with cultivated padi, can reduce padi yields by between 65 and 90 per cent. In 1993, a total of 178ha of padi land in Kedah was infested with padi angin and this figure increased to 300ha the following year. The padi angin menace also surfaced in Tanjung Karang, Selangor. Scientists believed that padi angin could spread to the whole country by the turn of the century. Herbicides commonly used in rice cultivation has been found to be ineffective against padi angin. The presence of water suppresses the germination of padi angin, and so traditional planting out as opposed to the current cultivation of direct seedlings is still the best means of controlling it. [ back ] Palms - Malaysia boasts a wealth of palm species, about of which are rattans. The great majority of palms are found in lowland rain forest. There are least 385 palm species of 32 genera in Malaysia. Of these only 37 are common to Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. One species is possibly extinct in Sabah, and 47 percent of Peninsular Malaysian species and 41 percent from Sarawak fall into the IUCN conservation categories of 'endangered', 'rare' or particularly 'vulnerable'. Comparable figures for Sabah are not available. In 1988, 6,154 tons of rattan valued at RM8.7 million were exported from Peninsular Malaysia and in 1987, 2,574 tons valued at RM6 million were exported from Sarawak. In 1988, it was estimated that 15,000 Orang Asli and rural Malays were employed in rattan collecting in the Peninsula, many of whom have no alternative means of earning a living. Rattan collecting has been carried out on an unsustainable rate, further aggravated by the loss of forest land to agriculture. In 1989, Peninsular Malaysia banned the export of all types of rattan following over-harvesting. Threats to the continued survival of species include loss of lowland rain forest to logging, land clearing and commercial collection of valuable species such as rattans and ornamentals. Although about half the species grow in national parks, these species tend to be common and widespread. Rare and endangered local species are not protected. At present there is no legislation in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah to control the export of high value, endangered or rare ornamental palms. In Sarawak, legislation does not appear to be enforced. [ back ] Palm Oil Fuel - Converted into energy, palm oil fibre, palm oil and its mill effluents can become an alternative source of energy for Malaysia, once the world's leading producer of the commodity. Palm oil wastes can meet approximately 17 percent of the country's energy requirements and thereby reduce her dependence upon petroleum. [ back ] Pantai Acheh - Pantai Acheh, on the northwest corner of Penang Island, is one of the last areas of jungle on an island undergoing rapid development. Pantai Acheh has a varied flora, including some of the valuable tropical timber species such as meranti, rengas and merawan. Small mammals are well represented in the area. Its beaches are nesting sites for a number of species of turtles including the Ridley and Green Sea Turtles. It is also endowed with a meromitic lagoon - with sea water at the bottom and fresh water above. The Malayan Nature Society campaigned for years for the designation of Pantai Acheh as a National Park. The Tourist Development Corporation supported it in its bid for national recognition. [ back ] Papan - Controversy is synonymous with Papan, a former mining town in Perak. By the 1980's Papan had become "something of a political hot spot" for its courageous "fight to the end" over the proposal to dump radioactive waste there. A demonstration lasting 18 days staged by the people of Papan entered the annals of environmental history as "the first time in Malaysia, a protest demonstration was organized on an environmental issue..." They became known popularly as the "Papan protests". Papan also made history when 1,500 residents went on a mass hunger strike, the nation's first. In 1991, Papan was in the news again - this time it was chosen as the site for a permanent non-toxic industrial waste and rubbish dump for the Kinta district as well as a temporary industrial toxic waste. In the face of mounting public protest, the proposal was called off in 1994. [ back ] Parks - The Chior Game Reserve was the first game reserve established in 1902. Taman Negara, Malaysia's only significant National Park, was established in 1939. There are six state parks in Sabah, all re-gazetted in 1984. They include the Kinabalu Park, the largest of the state parks covering an area of 75,370 hectares. There are also two bird sanctuaries, and ten areas that have been set aside for wildlife and habitat protection. In Sarawak, there exist six protected areas designated as national parks. Except for the Gunung Mulu National Park, covering 52,887 