Reef Check Malaysia releases 2021 Annual Survey Report; launches ocean health awareness campaign

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 FEBRUARY 2022 - Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has published its annual report on the Status of Coral Reefs in Malaysia, 2021. Covering over 200 sites around Malaysia, the report reveals that Live Coral Cover (LCC), a key indicator of reef health, increased slightly to 44% from 41% in 2020.

The annual survey programme – running for 15 years now, covers over 200 sites around Malaysia. Surveys are conducted by RCM staff, government agencies and volunteers. Ms Chen Sue Yee, Programme Manager in charge of the report, said that:

“while the increase in LCC is to be welcomed, there are also a number of indicators that show coral reef health is being damaged by a variety of impacts including pollution, marine debris and warm water bleaching.”

With reefs and other marine ecosystems under increasing pressure from climate change, RCM has launched a year-long campaign to raise awareness of ocean conservation issues.

RCM’s General Manager, Julian Hyde said that

“Scientists are increasingly concerned about the health of the ocean, and the ecosystems in it, including coral reefs. But the problem with the ocean is that so few people know just how much we benefit from a healthy ocean. And as a coastal nation, whose marine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) area is greater than its land area – this is particularly important for Malaysia”.

A recent report by Deloitte highlights some important, but little known facts, about the ocean. Half of the oxygen we breath comes from the ocean. It is an important carbon sink, absorbing about one third of human carbon emissions. Coastal ecosystems including mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs provide free and natural protection against flooding, and are a nursery and habitat for many marine species that provide food for local communities. Data from Marine Parks Malaysia suggest that the total economic value of the East coast Parks could be up to RM 7.8 billion.

Hyde continues “the ocean is receiving increasing attention for its biodiversity and as an important provider of ecosystem services. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is currently being negotiated and will put in place important targets and strategies for protecting and managing our oceans, including increasing protected areas. We support this, and we want more Malaysians to be aware of what the issues are, hence this ocean literacy campaign”.

The campaign, which begins in March, will include webinars, social media posts and talks to address ocean conservation issues. Follow RCM on Facebook or Instagram @reefcheckmalaysia to get updates and resources on the ocean literacy campaign.

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Seiko Malaysia funds waste and recycling collection on idyllic island

KOTA BELUD, 21 FEBRUARY 2022 – Seiko Malaysia strengthens their commitment to ocean conservation through their latest collaboration with Reef Check Malaysia on a 3-month community-led waste management and recycling programme on Mantanani Island, Sabah.

Seiko Prospex Save the Ocean supports marine conservation activities in order to give back to the diver's community.

 “As we all know, the ocean contains more than 97% of the world’s water, and the ocean provides millions of livelihoods that stimulate local and global economies. The objective of the campaign – SAVE THE OCEAN is to prevent the pollution of the local coastal environment as well as to raise awareness of the prevention of marine debris for a cleaner, healthier ocean planet”, shares Michael Lim, General Manager of Thong Sia Sdn Bhd (Sole distributor of Seiko timepieces in Malaysia and Brunei).

In January alone, 5,872 kg worth of waste were collected from 174 participating homes. 85% of the waste was made up of food waste. Without funding to manage the waste and recycling collection, their only solution to get rid of waste is burning, burying, or dumping the trash into the ocean.

“It is important to have a proper waste management system on any small or remote island to protect the health of the local islanders and the environment, while ensuring the island is kept clean to remain attractive for tourists,” shares Adzmin Fatta, Programme Manager of Reef Check Malaysia in Sabah.

Aerial view of the village on Mantanani Island

Located 25 km off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia, Mantanani Island is home to a population of 1,024 islanders continues to face challenges due to its remote location and limited facilities, space, and resources for waste.

The programme also provides alternative income to the local island communities. Currently, 10 local islanders are hired to help with the programme as they delegate and efficiently collect the waste from the villages.

Daily waste collection team

The waste management programme transforms the lives of the local communities and protect the oceans from pollution. Reef Check Malaysia is continuously looking for ongoing support in their efforts to combat marine debris.

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About Reef Check Malaysia 

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is part of the world-wide Reef Check network. Since it was registered in 2007, RCM has become established as a leader in coral reef conservation in Malaysia and has field teams based in Tioman Island, Mantanani Island, and the Johor Islands. Its activities are organised around training survey divers and conducting coral reef surveys at over 200 locations around Malaysia to monitor coral reef health, working with stakeholders to improve the management of coral reefs in Malaysia to secure long term conservation goals, conducting studies on reef resilience and rehabilitation to better understand coral reefs and impacts, and raising awareness of the importance of coral reefs and the valuable ecosystem services they provide. https://www.reefcheck.org.my/  

“Ghostbusters” on Tioman Island fights to save the ocean

During this Covid-19 pandemic year, the Tioman Marine Conservation Group (TMCG) on Tioman Island were able to successfully remove 37 ghost nets weighing over 4,000 Kg, removed over 700 Crown-of-Thorns starfish, conducted over 60 reef surveys, and installed 15 mooring lines in the ocean.

