Pulau Sembilan closed

> Move to remain until procedures formulated to safeguard environment on islands

IPOH: Until a proper enforcement framework is put in place, the popular Pulau Sembilan has been closed to visitors.

This comes after the Perak government found the natural settings and environment had been damaged by visitors.

Pulau Sembilan is an archipelago of nine islands popular for snorkeling, fishing and camping.

State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Communication and Multimedia Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi said the area, which is under the purview of the State Park Corporation, currently has no enforcement on visitors.

She said procedures to manage tourism, including implementing by laws, would be adopted before the island is reopened to the public.

At the launch of a bus service at Amanjaya Bus Terminal here yesterday, Nolee Ashilin said the island is closed for now and action will be taken against intruders after April 1.

The closure follows violation of a regulation that only 120 visitors are allowed at any one time as part of conservation measures as it is a small island and with only one strip of beach.

“However, we found there had been 300 to 400 people daily, that damaged the sand and other (natural features),” she said, adding that nongovernmental organisations and experts had come up with a management plan for the island.

Nolee Ashilin said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir will visit the island to get firsthand information on issues and problems.

On the launch of the bus services, she said it was in conjunction with Visit Perak Year, with the cooperation of Perak Transit Bhd and Tourism Perak.

Ten buses will ply the routes between Ipoh and Amanjaya, Bercham, Kuala Kangsar, Kampar, Manjung, Cameron Highlands and Penang.