Saddened by report on demolition of Bumi business premises

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IT was indeed saddening to have read the report of the demolition of a small Bumiputera business premises, done in a rather mean and harsh manner by government departments.

The proprietor claimed that she had been requested to maintain the cleanliness of Santubong National Park, hence she charged an RM8 entrance fee.

On the other hand, it is rather ironic to note that the national park authority is charging RM20 per adult for foreign visitors to visit Satang Besar Island from Santubong.

The island, as we understand, is privately-owned property and therefore not part of the Talang-Satang Marine National Park. However, we have to pay the entrance fee as we are entering the national park waters to the island.

As a tour-boat operator, our understanding of the National Park Ordinance is that the designated marine national park is an aquatic area below or beneath the territorial waters around the island.

So how is it logical that visitors are charged as we merely cruise on the water’s surface to go to the island? Not unless the visitors are going to do some underwater activities such as scuba diving.

On top of that, the national park authority does not provide any amenities for the convenience of visitors on the island.

To us it is illegitimate and unjustifiable for the national park authority to impose such an entrance fee as we are also paying a landing fee of RM10 per adult to the management committee of the island.