Tioman Island
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Tioman Island is a small island, 39 km long and 12 km wide, located off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The densely forested island is still sparsely inhabited, but is surrounded by numerous white coral, making it a haven for scuba divers from around the region.
Its beaches were depicted in the 1958 movie, South Pacific as Bali Hai. In the 1970s Time magazine selected Tioman as one of the world’s most beautiful islands.
The island is served by ferries from the Malaysian mainland and Singapore, and propeller plane service by Berjaya Air from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Kampung Tekek
In 2004 Kampung Tekek, a little village on Tioman was earmarked for development as part of a RM 40 million marina project. The project covers 127,000sq metres. It will include a yacht marina and also a cargo jetty which will extend 175 meters into the sea.
Critics, such as the Malaysian Nature Society, WWF-Malaysia have described the project as a disaster for the environment in Tioman and the surrounding sea. Villagers, residents and business owners have submitted a petition with 165 signatures to the government to halt this project. Natural Resources and Environment Ministry parliamentary secretary Sazmi Miah accepted the petition on behalf of the government.
Tioman’s penghulu (village head) Md Nor Hindon has been instructed by the government to not issue any statements to the press. When contacted by The Star he said: “I have been instructed by the Government not to speak to the media about this project” (TheStar September 10th)
The Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah Sultan Abu Bakar has visited Tioman to ascertain for himself the situation of Kampung Tekak. Similarly, the Deputy minister for the Environment and Natural Resources, Datuk S. Sothinathan, has visited Kampung Tekak.
While the EIA (Environmental Impact Assesment) has been approved by the government, the EMP (Environmental Management Plan) is yet to be approved.
External links
- Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Travel Guide to Tioman Island (http://www.cuti.com.my/?f=Sub/Pahang/guide_tioman.htm)
- Wikitravel: Tioman Island (http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Tioman_Island)
- Guide to Tioman Island (http://www.tioman.com.my/)de:Tioman