Tioman Marine Conservation Group

TMCG, also known as the “ghostbusters” due their frequent ghost nets cleanups, began as a small group of five from Kampung Tekek and Kampung Air Batang in 2015, has now expanded to a total of 65 members spanning all seven villages on the Island.

The members are all local islanders who have expressed an interest in marine conservation and being a part of managing the island’s resources.

Born and raised on Tioman island, Shahir B Yaman, one of the founding TMCG member shares, "I am proud and thankful to have this opportunity to gain skills from the programme and now lead the TMCG. We are not only conducting conservation activities but also creating awareness among the community and acting as role models. TMCG is a good example for Malaysia on how local islanders can protect their island.”

Shahir (left) and fellow EcoDivers completing a Reef Check survey 

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has organized various trainings to equip the TMCG members with skills and knowledge which they can apply to assist in day-to-day marine resource management activities, such as installation and maintenance of mooring buoys, removal of ghost nets and marine debris, bleaching monitoring, Crown-of-Thorns Starfish monitoring, coral rehabilitation, and so on.

The team is led by Alvin Chelliah, Senior Programme Manager of RCM. “We learned that protecting the ocean is beyond just coral reef monitoring and surveys and we had to look at initiatives that directly involve and impact the community. We slowly shifted our focus to participatory management – an approach where responsibilities are shared among various stakeholders, from local communities, government or non-government actors, to policymakers. And that is how the TMCG came about,” Alvin shares.

TMCG members removing abandoned fishing nets around Tioman Island

The training and setting up of the TMCG was fully sponsored by Yayasan Sime Darby. The group was later supported by the Department of Marine Parks Malaysia and is currently sponsored by a matching grant from the Ministry of Finance.

RCM hopes to strengthen the TMCG and replicate this success with communities on other islands, providing new livelihood opportunities that do not rely entirely on tourism, and at the same time strengthening reef conservation through a participatory approach to management. 

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About Reef Check Malaysia

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is part of the world-wide Reef Check network. Since it was registered in 2007, RCM has become established as a leader in coral reef conservation in Malaysia and has field teams based in Tioman Island, Mantanani Island, and the Johor Islands. Its activities are organised around training survey divers and conducting coral reef surveys at over 200 locations around Malaysia to monitor coral reef health, working with stakeholders to improve the management of coral reefs in Malaysia to secure long term conservation goals, conducting studies on reef resilience and rehabilitation to better understand coral reefs and impacts, and raising awareness of the importance of coral reefs and the valuable ecosystem services they provide. https://www.reefcheck.org.my/

Bringing together the community to reduce waste from home

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 SEPTEMBER 2021 – Reef Check Malaysia, an NGO working towards sustainable management of coral reefs in Malaysia, hosted a “reduce waste from home” campaign from 23 August to 19 September called #ICCfromHome in an effort to raise awareness on the problem of marine debris in conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day.

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a worldwide surge in demand for personal protect equipment (PPE) such as face masks, gloves, and gowns. With the number of new cases in Malaysia, the need to put on face masks by the public will just have to be prolonged. In addition, the increasing convenience of food delivery services has prompted the rise in the use of single-use plastic and food packaging.

Trash picked up on Pantai Teluk Nipah, Perak on ICC Day 2020

Theresa Ng, Programme Development Manager at Reef Check Malaysia said: “We need to know about the environmental impact of the waste we are generating. What gives us protection and convenience in our day-to-day lives, such as face masks or delivery food packaging, can in turn become a health hazard and harm our environment if disposed irresponsibly.”

The #ICCfromHome virtual campaign addressed marine debris pollution and provided simple weekly challenges and solutions on how Malaysians can prevent waste from entering our ocean even from home. The weekly challenges include knowing what goes in our bins, no single-use plastic bags, fighting food waste, and segregating at source. The campaign has garnered the attention from at least 17,660 individuals in Malaysia and has also encouraged companies like Malaysian Recycling Alliance Berhad, DKSH Malaysia, TechnipFMC, and ABB Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. to participate in the weekly challenges prepared.

#ICCfromHome Weekly Challenges

Theresa continued, “The pandemic has changed so much in how we do things and how we live our lives. We could not organize and clean up our local beaches as how we used to do over the past 3 years, but still, we are amazed with the genuine engagements from the community and the support we have received from our sponsors in the virtual ICC campaign.” A quick glance on the challenges taken on by the community can be found here.

The #ICCfromHome campaign was also made possible by sponsors who supported the effort including Malaysian Recycling Alliance, DKSH Group, Famous Amos, Morgan Home Appliances, and Us for Ocean.

"Waste Segregation at Source (SAS) is the key to cleaner coastal areas," said Pauline Goh, General Manager of MAREA, "We're glad to have helped in spreading awareness on how to practice SAS at home. We hope that participants will continue this practice and spread the idea to their circle of influence even after the ICC campaign."

As part of the #ICCfromHome campaign, weekly prizes sponsored by DKSH such as RM30 Famous Amos vouchers were awarded to 12 winners and a grand prize of the Morgan 3-blade circulation fan was awarded to Alyssa Ng.

