‘ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR CLEANLINESS, WELFARE’
Sabahan dive operator hopes govt will resolve fish bombing problem
IN their 2018 Budget wish list, Sabahans want to see improvements in terms of environmental cleanliness, maritime enforcement and welfare aid.
Trash Hero Borneo co-founder Monica Chin said she hoped the government would allocate funding for cleanliness activities, especially for those tackling the indiscriminate dumping problem.
“The government needs to aggressively conduct anti-litter programmes to boost awareness of the importance of keeping our nation clean.
“I want to see Sabah having the cleanest beaches in Southeast Asia.
“It is sad that people are throwing rubbish indiscriminately.
“We need to change this behaviour if we want to become a progressive nation.”
Chin, who is an avid scuba diver, said clean environment would boost the tourism industry as people preferred to travel to a peaceful and clean country.
“With this I hope the government will allocate more funds to boost the tourism industry, especially in Sabah, as there are many potential dive sites to be explored along the north and east coast,” she said.
Meanwhile, Camuel Tsen, a dive operator in Kudat hoped the government would allocate more funds for solving the fish bombing and poisoning problems that were prevalent in the state.
“The fish bombing problem is becoming severe here. We hear could hear (the explosions) almost every day.
“The activities are the main reasons why the marine life here is damaged and dying,” he said.
The 37-year-old suggested that the road in Kudat to be maintained as the tourism industry was booming for diving, surfing, and leisure activities.
Semporna Fishermen Association chairman Salleh Abdul Salleh said one of the fishermen’s wish list was to continue receiving petrol allowances.
“Jetties should be built in the district to make loading and unloading (of cargo) easier for fishing vessels.
“On the welfare of fishermen, we (the association) hope the government will allocate funds for their children’s education, and grant the association’s members to conduct business activities.”