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Maklumbalas REACH (Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands) kepada Majlis Daerah Cameron HighlandsRancangan Tempatan Daerah Cameron Highlands 2003 2015 (DRAF) April 2005

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Perkara Rujukan & Sumber CadanganHutan Simpan Rancangan Struktur Cameron Highlands dan Pihakberkuasa Perancang Tempatan Cameron Highlands

1995 2020

Ms 28-9. AS 10 PENGEKALAN DAN

PENAMBAHAN KAWASAN HUTAN SIMPAN,

KAWASAN TADAHAN AIR DAN LAIN-LAIN

PRAMUKA SEMULAJADI DAN MENGHALANG

PENCEROBOHAN KE KAWASAN BERKENAAN

Penguatkuasaan akta dan undang-undang adalah penting

untuk menjamin flora dan fauna dalam daerah Cameron

Highlands agar tidak pupus sama sekali.

Cadangan-cadangan dalam Rancangan Struktur Cameron

Highlands (yang telah diwartakan pada Mei 1997)

haruslah dikuatkuasakan serta merta.

REACH telah merekodkan sejumlah 600 spesis orkid di

dalam hutan Cameron Highlands. Jumlah ini

merangkumi sejumlah 900 spesis orkid yang terdapat di

hutan di Semenanjung Malaysia.(Rujuk The Starbertarikh 1 April 2003 yang dilampirkan)

Rancangan Struktur Cameron Highlands dan Pihak

berkuasa Perancang Tempatan Cameron Highlands

1995 2020

Ms 19-1. GT1 1. Kawasan Hutan Simpan Kekal dan

Kawasan Tadahan Air (Zon Pengekalan)

Kawasan Hutan Simpan Sediada (4608

hektar)

Kawasan Simpanan Orang Asli (2031 hektar) Kawasan Hutan Simpan Baru (57,650.5

hektar)

Jumlah (64,289.5 hektar)

Sebarang bentuk pembangunan fizikal tidak dibenarkan

di kawasan ini kecuali aktiviti pelancongan serta

kegiatan penyelidikan dan pembelajaran yang tidak

merosakkan segala hidupan dan rupabumi di kawasan

tersebut.

Aktiviti pertanian semasa dalam Blok Perancangan 13

Hutan Simpan Ringlet yang dinyatakan sebagai

mempunyai LPS tidak diambilkira dalam ms 3-90

(Rancangan Tempatan Cameron Highlands DRAF)

Peta BP13 ms 3-90, tidak lengkap dan mengelirukan.

Jadual 4.3 Jadual Akiviti Kegunaan Tanah Zon Hutan

Simpan


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Aktiviti pertanian sedia ada tidak ditunjukkan dalam

rajah 3.14b Guna tanah semasa BP13.

Aktiviti yang disenaraikan dalam jadual ini Kolum I,

Pertanian, Perniagaan, Pengangkutan mesti dikeluarkan

dari Zon Hutan Simpan kerana aktiviti pertanian yang

dijalankan pada masa ini tidak mampan.

Perlu dinyatakan berapakah keluasan kawasan hutan

simpan yang akan tinggl selepas Rancangan Tempatan

ini diwartakan.

Kolum A4 mukasurat 5-4

Spesis endemik patut dipindahkan kepada habitat

yang sama dikawasan yang tidak diganggu.

Kenyataan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri supaya

semua hutan tanah tinggi diwartakan sebagai kawasan

tadahan air.(Majlis Perasmian Minggu Alam Sekitar 2

Disember 2004 di FRIM Kepong)

Kegiatan pertanian di kawasan cerun curam dan yang

melebihi 1000 m dari aras laut adalah bercanggahdengan kenyataan dalam Rancangan Tempatan ms.2-13

(iii. Pemeliharaan Hutan).

Cadangan jalan raya pintas yang menghubungkan

Brinchang ke Habu akan merentasi Kawasan Hutan

Simpan Kekal dan akan mengurangkan jumlah Hutan

Simpan Kekal dengan mendadak.

Pengertian endemik.Adalah mustahil untuk memindahkan spesis ke habitat

baru.

REACH mencadangkan agar langkah-langkah drastik


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diambil untuk mengekalkan dan memulihara kekayaan

bio-diversiti di kawasan alam sekitar yang sensitif ini.(Rujuk Ucapan YB Perdan a Menteri pad a sessipembukaan The Intern ational Conference onBiodiversity: Science And G overnance, Par is, 24thJan uar y 2005 yang dilampirkan)REACH juga menyokong cadangan serta langkah-

langkah untuk mewartakan seluruh kawasan Cameron

Highlands sebagai Taman Warisan Nasional.

Kawasan hutan simpanan kekal dengan ketinggian sama

atau melebihi 1000m dari aras laut adalahdikelasifikasikan sebagai hutan perlindungan tanah.