Nicholas McLaren, Head, Country Management, DKSH Malaysia said: “At DKSH, we take responsibility for our environmental impact as part of the company’s sustainability strategies. At our workplaces, we have eliminated single-use plastic water bottles and provided facilities for waste-sorting and e-waste recycling. Through #ICCfromHome, we hope to advocate responsible waste management in the homes as well. Climate change is a mammoth environmental challenge best tackled with collaborative efforts among responsible organizations. We are proud to support Reef Check Malaysia in this campaign to protect the beaches and oceans of Malaysia, which is home to a rich diversity of marine life and coral reefs.”

Theresa adds on, “The #ICCfromHome campaign might officially be over, but we hope it has and will continue to lead the way for Malaysians in the effort of reducing waste and preventing more trash from entering our environment.”

If you would like to encourage your community or family to take on some of the activities, all #ICCfromHome resources is made available to the public on Reef Check Malaysia’s Facebook and Instagram page and you may contact Reef Check Malaysia at wecare@reefcheck.org.my for more details.

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About Reef Check Malaysia

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is part of the world-wide Reef Check network. Registered in Malaysia in 2007 as an NGO, RCM's early work was focused on coral reef monitoring and island based educational programs. Today, RCM monitors over 200 coral reefs annually around the country and runs resilience-based programmes for island communities. In addition, RCM is actively involved in marine debris awareness, waste management, and plastic recycling programmes and has been leading the annual International Coastal Cleanup event in Malaysia. You can access RCM’s ICC 2020 Report here. Find out more about Reef Check Malaysia’s work at www.reefcheck.org.my or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

About MAREA

MAREA, also known as the Malaysian Recycling Alliance, was established in January 2021 as an industry-led, pioneering initiative towards circular economy. Our goals will primarily revolve around enhancing collection, promoting the use of recycled and renewable materials as well as minimising post-consumer packaging leakage into the environment.

MAREA was founded by 10 like-minded initial FMCG companies that are taking the lead in EPR in Malaysia. The alliance currently comprises: Coca-Cola Malaysia, Colgate-Palmolive Malaysia, Dutch Lady Milk Industries, Etika Group of Companies, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Mondelēz International Malaysia, Nestlé Malaysia, Spritzer, Tetra Pak Malaysia and Unilever Malaysia.

With a clear mandate in hand, MAREA is committed to collaborating with the Malaysian Government and other stakeholders including consumers, waste collectors, recyclers and industry players to drive the singular goal of a greener Malaysia through circular economy solutions.

About DKSH

DKSH’s purpose is to enrich people’s lives. For more than 150 years, we have been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across our Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, we offer sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 32,450 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 10.7 billion in 2020. www.dksh.com

Nationwide International Coastal Cleanup Event Aims to Reduce Waste from Home This Year

Reef Check Malaysia, an NGO working towards sustainable management of coral reefs in Malaysia, is hosting a virtual International Coastal Cleanup campaign from 23 August to 19 September in an effort to raise awareness on marine debris pollution and provide simple solutions on how the public can prevent more waste from entering our ocean even from home.

#ICCfromHome Campaign

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 AUGUST 2021 – Every year, Reef Check Malaysia coordinates International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day in Malaysia. ICC is a global event that has been running for 35 years, during which volunteers all around the world engage and encourage their communities to take action by removing trash from beaches or oceans, identify the sources of the litter, and inspire change in beating marine debris pollution.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and MCO this year, ICC will be held virtually as #ICCfromHome with the focus for 2021 being 'preventing waste escaping into the environment', instead of 'cleaning up the environment'.

The 4-week virtual campaign will focus on encouraging consumer behavioural change through actionable challenges, quizzes, talks, and resources relevant to reducing waste at home. Best of all, participants will stand a chance to win weekly lucky draw prizes, sponsored by DKSH’s own brands, Famous Amos and Morgan. This campaign is also proudly supported by a new organization, MAREA (Malaysia Recycling Alliance) which aims to make a difference in the recycling of consumer packaging waste.

Since the onset of the pandemic, one of the most visible increases of used items is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks. In addition, the increasing convenience of food delivery services has prompted the rise in the use of single-use plastic and food packaging. While plastic is cheap and convenient, the consequences of becoming overly reliant on single-use plastic items comes with a huge ­­­­toll on our environment. Thus, the #ICCfromHome campaign supports the “Malaysia’s Roadmap Towards Zero Single Use Plastics 2018-2030" by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change, where the roadmap aims to address single-use plastics in Malaysia with multi-stakeholders as a collective effort.

 According to Reef Check Malaysia’s ICC 2020 Report, with the help of 3,500 volunteers from all over the country, more than 11 tonnes of trash were collected from over 200km of coastline. 24,493 plastic bottles were collected throughout the month of September 2020.

Data collected from ICC in Malaysia in 2020

Reef Check Malaysia’s Programme Development Manager, Theresa Ng, shares, “Marine debris isn’t an ocean problem—it’s a people problem. That means people are the solution. Tackling the problem of plastic in the ocean begins on land.” Theresa has been in charge of organizing ICC since 2018 and has seen the overwhelming data on trash collection by all ICC volunteers in Malaysia throughout the years.

