Selamatkan bumi

Seluruh dunia sedang menghadapi satu krisis besar kebelakangan ini. Perubahan cuaca yang tidak menentu dan kemunculan pelbagai penyakit yang sebahagiannya belum diemui kaedah perubatannya.

Tahun lalu dan baru-baru ini negara kita dilanda banjir besar. Banjir bukan luar biasa. Apa yang menegejutkan ialah kawasan yang dilanda banjir telah berubah dari kebiasaan. Sejak dahulu banjir musim tengkujuh hanya dikaitkan dengan kawasan pantai timur terutama di negeri kita Kelantan. Keadaan telah berubah apabila kawasan baru seperti Pahang, Johor, malah Selangor, Kedah dan Perlis kini lebih teruk dilanda bencana ini pada musim di mana keadaan ini lazimnya tidak berlaku di tempat berkenaan.

Di tempat kita keadaan turut berubah. Banjir boleh berlaku tanpa amaran. Selalunya banjir berlaku dengan dimulakan hujan lebat yang berlaku beberapa hari. Keadaan ini berbeza apabila banjir baru-baru ini, khususnya di Kota Bharu tiba-tiba berlaku dengan limpahan air sungai secara mengejut sedangkan hujan hampir tidak turun di kawasan kita. Keadaan ini menyebabkan mereka yang dilanda banjir berhadapan dengan keadaan tidak bersedia sama sekali. Sebagaimana kita semua alami, ini menyebabkan berlaku kerosakan yang agak besar kali ini walaupun skala banjir tidak begitu besar. Dan apa lebih memilukan kita, begitu ramai anak-anak dan rakan kita menjadi korban bencana banjir pada tahun ini.

Tuan-tuan, puan-puan dan para hadirin sekelian

Mungkin ada di antara kita yang belum menyedari apa kaitan ini semua dengan program kita pagi ini. Hari ini sekali lagi kita lancarkan program untuk mendidik orang ramai untuk menanam lebih banyak pokok. Kita namakan program penghijauan bumi. Program ini amat penting kerana masalah yang dihadapi oleh seluruh dunia sekarang ialah kawasan yang masih dilitupi tumbuhan semakin sempit. Kekurangan kawasan hijau merupakan satu petanda bencana yang manakutkan.

Menurut satu laporan, hampir setiap saat satu ekar hutan di dunia ini dimusnahkan dan setiap tahun sejumlah 74 ribu ekar hutan lenyap akibat aktiviti pembalakan, pertanian dan pembangunan. Keadaan ini menyebabkan berlaku fenomena-fenomena berkikut:

1. Atmosfera sekarang mengandungi sekitar 40 peratus lebihan karbon dioksida berbanding 1000 tahun lalu.

2. Purata paras laut meningkat dari 10 hingga 20 sentimeter (CM) sejak abad lepas – Di Malaysia para pengkaji alam sekitar menjangka bandar-bandar Klang, Miri dan Pekan akan tenggelam dalam jangka 50 tahun lagi jika fenomena ini berterusan.

3. Cuaca panas di kawasan habiatat haiwan meyebabkan kepupusan lebih sejuta spesis hidupan darat dalam tempoh 50 tahun yang lalu.

4. Belaku kekacauan dalam fenomena cuaca di mana sejak 1981 berlaku musim salji di bebrapa bahagian Afrika dan musim musim panas melampau di Eropah di mana pada tahun 2003, 29 dilaporkan mati akibat panas melampau manakala berpuluh-puluh ribu lagi dijangkiti pelbagai penyakit yang dikaitkan dengan cuaca panas.

5. Sejak 2005 pelbagai jenis taufan dan puting beliung yang dahulunya seperti Katrina, Rita, Wilma dan pelbagai nama lagi mengganas hingga ke kawasan yang begitu ramai di diami manusia. Dahulunya tufan-taufan ini hanya di kesan di kawasan lautan yang jauh dari kawasan yang di diami manusia.

Tuan-tuan, puan-puan, saudara saudari yang di hormati sekelian,

Perkara-perkara yang saya sebutkan tadi hanyalah sebahgian kecil dari pelbagai kemusnahan akibat aktiviti manusia yang tidak menghiraukan bencana yang bakal menimpa mereka sendiri. Hari ini kita mahu membangkitkan kesedaran bahawa setiap kita perlu beranding bahu dalam mencari penyelesaian kepada masalah ini.

Islam mengajar kita bahawa manusia adalah agen yang mampu melakukan perubahan.

Firman Allah,

”Telah berlaku kerosakan di lautan dan di daratan akibat perbuatan tangan manusia”

Setelah menyedari kerosakan yang telah berlaku kita perlu mengambil isiatif untuk memperbaiki keadaan. Hari ini kita sekali lagi akan memulakan langkah untuk megembalikan kehijauan bumi. Kita bersyukur kerana Allah memberi anugerah kepada kita kawasan bumi yang begitu mudah ditumbuhi dengan pelbagai jenis pokok-pokok. Kita perlu mengambil kesempatan ini untuk menjadikan setiap inci kawasan sekitar kita menjadi kawasan hijau. Tanamlah apa juga pokok boleh tumbuh subur walaupun dari segi jangka pendek tidak nampat sebarang hasil seperti buah-buahan atau untuk dijadikan hasil jualan. Pokok adalah pembekal oksigen dan membawa lemmbapan yang mampu menyejukkan persekitaran kita.

Sebagai sebuah negeri yang meletakkan Islam sebagai asas pentadbiran, pentabirandi bawah Tuan Guru Dato’ Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat akan terus memberi sokongan sepenuhnya kepada program seumpama ini.

Bagi pihak kerajaan negeri dan Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu Bandar Raya Islam, saya mengucapkan berbanyak terima kasih kepada semua pihak yang turut sama menjayakan program penting ini.

Semoga usaha kecil kita ini memberi sumbangan ke arah mencari penyelesaian terhadap masalah yang dihadapi umat manusia pada masa ini dan masa hadapan.

Marilah kita sama-sama berdoa kepada Allah SWT agar menjauhi kita dari segala malapetaka di dunia dan di akhirat abkibat keingkaran dan kemusnahan yang dilakukan oleh tangan-tangan manusia sendiri.

DEARBORN, Mich. - Dewnya Bakri loves her faith — and the feeling of sinking a three-pointer.

For much of her life, the 20-year-old Muslim has found a way to balance practicing Islam and playing basketball, including wearing a head scarf and long pants on the hardcourt, even if it's meant taunts as she blazed trails on her middle school, high school and college teams.

Now a college senior at University of Michigan-Dearborn preparing for law school, she spends free time coaching Muslim girls and sharing what she experienced in Dearborn, home of at least 40 mosques, to help give them the confidence to follow in her footsteps

As more covered Muslim girls take up competitive sports, Bakri and others say it's time to get beyond merely allowing the hijab — the traditional Muslim head scarf worn for modesty — and help those wearing them feel welcome.

"It's not like accommodating for one person anymore, it's a group," Bakri says.

Experts and advocates say the number of Muslim girls wearing the hijab on the court, track or field is rising because girls are growing more comfortable pursuing mainstream activities while maintaining religious traditions.

"They don't see the barriers," said Edina Lekovic, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council. "They take it for granted they can play in competitive sports ... and work out the clothing issues at the same time."

Even so, Bakri and current players at her former school, Fordson High, players say they've heard trash-talk that goes beyond the usual on-court chatter — calling them terrorists, telling them to go back to their own country.

Bakri said some coaches and referees have questioned whether she could play in a scarf and sweat pants, relenting only when her coach produced a letter from the Michigan High School Athletic Association allowing the uniform modification.

More recently, she said referees wouldn't let her play in one out-of-state college tournament. The coach told her later that it was because of her uniform modification.

That was reminiscent of a case in February when an 11-year-old Muslim girl was pulled off the field in a soccer tournament in Quebec because she refused to remove her head scarf. The Quebec Soccer Federation backed the decision, saying rules forbid wearing anything that could cause harm during a game.

In the U.S., the National Federation of State High School Associations' rules say state associations may allow a player to participate while wearing a head covering for religious reasons as long as it isn't dangerous to another player and unlikely to come off during play. The rule-making federation also allows pants, shorts or skirts.

School districts in Michigan must ask state high school athletic officials for permission to modify uniform requirements.

They always grant the district's requests, said Mark Shooshanian, Fordson High School's athletic director, but he'd like to see it become enshrined in the rules.

"The hardest part for me is within our league there are 27 teams and still some of the coaches question the uniform," said Shooshanian, who has been sending the requests for 15 years. "Why do I have to keep doing it?"