Kawasan ini secara keseluruhannya berfungsi sebagai

kawasan untuk mengawal sumber air, pengawalan kualiti

alam sekitar, pemeliharaan kepelbagaian hayat dan

kestabilan tanah. Tiada sebarang aktiviti pembalakan di

kawasan ini dibenarkkan. Ketetapan ini adalah

berdasarkan kepada keputusan Persidangan Majlis

Perhutanan Negara Ke-14 pada 28 Disember 1998. Ini

juga bermakna bahawa perlaksanaan tersebut adalah

selari dengan cadangan 5c dalam strategi pengurusan danpemuliharaan tanah tinggi Negara iaitu All forestabove 1000 m should be gazetted as pr otection forestin accordance with section 10 (1) of the National

Forestry Act 1984.

Menurut Pelan Fizikal Nasional, hutan melebihi 1000m


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dari paras laut sepatutnya diwartakan sebagai Hutan

Perlindungan dan diuruskan sebagai Kawasan Sensitif

Alam Sekitar Tahap I, yakni tiada sebarang

pembangunan, pertanian atau pembalakan dibenarkan.Satu-satunya aktiviti yang dibenarkan adalah

perlancongan impak rendah. Pertanian juga tidak

dibenarkan di cerun melebihi 20o.

Cadangan pembangunan di kesemua Blok Perancangan

bercanggah dengan saranan Pelan Fizikal Nasional.

Didalam semua blok perancangan tiada cerun yang

sesuai seperti yang di nyatakan dalam kolum A1 Jadual

5.1

Penggunaan gambar satelit REACH mencadangkan agar penggambaraan satelit

digunakan untuk menujukkan keadaan guna tanah

semasa untuk mendapatkan gambaran yang lebih

realistik.

BP13 Kawasan Hutan Simpan Ringlet. Kawasan

seluas 200 ekar telah di kenal pasti sebagai kawasanpembuangan kelodak dari Tasik Ringlet

REACH mencadangkan supaya tanah simpanan TNB

di Robinson Falls berhampiran dengan Habu, KawasanSg.Kilat dan Sungai Khazanah di guna pakai bagi tujuan

ini.

REACH membantah cadangan untuk mengguna

kawasan Hutan Simpan Ringlet untuk tujuan

pembuangan kelodak kerana hanya tinggal satu kawasan


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hutan sahaja di mukim Ringlet. (Page 4-29 AdditionalInformation DEIA for The Proposed Rehabilitation of

Ringlet Reservoir)

The forest within the study area is a diverseundisturbed m ontane forest tha t is very valuablesimply because of the scarcity of such ecosystemwithin the country. Assuming that the affected area isabout 54 acres, then the total tr ees r emoved willamount to 6118 trees giving a total volume of about4627.8 m3. In t erms of tota l biomass removed, it isestimated that (using standard average figures fortr opical forests, IPCC 2003) that for this study areaan average of more tha n 360 tonnes/ha of biomassmay be pr esent in these forests. Subsequently, thetotal biomass loss for a ffected ar eas amounts to about7866 tonn es. (Page 4-30 Additional Information DEIA for The Proposed Rehabilitation of Ringlet

Reservoir)

Sg.Jasin dan Sg Jasik yang berpunca dari Hutan Simpan

Ringlet adalah dari Kategori Kelas I dan II .

Hanya terdapat 10% sahaja dari 121 sungai di daerah

Cameron Highlands dalam kategori kelas I dan II.


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The jungle walks in Cameron Highlands is one of the

prime tourist attractions here.

Jungle Walk No 10 & 11 to G. Jasar in H.S. Mentigi

(BP6) will be lost to future agriculture area. What

will be the fate of other Jungle Walks?

Review and revise all plans to convert forests to other

land use to protect the existing jungle walks in Cameron

Highlands.Introduce Trail Adoption Programme. (eg Maybank

Trail, Heritage Trail)

Large tracts of forest clearing upstream of the Ringlet

lake have resulted in the massive siltation, shortening

of the life span of the Ringlet dam and recently also

shutting down of the dam.

REACH strongly recommends that forested dam

catchments areas to be defined, mapped and totally

protected.

PertanianBerdasarkan kajian Study for the Sustainable

Development of the Highlands of Peninsular

Malaysia, Study on Pollution Prevention dan Water

Quality Improvement Program of Rivers in Cameron

Highlands, maklumat berikut diperolehi :

Jumlah Kawasan Tanah Daerah 71 218 ha

Kawasan sesuai untuk pertanian (< 25%) 3292.0 ha

Guna tanah semasa untuk pertanian 5 890.3ha

Lebihan sebanyak - 2 598.3ha

Menurut RTCH 2003-2015 (Draf) BP1 hingga BP 14

kawasan baru yang di cadangkan untuk aktiviti

pertanian adalah seluas 30445.82 hektar dan angka ini

melebihi had kawasan yang sesuai untuk aktiviti

pertanian dengan kawasan seluas 27153.82 hektar.