 “Ocean trash affects the health of wildlife, people and local economies. We do not have to wait until we are able to safely organize beach cleanups in order to reduce marine debris from our coasts or the ocean. It can start today, right now, from the comfort of our homes” added Theresa.

The #ICCfromHome campaign will officially begin from 23 August until 19 September 2021. An easy and educational campaign which you can join for free simply by following Reef Check Malaysia on Facebook or Instagram. Weekly guidelines and updates on the campaign will be posted on their social media pages. For more information, please contact cleanup@reefcheck.org.my.

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About Reef Check Malaysia

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is part of the world-wide Reef Check network. Registered in Malaysia in 2007 as an NGO, RCM's early work was focused on coral reef monitoring and island based educational programs. Today, RCM monitors over 200 coral reefs annually around the country and runs resilience-based programmes for island communities. In addition, RCM is actively involved in marine debris awareness, waste management, and plastic recycling programmes and has been leading the annual International Coastal Cleanup event in Malaysia. You can access RCM’s ICC 2020 Report here. Find out more about Reef Check Malaysia’s work at www.reefcheck.org.my or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

About MAREA

MAREA, also known as the Malaysian Recycling Alliance, was established in January 2021 as an industry-led, pioneering initiative towards circular economy. Our goals will primarily revolve around enhancing collection, promoting the use of recycled and renewable materials as well as minimising post-consumer packaging leakage into the environment.

MAREA was founded by 10 like-minded initial FMCG companies that are taking the lead in EPR in Malaysia. The alliance currently comprises: Coca-Cola Malaysia, Colgate-Palmolive Malaysia, Dutch Lady Milk Industries, Etika Group of Companies, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Mondelēz International Malaysia, Nestlé Malaysia, Spritzer, Tetra Pak Malaysia and Unilever Malaysia.

With a clear mandate in hand, MAREA is committed to collaborating with the Malaysian Government and other stakeholders including consumers, waste collectors, recyclers and industry players to drive the singular goal of a greener Malaysia through circular economy solutions.

About DKSH

DKSH’s purpose is to enrich people’s lives. For more than 150 years, we have been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across our Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, we offer sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 32,450 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 10.7 billion in 2020. www.dksh.com

7-Eleven’s One-Of-A-Kind Reusable Bags To Benefit Reef Check Malaysia & Juara Turtle Project Through #TrashToTreasure Campaign

KUALA LUMPUR (11 AUGUST 2021) – 7-Eleven Malaysia has just launched an eco-friendly initiative to transform post-consumer plastic bottle waste into striking tote bags. The brand’s new and exclusive reusable bag collection is dedicated to sustainability, encouraging Malaysians to factor in environmental friendly steps while shopping.

The largest 24-hour standalone convenience store operator nationwide has released two reusable bag variants - the Out of the Ocean Bag and the Recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) Bottle Bag – to address the conundrum of what to do further with all the plastic waste being generated.

The Out of the Ocean Bag is constructed using 100% recycled ocean plastics whereby every bag removes the equivalent of two-to-three bottles from the oceans and waterways. This spacious bag may look dainty, but can support up to 15kg.

On the other hand, the Recycled PET Bottle Bag is upcycled from 100% recycled PET bottles. With a maximum carrying capacity of 10kg, this bag allows you to carry your purchased necessities while reducing the equivalent of up to three plastic bottles from the environment.

7-Eleven Malaysia’s General Manager of Marketing, Ronan Lee, expressed, “Plastic trash are ecologically damaging to the planet that we live on and we want to make a change through our Trash To Treasure reusable bag campaign that aim to drive momentum in influencing our customers’ behaviour to bring their reusable bags when shopping in our stores as well as provide financial contribution to our chosen change agent NPO partners as every little step matters.”

Lee continued, “On top of this, we are also currently using bio-degradable plastic bags in our stores as part of our environmental protection efforts. We hope that our sustainability initiatives will encourage our consumers to shop while keeping the environment in mind to protect the world that we live in from more plastic waste. We must do our part to transform #TrashToTreasure.”

First of their kind in Malaysia, 7-Eleven’s latest reusable bags are not only eco-friendly but look cute, too! The quirky bags are adorned with educational fun facts and their wide straps make them extremely comfortable to wear.

Affordably priced at RM7.90 (Recycled PET Bottle Bag) and RM13.90 (Out of the Ocean Bag), the reusable bags are available exclusively at selected 7-Eleven stores in Peninsular Malaysia. With huge bang for your buck, you can repay Mother Earth with kindness without breaking the bank.   

Best of all, as part of the #TrashToTreasure Reusable Bag campaign, from now until 16th September 2021, with every purchase of the reusable bags, RM1 will be channelled toward 7-Eleven’s environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners, Reef Check Malaysia and Juara Turtle Project, so you can play your role in supporting their nature conservation efforts while sporting a trendy tote on your shoulder.