State athletic association spokesman John Johnson said the system "almost rubber stamps" requests, but requiring the case-by-case letter provides a safeguard against misunderstandings.

At Bakri's middle school, Lowrey Middle School, she was the first athlete of the year to wear the scarf and earned letters in basketball, volleyball, track and swimming.

Swimming required the most creativity. She couldn't wear a swimsuit in front of men, so she worked out a deal with her coach and athletic director to practice daily with the team but not compete in meets. The coach timed her during practice and awarded her the letter based on performance.

Now, Lowrey students hug and thank Bakri when she visits.

"It made me feel so good about what I'm doing," said Bakri, who coaches summer leagues and teaches physical education part-time at a private school. "I never really realized how hard it was, especially at the middle school level. I figured I'm going to play basketball. ... I never thought people might have a problem with it."

Her 17-year-old sister, Hyatt Bakri, is a starting shooting guard at Fordson High, and wears pants and long sleeves on the court.

"Some schools are used to seeing girls in the hijab, but other schools find it different, odd," Hyatt Bakri said during a break from a recent practice. "After Sept. 11, they feel like we're a threat to them even though we didn't have anything to do with it. So they look at us differently."

Teammate Fatima Kobeissi, a senior reserve guard, said she's worn the hijab since she was nine.

"Nothing in our religion says we can't go out and do other things just like everybody else. It's just while we're doing it, we have to be more modest maybe than everybody else," she said.

Dewnya Bakri lets young players know there are ways to deal with the taunts that don't mean getting rolled over, like the time when opposing players insulted her scarf-wearing teammate during a high school tournament.

"I looked at (one of them) and said 'This is for you.' I shot six threes in that game. I was guarding her and she scored zero.

"That shut her down."

Deklarasi 'Pemuafakatan Serambi Makkah'

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid Wed | Oct 31, 07 | 7:52:15 am MYT

'Dengan nama Allah Yang Pemurah dan Penyayang' Sesungguhnya Allah amat menyukai orang-orang yang berjuang di jalannya dalam barisan yang teratur umpama bangunan yang tersusun:kukuh (Ash-Shaff:4)

Sesungguhnya (agama Tauhid) Ini adalah agama kamu semua; agama yang satu dan Aku adalah Tuhanmu, Maka sembahlah Aku. ( Al-Anbiyaa': 92)

Dengan ini; Persidangan Kebangsaan Pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam Malaysia di Kota Bharu , Kelantan pada 15-16 Syawal 1428/27-28 hb Oktober 2007 yang dianjurkan oleh Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan Darul Naim dan Sekretariat Kongres Umat Islam Malaysia (SKIMA) dan disertai 500 orang perwakilan dari 78 Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam peringkat Negeri dan Kebangsaan telah bermuafakat bahawa:

Menyedari bahawa seluruh pendokong Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam sebagai golongan yang lebih dipertanggungjawabkan untuk membela agama Allah. Oleh itu sewajarnya kita terus memikul tanggungjawab memandu, memimpin serta membimbing umat agar jelas dengan visi dan misi untuk membangun bersama Islam dan menghayatinya dalam kehidupan yang diredhoi oleh Allah.

Memahami bahawa tugas Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam amat berat terutama dalam keadaan cabaran semakin bertambah. Para aktivis Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam perlu bersedia dan melengkapkan diri dengan ilmu, kemahiran dan siasah kepimpinan yang diperlukan disamping banyak memahami dan menganalisis permasalahan umat semasa. Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam perlu bijaksana dalam merancang, menjana program tindakan untuk dilaksanakan.

Menginsafi bahawa umat sedang menghadapi berbagai masalah dan cabaran sama ada berbentuk lokal atau global. Sikap ulama dan umat haruslah terus positif bahawa tiada masalah yang tidak dapat ditangani dan diatasi asalkan semangat berjihad dan berkorabn untuk Islam disuburkan . Sikap pertama yang harus dipupuk ialah melihat masalah itu sebagai peluang dan cabaran, bukan penghalang.

Mengingati bahawa dalam Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam masih wujud kelemahan dan kekangan yang perlu diatasi segera, kelemahan tersebut termasuk kekurangan menterjemahkan potensi dan meningkatkan kemahiran beroganisasi, keengganan berjuang dalam wadah Ulama kerana kepentingan masing-masing. Akibatnya berlaku pengabaian usaha membasmi kejahilan umat. Ulama berpecah, umat sengsara dan parah.

Mewaspadai taktik dan rancangan golongan yang memusuhi Islam melalui pelbagai cara sama ada secara terang atau tersembunyi, bersikap lokal, nasional atau global. Maka, para Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam perlu bangkit, bertindak, menyatukan barisan dan menguatkan perpaduan dan intergriti serta berusaha secara jama’i menghadapi tantangan musuh dengan strategi yang lebih berkesan.

Mengambil perhatian bahawa ukuran kejayaan sesuatu usaha Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam bukan terletak kepada semangat dan laungan semata-mata, bukan hanya menghasilkan resolusi demi resolusi tanpa tindakan yang berkesan. Para aktivis, Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam dan pendokong mereka seharusnya berganjak ke suatu paradigma baru yang menekankan strategi bertindak secara rapi , perlaksanaan secara konsisten , mendepani seteru Islam secara berani dan yakin dan membina barisan amilin secara berterusan.

Meneliti bahawa perkembangan muktakhir umat Islam di rantau Palestin, Iraq dan Afganistan terus bergolak angkara tindakan musuh Islam dan kuasa penjajahan disamping kelemahan dalaman umat. Umat Islam seluruh dunia perlu bertindak membantu dan membebaskan saudaranya yang dizalimi.

Mengingati usaha untuk memperkasakan Ummah perlu komitmen berterusan dan dan meningkat. Para aktivis Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam dan anggota mereka serta Ulama dan Umarak perlu membantu dan bekerjasama dalam bidang yang boleh disepakati dan mengelakkan perselisihan yang merugikan umat.

Menginsafi bahawa usaha untuk mencerdaskan umat perlu bermula dengan pendidikan dari peringkat paling dasar hingga ke tahap yang tertinggi, membangun intelektual, membina budaya ilmu, budaya Iqra dan menghayatinya dalam kehidupan.

Memahami bahawa status umat masa kini dilihat dari perspektif nasional dan global belum menampakkan kesatuan yang kukuh dan mempunyai kekuatan dari segi rohani, spiritual, dan intelektual Maka usaha berterusan perlu digandakan untuk membantu keadaan yang masih gawat.

Menghayati bahawa tugas murni para aktivis dan pendokong Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam sejak dulu, kini dan selamanya sentiasa berusaha mencerdaskan diri dan umat, menambah ilmu, menegak dan menghayati syariah dan akhlak Islami, melaksanakan amanah Allah serta ikhlas membangun umat secara jama'i.

Maka Kami dari Pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam Beriltizam dan Bermuafakat:

1. Meningkatkan keberkesanan gerakkerja Pertubuhan-Pertubuhan Islam masing-masing demi menyumbang kepada usaha mendaulatkan Islam di negara ini khususnya dan dunia ini amnya.

2.Menggabungkan seluruh kekuatan antara pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam dalam suatu saf gertakerja yang lebih tersusun dan berkesan untuk mengangkat martabat umat dalam seluruh bidang kehidupan.

3. Menjadikan pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam sebagai wadah pemersatu ummat dan benteng mempertahankan izzah serta kesucian Islam dari segala ancaman musuh.

4. Mengikis segala sikap dan amalan yang merugikan ummah dalam mendaulatkan Islam dikalangan wadah-wadah Islam samada dalam tindakan individu atau kumpulan. Seluruh anggota aktivis dan kepimpinan organisasi Islam perlu saling menghormati ,mengukuh dan meningkatkan kerjasama yang efektif demi kecemerlangan Islam.

5. Sentiasa berwaspada dalam menghadapi strategi musuh untuk mengadu domba dan melemahkan organisasi Islam. Semua kepimpinan Islam perlu mengukuhkan persepakatan dalam mengenali gerak geri musuh.

6. Membina suatu imej yang sentiasa menjadikan pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam sebagai pembawa mesej penyayang, penegak keadilan dalam sosial dan hak demokrasi kepada segenap masyarakat sama ada Islam dan bukan Islam.

7. Sentiasa memberi keutamaan kepada pembinaan syaksiah dan nilai hidup muslim yang sejati melalui pendekatan tarbiyah dan dakwah berkesan kearah mewujudkan model-model masyarakat Islam yang dapat dicontohi.