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GT2 PEMBANGUNAN GUNATANAH

PERTANIAN AKAN DIPASTIKAN TIDAKMELEBIHI 6,000 HEKTAR SEHINGGA TAHUN

2020 DAN AKAN DILAKUKAN DI KAWASAN

YANG SESUAI MENGIKUT KAPABILITI

TANAH.

(Rancangan Struktur Cameron Highlands)

Cadangan yang dibuat dalam Rancangan Tempatan

Cameron Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF) untuk membukakawasan hutan bagi tujuan pertanian adalah bercanggah

dengan Rancangan Struktur Cameron Highlands.

Kawasan pertanian sedia wujud 5 683.28 haKawasan pertanian yang dicadangkan(terma suk kawasan yang sedia ada ) 30 445.82 haMengikut Rancangan Struktu r, pembangunan gunatanah per tanian akan dipastikan tidak melebihi 6 000hektar.Kawasan guna tanah pert anian yang dicadangkandalam Rancangan Tempa tan melebihi had yangditetapkan dalam Rancangan Struktur

Sumbangan KDNK (Rancangan Tempatan Cameron

Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF)

Jadual 1-7, pg 1-15

KDNK for agriculture is predicted to go down fromthe current 24.2% to 12.7% by 2015.

Merujuk kepada data ini, pembukaan tanah untuk sector

pertanian sepatutnya dikurangkan dan bukan di tambah.

All Blok Perancangan in the Rancangan Tempatan

Cameron Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF) reflects that

the agriculture areas (legal and illegal) are being

legalized as future agriculture zones.

Prevent future encroachment of agriculture areas, with

heavy punitive measures, greater monitoring via satellite

imagery, and more surveillance in cooperation with local

communities. (Refer to NSTP 10.04.05)


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All Environment Sensitive Area in the Rancangan

Tempatan Cameron Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF)

comprise much of proposed agriculture area

This calls for immediate review, as the document in

many section which contradict itself, and also other plans

such as the National Physical Plan, National Forestry

Council Decision, etc.Jadual 5.1 Garis Panduan Kawalan Pembangunan -

Alam Sekitar

Kolum A3 Saliran dan Tadahan Air

Pembangunan tidak dibenarkan di kawasan tadahan

untuk loji rawatan air Kuala terla dan Habu.

Sebarang pembinaan pembangunan tidak dibenarkan

didalam rizab JPS

Rancangan Tempatan Cameron Highlands 2003-

2015 (DRAF)

On the ground, a large area previously used for the MTD

workers quarters to build the Spg Pulai-Kg Raja road,

located outside the Forest Reserve but is adjacent to Sg.

Terla is currently being occupied by illegal settlements.

The Local Authority must evacuate this settlement,

which will affect the Sg. Terla catchment area which has

been identified as prime water catchment for future in the

Rancangan Tempatan Cameron Highlands 2003-2015

(DRAF)Current test conducted by JAS shows a staggering 12000

per 100 ml count of E. coli.

Can this water be treated effectively?

How is this going to help overcome this water shortage

problem? This problem will be aggravated by the

proposal for more agricultural development and more

housing projects as stated below.

Rujuk gambar nombor 1 yang dilampirkanIncreased farming area directly and indirectly affects

water quality of streams and rivers adjacent to the

farms.

Unless improved methods of farming, regulated use of

pesticides and fertilizers, enhanced soil conservation

methods are employed by farmers, REACH believes that

such efforts to increase farming areas in the highlands

will contribute to further degradation of the catchments,

soils and rivers. (Refer Kosmo 10/11.04.05)


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Effect of AFTA on future agriculture expansion is

not mentioned. Instead, only theoretical projections

of agriculture area are stated. EPU projected that

farms will face a natural death, due to competitionwith Indonesia and China after AFTA comes into

force.

REACH would like to see that this be addressed

adequately in the Rancangan Tempatan Cameron

Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF)

Air Shortage of drinking water especially during peakholiday seasons.

Areas like Kg. Raja have been having water rationing

since October 2004.

Presence ofE.olin drinking water supply.Source:

Pahang Water Resources Study 1999

Jabatan Alam Sekitar water testing

REACH water testing

Regulate the farmers to use only water for irrigation from

Class III rivers, and not continuous tapping of water

from Class I and II rivers.

Inter-departmental coordination needed for monitoring

and enforcement.

No development and agriculture activities should be

allowed in water catchments areas.(refer to The Star 27.6.2005)

Existing water supply schemes producing 5.86MLD

This is not sufficient for the existing population and

not taking into consideration the tourists. Cameron

Highlands is facing a 4.0MLD water shortage daily(Pahang Water Resources Study 1999).