hectares, the rest are less than 10,000 hectares in area. In Peninsular Malaysia, the Fisheries Department has identified 22 marine parks. But as long as the state governments can change the status of reserves and forests, their position remains unstable. For example, the Krau Wildlife Reserves has been gazetted and degazetted several times. The Dewan Negara was told in 1997 that about 21,609ha of permanent forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia were approved for logging as of July that year. The figure for 1996 was 37,587ha while that for 1995 was 39,656ha. Nine islands of the coast of Malacca gazetted as wildlife reserves were degazetted by the state government without the knowledge of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) who manages them. [ back ] Peat Swamps - Southeast Asian countries particularly Indonesia and Malaysia, have over 20 million hectares or 60 percent of the world's tropical peatlands. Peat swamps occur inland just beyond coastal mangroves and often spread over some 3km to 5km on the floodplain of rivers. They are characterised by an 8m to 20m thick layer of peat, which is mainly semi-decayed plant material accumulated over some 8,000 years. As long as the peaty soil is saturated with water, the swamp eco-system is in balance. Peat swamps are like sponges that absorb and soak up excessive rain and river water, thus controlling floods during the rainy season and releasing much needed water supplies during the dry season. Draining peat swamps for oil palm, rubber, logging, aquaculture, industrial and residential development, or to mine tin and peat, spells trouble. Canals dug into the peat bleeds the swamp of its water content. When the water level recedes, the upper layer of plant material dries up, thus becoming combustible fuel especially during the dry seasons. Lowering water tables and opening up the forest canopy promotes the risk of fire in peat soils. In October 1995, 16ha of the Bukit Tunggal Forest Reserve, adjacent to the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest in Batang Berjuntai, went up in smoke. In early 1989, a fire at Batang Berjuntai raged for three months. In 1997, Wetlands International noted four blazes in Malaysia in Southeast Pahang Peat Swamp Forest, Raja Musa and Sungai Karang Forest Reserves, which make up the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest in Sabak Bernam, Selangor, and parts of the Kuala Langat North Peat Swamp, also in Selangor. The most publisized peat fire was the Kampung Penadah in Pekan, Pahang, where 160ha of forest were razed. It took two weeks for fire fighters to douse the flames. Peat fires produce many times more smoke per heactare than other forest fires, and they are almost impossible to extinguish without restoring the water levels in the swamps. Drained peat swamps will lose their ecological functions of soaking and storing water to mitigate floods and as a water catchment; buffering coastal lands from the intrusion of salty marine water; filtering pollutants which will otherwise degrade lakes, rivers and groundwater; providing timber and non-timber products; and providing critical wildlife habitat, particularly for the endangered Sumatran rhinoceros. Once dried, the peat will oxidise and break down, causing the soil to collapse. Peat swamp also functions as a carbon store. The semi-decayed vegetation locks up large amounts of carbon, preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, the main contributor to global warming. If peat swamps in Malaysia continue to be drained, the peat fires here coupled with the Indonesian peat fires, would worsen the haze situation. Prolonged peat fires release massive amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming and long-term climate disruption. Nearly all state-owned peat forests are earmarked for farms, plantations, residential estates or industrial sites - all of which require the peat forest to be drained. Of the 800,000ha of peat swamp in the peninsula, over half - 340,000ha remains today. Of this only about 200,000ha are protected as forest and game reserves. The largest remaining peat swamps are found in Pahang and Selangor:
