Saudara Pengarang,
KESEMPATAN berkunjung ke
daerah Semporna, bandar kecil masih dengan tradisinya seperti adat, kehidupan,
perusahaan, perpaduan, semangat komunitinya
dan 'Regata Lepa' yang terkenal dalam kelendar Dunia; ditambah lagi
dengan tragedi berdarah serta bersejarah amat bersesuaian Semporna menjadi 'Bandar
Tradisi'.
Alhamdulillah, selama tiga
hari kami di Semporna (Jumaat - Ahad), tiada apa-apa yang berlaku. Malah orang
ramai sentiasa sibuk dengan urusan harian masing-masing, diiringi oleh
kedatangan pelancong asing dari seluruh pelusuk dunia.
Memperlihatkan bahawa daerah
Semporna selamat dikunjungi dan kehidupan harian masyarakat Semporna begitu
aman dan ceria dengan ada kawalan keselamatan oleh pihak Tentera, Polis dan
APMM yang bertindak secara bersepadu untuk memastikan daerah Semporna selamat
dan aman.
Sebenarnya kita bukan tidak
pernah berkunjung ke daerah Semporna ini, sebenarnya kita belum menghayati dan
merasai bagaimana indahnya pulau-pulau di daerah Semporna dan juga air lautnya
luas terbentang indah; maka kita seharusnya menikmati keindahan daerah Semporna
yang penuh dengan adat budaya yang cantik dan bersopan santun dengan ragam
kehidupan mereka.
Berkunjung ke Semporna kita
akan merasai agak berbeza kerana dalam kesempatan melihat hampir ke segenap pelusuk,
dari pusat pekan hinggalah ke perkampungan dalam lingkungan 10 batu radius.
Sungguh menarik dan unik.
Hanya yang mampu kita ucapkan cantiknya dan indahnya daerah Semporna yang di keliling
lautan yang membiru. Memasuki pelusuk-pelusuk kampungnya yang dihiasai oleh
rumah-rumah kampung yang masih bercorak tradisi masyarakat BAJAU,
"Semporna ini boleh dikatakan sebagai bandar dalam kampung dan kampung
dalam bandar".
Di tengah-tengah pekan
kelihatan bukan sahaja bangunan komersil dan pejabat tetapi turut kelihatan
bangunan institusi pendidikan tinggi seperti Kolej Politeknik MARA, rumah
ibadat dan rumah kediaman persendirian.
Demikian juga di celah-celah
rumah persendirian dalam kampung, kelihatan premis-premis perniagaan di samping
taman perumahan dan bangunan sekolah. Tidak keterlaluan jika saya syorkan
bahawa banyak lokasi yang sesuai digunakan untuk venue penggambaran filem dan
drama. Pokoknya, Semporna memang unik dan menarik.
Bagi mengekalkan ciri-ciri
menarik dan keunikan Semporna, pihak kerajaan (dan khususnya para pemimpin dan
tokoh-tokoh politik tempatan) harus menimbangkan agar Semporna diisytiharkan
sebagai sebuah Bandar Tradisi.
Pantun istimewa untuk orang
Semporna dan seluruh masyarakat Bajau Pantai Timur yang cintakan kedamaian.
Dulu
orang panggil Tong Talun,
Kini
sudah jadi Semporna;
Dulu
orang berduyun-duyun,
Kini
terkenal seantero dunia.
Bangsa
empunya si bangsa Bajau,
Kaya
budaya tutur katanya;
Bagus
sudah jauh merantau,
Kini
kembali membina bangsa.
Adat
Bajau addat bangsahta,
Adat
ditatang Islam dijunjung;
Berpada-pada
merentas samudera,
Kembali
datang membawa sanjung.
Salam Hormat,
JAFAR MUSTAFAH
Four Sabah forest reserves with high conservation value have been reclassified to further protect its biodiversity and wildlife.
ReplyDeleteThe State Assembly passed the amendments to the Forests (Constitution of Forest Reserves and Amendment) Enactment 1984 to excise, constitute, classify and reclassify the forest reserves from Class II to Class I.
Earlier, when proposing the bill, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Ellron Angin said the 33,969 hectares of Malua Forest Reserve Class II (Commercial) have been reclassified as Protection Forest Reserve Class I and to be known as Malua Forest Reserve Class I (Protected) which will serve as an important Gene Bank, Malua Bio-Bank project and habitat for the Orang Utan.
ReplyDeleteThe 6,665 hectares of Gunung Rara Forest Reserve Class II was reclassified as Protection Forest Reserve Class I and to be known as Mount Magdalena Forest Reserve Class I (Extension).
ReplyDeleteThe other two are the 3,265 hectares of Gunung Rara Forest Reserves Class II and 19,870 hectares of Kalabakan Forest Reserve Class II, that have been reclassified as Protection Forest Reserve Class I and to be known as Tambulanan Forest Reserve Class I and Sungai Tiagau Reserve Class I, respectively. These areas are of high conservation values and act a buffer for the Maliau Basin.
ReplyDeleteEllron said that the reclassification aims to protect and conserve the forests, besides maintaining it as a buffer zone to protect the environment and wildlife, which are becoming rarer, threatened and endangered.
ReplyDelete“This is also to create a wildlife corridor to link the forest reserves in Danum Valley, Maliau and Imbak Canyon,” he said.
The bill also saw the 720 hectares of Mount Wullerdorf Forest Reserve Class I and 228 hectares of Ulu Kalumpang Forest Reserve Class I being excised for the purpose of socio-economic development.
ReplyDeleteBoth forest reserves, which are located in Kunak, are degraded and have been encroached.
Meanwhile, the 6,429 hectares of Menumbok forest was reconstituted as Mangrove Forest Reserve Class V and to be known as Menumbok Forest Reserve Class V (Extension II).
ReplyDelete“This area is suitable for research, education, flora and fauna conservation and protection of marine life,” Ellron said.
Following the amendments made to the Enactment, the Sabah Government now has a total of 3,614,730.55 hectares of forest reserves, which is an addition of 5,481 hectare.
ReplyDelete“Our forest reserves cover at least 48.28 per cent of the state, therefore Sabah’s forest coverage will continue to increase to 52 per cent, which exceeds the National Forestry Policy that targets 48 per cent from the overall size of the state,” said Ellron.
Before the reclassification of forest reserves were made, Sabah owned 773,705.74 hectares of Forest Reserve Class I (Protection), which was an increase of 55.78 per cent or 431,555.74 hectare compared to 342,150 hectares about a decade ago.
ReplyDelete“This shows that the state government is commited to conservation work and protecting Sabah’s forests,” he said.
Ellron added that since 2009, a total of 443,854 hectares of Forest Reserves have been certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), while 424,520 hectares are still pending approval.
ReplyDelete“This is proof that our forest management is recognised globally, for example the Deramakot Forest Reserve which is the first tropical rainforest that has been certified under the FSC and has become a model for forest management since 1997,” he said.