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Tioman beaches - Salang Beach, Monkey Bay, Panuba Bay, ABC, Tekek, Genting, Juara

I guess many of us in Malaysia have read about the development plans that are in store for Pulau Tioman. The local media has taken concerns of Tioman's villagers and resort operators and blown the news into gigantic proportions. There has also been an overwhelming response from the local public as well as from abroad, voicing their concerns over the project. And guess what, for the first time in the plight of preservation and conservation in Malaysia, things seem to move towards a more positive scenario. Thing is, development if monitored and controlled is a good-to-have. However, development in the scale of a 127,000 sq metre marina, 30m wide at the tip , stretching 175m into the sea over a fragile reef system below is something worth questioning. This project is reported to provide yacht docking areas, an administration building, water breakers and a cargo jetty. The general hue & cry is why on Tioman and why destroy an ecosystem that visitors travel halfway around the world to see, for the sake of another multi-million ringgit project that has been approved by the state government in hope of luring an elite group of visitors to our shores.

Tioman's plight was brought to the attention of the Sultan of Pahang whose recent visit to Pulau Tioman has placed a stop work order on the proposed RM40million marina project at Tekek until the Marine Department completes its report on the project.

Of course there are pending issues that authorities need to address regarding development on Pulau Tioman itself such as waste management, schools and educational programmes for kids, monitoring and organising the ferry operators, and ensuring the development on the island blends in with its natural beauty. Areas which can be looked into would be the protection of the unique ecosystem on the island and its surrounding waters. The island could in fact be promoted as a nature sanctuary, providing nature activities from jungle and mangrove trails to mountain trekking - of course there must be training and educational programmes open to villagers who would wish to become rangers. Examples of well managed ecotourism programmes would be, for example Bako National Park and Mulu National Park in Sarawak.

Pulau Tioman needs controlled development to provide for the increasing influx of tourists and travellers who visit the island for the purpose of experiencing the island's unique aura. Maintaining and nurturing the island's natural abudance is it's salvation.

News has it that the tioman marine project has again resumed its work order.

Scuba Diving in Tioman...

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