RESORT STAFF IN BEACH CLEAN-UP

By JOHN TIONG

Berjaya Redang Beach Resort financial controller Norazman Chung was seen busy collecting rubbish on Chagar Hutang during the recent Redang Island Clean-Up Day.

Chagar Hutang, a remote beach on the northern side of the popular Terengganu island, is specially set aside by the Terengganu State Government for turtle rehabilitation.

Chung and some 20 others, including media members as well as employees of Sony Malaysia (the event main sponsor) picked up some five large plastic bags of rubbish strewn on the beach. There were lots of styrofoam and plastic bottles, some with Thai writings on them.

In the group was Professor Chan Eng Heng of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, the woman in the forefront of turtle rehabilitation in the country.

She praised the clean-up that also took 65 divers into the sea to clear debris as well as the devastating crown of thorns that feed on corals.

"Turtles tend to swallow plastic bags while feeding in the sea and this can be fatal for them," said Chan who has helped save thousands of turtle and terrapins through her Save our Turtles Outreach Programme or STOP. She even earned a Global 500 Laureateship in 2001 for her work.

Eight students from the Taylor's College, who had just finished their voluntary STOP service at the beach, were seen happily leaving the island on the clean-up day.

They kept an hourly watch for turtle landings during their week-long stay. Egg sites were immediately marked and covered with wire mesh to prevent the eggs being eaten by monitor lizards. The mesh had holes large enough for baby turtles to crawl through.

Volunteer Thomas Tan said: "We waited six days to see a hawksbill lay eggs. There were altogether eight landings, mostly green turtles."

Berjaya Redang Beach Resort resident manager Michael Tan said the hotel wants to work with the State Government in the annual clean-up. "This year, the State clean-up was conducted two weeks before ours. It would be nice if we can do it together so that it can be more thorough."

The Redang Clean-Up day is endorsed by The Malaysian Sport Diving Association (MSDA), PADI Project AWARE (dive industry's leading non profit organisation) and supported by Tourism Malaysia.