Redang Island is now open for booking. You can get the rates for 2010 at our website now. Available for weekday, weekend, school holiday and public holiday! Join us at Facebook to get the latest update!

The resort group collaborated with Professional Association of Diving Instructors’ (Padi) Project Aware and Scuba Symphony on the three-day event to strengthen conservation of underwater life and educate people on the importance of coral reefs to the ecosystem.

“We are taking this opportunity to prove to people that by gathering many hands, we can change the current state of our environment for the better,” said Berjaya Hotels & Resorts group director Peggy Tan.

Heave-ho: The divers hauling the crown-of-thorns that they removed from the sea during the Redang Island Clean-up Day.

Padi Asia-Pacific regional manager Johnny Chew said the resort group had been a strong supporter of Project Aware clean-ups and activities.

“We are delighted to have them on board this year and be involved in this exciting conservation event,” he added.

A total of 110 divers, including a team from Singapore, and 29 non-divers took part in the event.

The enthusiastic divers managed to remove 580 crown-of-thorns from the seabed, breaking last year’s RICD record of 442 crown-of-thorns. The underwater clean-up covered most of the islands’ popular dive spots, including Berjaya Redang Resort House Reef, Mak Simpang, Teluk Dalam Besar, Tanjung Tokong, Blue Ring, Bahagia Wreck, Southern Run, Northern Run, Kerengga Kecil and Kerengga Besar.

Non-divers, meanwhile, cleared the beach of plastic bags, beverage cans and cigarette butts.

The clean-up was also an exercise in data gathering.

Project Aware Asia-Pacific manager Joanne Marston said, “Most divers and environmental project volunteers recognise the importance of data collection to drive positive change for our oceans.

“Better data means better decision-making, but there is more that we can do. We urge all divers to enter the data that they have into the Global Marine Debris Index.”

Project Aware Foundation is the dive industry’s leading non-profit environmental organisation. It is present in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and Japan.

Its mission includes conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action among 175 countries.

As the divers were underwater, the non-divers were occupied with a host of activities on land besides the beach clean-up. The participants went on a nature walk and played beach telematches as well as tug-of-war.

A photography contest was one of the main highlights during the event, with prizes consisting of 3 days / 2 nights stay at Berjaya Redang Resort and Berjaya Tioman Resort inclusive of flight tickets on Berjaya Air, two Epoque Japan 230 underwater camera worth RM1,245 each sponsored by Scuba Symphony and meal vouchers from Kenny Rogers.

There were also seminars on Underwater Conservation by Padi Project Aware and Underwater Photography by Scuba Symphony.

Upon arriving at Berjaya Redang Resort, participants were greeted with goodie bags.

Berjaya Hotels & Resorts is planning to hold the next Clean-up Day at its Tioman resort in March next year.

The Star

THE United World College, Costa Rica (UWCCR), is a college of 160 students, with 57 countries being represented.

Recently, Costa Rica celebrated its independence day and as students in an international college, we participated in a national parade by dressing up in our national costumes.

The writer (third from left) with some of her schoolmates all dressed up in their respective national costumes.

Personally, being away from home has made me realise how important it is to be patriotic.

As a Malaysian, I’d have to say that I was proud to be Malay, wearing a Cheongsam, while carrying the Malaysian flag. I’ve never felt more patriotic than I did that day.

As a teenager, I realised how amazing it was to actually see the Malaysian flag soaring high, together with flags from Brazil, Spain, Finland, Costa Rica, Korea, Holland, Argentina, Sweden, and many others.

Apart from exhibiting patriotism on the surface, the love for Malaysia actually came from deep within.

I still recall the morning of the parade. Seeing all my friends getting up early to get dressed in their costumes made me eager to put on mine.

The Jalur Gemilang flying high among flags of other nations during the parade .

As we were dressing up in front of the mirror, cracking girly jokes and putting on make-up; we started asking each other about our respective countries.

It was then that I realised how proud I was to be from a country that had a modern metropolis like Kuala Lumpur as its capital. It was also blessed with thick jungles and lush greenery in places like Taman Negara, and breathtaking beaches on beautiful islands like Pulau Redang.

This is, of course, on top of our multi-culture and numerous traditions that seem to be in syncwith our respective heritage.

