KUDAT: Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang has impressed on the Kudat local authority to preserve and reserve areas with tourism potentials strictly for tourism, including the turtle nesting grounds such as Bawang Jamal, Pantai Kelambu and Bak-Bak areas.
Teo, who is also Tanjung Kapor assemblyman, has received reports from the Kudat Turtles Conservation Society that turtles have been sighted in the Kudat waters, some were found to have come ashore to lay eggs.
Accordingly, Teo is requesting for the local authority to preserve and reserve the areas strictly for tourism, including the turtle nesting grounds.
In addition, he said the Kudat Tourism Development Council had designated the seas near Kampung Tampakan for aquaculture development.
Teo said this during his visit to Kudat to inspect several sites, including an aquaculture farm, Kampung Bak Bak and Sidek Esplanade jetty last weekend.
Teo said he was also concerned with reports that some villagers have erected huts and fence in the waters near Bak-Bak for sea cucumber farming.
“I went there to see for myself and at the same time to personally explain to the five villagers concerned that in the interests of Kudat as a whole, they have to move their sea cucumber farm to the area which has been designated for such purpose, to which they agreed.
“I urge the people of Kudat, especially those living at the seaside, not to disturb or harm the turtles or their eggs but to report to the Kudat Turtles Conservation Society so that due care can be given to ensure that the eggs are hatched and baby turtles released to the seas,” he stressed.
Teo also inspected the road condition at Taman Ehsan, SK Kudat II, SMK Abdul Rahim II and Taman Kudat during his visit.