西巴丹島的發展爭議

Friday, 28-07-2006

西巴丹島的發展爭議

日前, 我在辦事處接獲一個沙巴州婦女的來電, 她投訴某英文報在處理當天封面版新聞持雙重標準, 因爲當天該報在西馬的封面版刊登首相譴責沙州首蓆部長慕沙在西巴丹島興建俱樂部,破壞海底的珊瑚和生態的報道, 但是有關新聞卻沒出現在該報的沙巴版內.她對於該報在沙巴版掩蓋這新聞感到氣憤,硬要行動黨譴責該報,並針對西巴丹島生態遭破壞的問題伸張正義.

我後來從該報新聞從業員口中了解到首相對沙州首蓆部長的指責,是因爲該報很遲才拿到該獨傢新聞,因此連夜改版,而較早前空運到沙巴的報紙則沒該篇報道.

那位沙巴州婦女的對報館操作的無知,情有可原,但是沙州首蓆部長妄故西巴丹島的海洋生態,而硬要在該小島嶼大興土木以興建俱樂部,則真的難以原諒了.也真難怪那名沙州婦女如此生氣.

記得3年前慕名前往西巴丹島,並在島上逗留了兩天。當時我對西巴丹島的風景和生態一無所知,我是因爲菲律槟南部回教恐怖分子阿佈沙葉曾在該島綁架多十多個外國遊客,而‘慕名‘前往該島的.

直到我抵達該島後,才驚然發覺這地方原來是個世外桃源.西巴丹島海拔兩千英尺,從海底遠處看去,則豎立在海牀的冰淇淋棒,島柱四週佈滿珊瑚,牠的面積很小,我們只需步行45分鍾,便可繞島一週.島上建有多個亞答屋般的宿捨供旅客居住,沒什麽豪華的旅館或建築物.

西巴丹島當時每天的宿食開銷才250馬幣.廉宜的收費和天然海景,吸引了世界各地外國人,特別是洋人慕名前來西巴丹島度假.這些遊客大部分都是潛水迷,無論早晚,他們在島上的唯一樂趣,便是潛水,在海拔兩千尺的海洋底下觀賞海洋生態,並把海底漂亮的生物和珊瑚拍下,上岸後便互相比較照片或錄影片.這些潛水迷有者在西巴丹島獃上一兩個星期,把西巴丹島的海洋美景盡收入眼簾後才離開.

雖然我不會潛水,但是憑著普通的潛水眼鏡在該島的淺水地帶遊泳,都足以讓我大開眼界。因爲五顔六色的魚竟然從我身邊溜過,我從未看過顔色那麽鮮豔,和奇形怪狀的魚,泡在海水裏,即使是淺水地帶,也已覺得自己像劉姥姥進大觀園,原來海水底下,竟然那麽的漂亮。

雖然很少大馬人曾到這著名的世界潛水天堂旅遊,但是這島嶼實際上是大馬,特別是沙巴州最美麗的天然遺産.這個島是個世外桃源,是屬於愛戀海洋生態和大自然的旅客,而不是給那些要在島上享受冷氣和豪華設備的富貴人的.

首相伯拉罵沙首蓆部長慕沙破壞西巴丹島的天然生態,許多沙巴人對首相的罵聲贊不絕口,指他罵得好。首相最爲人贊揚的名言是`一流的建設,三流的思維'.要維持西巴丹島天然的海洋生態,我們需要的絕對不是一流的建設,而是`三流的建設,一流的環保思維',這是沙州首蓆部長應該認清和掌握的。 

(28-7-06)

Musa Aman Must Explain Why Did He Defy The PM’s Order And Continue With The RM4.5 Million Club House Project At Sipadan Island

Press Statement by YB Teresa Kok, Chief Coordinator of Sabah DAP, Member of Parliament of Seputeh and Publicity Secretary On 28th July 2006

Musa Aman Must Explain Why Did He Defy The PM’s Order And Continue With The RM4.5 Million Club House Project At Sipadan Island

Image Hosted by ImageShack.usPicture taken off The Star Newspaper

I am appalled to read that the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman has openly defied the order of the Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi to build a club house at Sipadan Island and it has destroyed the beautiful coral reefs under the sea.

Dato’ Seri Musa Aman should explain to the people of Sabah why he carried on with the club house project despite the express orders of the Prime Minister knowing that this project is going to severely degrade the world renowned precious “jewel in the crown”, the Sipadan Island.

Musa Aman should be aware that Sipadan Island is an environmentally sensitive area. Besides, Sipadan Island is also a pride of Sabahans as it attracts thousands of tourists to it because of its natural beauty. Destroying the flora and fauna in the seabed of Sipadan Island also means the destruction of the attraction of the island to foreigners and the inevitable deprevation of future income derived from tourists around the world to Sabah.

Musa Aman should be aware that the use of environment-friendly building materials in the construction is no guarantee – as it will still destroy the ecosystem of this beautiful island no matter what.

It is most ridiculous that after the comment of the Prime Minister is reported in the media today, all the relevant authorities have been passing the buck. None of them want to admit their fault nor take responsibility.

I urge Musa Aman to immediately halt the construction of the project and take immediate measures to restore the original beauty of the Sipadan Island.

Teresa Kok