SUNSHINE STORIES

Honorary Park Wardens will be the local eyes and ears in protecting the proposed Tun Mustapha Park writes Nadiah Rosli Study after study have attested to the rich biodiversity found along the shorelines of Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas District in the northern region of Sabah. With over 50 islands and islets, this area which spans close to one million hectares of coral reef, mangrove, seagrass and productive fishing grounds has been earmarked for the proposed Tun Mustapha Park (TMP). In 2003, TMP was proposed by the State Government of Sabah shortly after it was recognised as a globally significant priority marine conservation area. It will be the country’s largest multiple-use park and second largest in Southeast Asia. Once gazetted, TMP will be evidence of Malaysia’s commitment to the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security and contribution towards meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Target. However, TMP is more than a collection of impressive sci...

By: Angela Lim, SSME Senior Communications Officer On Saturday 30 January 2010 , I was fortunate to join the Kudat PCA team to Pulau Tigabu, within the proposed Tun Mustapha Park ( TMP ). Besides being a weekend, the trip took a bit of sacrifice as it involved waking up at 5am ! The early departure on the Mameng (WWF’s 10m boat) was so that we could catch the tide and avoid bad waves. By 7:30am , we sped away from Kudat marina and were rewarded by a spectacular sunrise and a good calm sea. With us on the trip were Encik Fazrullah Abdul Razak, Marine Park Manager of Sabah Parks, Encik Jimli Perijin, Wildlife Enforcement Officer of Sabah Wildlife Department, and Encik Amillson Baragus, a consultant for WWF’s alternative livelihood assessment study. Encik Fazrullah wanted to promote the establishment of the proposed TMP , while Encik Jimli aimed to introduce Sabah Wildlife Department’s Honorary Wildife Warden (HWW) role and recruit participants for the HWW training coming up in March. A...