8. Sentiasa menggerakan usaha untuk menjadi pembela kepada hak masyarakat yang tertindas dan terpinggir dari proses pembangunan demi mengembalikan kesejahteraan dan kesaksamaan sosial.

9. Membina jaringan dan penggabungan sumber tenaga dan material untuk membenteras gejala sosial sehingga ke akar umbi.

10. Mengusahakan gerakerja yang dapat memurnikan kepimpinan politik negara melalui pendidikan awam berkaitan prinsip dan kewajipan politik di dalam Islam.

11. Sentiasa bergabung tenaga dalam mengarus perdanakan proses menggangkat kepimpinan ulama dalam proses pembinaan negara.

12. Menggiatkan usaha yang lebih tersusun, terancang dan berkesan dalam mengukuhkan status dan kekuatan ekonomi ummat dalam seluruh bidang termasuk pertanian, perkhidmatan, perindustrian dan pengeluaran demi melahirkan masyarakat Islam yang mandiri.

13. Sentiasa meningkatkan pengembelengan usaha untuk gerak kempen pembasmian rasuah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa dari segenap peringkat.

Allahu Akbar.

Sekian.

Pengarah,
Persidangan Pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam MALAYSIA

Siddiq Fadhil anggap corak pilihanraya kampus dikendali merosakkan masa depan bangsa

Kota Bharu, 27 Oktober - Bekas Presiden Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM), Datuk Dr. Siddiq Fadhil menyelar kaedah penyelenggara pilihanraya kampus baru-baru ini yang dianggap menanamkan benih kerosakan kepada generasi masa depan.

"Saya tidak berminat untuk menyokong sesiapa yang bertanding dalam pilhanraya itu tetapi kaedah pelaksanaannya yang bertentangan dengan nilai demokrasi dan keadilan universal amat merbahaya kerana para pelajar ini akan keluar sebagai pemimpin pada masa depan," kata beliau.

Dalam satu pilihanraya hanya untuk peringkat kampus, tidak harus nilai-nilai buruk dalam sistem pollitik dipaksakan secara berleluasa, kata beliau ketika membentangkan kertaskerja di persidangan pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam Malaysia 2007 di sini pagi tadi.

Persidangan yang disertai lebih 200 pertubuhan bukan kerajaan itu dianjurkan Kerjaan Negeri Kelantan dengan kerjasama beberapa pertubuhan Islam terkenal.

UIA kekal di tangan 'pro-siswa'

02-10-2007 11:08:31 PM
Oleh SALHAN K. AHMAD

GOMBAK: Calon pro-mahasiswa menggondol hampir kesemua 37 kerusi Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar (MPP) di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa di sini hari ini, satu-satunya kampus yang masih berjaya dikuasai kumpulan bukan pro-aspirasi sejak 2004.

Calon pro-aspirasi pula hanya berjaya meraih tiga kerusi -- dua di Fakulti Teknologi Maklumat dan Komunikasi dan satu lagi di Fakulti Senibina dan Reka Bentuk Persekitaran di kampus Kuala Lumpur.

Kesemua 17 kerusi fakulti di kampus cawangan Kuantan pula tidak menyaksikan sebarang pertandingan daripada calon pro-aspirasi.

Jumlah ini tidak termasuk lapan kerusi yang diperuntukkan untuk pelajar dari luar negara.

Seorang bekas pemimpin MPP berkata, tiga calon berkenaan adalah daripada kumpulan pro-aspirasi berdasarkan dakwaan yang dibuat mereka semasa berkempen semalam.

Ditemui mStar Online lewat hari ini di pusat penjumlahan undi di sini, sumber itu berkata secara umumnya pelajar UIA tidak cenderung memilih calon daripada kem pro-aspirasi, kumpulan mahasiswa yang sering dilabel pro-kerajaan atau pentadbiran kampus.

"Jika calon tidak kata dia pro-mahasiswa, sukar untuk dapat undi majoriti," katanya.

Bagaimanapun peraturan pilihan raya di UIA, seperti di institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA), melarang pelajar membentuk atau berkempen secara berkumpulan.

Rektor UIA pula mendakwa pengaruh pembangkang mulai pudar di kalangan calon-calon yang bertanding semenjak pelajar-pelajar diwajibkan mengundi pada 2003.

"Jika kita tidak buat peraturan begitu, pelajar tidak akan keluar mengundi. Dengan cara ini, jika mereka gagal untuk keluar mengundi, pelajar berkenaan perlu mengemukakan surat tunjuk sebab," kata Prof Datuk Dr Syed Arabi Idid ketika ditemui di pejabatnya hari ini.

Sebanyak 83.6% daripada 14,726 pelajar yang layak keluar membuang undi, termasuk 898 orang pelajar asing.

Dr Syed Arabi menambah, peraturan baru yang diperkenalkan sejak empat tahun lalu, antaranya, calon-calon yang membentuk kumpulan atau pakatan akan dibatalkan pencalonannya.

"Tidak ada keperluan pun untuk membuat pakatan, kerana perwakilan pelajar ini hanya berfungsi untuk menjaga kebajikan pelajar. Mereka tidak ada kuasa sebagai badan induk bagi menyelia pertubuhan-pertubuhan pelajar di kampus ini, tidak seperti di IPTA lain.

"Di IPTA, MPP dikawal di bawah akta Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti dan pertubuhan ini (MPP) diberi kuasa untuk menguruskan dana, tetapi di sini, situasi itu tidak wujud. Tetapi kita berilah mereka pejabat untuk beroperasi," katanya.

"Status mereka tidak lebih daripada satu lagi kelab di universiti ini. Mereka juga bebas untuk mengkritik, tetapi suara mereka tidak berupaya untuk mengubah polisi universiti, jadi tidak perlulah mereka bergabung sesama sendiri."

Kumpulan pelajar "pro-mahasiswa", sebagai label yang membezakan mereka daripada "pro-aspirasi", di UIA pernah menggunakan slogan "We Unite for Islam atau WUFI."

Kumpulan pro-mahasiswa memenangi majoriti 12 daripada 16 kerusi fakulti yang dipertandingkan tahun lalu, sementara selebihnya dimenangi tanpa pertandingan.

Pakatan calon-calon tersebut dikatakan punca utama barisan exco MPP di UIA digantung tanpa sebarang kegiatan selama empat bulan selepas pemilihan pada September 2006.

Timbalan Rektor Hal Ehwal Pelajar dan Alumni UIA Hamidon Abd Hamid bagaimanapun berkata "pergantungan" itu akibat kegagalan mereka mencapai kata sepakat untuk melantik presiden dan exco tertinggi MPP kerana sangsi dengan kecenderungan politik masing-masing.

"Satu pihak kata calon ini buat kumpulan, jadi dia tidak mahu sokong. Satu pihak lagi pun begitu juga. Jadi kami terpaksa beri mereka masa untuk selesaikan masalah tersebut," kata Hamidon ketika ditemui mStar Online hari ini.

Iran Revolutionary Guards' role growing

By SALLY BUZBEE, Associated Press Writer Tue Oct 2, 4:32 PM ET

TEHRAN, Iran - They own car factories and construction firms, operate newspaper groups and oil fields and increasingly, serve in parliament or become provincial governors. To supporters, the Revolutionary Guards are the cream of Iran's talent.

To the United States, they are simply terrorists.

Either way, the group formed to safeguard Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution has pushed well beyond its military roots: Current and former members now hold a growing role across the country's government and economy, sometimes openly and other times in shadow.

The election of a hard-line president two years ago sharply accelerated that influence, recent interviews here suggest. Supporters of supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his protege, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have sought to consolidate power by putting allies in key positions, potentially shaping Iran for years to come.

"We don't support it," Mohsen Mirdamadi, who leads Iran's largest pro-reform party, said of the guards' spreading influence. "It can be reversed with a change of government — but slowly."

Publicly, the guards now own or control numerous companies that receive lucrative, often no-bid government contracts in the oil and gas industry, farming, and road and dam construction. Their winning of deals is often announced outright in Tehran newspapers.

Other times, the group's business deals are shrouded in mystery and merely whispered about.

In one example, the guards are thought to run a network of unauthorized docks and trading firms importing consumer goods, tariff-free, into Iran, said Mehdi Khalaji, a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

That would be a lucrative business in Iran, where Western goods are harder to obtain.

In addition, an Iranian company that manufactures Japanese cars inside Iran is also thought to be owned by the guards, said Khalaji.

The guards have gained a particularly big role in the country's oil and gas industry in recent years, as the national oil company has signed several contracts with a guards-operated construction company. Some have been announced publicly, including a $2 billion deal in 2006 to develop part of the important Pars gas field.

