Cintai Tioman Updates:
July-September 2026
Building Local Capacity & Skills
RCM supported a one-day training led by staff from the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia for Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDGs), equipping local community members to become enumerators for a survey across Tioman Island. Following the training, the newly trained enumerators surveyed 350 respondents across all seven villages, gathering insights into multidimensional poverty, including challenges related to education, healthcare and housing, as well as opportunities for alternative livelihoods. The initiative not only generates valuable information on the needs and challenges facing Tioman communities, but also builds local capacity to play a direct role in understanding and addressing these issues.
Participants of the computer skills training
We also conducted a two-part computer training programme over two months, equipping 17 participants, including 11 TMCG members, with essential digital skills. The training covered file management, Microsoft Office, internet use and email, helping participants build confidence in using technology for everyday tasks and supporting data management activities within TMCG.
Some TMCG participants during the training
Coral Bleaching Monitoring
Following a NOAA alert on rising sea surface temperatures linked to the recent El Niño, members of the TMCG conducted a coral bleaching watch across 18 sites around Tekek, Air Batang and Juara. The team noted that only 2–3 sites showed signs of bleaching, These monitoring surveys are done periodically, allowing the team to keep a close watch on reef conditions and track any changes.
One of the sites experiencing some bleaching
Conservation in Action with Partners
RCM continued to work with partners and supporters to turn conservation awareness into action across Tioman Island.
A team of divers from LUSH planting coral fragments
1. LUSH Malaysia
Building on its coral-themed product campaign launch, LUSH Malaysia supported RCM’s conservation efforts through a marine conservation programme. 415 coral fragments were planted at a site in Renggis Island, while 28 participants removed 187 kg of rubbish in Monkey Bay during a beach cleanup.
2. CIMB Islamic Bank
For its first visit to Tioman, CIMB Islamic Bank joined RCM for marine conservation activities at Teluk Kador. The team removed 138 kg of waste during a beach cleanup, including plastic bottles, Styrofoam, rubber and fishing gear. They also participated in a COT removal activity and a dive at one of our reef rehabilitation site. A briefing on RCM’s conservation work gave participants a closer look at efforts to protect Tioman’s marine environment.
One of the CIMB beach clean-up teams
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Would re-energising economies for a post-Covid-19 world mean rolling back on environmental protections on a rapidly changing ocean?
PART 1: SETTING THE SCENE
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Why Malaysia’s New National Tourism Strategy is a Milestone for the Economy and Conservation
Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has long been an advocate for a more inclusive, sustainable marine tourism industry in Malaysia, and as such we are pleased to express our strong support for the new National Tourism Policy, announced recently by the Prime Minister.
…it’s how we do tourism that is important.
