Source : The Star, Malaysia, 12 Mar '09
By : Simon Khoo
  

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the Federal Government must have strong and valid reasons to arrive at the decision.

“We will abide by the decision,” he said in a brief response to the announcement on the cancellation of the project by Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat recently.

Ong said the decision was taken after considering various factors, particularly the impact on the environment such as corals and other marine life.

He said the ministry would instead propose to upgrade the present airport to cater for ATR (turboprop) aircrafts.

Malaysian Nature Society head of communications Andrew J Sebastian described the cancellation as “good news for Malaysia and a vindication for nature lovers.”

He said for years, the society had been working towards ensuring that Tioman Island’s unique and fragile ecosystem would be sustainably managed and conserved.

“We thank the Ministry of Transport for being sensitive towards the many reports and feedback on the environmental impact.

“We reiterate our stand that a designated marine park island such as Tioman must be managed holistically,” he said, adding that conservation and carrying capacity must take precedence over mega projects and increasing volume of visitors.

Sebastian also urged the Government to solve the jurisdictional authority of marine park management and put into motion resources to deal with waste management, sustainable planning and encourage eco-friendly practices on all islands.

“This will ensure our islands will forever be on top of the deserving list of marine park islands of the world,” he said.

The construction of the new airport on reclaimed land in Kampung Paya, some 2km from Kampung Tekek, was supposed to have commenced in 2004.

Among others, it would have had a 2km-long runway and could accommodate Boeing 737 aircrafts with a bigger passenger load.

However, the project drew strong protests from villagers and chalet operators in Kampung Paya, Kampung Genting and Kampung Mukut.

The current airport in Kampung Tekek could only accommodate a 42-seater aircraft due to a short runway.

Tioman Island has a population of over 3,000 people and covers more than 13,000ha of land, mainly forest and rocks.