In Perak, the Melintang and Teluk Intan Swamp Forests have been almost totally converted to oil palm plantations. [ back ] Penang Hill - Dating from around 1800, Penang Hill is the oldest hill station in the country. The term Penang Hill refers to a chain of hills in the north central uplands of the island. In September 1990, the Penang State government signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bukit Pinang Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of Berjaya Corporation, to develop Penang Hill. The proposed development would involve 900 acres, consisting largely of water catchment areas and forest reserves. Friends of Penang Hill, an alliance of NGOs and individuals critical of the project, say that the development would fundamentally alter the hill's biodiversity and ecological balance, destroy its heritage importance, and damage the water catchment areas. It would also involve transferring large tracts of public land and state assets to private developers. [ back ] Penan - The Penan tribal people of Sarawak caught the world's attention in 1987 when they barricaded the road to the forest, their traditional home, preventing loggers from felling trees. In response to the offer of bribes, the Penan snubbed the loggers: "Keep your money. You can print money, but you can't print land. We want our land." The Penan's attachment to the land is best summed up in the words of Dja-au Lat: "Our land means life. The forest gives us food and everything we need for our life." [ back ] Pergau - The Pergau affair began in 1988 when Lady Thatcher, pursuing an aggressive arms sales policy in Asia and the Middle East, saw an opportunity to do business with Malaysia and repair relations. The Pergau hydro-electric project received "the largest cash sum ever provided for a single scheme under the British Government's Overseas Development Administration (ODA) Aid and Trade Provisions. The provisions were established in 1977 to support "overseas aid projects of developmental value that are of particular industrial and commercial importance to the UK". The Pergau Dam project costing 417 million pounds involves the construction of a 600 megawatt hydroelectric power station on the River Pergau in Kelantan state. A British daily claimed that the "virtually free loan of 417 million pounds" was given to Malaysia as a 'sweetener' for about 1 billion pounds of arms contracts to British manufacturers of frigates, jet aircraft and communications systems. The Economist claimed that the 234 million pounds in aid was linked by 'a mathematical formula' to the 1.3 billion arms deal. The British government has always maintained that Pergau aid was not linked to arms. Tenaga Nasional Berhad was privatized in May 1992 after receiving the aid, and profits from the privatization went to fund pilgrimages to Makkah and pensions for Malaysian soldiers. [ back ] Peripatus - The Peripatus, Peripatus sp, is a queer-looking creature that lives in rotten logs and leaf litter. It is heavily dependent upon the forest remaining dank and humid. The only known record is a sighting in the Gombak valley. [ back ] Permanent Forest Estate - In recognition of the rapid depletion of the country's natural forest resources by aggressive land development and timber exploitation since the late 1950s, the National Forestry Council approved in principle the creation of permanent forest estate in Peninsular Malaysia in 1973. The Malaysian Government has already set aside 12.70 million hectares of forested land to be managed as 'Permanent Forest Estate'. Of this, 3.65 million hectares will be designated as 'Protected Forests'. [ back ] Pesticides - The quantity of pesticides used in Malaysia has increased tremendously since 1960, and is now estimated to be 5 million tons a year. 1990 statistics indicate that RM315 million a year was spent on agrochemicals with RM250 million being spent on herbicides alone. The most widely used herbicide for many years has been paraquat or "kopi-o" (black coffee) as it is called by plantation workers. A survey conducted by Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) in the 1980s revealed that at least 14 pesticides which are either restricted or banned in several countries are widely used in Malaysia. There are 1,300 pesticides registered in the country. In 1989, rubber and oil palm plantations accounted for more than 60 percent of the herbicides used. Cocoa took 10 percent; rice - 9 percent; orchards - 7 percent; and vegetables - 3 percent. The remaining 11 percent were for forestry and non-agricultural use. In Sarawak, 70 percent of the farmers use pesticides. The majority of these farmers are illiterate and have no knowledge whatsoever of safe use of pesticides. Apparently, Malaysian farmers do not observe the pre-harvest lay-off period, and continue application of pesticides right up to two-three days prior to harvest. At one time, Malaysians were warned to soak and wash their vegetables before cooking and not to consume vegetables that are not supposed to taste bitter. In the plantation sector alone, there are about 30,000 female pesticide sprayers. Complaints of sore eyes, skin rashes, burnt fingernails and disruption of menstrual periods are common. A study revealed that the level of DDT in the blood serum of spraymen in the government Malaria Eradication Programme is between six to ten times higher than that found in other Malaysians. Among padi farmers, the mean concentration of DDT in the blood serum was found to be 0.11 ppm (parts per million), the