Expedite the construction of the new Phase II water

supply schemes.

Enforcement of no development within water catchmentareas.


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Phase I water supply scheme (Kuala Terla) is delayed

and its water quality is contaminated.

Source:DOE and REACH

Demarcation of water catchment area on the ground.

In the various Blok Perancangan, several areas are

being identified as water catchment areas.

REACH recommends that these areas be demarcated on

the ground as NO ENTRY areas, and existingsettlements, farms if any, be evacuated.

Limited water intake points due to large areas being

proposed to be converted to future agriculture areas.

In the long term, there will be less clean water available

for the population of Cameron Highlands, particularly

with the current state of affairs.

No reconciliation with water supply for farms and

demand for water for farms.

Existing farms tap water illegally from streams and

there is neither legal control nor punishment for this

crime.

REACH suggests that JBA produce a master plan for

water resources supply to farms, in order that the farms

can sustain itself and this be done in consultation with all

relevant parties, particularly in consultation with DID on

the classification of rivers and its functional use. The

availability of water should be a major factor in

determining the viability of proposed land use activities

such as expansion of agriculture areas.

Considering the fact that Cameron Highlands is the

starting point of many rivers feeding into Pahang andPerak, the integrated management of river basins is

an important issue to be addressed in the Rancangan

Tempatan Cameron Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF).

The integrated management of rivers and river basins has

not been adequately addressed.

REACH recommends that Cameron Highlands should

have its own Water Resource Master Plan. The

emphasis of management should shift from the searching

and developing of new water sources, to conserving

existing ones.


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Perumahan Current housing development not in line withDevelopment Vision for Cameron Highlands

(Page 1-16 Article 1.7.1)

Abandoned Development not being revived.Refer picture no. 2Housing needs as stated in the Pahang Structural Plan

does not justify with the proposed figures as shown

in the next column.

The projected need as shown in the Pahang Structural

Plan is 462 units by 2005.The following are completed housing schemes in

Cameron Highlands at this time and this figure has

overshot the need for housing till 2005 by more than

three folds.

1. Desa Corina 319 units

2. Puncak Arabella 351 units

3. Aster 90 units4. Habu Heights 117 units

5. PrimaVilla 91 units phase I

6. Cameron Green 32 units

7. Carnation Park 475 units

TOTAL 1475 units

Current housing development has exceeded the demand

until 2020 as shown in the Pahang Structure Plan 2002-

2020.

1. Desa Corina 319 units

2. Puncak Arabella 351 units

3. Aster 90 units

4. Habu Heights 117 units

5. PrimaVilla 91 units

6. Cameron Green 32 units

7. Carnation Park 475 units8. Lot 233 Ringlet 211 units

9. Best Deluxe, Ringlet 648 units

10. Lot 1407, Ringlet 3 units

11. Prima Villa Phase 2 91 units

12. Royal Lily Park 592 units

13. Lot 353, Sg. Ruil 2093 units

14. Lot 198, Tanah Rata 21 units

15. Lot 45 & 46, Bchang 40 units

16. Ulu Telom, Kg. Raja 31 units

17. Kuala Terla 3 units18. Lot 37, K. Terla 40 units

19. Eighty Nine Acres 172 units

20. Cameron Heights 1311 units

TOTAL 6731 units


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Rancangan Tempatan Cameron Highlands 2003-

2015 (DRAF)Data source REACH

REACH questions the need to have so many housing

units at this time.We recommend PASDEC (Pahang State Development

Corp.) to seriously review their development strategies

for Cameron Highlands. They should adhere to the

Highland Development Guidelines.

The State Government should not allow PASDEC or any

other developers to further indiscriminately develop

environmentally sensitive areas (KSAS).

True occupancy rate needs to be ascertained. Manyhousing complexes have empty apartments owned by

non-residents of Cameron Highlands.

The present infrastructure does not support and sustain

these developments. Developments should not

inconvenience the local population. For example,

Ownership of housing units by non residents contributes

only minimally to the local economy. Moreover, the

renting out of these apartments adversely affects the

local hotel and guest house industry.The current water shortage has not been solved. Where is

this new development going to get its water supply?

One of the projects above (Lot 353 Sg.Ruil) if approved

would have a negative impact on the meteorological

station located in the vicinity. This is one of the ten


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worldwide stations monitoring Global Atmospheric

Conditions.

1.6.6 Prospek Asas Sosioekonomi Daerah Cameron

Highlands (ms 1-13)

Jadual 1.4: Senario Penduduk, 2000 2015

Tahun 2015 Senario Tinggi 38,500 penduduk

Ms 1-14 (ii) Profil Penduduk

Pertumbuhan penduduk dijangka mencapai 32,700

orang menjelang tahun 2015

Data ini mengelirukan.

Orang Asli shall be displaced their villages andthis will permanently alter their livelihoods and

traditional lifestyle.

