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KOTA
KINABALU: An order to five companies operating resorts at
the Pulau Sipadan to vacate the island by the end of the year
is meant to protect the diving haven’s fast-degrading
environment.
State
Tourism and Environment Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat said
over-development of the island for more than a decade had
created piles of rubbish and noise pollution at Sipadan.
Chong
said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was “taken
aback” at the sight of rubbish piles and unsightly structures
during a visit to Sipadan.
“There
is no point in continuing and making a big mess on the island.
If people in the end do not come, the diving operators there
are going to lose anyway,” he said.
He
said the year-end deadline for the five resort operators to
relocate from Sipadan would give them ample time to find new
locations for their resorts.
Chong
said in the 1970s there were no structures on Sipadan and
divers would only make day trips to the island.
“There
is no problem if they want to operate from cruise ships.
“This
will give liberty to other people as well,” he added.
On
Thursday, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said the Sabah Cabinet
had agreed to a proposal for the Pulau Sipadan dive resorts
to be relocated from the island.
The
proposal was forwarded by a special committee headed jointly
by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Samsudin Osman
and State Secretary Datuk K.Y. Mustafa.
Musa
said that from next year the diving operators would only be
allowed to bring tourists to the island on a daily basis.
He
said the move was also necessary as the Government had found
that the island was “overbuilt” and this would adversely
affect Sipadan’s environment in the long run.
The Star Sunday May 16, 2004
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