COVID-19, as we well know, put a stop to many economic activities. We had to stay at home, unless we were part of essential services. Now, however, with the relaxing of restrictions under the current Recovery Movement Control Order, the vast majority of economic activities have started up again. And so, too, a certain reclamation project in Klebang, Melaka.
To be clear, the project was stopped even before the pandemic hit our shores. There were complaints and calls from environmentalists for it to stop due to the concerns of what it would do to the marine environment. Yet that project has now been restarted.
The state government, apparently, has not issued a work order for it to continue. But continue it does. And to what sort of detriment? Melaka has changed over the past few decades. It has grown in size due to several reclamation projects. And, it's pretty apparent as well. All one needs to do is go to a certain park where a certain stone is located.
That stone, if it is still there, is believed to be of historical value and is surrounded by concrete and covered by a grate. It is said that the stone is the original "stepping stone", where those who arrived on ships would first step foot on Melaka's shores after coming in on rowboats. What this means is — that was part of the shoreline, if it were truly the stepping stone.
Looking in the direction of the sea from that stone, you would be hard pressed to actually spot any water. That's how much land has already been reclaimed. Now, the people of Melaka, particularly the people in Klebang, are facing another reclamation project, another threat to the state's marine ecosystem and, consequently, another threat to the livelihoods of fishermen.
We need to save Melaka's marine ecosystem — in fact, that of the entire country's. Only reclamation projects that are necessary should be considered. Melaka's marine ecosystem, it has to be said, is essential to Melaka's heritage.
As a United Nations Scientific, Education and Cultural Organisation heritage site, it is not just old Melaka town which should be considered worth preserving. After all, Melaka was once well known as a turtle landing site. Now, that really does not happen much, and all the efforts in the world of the turtle conservation centre in Padang Kemunting, launched just last year, will come to no avail.
All the world's natural ecosystems have already been damaged enough. This is so much so that a major study from scientists in Australia and the United States, published in April, found that the loss of biodiversity and degradation of natural habitats had made virus spillover events, including that of the Covid-19 pandemic, much more likely.
With the world environment having shown improvements due to lockdowns instituted in many countries during the course of the pandemic, why should we go back to old ways by threatening ecosystems and biodiversity? Do we need another Covid-19 or worse, to make us realise that we need to look after the environment? Do we need to be reminded about how precious our ecosystem really is for us to survive?
It is high time we consider that marine conservation is not just for places like Sabah, famous internationally for its dive spots. We are a maritime nation. Let's act like we appreciate that fact.