General Manager of Reef Check Malaysia, Julian Hyde, said “Trash leaking into our ocean is a serious and universal issue. Our teams based on the islands and the island communities see it first-hand - trash washing up to the shores, plastic bags being caught on coral reefs, ghost nets trapping marine animals. It's devastating. Everyone has a role to play if we are to find sustainable solutions to this problem, and this initiative by 7-Eleven Malaysia is a perfect example of how companies can play a role”.

Sharing the same sentiment, General Manager of Juara Turtle Project, Tom Woodford, said, “We are really grateful to 7-Eleven Malaysia for stepping up and recognising that big companies need to help lead the way to changing how we use plastics. Plastic based marine debris is a massive problem for our marine life, including but not exclusive to the sea turtles that we work with here at JTP. We hope that this campaign will inspire people to change their behaviour and to make their own little contribution to protecting our ocean.”

While shopping for your reusable bags at 7-Eleven stores, you may perform another kind act for your local community by contributing to 7-Eleven Malaysia’s Kotak Putih campaign. At the same time, do check out exclusive products such as HY BTS Special Package coffee, Magnum Chocolate Truffle, Nescafe Gula Melaka, and Wonda Masala Spice Coffee, among others.

For more information on the latest #TrashToTreasure Reusable Bag Campaign, visit www.7eleven.com.my or its official social media pages at 7ElevenMalaysia.

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About 7-Eleven Malaysia

7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad through its subsidiary 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is the owner and operator of 7-Eleven stores in Malaysia. Incorporated on 4 June 1984, 7-Eleven Malaysia has made its mark in the retailing scene and has been a prominent icon for over 37 years. 7-Eleven Malaysia is the pioneer and largest 24-hour standalone convenience store operator in Malaysia with over 2,400 outlets nationwide and serves more than 1 million customers daily. 7-Eleven stores can be found across bustling commercial districts to serene suburban residential compounds throughout Malaysia, from petrol stations and LRT stations to shopping malls and medical institutions. 7-Eleven is Always There For You. To learn more, please visit our website at www.7-eleven.com.my.

About Reef Check Malaysia

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is part of the world-wide Reef Check network. Registered in Malaysia in 2007 as an NGO, RCM's early work was focused on coral reef monitoring and island based educational programs. Today, RCM monitors over 200 coral reefs annually around the country and runs resilience-based programmes for island communities. In addition, RCM is actively involved in marine debris awareness, waste management, and plastic recycling programmes and has been leading the annual International Coastal Cleanup event in Malaysia.

About Juara Turtle Project

Juara Turtle Project is a community-based marine conservation organisation, located on Tioman Island off the south east coast of Malaysia. For the last 14 years JTP has worked together with the Malaysian Department of Fisheries to conserve sea turtles, their eggs and their natural habitat. JTP's mission statement “To work with the local community to manage threats to the local sea turtle population” is representative of the work they do and how they attempt to deal with a wide range of marine conservation issues that not only affect turtles, but the marine ecosystem as a whole. To find out more, visit www.juaraturtleproject.com or check out their social media pages at Facebook and Instagram.

RM205,000 food aid donated by SC Johnson amplifies the need to support remote island communities around Malaysia

11 islands in Malaysia received RM205,000 worth of food aid from SC Johnson, a global manufacturer of household consumer and professional products, with the assistance of Reef Check Malaysia (RCM), to ease the burdens and challenges faced by remote island communities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

KUALA LUMPUR (29 July 2021)

RCM works closely with communities on a number of islands across Peninsular and East Malaysia. It is clear that their livelihoods have been severely impacted due to the loss of tourism, for many islanders the main economic activity.

Alvin Chelliah, Senior Programme Manager of RCM and leader of the Cintai Tioman programme, shares,

“Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen with our own eyes how island communities are struggling - even those who we did not think would be in need of assistance. Many on the islands worked in the tourism industry - resorts, dive centres, restaurants, all catered to tourists. Now, they are left with no income for months.”

Transporting of food aid to Mabul Island and Larapan Island

The RM205,000 food aid programme is expected to serve 2100 families across all the islands, with a budget of around RM90 per household. As of today, food aid has been successfully distributed to Redang, Tioman, Mantanani, Mabul and Larapan Island. Over the next few weeks, it will be distributed to Perhentian and the Mersing Islands. RCM is working closely with local community leaders to arrange distribution to those most in need.

Food aid distribution in Redang Island (left), Tioman Island (middle), Mantanani Island (right)

Rommy Aziz, a local fisherman on Mantanani Island who sold seafood pre-COVID-19 to tourists visiting Mantanani Island, was one of the recipients of the food aid. Rommy shares,

“I am so thankful for the food aid that has been donated to us by SC Johnson to help with our burdens. Much thanks also go out to Jawatankuasa Pembangunan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JPKK) and Reef Check Malaysia for handling the arrangements.”

General Manager of RCM, Julian Hyde, said:

“Island communities live in a fragile ecosystem – small island surrounded by the sea. We need to keep up the #kitajagakita spirit and work together to put the lives of the disadvantaged first”.

