I asked the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas in Parliament less than half an hour ago this question – is Malaysia’s proposed first and biggest oceanarium resort of luxury chalets in Mabul in the east coast of Sabah necessary?
This was during Douglas’ winding-up of his ministry in the 2009 Budget committee debate.
I said that the controversial oceanarium resort at Pulau Mabul had become hot news in the last few days and asked for the Federal Government’s stand on the opposition of environmentalists, villagers and dive operators who warned that the proposed 33 ha parcel of shallows will bring disaster to Mabul marine life and may also degrade the eco-sensitive coral reefs of Pulau Sipadan, a 20-minute boat ride away.
I referred in particular to the views of the Sabah Environment Protection Association president Wong Tack who not only asked if the oceanarium was necessary “because one could easily see fishes swimming in the clear Mabul waters” but how approval to such a massive project could be given before the terms of the EIA are known.
Wong Tack had also pointedly reminded the authorities concerned to what happened in Sipadan in 2006 when a construction barge ran aground, destroying a coral reef batch the size of three tennis courts and putting Malaysia in a bad light.
In his reply, Douglas said this was a new issue but gave an assurance that his Ministry would do its utmost to protect marine life.