Often, firms owned by Revolutionary Guards will get noncompetitive bids for major oil or construction projects and then outsource the project to others, operating essentially as a "private mafia," said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iranian-American who works at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.

Ray Takeyh, an Iran expert at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, said the guards also have gained lucrative telecommunications contracts, and have known links with university labs, weapons makers and firms linked to Iran's nuclear program. All are industries with clear dual-use — civilian and military — potential, giving the guards firm links to many vital military-related industries.

The business deals also make the guards less reliant on Iran's more democratic and transparent institutions, such as parliament, for their funding. The no-bid government contracts often lack any independent oversight such as from parliament's budget process, meaning money from them can be diverted into overseas operations with little notice, other analysts said.

At least 80 former guards also are in parliament out of a total of 290 seats. Others serve as mayors and provincial governors. Former commanders also make up about two-thirds of the current Cabinet, according to some estimates, and Ahmadinejad himself is a former guards commander who went on to Tehran's mayor before being elected president.

That influence is a far cry from the group's original roots: It was founded in 1979 in the revolution's wake to provide a counterbalance to the U.S.-trained military at a time when Iran's new Islamic leaders feared the army might remain loyal to the deposed shah.

The Revolutionary Guards won widespread admiration and even public reverence in the 1980s when they defended Iran from Saddam Hussein's regime during the long, devastating Iran-Iraq war.

Now numbering about 125,000 members, they report directly to the supreme leader and officially handle internal security. The small Quds Force wing is thought to operate overseas, having helped to create the militant Hezbollah group in 1982 in Lebanon and to arm Bosnian Muslims during the Balkan wars.

The Bush administration accuses the Quds Force of sending fighters and deadly roadside bombs, mortars and rockets to kill American troops in Iraq in recent years — allegations that Iran denies.

The United States pressures U.S. and European banks to do no business with Iranian banks, such as Bank Sedarat that the Bush administration believes help finance guards' business operations. But the United States is also considering naming the entire group as a foreign terrorist organization, presumably allowing wider financial crackdowns.

Hard-liners within Iran generally both downplay and defend the guards' role.

Hossein Shariatmadari, a former guard member himself who is close to Khamenei, now runs the large Kayhan group of newspapers and magazines in Tehran. He said the prominence of former guards in business and politics is understandable because they often have the engineering training and management skills to run many industries. The group's primary focus remains safeguarding the country from outside threats, especially from the West, he said.

Even some outsiders wonder how much a terrorist designation would really do. Takeyh called the guards' business enterprises "murky and ambiguous" and said it would thus be difficult to target them precisely.

In addition, not all former guards are hard-liners. Many members of the country's reform movement and democratic opposition are also former guards, Takeyh noted, "making a terrorist label even more problematic."

Pas ramal pilihan raya Mac 2008

KUALA TERENGGANU 1 Okt. – Pas meramalkan pilihan raya umum akan diadakan pada Mac atau selewat-lewatnya pertengahan tahun depan berdasarkan beberapa perkembangan dalam negara yang menuntut penjelasan daripada kerajaan.

Pesuruhjaya Pas Terengganu, Datuk Mustafa Ali berkata, sebelum ini, Pas menjangkakan pilihan raya umum akan diadakan pada November ini, namun beliau percaya Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi akan menangguhkannya sehingga tahun depan berikutan beberapa isu yang masih belum selesai.

Beliau mendakwa, selagi isu-isu berkenaan tidak selesai, UMNO tidak mempunyai keberanian untuk menghadapi pilihan raya lebih awal.

“Walaupun UMNO belum bersedia tetapi Pas sudah lama bersedia. Saya nampak Perdana Menteri dan UMNO belum bersedia untuk mengadakan pilihan raya umum bulan November ini,” katanya kepada pemberita di ibu pejabat Pas di sini hari ini.

Menurut Mustafa, antara isu hangat yang menuntut penjelasan kerajaan adalah rakaman video antara seorang peguam kanan mengenai urusan pelantikan hakim, rusuhan di Batu Burok, isu pemindahan ternakan babi di Melaka dan beberapa isu lain.

Pelupusan sampah lebih sempurna di Kelantan, atasi pencemaran toksik

29-09-2007 03:42:54 PM

PASIR PUTEH: Kelantan akan bekerjasama dengan Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan untuk mewujudkan pusat pelupusan sampah yang lebih sempurna bagi mengatasi masalah pencemaran bahan sisa toksik.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Perumahan dan Kesihatan Negeri, Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan berkata Kelantan akan mengguna pakai garis panduan yang dikeluarkan oleh kementerian berkenaan dengan mengubahsuai sedikit pembinaan pusat itu mengikut keperluan suasana tempat, kos dan kawasan.

"Kerajaan negeri sedang menyediakan satu pelan untuk buat pusat pelupusan sampah secara kelompok bukan satu majlis daerah, satu pusat pelupusan," katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis Pemilihan Bakal Calon Bagi Hadapi Pilihan raya Ke-12 di sini malam tadi.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas bantahan penduduk di Taman Seri Gedombak di sini yang tidak tahan dengan bau busuk Pusat Pelupusan Sampah di Bukit Gedombak kira-kira 500 meter dari rumah kediaman mereka pada Ogos lalu.

Takiyuddin berkata pelan mengenainya sedang disiapkan dan Majlis Perbandaran Kota Baharu (MPKB), Majlis Daerah ketereh (MDK) serta Majlis Daerah Bachok (MDB) dicadangkan akan diwujudkan sebuah pusat pelupusan sampah.

Mengenai bantahan penduduk Taman Seri Gedombak, Takiyuddin berkata kerajaan sedar mengenainya dan sedang meneliti tindakan lanjut bagi mengatasinya.

Beliau berkata untuk memindahkan pusat itu ke kawasan lain yang lebih sesuai, kerajaan negeri tidak dapat melakukannya dalam tempoh terdekat, kerana ia memerlukan perbelanjaan yang besar.

Sambil mengakui pusat itu mengancam bau busuk kepada penduduk yang tinggal berdekatan, Takiyuddin berkata ia juga mengandungi bahan pencemaran sisa toksik yang turut mengancam hidupan lain kerana pusat itu telah lama beroperasi. BERNAMA

Iran leader meets Latin America leftists

By IAN JAMES, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago

CARACAS, Venezuela - Iran's president opened his nation's wallet to Bolivia on Thursday and then visited Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, in a post-U.N. trip to boost ties with Latin American leftists who are increasingly embracing Iran as a counterweight to U.S. influence.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged to invest $1 billion in Bolivia over the next five years to help the poor Andean nation tap its vast natural gas reserves, extract minerals, generate more electricity and fund agricultural and construction projects.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, who joins Chavez as one of Iran's key allies, called Ahmadinejad's visit historic. The two nations established diplomatic relations for the first time, and Morales pledged they "will work together from this day on, for our people, for life and for humanity."

Arriving late Thursday for a brief visit in Venezuela, Ahmadinejad was greeted warmly by Chavez on a red carpet rolled out in front of the presidential palace.

Chavez embraced the Iranian leader, calling him "one of the greatest anti-imperialist fighters" and "one of the great fighters for true peace."

In his speech to the U.N. General Assembly this week, Ahmadinejad rebuked "arrogant powers" seeking to curb Iran's nuclear program. Chavez also strongly defends Iran's nuclear research, insisting it is for peaceful energy uses despite U.S. charges it is aimed at pursuing nuclear weapons.

Morales brushed off concerns about close ties to a country that Washington says is a sponsor of terrorism, declaring that the "international community can rest assured that Bolivia's foreign policy is dedicated to peace with equality and social justice."

Ahmadinejad's trip underscored his growing ties to Latin American nations, including Nicaragua and Ecuador, even as the United States tries to isolate him internationally.

"It's a connection that is growing stronger all the time," said Alberto Garrido, a Venezuelan writer and political analyst. "It's Iran's answer to the United States on its own home turf. The United States is in the Middle East, so Iran is in Latin America."

The closer ties are viewed with alarm by the opposition in Venezuela and Bolivia, and by Washington. U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, a Florida Republican, said they remind him "of the relationship that Fidel Castro had with Russia." He urged Washington to reach out more to a region analysts say it has largely ignored since 9-11.

Toward that aim, a bipartisan bill is being introduced in the U.S. Congress on Friday that would establish a 10-year, $2.5 billion program aimed at reducing poverty and expanding the middle class in Latin America. It would require recipient countries to contribute and encourage matching funds from businesses and non-governmental organizations.