The draf only show Sungai Ruil Orang Asli

settlement as settlements.

REACH recommends a thorough socio-economic surveybe done to assess the magnitude of the problem at hand,

before imposing such plans on the Orang Asli.

All Orang Asli settlements should be listed as

settlements

Pelancongan The development in Cameron Highlands has to besensitive to the terrain and the existing forest use of

the area. Its development is not envisaged to cater for

mass tourism but to be modeled on the concept ofan English village resort.

REACH recommends that the development plans be

more local and Malaysian and reflects the natural built

environment, rather than imitating Western concepts.

Any physical development (chalets, hotels, apartments,

etc.) for visitors should be constructed with a local

Malaysian image and subject to careful planning and

control.

Efforts to attract more international tourists to stay

longer, spend more and undertake repeat visits to the

REACH recommends that the Rancangan Tempatan

Cameron Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF) be reviewed to


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country will be undermined with the conversion of

large tracts of forest where many of the existing

jungle trails area in place.

reflect this point to capitalize on the future survival of

the tourism industry in Cameron Highlands.

Currently, the rural areas such as Orang Aslisettlements are also being promoted as attractive

tourist destinations for local as well as foreign

visitors.

With the conversion of large forest areas, especially

those adjacent to Orang Asli settlements, the

lifestyles and income generating activity of these

communities will be altered permanently.

REACH strongly opposes to this idea and urge that a fullreview be done of the Rancangan Tempatan Cameron

Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF) to mutually benefit the

Orang Asli and also the forest that the communities

depend upon.

(RTCH page 2-5)

The proposal to promote Orang Asli Settlement as one of

the two tourist destination in Brinchang will be

jeopardized if the housing project in Lot 253 with a

capacity of 2093 units is allowed to carry on. Thesedevelopment projects will change their lifestyle.

The idea of having a National Park in Cameron

Highlands is not reflected in the Rancangan

Tempatan Cameron Highlands 2003-2015 (DRAF).

REACH proposes that such an initiative to have a

protected area in the highlands be strongly supported by

the State government and is reflected in the development

plans at all levels.

Protected areas should be zoned, and any tourist

activities should be concentrated in the zones that arealeast sensitive to disturbance.Lain-lain BP 3, 4, 6 dan 7-Di dalam peta cadangan terdapat

sebuah terowong bawah tanah.

REACH ingin mengetahui tujuan terowong bawah tanah

ini ditandakan dalam peta cadangan kerana tiada dalam

peta guna tanah semasa.Topografi dan kecerun an mukasurat 1-3 Kenyataan ini adalah salah kerana Daerah CameronHighlands bermula dengan ketinggian lebihkurang 300


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Daerah Cameron Highlands terletak di banjaran

Titiwangsa dengan Ketinggian dari 1000 meter di

atas paras laut di bahagian sempadan timur dan 2031

meter dibahagian sempadan barat ...

meter dibahagian sempadan timur selatan

2.1.3 Cadangan Pembangunan Pelancongan

BP5 Brinchang

-Aktiviti pelancongan semula jadi berpotensi untuk

dibangunkan di denai-denai hutan dan gunung seperti

Gunung Perdah. Program menaik taraf eko-lancong

dicadangkan untuk dilaksanakan oleh Jabatan

Perhutanan. Ia termasuk pembangunan kawasan rehat

dan pemuliharaan alam sekitar di denai-denai danlaluan-laluan semulajadi di:

Persimpangan no.3 Sam Poh Buddist

temple

Arcadia ke Gunung Belum

Jalan Tengkolok ke Gunung Perdah.

BP6 Tanah Rata

Program menaik taraf eko-lancong perlu

dilaksanakan oleh Jabatan Perhutanan di Air Terjun

Robinson dan Parit.

Arcadia ke Gunung Berembun dan bukannya Gunung

belum - sila ambil perhatian.

REACH ingin mengetahui jika pihak yang dilantik untuk

menyediakan draf ini benar-benar tahu tentang apayang dicadangkan atau pernah melawat tempat inikerana untuk pengetahuan tuan Gunung Perdah sudah

tiada apa-apa untuk dipromosikan sebagai tempat

pelancongan.

Program menaik taraf ini tidak akan berjaya tanpa

adanya suatu perancangan semula sistem perparitan

untuk seluruh Cameron Highlands.

(Rujuk gambar no 3 yang dilampirkan)


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BP 11- Total area proposed for road 514.69 hectare

BP 5 to BP 7 The construction of a new road.

REACH questions the need to have such a big area for

future road as this figure is a rough estimate of an areabig enough to land a Boeing 737.

There is no substantiated traffic data provided to prove

the need for another road from Brinchang to Habu.

During peak season the traffic jam is caused by

insufficient parking space from the town area to tourist

attraction along the main road.