In July, the government announced a food basket programme to support those in need. For more information on how to apply for this program, please visit: https://portalsemakan.com/bakul-prihatin-negara/

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About Reef Check Malaysia

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is part of the world-wide Reef Check network. Registered in Malaysia in 2007 as an NGO, RCM's early work was focused on coral reef monitoring and island based educational programs.  Today, RCM monitors over 200 coral reefs annually around the country and is actively involved in reef management and conservation efforts.

About SC Johnson

SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including LYSOFORM®, AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 135-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

Reef Check Malaysia sends another 1,500 kg of trash off Mantanani; calls for more government support

Small, remote islands around the world share the same problem: lack of effective waste management. Malaysia is no exception.

Mantanani Island, Sabah (19 July 2021)

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is currently working alongside partners and local communities to improve the waste management system on Mantanani Island. Located approximately 22km off the West coast of Sabah, this group of three islands has two villages on Mantanani Besar – Kampung Siring Bukit and Kampung Padang, with an estimated population of 1,000.

Preparing waste collected to get transported to mainland

“Because of the island’s remote location, the local community has poor access to facilities” said Adzmin Fatta, RCM Programme Manager and leader of Cintai Mantanani, a programme designed to enhance the resilience of both the island’s community and coral reefs. “We only get electricity from 6pm to 6am, there is no piped water, no centralised sewage treatment, no healthcare facilities, and there was no waste management system in place.” Previously, common waste disposal practices included dumping to an open landfill on the island, open burning, burying underground, and dumping into the sea.

Daily waste collection team visiting households for waste collection

In order to address this major issue, RCM established a Waste Management Improvement Programme for the Mantanani Island community back in 2018 with 174 households now participating in the programme, serving a population of 905.

The Waste Management system was introduced in phases, starting in Kg Siring Bukit, the smaller village, and slowly being rolled out to the larger village.  To begin with, participating households were taught how to segregate their waste. Then, the waste collection team, who are hired locally, would visit each house every day to collect and transport the waste to a temporary waste segregation center for data recording, sorting, and storage. Organic materials are treated or used as food for the cows on the island; non-organic waste is sent off the island to a landfill on the mainland; plastic bottles are sent to RCM’s established Mantanani Plastic Recycling Centre (MPRC), where the plastic bottles are compressed for easy transport to the mainland for recycling and plastic bottle caps are repurposed into reusable products.

Summary of waste data collection from January to June 2021

The waste management system requires significant financial support to ensure that it is consistent, organized, and effective. Adzmin continues: “We have to consider the costs that go into managing a system such as this – maintenance of buildings and equipment; labour costs, which is also a source of income for local islanders; transportation of waste to the mainland for disposal.”

To put this into perspective, in January this year, the team sent 753kg of plastic bottles to a recycling facility in Kota Kinabalu and received RM150.60 from the sale of the recyclables. But it cost RM120 for land transportation and RM900 for boat transportation alone, not including labour costs. On average, Reef Check Malaysia spends RM6,000-8,000 each month to maintain the programme.

“Before the programme, we had to throw all of our waste to the beach area. The environment was very unsightly and everyone had to clean the waste around their house every day.” said Noriazziah, a teacher from the local community. “I hope that the programme can continue as it brings positive changes to the island.”

RCM is into the third year of operating the system. Adzmin said that: “Between January and June this year alone, 35,561.9kg of waste has been collected, preventing it from entering the ocean, or being burned or buried. The waste includes food, plastics, plastic bottles, glass, tin, and miscellaneous items. With a workforce of 10 and 905 participants from the community, this is a major achievement”.

Transportation methods of waste from island to mainland

“Collaboration between government agencies, tour operators and the local community is crucial to ensure the waste management system is successful in the long-term” said Julian Hyde, the General Manager of Reef Check Malaysia.

The programme started in 2018 with funding from Yayasan Hasanah and, later, the UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP).  Currently, the Coca-Cola Foundation is supporting the waste management programme, providing funding until October this year. RCM is working with Kota Belud District Council and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to secure long-term financial support, as well as additional equipment, for the waste management programme. For now, RCM will continue funding the programme, to provide this essential service to the community.

“If a small NGO like Reef Check Malaysia, together with the local community, can do it, it shows that this approach works and can be replicated on other islands” says Hyde.

Mantanani Island is just one of many islands in Malaysia that face this issue. Without long-term support for proper waste management, the beautiful coastal villages of Malaysia will be surrounded by waste on land and sea, creating unimaginable impacts to both communities and marine ecosystems.

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About Reef Check Malaysia

Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is part of the world-wide Reef Check network. Registered in Malaysia in 2007 as an NGO, RCM's early work was focused on coral reef monitoring and island based educational programs.  Today, RCM monitors over 200 coral reefs annually around the country and is actively involved in reef management and conservation efforts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

When will we truly start to respect nature and biodiversity?

