Although half a world away, we've been following the damage at Sipadan very closely. Initially, reports indicated that the barge was carrying materials to construct a resort on the island. However, now that the dust has settled, it seems the barge was carrying materials to construct "improved rest facilities for divers visiting the island during the day, to replace the current temporary facilities." Apparently, these rest facilities have been an ongoing construction project, despite calls from opposition government members that they are unnecessary.
Nevertheless, construction has been halted until such time as a thorough investigation into the accident is complete. In the meantime, the dive operators who service Sipadan have collectively agreed to assist the government in its enquiry and to support them as they devise a plan for rebuilding. In other words, rather than bash the government or the contractor who caused the damage, they are focusing on what can be done to protect this resource -- and many like it -- into the future.
1. Great to see you staying on this story Willy. The link you give to that article in Malaysian newspaper The Star pretty much sums up my opinion - that building facilities is completely un-necessary and should not have been authorised in the first place. The whole reason the dive resorts were asked to shut down was that so the island would not have a human presence on it which was interfering with the huge resident turtle population. As that article says, there are two resorts 15 minutes boat ride away from Sipadan - there 's simply no need to have to go to the toilet or get refreshments on the island. It's simply an exercise in making money that has no thought for the environment at all.
Sadly I wouldn't agree with you that the government and dive operations are doing what's right for the island's future - there's clearly been some backsliding from the original resolution which has led to this recent disaster. I can't see what better warning the dive operators and the government alike need to simply stop all building on Sipadan forever and schedule boat runs straight back to the other resorts directly after dives.
Posted at 10:30AM on May 23rd 2006 by Chris Mitchell