The program would bring more stability in the long run and help the United States "re-establish leadership in the hemisphere" by increasing development assistance by more than a third, said bill co-sponsor Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat.

Chavez's government, for its part, has promised more than $8.8 billion in aid, financing and energy funding to the region this year.

Relations between Caracas and Tehran, meanwhile, have grown very close. Since 2001, Iran and Venezuela have signed trade agreements worth more than $20 billion in potential investment, according to Iran's official news agency, IRNA.

They have teamed up to begin producing cars, tractors and plastic goods, and signed an agreement to help Venezuela build public housing. Iran Air began flights between Tehran and Caracas, with a stopover in Syria, earlier this year.

Venezuelan Jewish leaders objected to the presence of Ahmadinejad, who has called for the end of Israel and questioned the history of the Holocaust.

"We raise our voice to condemn these statements by the Iranian leader which incite hatred, becoming a threat to world peace," the Venezuelan Confederation of Israeli Associations said in a statement. The country is home to a large Jewish population, including Holocaust survivors.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa also wants closer ties with Tehran. President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua last month accepted Iranian pledges for 10,000 houses, 4,000 tractors, milk-processing plants, piers and a farm equipment assembly plant. In exchange, Nicaragua agreed to send coffee, meat and bananas to Iran.

No need for dissection as see-through frogs jump in

by Miwa Suzuki

Thu Sep 27, 2:54 PM ET

TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese researchers have succeeded in producing see-through frogs, letting them observe organs, blood vessels and eggs under the skin without performing dissections.

"You can see through the skin how organs grow, how cancer starts and develops," said the lead researcher Masayuki Sumida, professor at the Institute for Amphibian Biology of state-run Hiroshima University.

"You can watch organs of the same frog over its entire life as you don't have to dissect it. The researcher can also observe how toxins affect bones, livers and other organs at lower costs," he told AFP.

Dissections have become increasingly controversial in much of the world, particularly in schools where animal rights activists have pressed for humane alternatives such as using computer simulations.

Sumida said his team, which announced the research last week at an academic conference, had created the first transparent four-legged creature, although some small fish are also see-through.

The researchers produced the creature from rare mutants of the Japanese brown frog, or Rena japonica, whose backs are usually ochre or brown.

Two kinds of recessive genes have been known to cause the frog to be pale.

Sumida's team crossed two frogs with recessive genes through artificial insemination and the offspring looked normal due to the presence of more powerful genes. But crossing the offspring led to a frog whose skin is transparent from the tadpole stage.

"You can see dramatic changes of organs when tadpoles mutate into frogs," said Sumida, whose team is seeking a patent.

Such frogs could theoretically exist in the wild but it is "virtually impossible" they would naturally inherit so many recessive genes, Sumida said.

The transparent frogs can also reproduce, with their offspring inheriting their parents' traits, but their grandchildren die shortly after birth.

"As they have two sets of recessive genes, something wrong must kick in and kill them," Sumida said.

While the researchers relied on artificial insemination, they said that genetic engineering could also produce transparent and even illuminating frogs.

Sumida said researchers could also inject into the transparent frogs an illuminating protein attached to a gene, which would light up the gene once it manifests -- for example, showing at what stage cancer starts.

Sumida said it would be unrealistic to apply the same method to mammals such as mice as their skin structure is different.

Projek rumah kos rendah terbiar

Oleh Akmal Ilham

Pembinaan kediaman di Jalan Joh didakwa gagal capai matlamat bantu golongan miskin

MACHANG: Penduduk sekitar Labok di sini, kecewa kerana pembinaan rumah kos rendah di Jalan Joh oleh Kerajaan Pas Kelantan, gagal mencapai matlamat untuk memberi kemudahan rumah kepada golongan berpendapatan rendah.

Pada 1992, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Perumahan dan Alam Sekitar Negeri ketika itu, Datuk Halim Mohamed, dilaporkan mengumumkan 64 unit rumah akan dibina di situ.

Ia adalah sebahagian projek Kerajaan Pas Kelantan menerusi Skim Pertapakan dan Kemudahan Asas membabitkan peruntukan RM7.9 juta yang dilaksanakan menerusi Jabatan Perumahan Negara (JPN).

Turut terbabit dalam projek itu ialah pembinaan 121 unit rumah murah di Tanjung Kuala, Tumpat; 200 unit di Bukit Pak Mud, Jeli dan 450 unit di Kampung Apam, Pasir Mas.

Ketika itu, semua rumah terbabit dilaporkan akan dijual pada harga RM10,000 seunit dan pembeli boleh mengubah suai untuk membesarkan sendiri rumah itu mengikut keluasan kawasan yang ada.

Kelayakan membeli rumah pula adalah bagi rakyat tempatan berpendapatan tidak lebih RM500 sebulan dengan kerajaan negeri dikatakan sedia membiayai pinjaman tanpa dikenakan faedah.

Namun, tinjauan Berita Harian ke tapak projek di Jalan Joh itu mendapati hanya sekitar 10 rumah didiami penghuni, manakala selebihnya dirobohkan kerana ketiadaan pembeli.

Seorang penduduk, Muhammad Yaakob, 55, berkata beliau adalah di antara pemohon yang diterima memiliki rumah itu tetapi tidak meneruskan hajat membeli rumah disebabkan faktor tertentu.

"Kebanyakan pemohon terdiri penoreh getah atau pekerja estet sekitar Labok terpaksa membatalkan hasrat memiliki rumah itu kerana harganya lebih mahal daripada yang dijanjikan.

"Sudahlah harganya meningkat kepada RM16,000 seunit, kualiti kayu pula teruk sama seperti kayu lama. Kami menolaknya kerana tidak mampu membayar deposit, selain kerana kualiti rumah tidak sepadan dengan harganya ketika itu.

"Akhirnya, hanya beberapa unit saja terjual, manakala rumah selebihnya dirombak oleh wakil rakyat untuk membina pondok di kawasan lain," katanya.

Bekas Ketua Unit Peti Undi S46 Kampung Joh, Mohd Yiden Mat, 64, pula berkata, seingat beliau projek itu diusahakan bekas Adun Pulai Chondong, Kapten (B) Mohd Noor Ahmad, khusus untuk penempatan mangsa banjir.

"Ramai di antara pemohon adalah penduduk Kampung Joh, Kubang Belut dan Pulau Raya yang rumah mereka sering ditenggelami air. Adun Pulai Chondong ketika itu menyatakan harga seunit rumah ialah RM10,000 atau RM40 sebulan.

"Bagaimanapun, selepas beliau meninggal dunia, harga itu meningkat menjadi RM16,000 jika dibayar tunai. Bayaran secara ansuran melalui pinjaman bank pula mencecah RM30,000 atau hampir RM200 sebulan.

"Disebabkan penduduk tidak mampu membayarnya, rumah itu terbiar dan dirobohkan beberapa tahun lalu oleh Adun baru. Kayunya diguna membina pondok yang kami pun tidak pasti untuk tujuan apa," katanya.

Kamarudin Abdul Kadir, 57, pula berkata kegagalan projek itu menunjukkan Kerajaan Pas Kelantan tidak mempunyai komitmen membantu golongan miskin memiliki rumah sendiri.

"Masalah utama projek ini ialah rumah disediakan tidak memenuhi keperluan hidup berkeluarga kerana ia hanya mempunyai satu bilik saja manakala dapurnya terletak di bawah serta tiada bilik air.

"Saya kesal kerana ada desas-desus tapak projek itu akan diserahkan kepada pemaju perumahan untuk tujuan komersial. Jika benar, ia secara tidak langsung merampas hak golongan miskin," katanya.

Seorang pemilik rumah di situ, Mohd Zaid Yaakob, 38, berkata beliau dan keluarganya menetap di situ sejak tiga tahun lalu selepas membayar tunai RM16,000.

“Dulu memang banyak rumah kecil begini di sini kerana kerajaan negeri waktu itu bercadang memberinya kepada golongan miskin. Bagaimanapun, ramai tidak mampu membayarnya menyebabkan rumah itu terbiar.

"Harga tiap seunit rumah memang sama iaitu RM16,000. Saiz 10 rumah yang ada di kawasan ini sekarang berbeza kerana saiz tapaknya luas, jadi sesetengah pemilik memperbesarkan sendiri rumah mereka.

"Waktu mula tinggal di sini, semua rumah ini masih ada, tetapi selepas itu ia dirombak untuk dibuat projek perumahan lain, tapi hingga kini belum berjalan walaupun beberapa usahawan Cina pernah melawat," katanya.