level for rubber estate workers at 0.09 ppm and that for the general population at 0.066 ppm. A study carried out by a scientist from the Agriculture University of Malaysia (now Universiti Putra) at Serdang found that the total amount of ecylochienes, a pesticide element measured in the general population in Malaysia, is 14 times higher than that measured in the US. Studies have shown that pesticides can cause lowered sperm counts, decreased ovulation, inability to conceive and birth defects. The extent of occupational health and safety hazards related to pesticide poisonings is still poorly documented. [ back ] Pesticide Poisoning - Pesticides refer to all types of chemicals used in agriculture for pest control, for example insecticides, rodenticides, weedicides and herbicides. Over a 10 year period (1979-1988), pesticides accounted for 40.3 percent of the total cases of poisoning in Malaysia. It has been estimated that about 73 percent of poisonings involving paraquat are suicide attempts compared with 14 percent due to accidents and 1 percent to occupational exposure. A 1987 survey showed that an estimated 715,000 rubber and oil palm smallholders used paraquat. Another survey showed that poisoning had been experienced by 14.5 percent of the 4,531 vegetable farmers in the Cameron Highlands. Hospital admissions revealed that 32.1 percent of pesticide poisoning cases were accidental and 67.9 percent were suicide cases. A 1991 Malaysian Factories and Machinery Department report disclosed that the accident rate for improper handling of pesticides is four times higher than that of other industries, at 93 per 1,000 workers compared to the national average of 23 per 1,000. This seems to indicate that there is insufficient education and information on safety in handling pesticides. [ back ] Petrochemical-Based Products - Most of the household products in our home contain, in one way or another, petrochemicals. Cosmetics, shampoos, household cleansers, pesticides, fertilizers, textiles and paint thinner are some of the items made from petrochemicals. These products, when not managed properly, can contaminate the water we drink and the air we breathe. Given the rising consumerism in the country, it is very likely that the use of petrochemical-based products will increase. Depending on the level and length of exposure, petrochemicals can make the user ill through inhalation, skin contact or ingestion. If the exposure is great enough, or the exposed person is chemically sensitive, the effects can be fatal. Most of these petrochemical plants are and will be concentrated in Kerteh and Tok Arun in Terengganu. According to the Malaysian Petroleum Club Members' resource magazine, Kerteh and Tok Arun are slated to be "the ethylene centre of Malaysia." [ back ] Physical Environment - Basic amenities such as potable water, sanitation and electricity used to be provided by the government. Some of these have been or are in the process of being privatized. Electricity supply, for instance, has been privatized. It is likely that all these amenities will be privatized in the years to come. What this means is that the public will probably have to pay for the full cost of such services, though some of them may enjoy some consumer surplus because of government subsidies. The concern over privatization is that the poor may not be able to afford the rates fixed by market forces although they may get to enjoy a wider range of facilities. This concern is compounded by the fact that these huge privatized entities are monopolies which are not checked by competition or efficiency. This is evident with roads, electricity and telecommunications. [ back ] Pig Waste - Based on the Veterinary Services Department's 1990 statistics, the average number of pig farms of the coastal states of Peninsular Malaysia stands at 717 with an approximate pig population of 2.3 million. Pig farms generate large quantities of waste and some of these farms discharge effluents directly into estuaries and tidal rivers without any pre-treatment. Waste abatement is practised only in large farms because of cost constraints. Piggery wastes not only contaminate the water with bacteria and parasites, but also exert high demand for oxygen (BOD) and cause eutrophication. [ back ] Pitcher Plants - Malaysia has more than 30 species of pitcher plants which derive its name in English from its pitcher shape appendage. The pitcher is an artful trap for insects. Its rim glands secrete a sweet juice that entice insects and its numerous digestive glands produce digestive enzyme which 'consume' these insects for nitrogenous and other food materials. The black pitcher plant Negenthes gracillima grows only in Genting Highlands. Unsympathetic development is threatening their natural habitat. [ back ] Plastic - The plastics industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Malaysian