Now that I’m in an international college, I find that I am at ease when mingling with people of different cultures, faiths and backgrounds.

And I would give most of my thanks to Malaysia itself, for preparing me to fit in the outside world with its diverse cultures and religions.

It may, at this point sound very cliché, but being away from home has helped open my eyes on what it really means to be patriotic as a teenager.

History is, of course, something that we ought to learn and appreciate, but as a modern society, I think it is important that we put it to practical use.

“Why do we study history, apart from learning the mistakes made?” a friend asked. And I’ve never had a right answer to that until last week when I was telling others about Malaysia.

The answer is, of course, as simple as being able to feel gratified and content about our country.

The Star

State Industrial Development and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Mohamed Awang Tera said similar measures in Pulau Sipadan in Sabah and Pulau Rawa in Johor had proven to be successful.

“The government does not mean to stop backpackers from enjoying Pulau Redang’s beauty but this move can reduce the environmental degradation caused by resorts which don’t have good waste treatment facilities,” he told reporters.

Several resorts on the island would also be upgraded and the state government would focus on luring high budget tourists, he said.

As an alternative to Pulau Redang, Pulau Bidong would be turned into a recreational island complete with basic amenities but no resorts.

Mohamed said the state government had approved a project to turn the Pulau Redang jetty near the Laguna Redang Resort into a common jetty for several other resorts on the island. – Bernama.

The Perhentian Island issue, just like the wildlife issue, is a long neglected one.

My guess is we will only see some action once there is a big drop in tourist arrivals to the islands and Terengganu.

But by that time it will be too late.

The Perhentians, both Besar and Kecil, are known as the peninsula’s version of the much-touted and well-known Sipadan and Mabul in Sabah with their beautiful underwater world.

It is the nearest place from Kuala Lumpur or Penang where one can see marine life, which unfortunately is being

threatened due to haphazard and poorly planned tourism development projects and ineffective sewage treatment and solid waste disposal.

The situation is likely to worsen as more development seem to be taking place.

The Perhentians, unlike Langkawi, Pangkor and Tioman, are too small to warrant the setting up of a development board to oversee their growth.

But the authorities can look at the big picture.

Terengganu has many islands like Redang, Kapas, Gemia, Lang Tengah and Tenggol.

All these islands can be grouped together and a Terengganu Islands Development Authority can be set up to oversee their development.

We all know that the state has its hands full with other tourism activities like the Monsoon Cup and the recent revival of Tasik Kenyir as a major tourism destination.

But don’t you think that being blessed with beautiful islands and marine life is an added boost to not just the state but the country as well?

ZARI MALAYSIANA,
Petaling Jaya.

From my observation and conversation with people on the island, one of the main causes for the degenerating coral reefs and marine life is the development on the island as well as the increase in number of irresponsible tourists, especially snorkellers with fins.

There are various development projects on the island like jetties, paths for jungle walks and several big buildings. Most of the tourists I talked to were upset with such developments on an island so well-known for its quiet and natural environment.

These development projects not only destroy the natural beauty and landscape of the island but also the beautiful underwater world.

The island depends solely on tourism, and if the development pushes the tourists away, businesses here will suffer, not to mention the revenue the Government gets from the tourism industry.

Things such as touching and stepping on corals, collecting seashells and corals as well as touching marine life like turtles are causing a lot of damage to the marine environment. I believe the relevant authorities should work together to create awareness among tourists about the Do’s and Don’ts and practise responsible tourism.

The other issue that needs attention will be the protection of turtles that usually feed in the channel between the big and small islands, which happens to be the main “highway” for boats. Just this week, there were two reports of turtles found dead, one of unknown causes and the other by boat propellers.

This has been a somewhat usual incident on the island, and if this continues alongside the poaching of turtle eggs, the turtle population on the island will continue to decline.

Tourists love turtles, and will thus stop coming to the island if the turtle population were to decline further.

I urge the Government to set up proper shipping lanes (just large enough for a few boats) and close off other areas along the channel to reduce the possibility of propellers hitting the turtles.

There is also a need for Government officials to visit Long Beach at night and see what is going on there. Illegal parties and bars have mushroomed along the beach. I doubt licences are issued for these activities. It’s not only harming the environment but the safety of people visiting the island as well.

DANLEE,
Subang Jaya.