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Attachments:SP EECH BY

THE HONOURABLE ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWIPRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIAAT THE OPENING SESSION OFTHE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIODIVERSITY:SC IENCE AND GOVERNANCE

PARIS, 24TH J ANUARY 2005BIODIVERSITY FOR THE BENEFIT OFPRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

1. MAY I BEGIN BY EXPRESSING MY DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT CHIRAC FOR INVITINGME TO ADDRESS THIS MEETING. I AM HONOURED TO BE SPEAKING ON THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT IN THE PRESENCE OFOTHER EMINENT LEADERS. I AM ALSO INSPIRED BY THE PRESENCE OF SO MANY DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVEDEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

2. I ALSO WISH TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT CHIRAC, THEGOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE FOR THEIR GENEROSITY AND ASSISTANCE RENDERED TO THE VICTIMS OFTHE 26TH DECEMBER 2004 TSUNAMI THAT HIT A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES BORDERING THE INDIAN OCEAN, INCLUDINGMALAYSIA. THIS DISASTER IS IN FACT THE WORST NATURAL CALAMITY TO AFFECT ASIA IN RECENT HISTORY. WE INMALAYSIA, AS I AM SURE ALL OTHER AFFECTED COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES, HIGHLY APPRECIATE THE MORAL ANDMATERIAL SUPPORT PLEDGED FROM THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.


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3. THE RECENT TSUNAMIHAS REMINDED US OF THE AWESOME DESTRUCTION THAT CAN BE WROUGHT BY NATURALFORCES. THE TSUNAMI EXACTED A HEAVY TOLL INDEED. BIODIVERSITY SUFFERED A HUGE SETBACK IN TERMS OF LIVESLOST AND NATURAL HABITATS SIMPLY SWEPT AWAY, PERHAPS, NEVER TO REGENERATE.

4. WHILE WE CAN NEVER PREVENT THE FORCES OF NATURE, WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TOMINIMISE THE IMPACT AND EXTENT OF DESTRUCTION. WE WILL DO THAT BY INSTALLING EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS IN THEREGION TO DETECT TSUNAMIS AND OTHER NATURAL DANGERS. WE SHOULD ALSO USE THIS OPPPRTUNITY TO TAKE AHARD LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. THE TSUNAMIAND ITS AFTERMATH UNDERSCOREDNOT ONLY THE OVERWHELMING POWER OF NATURE, BUT ALSO THE FRAGILITY OF OUR OWN EXISTENCE.

5. AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE ARE ALL PART OF THIS COMPLEX INTERDEPENDENT BIOLOGICAL SYSTEM ON THE PLANET.WE HAVE, HOWEVER, BEEN GIVEN THE INTELLIGENCE AND WISDOM TO DISCERN AND DISTINGUISH THE COMPLEXITY ANDTHE INTERRELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE SYSTEM. WE MUST USE THESE CAPABILITIES TO CONSERVE AND HARNESS THENATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PRESENT AS WELL AS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

6. RECENTLY, I HAD CALLED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH IN MALAYSIA ON THE PRESERVATION AND REGENERATION OFTHE MANGROVE FORESTS WHICH HAD SHOWN GREAT RESILIENCE IN BREAKING THE FULL FORCE OF THE TSUNAMIWAVESWHICH THREATENED SEVERAL COASTLINES IN THE COUNTRY. IN ADDITION, WE ARE PURSUING OTHER MEASURES TOPROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. MALAYSIA HAS EMBARKED ON FOREST PLANTATIONS WHICH WILL RELIEVE THEINCREASING DEMANDS AND PRESSURES ON THE EXISTING FORESTS AND THEIR DIVERSITY.

7. IN OUR QUEST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE, WE MUSTGIVE EQUAL CONSIDERATION TO ALL LIVING THINGS. IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT NATIONS ARE BETTER ABLE TO PROTECTTHEIR BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES WHEN THEY ARE MORE PROSPEROUS. THE CHALLENGE FOR ALL COUNTRIES,


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PARTICULARLY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, IS TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT, AS WELL AS GAINSCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE, WITHOUT DEPLETING THE NATURAL CAPITAL. THE UTILISATION OF NATURALRESOURCES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH MUST BE CARRIED OUT IN A SUSTAINABLEMANNER SO THAT THE VALUABLE BIODIVERSITY AND RICH ECOSYSTEMS ON THIS PLANET, CAN CONTINUE TO FLOURISH .


8. THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE C.B.D., HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FORMORE THAN A DECADE. THE DRAFTERS OF THE CONVENTION, WHICH WAS OPEN FOR SIGNATURE AT THE EARTH SUMMIT INRIO IN 1992, HAD HIGHLIGHTED THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES, NAMELY, THE CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, ITSSUSTAINABLE USE AND THE FAIR AND EQUITABLE SHARING OF BENEFITS DERIVED FROM GENETIC RESOURCES.

