Divers plant 777 corals at marine park

SEMPORNA: Fifty divers, including international participants, took part in a coral planting event in Sabah's east coast district.

Held under Astro Kasih's Beautiful Malaysia programme, the divers, who also comprised 25 Astro Kasih staff members, planted 777 individual corals at Ribbon Reef in Tun Sakaran Marine Park near Bohey Dulang Island, about an hour's boat ride from here. The feat earned them a place in the Malaysia Book of Records after their effort eclipsed the last record of 501 individual corals planted last year.

“It is very significant because plenty of coral reefs have died,” Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said. She added that the feat would help highlight the state and Malaysia's tourism sites, especially after several sites were hit by coral bleaching last year.

Dr Ng also said talks were under way to have direct flights from two eastern Russian cities to Kota Kinabalu by year-end. She said discussions had begun with tourism officials in Vladivostok and Khavbarosk.

“The State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry through Tourism Malaysia will have chartered flights from these two cities to Kota Kinabalu. “Malaysia has no direct flights from Russia. Even Bangkok and Vietnam have flights to Moscow.” Dr Ng said Vladivostok was only seven hours by air from Moscow and this would allow more penetration into the Russian market.

-thestar online.