Sementara itu, Penolong Setiausaha Kerajaan Kelantan (Perumahan), Rosnazli Mohd Amin, berkata setahu beliau projek itu sudah lama berjalan dan jika ada masalah sudah tentu ia dihebohkan sebelum ini.

"Bagaimanapun, saya akan membuat siasatan segera ke kawasan perumahan di Jalan Joh itu bagi mengenal pasti jika wujud sebarang masalah dalam pelaksanaannya," katanya.

MPKB BRI atasi kesesakan lalu lintas di Cabang Tiga

Salmah Mat Husain Thu | Sep 20, 07 | 12:31:53 pm MYT

PENGKALAN CHEPA, 20 Sept (Hrkh) – Masalah kesesakan lalu lintas di Cabang Tiga dekat sini sejak sekian lama kini berjaya diatasi apabila tapak pasar tani, pasar malam dan bazar Ramadan dipindahkan ke Taman Bendahara. Pengarah Perhubungan Awam Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu Bandar Raya Islam (MPKB-BRI), Azman Mohd Daham berkata, tapak lama di Cabang Tiga sudah beroperasi hampir 30 tahun lalu. Bagaimanapun katanya, disebabkan masalah kesesakan lalu lintas, MPKB BRI terpaksa memindahkan ke tapak yang lebih sesuai kerana kedudukannya juga tidak jauh dari tapak asal. Ekoran pemindahan tapak perniagaan itu ke Taman Bendahara ada peniaga melahirkan rasa tidak puas hati. Azman berkata, pemindahan ke tapak baru perlu dilakukan setelah MPKB BRI menerima banyak aduan daripada orang ramai dan polis mengenai kesesakan lalu lintas yang berlaku. Tapak pasar tani, pasar malam dan bazaar Ramadan di Taman Bendahara beroperasi sejak sebulan lalu. “Kebetulan Cabang Tiga Pengkalan Chepa merupakan laluan utama dari Lapangan Terbang Sultan Ismail Petra menuju bandar Kota Bharu, jadi sekiranya berlaku kesesakan lalu lintas ia memberi kesan kepada pelbagai pihak. “Kalau dulu mungkin ia tidak menjadi masalah, tetapi sekarang kenderaan semakin bertambah, orang juga semakin ramai. Jadi atas sebab itulah kita mengambil keputusan untuk memindahkan ke Taman Bendahara,” katanya. Kata beliau juga lokasi baru lebih sesuai kerana mempunyai tempat letak kenderaan yang lebih banyak, di samping terdapat premis perniagaan lain dan kampus sementara Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK).

Kelantan confirms new RM1 parking fee in Kota Baru

18-09-2007 05:37:00 PM
By IAN MCINTYRE

KOTA BARU: The state government has now confirmed that there is an increase in car parking charges at the 2,000 municipality lots, making it RM1 per hour, which is among the highest in the country.

After weeks of silence after the state MCA raised the matter two weeks ago, state Local Government committee chairman Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan has now confirmed that the state executive councillors approved a 20 sen per hour hike. According to him, the last time the Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) parking charges were reviewed was 10 years back.

He denied that there was no prior announcement made to the increase, saying MPKB issued notices last month over the hike.

"For Kelantan, the increase is reasonable and we expect other municipalities to also increase as we are under pressure to generate more income so services to ratepayers can be improved," he said.

MPKB wanted a higher quantum of increase but the state decided to allow a minimal hike which also acts as a deterrent for motorists who hog parking lots for an unreasonable period.

Takiyuddin said the move was to encourage motorists to plan out their programme when driving around the state capital.

Kelantan MCA did a survey with other municipalities in the peninsula and found that the Kelantan rate of RM1 per hour was among the highest, prompting the MCA to appeal to MPKB to reconsider the new parking fee as the prices of many other goods and services have risen due to the fuel hike.

With a new site for public transport expected to be ready next year along the Sungai Kelantan mega riverside development project, Takiyuddin said proper routing would be done to accommodate those who need to patronise commercial, trade and tourism centres in the capital.

Takiyuddin said similar to other states, Kelantan encourages ratepayers to use the public transport and to alleviate the limited parking bays available in the town centre.

Orang ramai diminta bersama kerajaan jaga kesucian Ramadan

Kota Bharu, 18 September - Orang ramai diminta memberi kerjasama kepada pentadbiran Kota Bharu Banda Raya Islam dalam memastikan kesucian Ramadan tepeliharan daripada unsur-unsur kurang sihat seperti tidak berpuasa dan peniaga yang engkar.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Perumahan dan Kesihatan, Dato' Haji Takiyuddin Haji Hassan berkata Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu Bandar Raya Islam (MPKB-BRI) bekerjasama penuh dengan jabatan-jabatan kerajaan lain di peringkat negeri dan persekutuan bagi memastikan bulan Ramadan yang mulia benar-benar terpelihara.

Bagi tujuan itu beliau meminta orang ramai yang terserempak dengan mereka yang mengengkari kewajipan berpuasa supaya segera melaporkan kepada pihak MPKB-BRI supaya tindakan dapat diambil dengan segera.

Ditanya samaada MPKB-BRI mewujudkan pasukan pengintip ala Mat Skodeng beliau berkata tidak ada pasukan rasmi seperti itu diwujudkan tetapi mengakui mempunyai hubungan dengan pihak tertentu yang secara sukarela mengesan mereka yang tidak berpuasa di bandar ini.

"Mereka tidak akan membuat sebarang tindakan tetapi akan melaporkan kepada pihak MPKB-BRI dan Jabatan Agama bagi membolehkan pihak penguatkuasa yang sah segera bertin dak," kata beliau kepada sidang media selepas menyampaikan bantuan ihya Ramadan dan Manfaat Kifalah di Kediaman Rasmi Menteri Besar, JKR 10 di sini pagi ini.

Pada majlis itu imam-imam masjid dan surau di seluruh kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri Bunut Payong menerima sumbangan daripada Dato' Takiyuddin bagi program menghidupkan Ramadan di tempat masing-masing.

Turut menerima sumbangan ialah waris (wasi) kepada warga emas yang meninggal dunia melalui skim Takaful Kifalah.

Semasa menyampaikan ucapan pada majlis itu beliau mengingatkan semua pihak supaya menjadikan bulan Ramadan sebagai medan untuk mengutip sebanyak mungkin pengurniaan daripada Allah SWT.

Pihak kerajaan katanya telah menyediakan pelbagai skim kebajikan terutama di bulan Ramadan untuk memastikan semua rakyat dapat menjalani kehidupan dengan penuh kesejahteraan dan keberkatan.

Mereka yang bernasib baik dengan dilebihkan rezki oleh Allah SWT kata beliau perlu bersama-sama dengan kerajaan untuk menghulurkan bantuan kepada golongan yang kurang berkemampuan.

12 persoalan besar di Batu Buruk belum terjawab

Banyak isu tinggal misteri

Untuk renungan dan bahan fikir bersama, berikut diperturunkan beberapa persoalan dan tandatanya tersebut:

1. Kerosakan harta awam dianggarkan RM500 ribu oleh pihak Majlis Perbandaran Kuala Terengganu (MPKT). Exco Datuk Rosol Wahid pula dalam kenyataan berasingan mendakwa nilai kerosakan itu mencecah RM1 juta (biasa lah tu, pemimpin BN memang selalu melebih-lebih dalam hal seumpama ini). Kerosakan itu didakwa dibuat “perusuh” yang dikaitkan dengan para penyokong PAS yang hadir malam itu.

Anehnya, segala kerosakan yang berlaku seperti papantanda jalan, lampu isyarat, pasu bunga dan lain-lain itu sebenarnya terletak di dalam zon yang dikawal polis. Sepanjang kekecohan memuncak, tidak ada orang awam dibenarkan memasuki kawasan jalan sepanjang 200 meter dari persimpangan lampu isyarat merentasi depan Kediaman Seri Iman hingga ke stesen minyak Esso di situ. Maka menjadi tanda tanya, siapa bertanggungjawab memecah dan merosakkan harta awam itu?

2. Puluhan buah motosikal dan kereta dilaporkan mengalami kerosakan teruk kesan pukulan benda tumpul (kayu atau batu). Gambar-gambar sebahagian kenderaan yang rosak itu turut disiarkan akhbar. Antara gambar itu menunjukkan lokasi motosikal yang rosak itu hanya beberapa depa dari sepasukan polis Unit Simpanan Persekutuan (FRU) sedang berkawal.