9. MUCH HOPE WAS PINNED ON THE C.B.D. AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION. MANY NOW QUESTION THE EFFICACY OFNATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO CONSERVE OUR BIODIVERSITY. WE THEREFORE NEED TO REVISIT ANDASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE C.B.D.S IMPLEMENTATION.

10. I BELIEVE THAT INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND NATIONAL COMMITMENTS ARE KEY IN THE ATTAINMENT OFTHE C.B.D.S GOALS. AS THE MAIN PROVIDERS AND CUSTODIANS OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES, DEVELOPING COUNTRIESDO NOT ONLY HAVE OBLIGATIONS FOR CONSERVATION BUT ALSO RIGHTS FROM THE BENEFITS OF CONSERVATION.

11. CAPACITY BUILDING IN CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MUST THEREFORE BE AN IMPORTANTELEMENT IN A NATIONS GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK. INTEGRITY AND ETHICAL MANAGEMENT MUST DRIVE OUR EFFORTS.ADDITIONALLY, CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY MUST BE INTEGRATED INTO ALL NATIONAL


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DEVELOPMENT PLANS AND STRATEGIES. ALL OF US THE PUBLIC SECTOR, PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY ANDMEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN THE BIODIVERSITY GOVERNANCE DIALOGUE.

12. MALAYSIA TREASURES ITS NATURAL RESOURCES. OUR PRIMARY FORESTS, OUR PRISTINE BEACHES, OURPRECIOUS RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES ALL OF THESE MUST BE CONSERVED AND PROTECTED. I HAVE ASSIGNED THENATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY TO LOOK INTO ALL ASPECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATIONAND PROTECTION. A NATIONAL COUNCIL ON BIODIVERSITY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, WHICH I CHAIR, LOOKS AT POLICYINTEGRATION AND COORDINATION AS WELL AS IMPLEMENTATION BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE 13STATE GOVERNMENTS IN MY COUNTRY. THESE AND OTHER MEASURES ENSURE THAT OUR BIODIVERSITY POSITION ISSTRONG AND SECURE, ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL MUCH MORE TO BE DONE.


13. WHILE NATIONAL GOVERNANCE REQUIRES UPGRADING, FAIR PLAY MUST CHARACTERISE THE INTERNATIONALDIMENSION OF BIODIVERSITY GOVERNANCE. IN THIS REGARD, I WISH TO UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE THIRDOBJECTIVE OF THE C.B.D., REGARDING ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING. MALAYSIA CONSIDERS THIS TO BE PIVOTAL TOTHE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE OTHER TWO C.B.D. OBJECTIVES. IT IS THEREFORE ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THATGOVERNMENTS WILL SOON BEGIN NEGOTIATING AN INTERNATIONAL REGIME ON ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING. AS ONEOF THE MEGADIVERSE COUNTRIES, MALAYSIA HAS A SPECIAL INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE BECAUSE ANY UNREGULATEDACCESS TO BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES THREATENS BIODIVERSITY.

14. IT SHOULD BE ACCEPTED AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE THAT COMMERCIAL BENEFITS SHOULD BE FAIRLY ANDEQUITABLY SHARED WITH THE PROVIDERS AND USERS OF THE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES. ALTHOUGH FRAUGHT WITH


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DIFFICULTY, WE MUST SEEK THE RIGHT BALANCE AND CORRECT FORMULA TO CATER FOR NATIONAL RIGHTS ANDINTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS IN ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING.

15. ANOTHER RELATED ISSUE CONCERNS THE INCREASING SCOPE OF PATENTS AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYCLAIMS OVER BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES AS WELL AS THEIR PARTS AND GENETIC MAKE-UP. THERE ARE MANYUNRESOLVED DIMENSIONS IN THIS AREA, WITH SERIOUS SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS. THESE ISSUESNEED TO BE EXAMINED AND CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY BOTH SCIENTISTS AND POLICY MAKERS, WITH A VIEW TOPROVIDING CLEAR AND FAIR RULES AND GUIDELINES.

16. MALAYSIA IS AWARE OF ITS RICH NATURAL HERITAGE AND THE CORRESPONDING RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COMEWITH IT. WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONSCIOUS AND COMMITTED ABOUT THE NEED TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT WHILEEMBARKING UPON RAPID DEVELOPMENT.

