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Langkawi Nature Blogs
Langkawi's Marine Park gets a Resort
Shirley/Mark, 30 August 2009
The 'Eco Dive Resort' is being built
If you have heard of the rumor about a resort being built in Langkawi's Marine Park - in Pulau Payar - it is true. As Raymond Foo, one of the owners of 'D'Coconut Resort', confirmed us: "The project of building the 'Pulau Payar Eco Dive Resort' had been proposed about 5 years ago but was put in pending until recently, because the Kedah state government could not find the right person to carry it out - until D'Coconut Resort decided to take over and now ...
the preparations for this project have already started two months ago." The resort is approved by the YB. Encik Mohammad Radzhi Bin Salleh, the Exco Tourism of Kedah state. The 15-room resort is estimated to be completed and opened to the public in mid November or early December this year.
Pulau Payar
- an island at the northern part of the Straits of Malacca, near Kuala Kedah and 30 km south of Pulau Langkawi - was declared a marine park in 1985. The park consists of four islands - Pulau Payar, Pulau Lembu, Pulau Segantang and Pulau Kaca. Studies by WWF have shown that the location is habitat of 36 genera of hard coral, 92 marine invertebrates and 45 genera of fish species.
A full MAP of Pulau Payar with the diving sites and
the infrastructure can be found here
To see pictures of the "Half-Golf-Ball-Houses" already there, go here
The history of Resorts on Pulau Payar
In the 1990's, a 13 million Ringgit project of building 12 semi-golf-ball-shaped units was initiated by the former Kedah's head of government, Syed Razak bin Syed Zain Barakhbah. However, the operation did not came to fruits: The resort was closed down before it ever opened - due to strong opposition from other parties that were concerned about the environmental damage.
The Experiences with Pulau Sipadan (Borneo
)
"In year 2004, the Government of Malaysia ordered all on-site dive and resort operators of Sipadan to move their structures out of the island by 31 December 2004. This move is mainly to conserve a balanced ecosystem for Sipadan and its surrounding.
Diving will continue to be allowed in Sipadan for divers who are ferried in and out by dive and resort operators from the mainland and surrounding islands. However, tourists and keen divers should be warned that the number of permits available for Sipadan each day is limited to 120 ...." (Wiki)
The concern of the Naturists
In order not to damage the ecosystem and biodiversity of the place, an effective waist management is crucial. In this regard, the question is: what is considered to be waist (definition), is it handled effectively (or brought out), and what kind of control takes place.
The monitoring of the situation by scientists can only show damage, when it is already - or nearly already - too late. Therefore, the above is of the highest importance for the conservation of the place and the steady arrival of happy future tourists.
A history of the marine park establishments in Malaysia, up to 2007, you find here
Comments
pulau Payar is still doom by Spilornis on 11 Sep 2009, 12:49 pm
Raymond foo may have the best practice in mind. but what sort of certification does he have to make the resort 'green'? Raymond is a businessman and he can claim whatever he wants.
Raymond's invitation for MNS langkawi for site inspection is just a gimmick. This is because he knows that mns langkawi members are volunteers and lacking in expertise in conducting proper research.
a suggestion would be researchers from universities that have conducted survey previously to perform another survey to test the suitability. That MUST BE DONE even before the renovation takes place.
garbage carrying out would means more vessels coming in/out daily = increase temperature + increase sedimentation = coral bleaching = destroy of corals in a slow progress.
The islanders DEMAND a proper, independent and clean EIA to be done.
which is which by Spilornis on 11 Sep 2009, 6:34 pm
Mark,
Seems like a contradiction here.
Your writeup stated 15-rooms resort and your comment mentioned 12-semi golf shaped rooms...??? U mean raymond will build another 3 more rooms?
(a semi golf ball shaped room? what are they trying to build next? a golf resort?)
Contradiction by Mark on 11 Sep 2009, 6:55 pm
You are right. I had this figure 12 in my head from the "Half Golf Balls" and was wrong. Sorry. It's 15.
We did call Mr. Raymond and he told us 15. How the difference comes I do not know. May be you phone him? He is very open.
Mark
Let's get the facts first by Mark on 11 Sep 2009, 10:54 am
Sorry - I had tyo delete the previous comment, as it did attack on a personal level.
Let's get the facts first:
Mr. Raymond from the Coconut Resort told a Langkawi MNS member:
"Before being awarded the project the state goverment wanted the best practice in place and made an inspection visit of my resort in the east coast before the final decision was made. Some measures I have in place are:
1. The grey water and black water sewage system at the resort complies with international and national standards. All Treated water will be used on the plant of the resort and not discharged into the ocean.
2.There will be a combustion generator to power the resort but in addition it has solar panels to light up the guest rooms at night.
3.All garbage produced at the resort will be transported back to the mainland or island."
Mr. Raymond has invited mns members to make an effort to visit the resort at P. Payar for a site inspection.
All this, the fact, that obviously the Government AND the new resort owner are fully aware of the sitation and willing to prevent any damage - together with the fact, that the resort will only have 12 rooms, makes the whole thing look as 'not a very hot issue'.
Sure, steady control will be necessary, and I am sure, the MNS members of Langkawi will do their part to that.
Mark