Apakah munasabah orang awam melakukannya dan dilihat sahaja oleh anggota FRU? Lagi pun, kenderaan yang rosak itu adalah milik orang awam, bukan milik anggota FRU atau polis. Sedangkan pertembungan malam itu antara polis dan orang awam. Apakah munasabah orang awam merosakkan kenderaan mereka sendiri? (Bunyinya macam tuduhan Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tumbuk muka dia sendiri dululah!)

3. Ada orang awam menceritakan telah melihat sekumpulan anggota polis mengunjungi Pasar Besar Kedai Payang (pasar utama di tengah bandar Kuala Terengganu) beberapa hari sebelum kejadian. Mereka itu dikatakan telah memborong kesemua ‘bidas’ (lastik, orang Kedah sebut ‘terbir’, orang Putih kata ‘catapult’). Untuk apa lastik-lastik itu diborong polis?

4. Insiden bakar bendera negara turut dipertikaikan. Gambar disiarkan akhbar Berita Harian, 10 September menunjukkan seorang pemuda lengkap bertopi keledar sedang membakarnya di tengah jalanraya yang agak lengang. Berdasarkan gambar itu, dipercayai jurugambar yang merakamkan insiden itu berada tidak jauh dari si pembakar itu.

Mungkin jurugambar tersebut adalah orang paling wajar disoalsiasat, siapa sebenarnya pemuda itu? Apakah gambar tersiar itu satu-satunya gambar dirakamnya ketika itu, atau ada lagi gambar-gambar lain yang merakamkan imej lebih jelas mengenai pembakar bendera itu?

5. Lebih dipersoalkan banyak pihak, apakah pemuda itu sebahagian dari kumpulan pemuda yang datang untuk mendengar ceramah PAS atau dari kumpulan lain? Bajunya tidak menampakkan sebarang tanda basah atau berpeluh, menunjukkan dia belum begitu lama di situ, tidak sebagaimana yang lain.

6. Ada juga eyewitness mendakwa melihat seseorang dari dalam sebuah kereta menghulurkan bendera negara yang menjadi bahan bakar itu kepada pemuda tersebut dan menyuruhnya membakar. Jika benar begitu, bermakna bendera itu bukan disentap di situ ketika kekecohan berlaku, tetapi sengaja dibawa dari tempat lain oleh orang misteri yang berkereta itu.

7. Ada juga eyewitness menyaksikan kedatangan sekumpulan mat rempit sejurus selepas keadaan agak reda. Mereka ini memang menjadikan laluan yang terlibat dengan kekecohan itu sebagai track perlumbaan mereka saban malam. Tidak payah diberitahu, mereka ini memang menyimpan dendam dengan pasukan polis kerana sering mengganggu akvititi malam mereka.

Mereka ini dikatakan tumpang sekaki “mengamuk” dan melakukan kekacauan sebagai melepas geram terhadap pasukan polis. Apakah mustahil mereka ini turut terlibat membakar bendera, kon polis dan melakukan kerosakan-kerosakan lain itu?

8. Keengganan pihak Polis Daerah Kuala Terengganu mengeluarkan permit untuk perhimpunan malam itu turut dipertikaikan. Pertama, telah beberapa kali lokasi sama dijadikan pentas ceramah melibatkan nama-nama besar dalam pembangkang seperti Mohamad Sabu, Anwar dan Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang sendiri. Majlis-majlis tersebut berjalan lancar dan aman, tiada kekacauan atau gangguan keselamatan, selagimana tiada kacau ganggu pihak polis.

9. Pihak polis memberikan alasan tidak mengeluarkan permit ceramah kononnya kawasan perumahan itu didiami golongan elit, pegawai kerajaan dan orang ternama. Justeru sebarang majlis ceramah akan menghasilkan gangguan bunyi kepada penghuni taman itu.

Juga dibangkitkan soal gangguan kepada para pelancong yang menginap di chalet dan resort berdekatan. Sedangkan lokasi sama terletak hanya beberapa ratus meter dari pentas utama Pantai Batu Buruk. Di situ saban bulan (kekadang tu saban minggu), berbagai bentuk bunyi bising dikumandangkan, tidak kira siang mahu pun malam. Mengapa tidak ditimbulkan soal gangguan bunyi dari pesta hiburan itu?

10. Soal bantahan yang didakwa dari penduduk setempat juga tidak sukar difahami. Mana ada orang Umno yang suka ceramah PAS diadakan berdekatan rumah mereka? Jadi, jika diraikan setiap bantahan orang Umno, nescaya tidak akan ada peluang bagi PAS untuk menganjurkan majlisnya di kawasan-kawasan awam. Apakah polis tidak pernah mengeluarkan permit untuk majlis Umno/BN jika dibantah penduduk setempat dari kalangan PAS?

11. Tindakan FRU melepaskan gas pemedih mata tanpa mengira tempat juga amat dikesalkan. Ia dihalakan bukan sahaja ke arah orang ramai yang cuba disuraikan, tetapi turut disasarkan ke arah kedai makan yang sedang dipenuhi pelanggan. Kanak-kanak yang berada di dalam kedai itu, termasuk anak-anak pemilik kedai, turut menerima kesan gas tersebut.

Apakah aspek keselamatan orang awam yang tidak ada kena-mengena dengan kekecohan itu tidak diambil kira terlebih dahulu oleh polis? Apakah semata-mata atas alasan menyuraikan perhimpunan haram, polis dihalalkan bertindak apa cara sahaja?

12, Tindakan seorang anggota polis melepaskan ‘peluru hidup’ sehingga mencederaparahkan dua orang awam sangat dipertikaikan. Anggota polis itu mendakwa kononnya beliau diserang, lalu memaksanya melepaskan tembakan demi mempertahankan diri.

Apa pun alasan dan dakwaan yang cuba dikemukakan, rakyat tidak dapat menerima ia sebagai tindakbalas yang wajar. Lain lah kalau orang yang didakwanya menyerangnya itu juga bersenjata. Apatah lagi diambilkira sebab kenapa beliau “diserang” itu, ialah kerana orang ramai melihat beliau cuba melakukan provokasi di tengah-tengah hadirin.

Setakat ini, persoalan dan tandatanya disebutkan tadi masih menguasai perbualan umum dan sembang kedai kopi di Terengganu. Segala persoalan itu pada hakikatnya lebih banyak memberikan kesan negatif kepada parti pemerintah.

Biak kerapu kolam

Oleh Mohd Idris Sulaiman

Teknologi Hi-Q Eco Magic istimewa kerana pemilik boleh tentukan saiz, berat ikan


IKAN laut dalam diternak di daratan. Menerusi kaedah bioteknologi yang diperkenalkan Global Hi-Q (M) Sdn Bhd, nelayan kini tidak perlu lagi mengambil risiko menempuh badai dan ribut untuk ke laut menangkap ikan, sebaliknya hanya perlu menternak ikan berkenaan di kolam.

Teknologi dari Taiwan itu menggunakan gabungan semula jadi yang mampu menjimatkan kos dan tenaga manusia serta mengelakkan masalah pencemaran air, kini dilaksanakan di Teluk Dalam, Pulau Pangkor di kawasan tiga hektar.

Melalui formula itu, ikan laut diternak di dalam kolam yang dibina khas di atas daratan dengan menggunakan penapis khas, ‘Hi-Q Eco Magic’ yang lengkap dengan pelbagai keperluan pembiakan ikan dan pengawalan kandungan air.

Pusat ternakan itu menyediakan 100 kolam dengan keluasan setiap kolam antara 4X4 meter persegi dan 6X6 meter persegi.

Kolam berkeluasan 4x4 meter persegi boleh memuatkan 14,000 ekor anak ikan dan selepas ikan terbabit matang, ia akan dipindahkan ke kolam berukuran 6x6 meter persegi yang boleh memuatkan 3,000 ekor ikan.

Ikan yang diternak di kawasan itu ialah ikan kerapu yang mengambil masa selama 10 bulan untuk mencapai berat antara 600 hingga 800 gram seekor sebelum dieksport ke China dan Hong Kong dengan harga AS$16 sekilogram.

Pengerusi Global Hi-Q (M) Sdn Bhd, Mohd Nasir Mohd Rashid, berkata dengan menggunakan Hi-Q Eco Magic, air laut akan disaring daripada pelbagai sudut seperti mengukur kandungan piawaian air serta melakukan proses menyahtoksik terutama jika ada bahan kimia di dalam air bagi membolehkan air berkenaan menjadi bersih dan sesuai untuk kehidupan ikan.

"Di Taiwan, teknologi itu dikaji sejak 22 tahun lalu dan ia mempunyai potensi untuk berkembang dalam sektor ini.