17. MALAYSIA HAS IDENTIFIED BIOTECHNOLOGY AS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF GROWTH, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THEEXISTENCE OF ABUNDANT BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN THE COUNTRY. INDEED, BIOTECHNOLOGY IS CAPABLE OFCREATING NEW SOURCES OF WEALTH AND ADDITIONAL INCOME. WE WOULD WELCOME NOT ONLY LOCAL BUT ALSOFOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THIS SECTOR. HOWEVER, WHILE MALAYSIA IS AWARE THAT BIOTECHNOLOGY HOLDS MUCHPROMISE, WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS SHOULD NOT POSE ANY THREAT TO THEENVIRONMENT, OR TO HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY. AS SUCH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND IDEASREGARDING POLICY CHOICES ON THESE ISSUES, INCLUDING ON RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION ASWELL AS ON THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON BIODIVERSITY. IT IS PERTINENT TO REMEMBER THAT GOD HAS CREATEDINTERDEPENDENCE BETWEEN MAN AND HIS ENVIRONMENT. THE DEVELOPMENT OF EITHER ONE SHOULD NOT BE AT THEEXPENSE OF THE OTHER. THEY SHOULD BE MUTUALLY ENRICHING.


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18. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS RECOGNISED THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND RISKS OF GENETICENGINEERING. THE PRINCIPLE OF PRECAUTION UNDERPINS THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ON BIOSAFETY AS WELL AS ITSPARENT CONVENTION, THE C.B.D.. THE FIRST MEETING OF THE PARTIES OF THE CARTAGENA PROTOCOL WAS HELD INKUALA LUMPUR LAST YEAR. MALAYSIA IS ALSO THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE SEVENTH CONFERENCE OF THEPARTIES (C.O.P.) TO THE C.B.D.. WE INTEND TO USE THE REMAINING TERM OF OUR PRESIDENCY TO FOCUS ON THEQUESTION OF EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF BOTH THE C.B.D. AND THE BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL.


19. WE VIEW THIS MEETING IN PARIS AS TIMELY FOR TAKING STOCK OF THE STATE OF GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY AS ACRITICAL INTERNATIONAL ISSUE. OF COURSE, SCIENTIFIC INPUT IN THIS MATTER IS ESSENTIAL. SOUND AND HONESTSCIENCE SHOULD BE THE GUIDE FOR OUR ACTIONS AND RESPONSES. HOWEVER, AS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE CLIMATECHANGE NEGOTIATIONS, SCIENTIFIC FACTS CANNOT PREVAIL WHEN THE POLITICAL WILL IS ABSENT.

20. MALAYSIA HAS CONSISTENTLY CALLED FOR GENUINE DIALOGUE BETWEEN DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPINGCOUNTRIES, BEFORE AND AFTER THE EARTH SUMMIT, SO THAT ISSUES OF ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CAN BERESOLVED AMICABLY AND EQUITABLY. WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE NEED TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE TO ENRICHMAN AND ENABLE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT, WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE ENVIRONMENT.

21. A LARGE PORTION OF THE WORLDS BIODIVERSITY RESIDES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. AS SUCH, THE DIALOGUESHOULD ASCERTAIN THE VIEWS OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD, AS WELL AS IDENTIFY THE AREAS OF THEIR CONCERN. ITSHOULD ALSO SEEK TO ASSUAGE THEIR FEARS OF BIOPIRACY WHICH ROBS THEM OF THEIR BIODIVERSITY WITHOUTACKNOWLEDGEMENT OR BENEFIT-SHARING. WE MUST SEEK WIN-WIN SOLUTIONS FOR THE MUTUAL ADVANTAGE OFTHOSE WHO OWN BIODIVERSITY RESOURCES AND THOSE WHO POSSESS THE FINANCIAL MEANS, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE


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AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE TO DEVELOP THEM. ALL THESE MUST BE PREMISED ON THE CRITICAL NECESSITY OFMAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE ECOSYSTEM UPON WHICH OUR SHARED DESTINY IS BASED.

22. SINCE THE EARTH SUMMIT IN RIO IN 1992, THE WORLD HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY AWARE OF THE HEALTH OF THEGLOBAL ENVIRONMENT, THE POTENTIAL VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY AND THE ISSUE OF BIOPIRACY. THE NEW GLOBALDIALOGUE ON BIODIVERSITY SHOULD FOSTER A CLIMATE OF SINCERITY, TRUST AND INTEGRITY. THIS IS THE ONLYGUARANTEE WE HAVE FOR A FUTURE WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. THE WELL BEING OF OUR EARTHSENVIRONMENT IS NOT SERVED BY THE NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE WHICH CHARACTERISE CURRENT DISCUSSIONS ON THESEAND OTHER GLOBAL ISSUES.

23. THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE AND RESULTANT TSUNAMIDISASTER HAD UNITED THE WORLD INTO A SPONTANEOUSAND CARING INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO SURVIVORS IN COUNTRIES FAR AWAY FROM THEIROWN. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THAT AND REFLECT ON WHAT TRUE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITYCOULD DO TO CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY. LET US NOT WAIT FOR A CRISIS OR DISASTER TO STRIKE BEFORE WE TAKEACTION TO PROTECT WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY, OUR ONLY HOME.

THANK YOU.

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