By: Julian Hyde

I refer to the recent incident in which a barge-grounding destroyed an area of coral reef on the island of Mabul in Sabah. This is a sad incident that perhaps reflects the regrettably low level of awareness of biodiversity in the country and why it is important to society. According to reports, the barge operator was told of the damage he would cause by mooring the barge in a particular location, but chose to go ahead anyway. Many might think that an incident such as this should be treated with leniency – after all, it was an accident; and they may be right.

But what if an activity or project is proposed that will have known negative impacts on marine ecosystems? Where does the balance tip to a position that supports biodiversity rather than accepting further damage as “a necessary consequence of development”? When will we truly start to respect nature and biodiversity and put a true value on the ecosystem services it provides?

Healthy coral reefs off the coasts of Sabah

Reef Check Malaysia recently participated in a meeting of experts to develop an improved governance system for Malaysia’s coastal biodiversity. The group, led by the Academy of Science Malaysia, is working to identify important areas of biodiversity that should be targeted for conservation. The coastal area south of Kuantan was identified as one such area, and experts agreed that efforts should be made to protect and conserve it.

At the same time, Reef Check Malaysia is working with scientists to map marine resources along the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The same area south of Kuantan has been identified as having important coral reefs, reefs that thrive in the turbid coastal waters common in the area. They are an important biological asset: they are an essential link in connectivity between ecosystems; and they provide habitat to a wide range of marine organisms. The area is a known fishing ground for local communities, whose food source and livelihoods depend on the reefs.

Conducting reef surveys along the coasts of Tioman Island

Given the apparent low level of awareness of the importance of our natural resources, how can we protect these coastal ecosystems from damage caused by the so-called Blue Economy – marine tourism, extractive activities, shipping, and so on? Such activities can cause severe damage to marine ecosystems – by releasing silt, or by causing physical damage, etc. This can kill the coral reefs and other marine ecosystems that local communities rely on for food and livelihoods. While acknowledging there is also an economic dimension to such activities, we urge the government to consider carefully the impact on biodiversity, livelihoods and food security that such projects can have. Careful site selection might avoid unnecessary damage to marine ecosystems.

We can avoid another “Mabul” by selecting project sites carefully, taking into account both ecosystems and the livelihoods of local communities.

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Julian Hyde is the General Manager of Reef Check Malaysia (RCM). Registered in Malaysia in 2007 as an NGO, RCM's early work was focused on coral reef monitoring and island based educational programs.  Today, RCM monitors over 200 coral reefs annually around the country and is actively involved in reef management and conservation efforts. 

Reef Check Malaysia's View on Redang Airport Plan

By: Julian Hyde

Reef Check Malaysia is dismayed to learn of more plans for airport extensions on islands off the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia, this time on Redang Island.

In 2019, it was Tioman Island that was the hot topic, with a report in The Sun on October 7 quoting the project proponents that the construction of a new airport there was all but confirmed. The airport would be built on reclaimed land – which would destroy coral reefs directly within the project area and very likely affect coral reefs around the island due to the impacts of siltation disturbed during construction. The airport would directly affect 10% of the island’s western coastline – a 2 km long runway on a 20 km long coastline. Indirectly it would affect a much larger area due to disturbance along the flight path at low altitude. It would also effectively close down tourism operations in two of the island’s seven villages. The plan was that the airport would bring in hundreds of thousands of additional visitors every year…this to an island with insufficient water supply, insufficient electricity, an incinerator that can’t handle the current volume of trash generated, no integrated sewage treatment, very limited road network…

And now we hear plans for an international airport on Redang island – again, an extension of an existing airport.

The arguments against building a larger airport at Redang are very similar to the objections raised on Tioman:

•  Biodiversity: During construction of any marine infrastructure, there will be physical destruction of marine ecosystems in the immediate vicinity of the project site. When coral reefs are damaged by impacts of this magnitude, the biodiversity of the whole reef system declines, fish populations dwindle and a thriving reef community is replaced with a new ecosystem with much lower productivity. Reefs in this degraded condition are also not attractive to tourists.

• Infrastructure: Electricity supply, water supply, sewage treatment, waste management, road infrastructure – all are significant constraints to further development on the islands and for growth in tourism numbers.

• Economics of tourism: Once tourism has grown to a certain size, economic growth usually benefits outsiders as resort development opportunities are beyond the financial capacity of local residents, and large companies are attracted to the destination. Such resort development brings little benefit in terms of jobs to local communities, as large resorts rely on outside workers. Further, large resorts typically offer a comprehensive package of meals and activities, taking away business from local communities who no longer have access to the customers in resorts.

• Tourism trends: Post-coronavirus, tourism industry experts are predicting that mass tourism may never return. The post-coronavirus tourism industry will look very different, with smaller groups looking for nature-based, authentic local experiences in locations where safety and health can be assured. Cities will suffer; islands could benefit – but only if they are able to provide the high quality, small scale tourism experience that future travellers will be seeking.

Malaysia is a signatory of international agreements that commit the nation to protecting its biodiversity. The Malaysian National Policy on Biological Diversity sets out targets to protect biodiversity. Climate change impacts are becoming increasingly real in Malaysia…why are we even considering such projects that benefit few but have the potential to harm many?

