The Pahang government had in 2021 applied to excise Tioman and three nearby islets as a federal government-classified marine park.
The Pahang cabinet made the decision on Jan 19, 2021, and March 16, 2021, to pursue its goal of a new airport in Tioman to boost tourism.
According to the Auditor-General's Report 2022, Pahang had recommended the excision of Tioman and the three islets of Soyak, Rengis and Tumok from the marine park cluster.
The three islets are the most popular diving and snorkelling spots immediately off Tioman's west coast.
This would leave only 10 other islands or islets - mostly far away from Tioman - with marine park status.
According to the audit report, the Fisheries Department had in 2022 told the Pahang government that it did not agree with the plan.
In a correspondence to the National Audit Department in June and August this year, the Fisheries Department said, among others, it had drafted a cabinet paper to propose amendments to the Fisheries Act 1985 to tighten laws on the excision of marine park areas (MPA) by amending provisions related to marine parks and marine reserves.
Expanding marine park areas
The auditor-general in his report said that the proposal to excise the islands from marine parks could potentially affect Putrajaya's goal of classifying 3,126 sq km as MPA by 2030.
Only 2,769.12 sq km has been achieved. Putrajaya's ultimate goal was to declare 31,261.246 sq km as MPA.
The Tioman archipelago was classified as a marine park in 1994.
Under Section 41 of the Fisheries Act 1985, the minister may establish an area as a marine park to protect coral reefs. The Fisheries Act 1985 comes under the purview of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.
In August, the cabinet decided not to proceed with the proposal to construct a new airport in Tioman because it would involve reclaiming land and potentially damage marine life. - Mkini
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