KUANTAN: Tasik Chini, the country's second largest freshwater lake, was on the verge of dying several years ago due to environmental destruction when the Pahang government stepped in to implement several "unpopular" decisions.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail compared the situation at the lake located in Pekan in the past and the current day similar to 'langit dan bumi" (huge difference).
"Some people told me that Tasik Chini and the surrounding hills were badly damaged, and nothing could be done to rescue it.....I replied that yes the lake is in a bad shape but we (state government) have to do something. They told me the area around the lake was completely botak (bald) and would not be able to meet the Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) criteria.
"At that time, the mining works at the lake had been approved. I discussed with the State Secretary, State Land and Mines office, and Mineral and Geoscience Department before we decided to stop all mining activities at the lake and could face legal action...it was an unpopular decision to stop mining but today the lake has recovered.
"I went there myself upon receiving complaints about the pollution at the lake....when I went several years ago, 80 percent of the lake area was left bare covered with soil and no greenery but now things have changed....now 80 per cent of the area is covered with trees," he told reporters when met here today.
Wan Rosdy earlier closed the Ulu Cheka Forest Biological Diversity Scientific Expedition Seminar and attended Tasik Chini's recognition under the Unesco's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme here.
Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy expressed his gratitude to all parties who had worked tirelessly to "rescue" Tasik Chini through their replanting and rehabilitation efforts.
"It was not an easy task to revive the lake. Researchers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the Pekan district office along with various government agencies provided various assistance....it has come a long way and the lake retained its Unesco status in June.
"Now since the landscape around the lake has recovered, the state government will continue to monitor and promote the lake for tourism purposes. We want to safeguard the lake water quality which was once not safe for drinking.....this is an endless process and continuous improvements will be carried out," he said.
In 2019, Tasik Chini came under the spotlight after news emerged that the lake is facing the risk of losing its biosphere reserve status accorded by the Unesco if land clearing and mining are allowed to continue extensively.
In 2021, Wan Rosdy said there are zero-mining works near the lake after two existing operators were issued with a stop-work order.
Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said there are plans to recognise the Mossy Forest in Cameron Highlands as the second biosphere reserve in Pahang after Tasik Chini.
"I have instructed the Forestry Department to submit the necessary paperwork to the state executive council meeting for further discussions. If everything goes as planned, the discussion will be held within the next three weeks," he said.