We hope the government will carefully review these projects to ensure all the facts are taken into account before decisions are confirmed. Meanwhile, we urge everyone to make their views known by completing the social impact survey that PLAN  Malaysia set up: https://forms.gle/p52KeRXdqMCgu3ro6

Reef Check Malaysia releases 2020 annual survey report; urges stakeholders to play their part

Reef Check Malaysia has published its 2020 report on the status and health of coral reefs around Malaysia. The report concludes that, while overall coral reef health is reported to be in fair condition, some areas are showing signs of decline that need to be addressed. The surveys are a continuation of a National Reef Check Survey Programme that has now run for 14 years.

Kuala Lumpur (19 April 2021)

A total of 210 sites across Malaysia were surveyed in 2020. The results indicate that the average live coral cover, a key health indicator, is 41.3%, receiving a “fair” rating. This is a slight increase on 2019 (40.63%), reversing a slow decline that has been observed for 5 years. However, the average masks a wide range, and many sites recorded indicators of disturbance. Pollution, Crown of Thorns (COT – a coral eating starfish), fish bombing and tourism impacts appear to be the greatest threats facing coral reefs in Malaysia.

Coral reefs are valuable, economically and biologically. Lau Chai Ming, manager of the survey programme and co-author of the report, explains:

“Coral reefs are a source of both food and jobs for coastal communities. Islands like Tioman and Perhentian rely on reefs for tourism, which is the mainstay of the economy. Not only that, but they are important biologically, providing a habitat and breeding ground for a third of marine species. Put simply – no reefs, no fish. On a broader scale, they can connect ecosystems over large areas. Tioman, for example, is part of a reef system that has been identified by scientists as among the 50 most important reefs in the world – reef areas that we simply can’t afford to lose. It’s that important.”

The report calls for stronger local management, with the participation of local stakeholders, to ensure their interests are taken into account. Julian Hyde, General Manager of Reef Check Malaysia, said: “The results for the whole of Malaysia suggest little change on previous years. But this highlights the importance of looking at the data site by site. There is a wide range in Live Coral Cover (LCC), for example – from over 80% to just 5%. So it is clear that some sites are very healthy, while others are heavily impacted – even though they can be quite close to each other. This supports the argument for strengthening local management capacity, so that individual problem areas can receive more attention. And involving local stakeholders can increase buy-in to management objectives and programmes.”

The report also notes the importance of incorporating resilience concepts into reef management. Resilience describes the ability of an ecosystem to recover from external shocks – such as those that are expected as climate change impacts grow. Hyde says:

“There are actually some very simple, low cost measures that can be taken to improve reef health. Making sure waste is well-managed, supervising divers and snorkelling operations to reduce physical impacts to reefs, improving sewage treatment to reduce pollution – some of these measures can be implemented quickly and cheaply and can improve reef health in the short term.

So it’s not the end of the world – but we do have to take action now. We are living in an era where there is increasing concern about biodiversity conservation. We can all help to conserve Malaysia’s marine biodiversity.”

The report also notes the importance of incorporating resilience concepts into reef management. Resilience describes the ability of an ecosystem to recover from external shocks – such as those that are expected as climate change impacts grow. Hyde says: “There are actually some very simple, low cost measures that can be taken to improve reef health. Making sure waste is well-managed, supervising divers and snorkelling operations to reduce physical impacts to reefs, improving sewage treatment to reduce pollution – some of these measures can be implemented quickly and cheaply and can improve reef health in the short term. So it’s not the end of the world – but we do have to take action now. We are living in an era where there is increasing concern about biodiversity conservation. We can all help to conserve Malaysia’s marine biodiversity.”

The report also notes the importance of incorporating resilience concepts into reef management. Resilience describes the ability of an ecosystem to recover from external shocks – such as those that are expected as climate change impacts grow. Hyde says: “There are actually some very simple, low cost measures that can be taken to improve reef health. Making sure waste is well-managed, supervising divers and snorkelling operations to reduce physical impacts to reefs, improving sewage treatment to reduce pollution – some of these measures can be implemented quickly and cheaply and can improve reef health in the short term. So it’s not the end of the world – but we do have to take action now. We are living in an era where there is increasing concern about biodiversity conservation. We can all help to conserve Malaysia’s marine biodiversity.”

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About Reef Check Malaysia

Reef Check was established in the USA in 1996 to raise awareness on the importance of, and threats to, coral reefs. The local chapter, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM), was registered in 2007 as a non-profit company to engage with local stakeholders to protect, restore and revive coral reefs in Malaysia. Its surveys have highlighted various problems facing coral reefs in Malaysia, including overfishing, pollution and sedimentation from land-based development.

RCM also conducts education and awareness programmes for schools, organisations and local communities. It runs coral reef rehabilitation programmes that contribute towards the scientific understanding of coral reef ecology.

 Reef Check is active in 82 countries and territories throughout the world. Visit www.reefcheck.org.my for more information. The 2020 Annual Survey Report (and previous years) is available for download at https://www.reefcheck.org.my/annual-reports