economy, with growth forecast at 20 per cent per year over the next five years. Plastics, being non-biodegradable, are a major pollutant and are taking up scarce landfill space. Had the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) succeeded in restricting the use of plastic packaging in areas under its jurisdiction, it would undoubtedly have been the first municipal council to do so. The visionary and courageous move forward did not happened because the authorities succumbed to the pro-plastic lobby. Plastic is environmentally unfriendly. In the ocean and waterways it suffocates seabirds and mammals such as turtles and dolphins to death. Millions of tons of packaging are discarded as solid waste each year. The packing industry, the leading user of plastics, accounts for about 40 percent of the total world plastics production. Although the content of plastic materials in a municipal solid waste (MSW) has been estimated at 7-12 percent in weight, it actually represents 18-30 percent of the volume of solid waste. Solid waste recycling alone will not be sufficient to handle all the plastic waste expected to be generated over the next decade. In Malaysia, the method of disposal of municipal solid waste particularly has been largely through landfilling (90 percent) and incineration (1-2 percent). Only 8 percent is recycled. Globally, new environmental regulations, societal concerns and a growing environmental awareness throughout the world has triggered a paradigm shift in developing products and processes which are compatible with the environment. In tandem with this awareness, a new concept of designing materials from Cradle to Grave has been proposed which integrates material design concepts with ultimate disposability, resource utilization and conservation. [ back ] PM10 - Particulate matter smaller than 10 microns in diameter (PM10), which was present during the haze episode in Malaysia, poses a variety of health problems. These include increased incidence of respiratory diseases, especially in children; aggravating existing respiratory diseases; reduced resistance to infection; and reductions in lung function. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that airborne particulate matter can cause premature mortality, particularly in elderly and ill persons. Particulate matter also causes various lesser symptoms such as irritation of the eyes and throat. [ back ] Prescribed Activities Under the Environmental Quality Act 1987 - The prescribed activities requiring Environmental Impact Assessment Reports are:
[ back ] Pulau Redang - The Pulau Redang archipelago off the Trengganu coast has one of the richest coral reefs in Peninsular Malaysia. The island, one of the 22 gazetted marine parks and reserves in Malaysia under the Fisheries Act, has the largest nesting population of Green Turtles in Peninsula. However, the turtle population in the country has decreased by 60 per cent since 1960s. The development of a RM30 million tourism project on the island, which includes a 9-hole golf course, a club house and a 100 room hotel, has been blamed for erosion, siltation of the Sungai Redang and Teluk Siang, waste water, oil and heavy metal pollution, and destruction of corals. The fishing village was relocated to clear the beach for the use of tourists. The resort and recreational development on the island have not been subjected to any impact assessment or town planning requirements. [ back ] Quarrying - In the last two decades the increased affluence of the people and considerations for the quality of life, in particular leisure, loss of amenities and nuisance considerations, have directed public outcry to quarrying activities. Quarrying deals with rock such as marble being mined in Kramat Pulai, Perak and Pulau Taski Dayang Bunting, Langkawi, granite for floor tiles in Tampin, Negri Sembilan and aggregate in all states in Malaysia, with the biggest operations being in Selangor and Johor. The Perak Quarry Rules 1992 is the only state law dealing with control of quarry operations. Depending on the location of the quarry, the scale and method of operation and the mineral characterization, quarrying undeniably effects changes in the geographical features. The use of explosive, ground vibrations and air blast waves can also cause structural damage to buildings. Long-term exposure to high noise levels can cause permanent hearing damage and similar exposure to dust can damage lung tissue, and in extreme cases cause premature death. Airborne dust can cause damage, the extent of which depends upon its composition and concentration. Some environmental issues resulting from quarrying activities, such as visual intrusion or disruption and nuisance, are difficult to quantify or pose some problems in drawing up generally acceptable standards and criteria. [ back ] |
