Pangkor isle spruce up for VMY 2014

The underwater clean up at Pulau Lalang will involve 30 divers from Australia, Germany,
the US and Malaysia. Pic by Supian Ahmad

IPOH: As part of the state's preparation to anticipate tourists for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY 2014), the Perak government is embarking on an intensive island and underwater clean-up for Pangkor Island.

State tourism committee chairman Nolee Ashilin Mohamad Radzi said the clean up will be held from Friday to Sunday at the selected areas such as Teluk Nipah and Pulau Lalang. The underwater clean-up will involve 30 divers from Australia, Germany, the US and Malaysia.

"We are working closely with our partners -- Tourism Perak, SNR Adventure Consultant and Sea Monkeys Dive Centre -- to carry out the three-day, two-night project called My Perak Green and Clean Underwater and Island Clean Up," she said. "The clearing of underwater debris is to protect the marine ecosystem.

SNR Adventure Consultant will carry out coral restoration and propagation programmes," said Nolee, adding that this was the second time the state government was embarking on an underwater clean-up project. The first was held in 2010.

The project, said Nolee, aimed to create awareness of the importance of keeping the water environment clean for the conservation of marine life, mainly coral reefs and fishes. "The clean-up programme will also include island hopping, hornbill feeding, tree planting, cleaning of signboards and launching of a taxi booth," she said.

Meanwhile, SNR Adventure Consultant operations director Shamsuri Abd Latiff said serious effort was needed to protect the marine life from extinction. He said divers are alarmed at the rate corals were disappearing and the shrinking fish population.

Sunset View Chalet managing director Noordin Bakar said Pangkor Island has much to offer tourists such as jungle trekking, scuba diving and island hopping.

-nst online.