“Oleh itu, Global Hi-Q menjalin kerjasama dengan sebuah syarikat di Taiwan bagi melaksanakan kaedah itu di sebuah kawasan di Pulau Pangkor, Perak.

"Melalui teknologi itu, nelayan tidak perlu mengambil risiko menempuh badai dan ribut untuk ke laut sebaliknya hanya perlu menternak ikan laut di dalam kolam yang disediakan," katanya.

Mohd Nasir berkata, antara kelebihan menggunakan teknologi itu ialah pengusaha tidak perlu menukar air sehingga enam bulan kerana bahan yang terkandung di dalam penapis dapat mengawal kadar ketumpatan (PH) air serta menyah bahan kimia berbahaya di dalam takungan berkenaan.

Katanya, penapis Hi-Q Eco Magic mengandungi lebih 70 bahan mineral semula jadi yang diperoleh dari dasar laut yang mempunyai pelbagai fungsi untuk merawat air serta pembentukan planton secara semula jadi.

"Bahan terbabit akan mewujudkan keseimbangan dan keserasian alam hingga membolehkan air berada dalam keadaan asal.

"Apa yang lebih penting, air di dalam kolam itu akan menjadi asli sama seperti air laut dan ini akan membantu pembesaran serta perkembangan ikan di dalam kolam.

"Melalui teknologi itu, pengusaha tidak perlu menggantikan air atau menggunakan alat sokongan lain kerana penapis serta kandungan mineral alat terbabit dapat menyediakan segala keperluan untuk tujuan penternakan," katanya.


Mohd Nasir berkata, alatan itu akan bertindak sebagai sistem saliran akuakultur secara ekologikal yang turut mengandungi formula khas ‘primex antibodi’ di samping turut menghasilkan plankton dan rumpai laut sebagai makanan ikan.

Malah, alatan itu turut menjadi pemangkin kepada pembentukan batu karang yang amat sesuai untuk digunakan di dalam akuarium sama ada di pejabat dan rumah.

Selain itu, alatan berkenaan dapat memproses air ternakan yang mengalami keracunan akibat kandungan sisa toksik yang berlebihan sekali gus mengurangkan risiko keracunan ikan.

Nasir berkata, Hi-Q Eco Magic terbukti berjaya di Taiwan dan China sehingga mewujudkan pemasaran global dengan permintaan yang tinggi daripada 70 negara termasuk Amerika Syarikat dan Jerman.

Beliau berkata, selain pemeliharaan ikan, peralatan terbabit juga boleh digunakan untuk ternakan tiram dan karangan laut.

Katanya, alatan terbabit juga mempunyai keistimewaan kerana pemilik boleh menentukan saiz dan berat ikan yang dipelihara.

Mohd Nasir berkata, langkah syarikatnya menceburi bidang terbabit adalah selaras dengan seruan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang ingin memajukan industri pertanian dan perikanan berkonsepkan bioteknologi di negara ini.

INFO: Projek Global Hi-Q di Pulau Pangkor

Jenis Ikan: Kerapu
Tempoh ternakan: 10 bulan
Berat ikan yang boleh dijual: 600 - 800 gram
Harga: AS$16 sekilogram
Eksport: Hong Kong dan China
Jumlah kolam ketika ini: 40 kolam
Bakal ditambah: 60 kolam (menerusi projek `contract farming' dengan nelayan dan belia Pulau Pangkor di bawah Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi
Jumlah ikan dalam satu kolam: 3,000 ekor
Saiz kolam: 6 x 6 meter

Lain-lain:

Teknologi ini yang pernah diguna pakai di Taiwan dan Amerika Syarikat adalah yang pertama di Malaysia.

Teknologi ini didapati berpotensi di Malaysia berbanding di Amerika Syarikat dan Eropah kerana suhu air lautnya yang sesuai dengan habitat ikan kerapu.

The status of grouper culture in Southeast Asia

PC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #10

Excerpt from:

Robert Pomeroy (1), Rene Agbayani, with Joebert Toledo, Ketut Sugama, Bejo Slamet and Tridjoko. 2002 (in press). The Status of Grouper Culture in Southeast Asia. Financial Feasibility Analysis for Grouper Culture Systems in the Philippines and Indonesia. Draft Chapter 6 in: Farming the Reef: A State-of-the-Art Review of Aquaculture of Coral Reef Organisms in Tropical Nearshore Environments. Robert Pomeroy, John Parks and Cristina Balboa (eds.) World Resources Institute, Washington DC.

1. Robert S. Pomeroy PhD, Senior Social Scientist, International Marinelife Alliance, c/o IMA Washington DC Office, 1630 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20009 USA. e-mail: rpomeroy@marine.org Tel: 202-518-2052

Full-cycle aquaculture (the use of hatchery-reared fingerlings) of many grouper species is becoming more common throughout Asia. Grouper are cultured at various scales in every country of Southeast Asia – Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. While currently making up only about 10–15 per cent of the total trade, there is an increasing supply of full-cycle, cultured fish. The most important source countries are Taiwan, Indonesia and Thailand. Grouper culture is also ongoing in Australia and the People’s Republic of China, although the industry in these countries will not be discussed here.

A brief review of the status of the grouper aquaculture industry in each of the seven Southeast Asian countries is presented below.

Hong Kong

Grouper culture has been undertaken for over 30 years in Hong Kong. Groupers are cultured in floating cages in 26 designated aquaculture zones. The industry depends entirely on grow-out. The average farm size of rafts is about 250 square meters (Chan 2000). The colder winter water temperatures in Hong Kong restrict both the type of species to be cultured successfully, and the mortality and culture period of several species. Commonly cultured species include Epinephelus tauvina, E. lanceolatus, E. malabaricus, E. areolatus and E. bleekeri. A number of other fish species are also cultured.

There are no fry hatcheries in Hong Kong. Fry for culture were once provided from local capture but now almost all fry are imported from other countries in Southeast Asia. Traditionally, grouper were fed with trash fish supplied by purse seiners and trawlers. The use of trash fish was identified as one of the major sources of pollution around culture areas. In the early 1990s a moist pellet was developed by the government to replace the use of trash fish, and fish farmers are slowly adopting it.

In the early 1990s grouper production in Hong Kong was about 3000 t a year. In the last few years, production has dropped to 1000 t a year due to a number of production and environmental problems and stresses (Sadovy 2000). High levels of mortality exist from stress during the first few weeks or months after introduction of fry to the cages, and during water temperature changes, which occur twice a year, increasing in April/May and decreasing in November (Sadovy 2000). Differential growth rates of individuals lead to cannibalism. Poor water conditions and disease are also serious problems. Water quality in the culture zones is getting worse due to the high density of cages, build up of waste on the sea bottom, overfeeding using trash fish, algal blooms (including a recent red tide), and poor water flow. Viral infections and disease result both from infected imported fry and from poor water quality. Access to medication to treat diseases is limited in Hong Kong (Chan 2000).

Indonesia

Grouper culture is expanding in many areas of Indonesia. While there is no statistical data available on grouper culture in Indonesia, national aquaculture statistics show brackish water and cage culture growing at 8 and 16 per cent, respectively, during the 1990s. The primary areas for grouper grow-out culture in Indonesia are Aceh, north Sumatra (Nias and Sibilga), Riau Islands, Bangka Islands, Lampung, west Java, Karimunjawa Islands (central Java), Teluk Saleh (west Nusa Tenggara), south Sulawesi, north Sulawesi and southeast Sulawesi. Grouper culture is generally characterised in Indonesia by the use of wild-caught seed and use of trash fish for feed. There is limited use of hatchery-reared seed, although this is growing. Grouper are primarily grown-out in net cages. There is some limited pond grow-out culture, particularly for small size classes, but a general shortage of land for ponds has been identified (Sadovy 2000).

There has been a good deal of research on hatchery production of grouper. This has been stimulated by the development of a large number of milkfish hatcheries near the Gondol station and by increased interest from these private hatcheries in Bali and throughout Indonesia to produce grouper seed on a commercial basis. At the Gondol Research Institute for Mariculture on the north coast of Bali, the mass seed production of Cromileptes altivelis has been successful. Broodstock have been able to spawn naturally all year round, although the survival rates of larvae are low at the early stage. There are slow growth rate and disease problems at the grow-out stage. Some private hatcheries have succeeded in seed production, applying technologies learned from the Gondol station. In addition, humpback grouper seed has been provided from the station to many aquaculture operations in Bali and elsewhere in Indonesia and Southeast Asia for grow-out. The Gondol station has also succeeded in full-cycle culture of E. fuscoguttatus. The spawning period for this species in the hatchery has been found to be very short, only three to four days a month, and not all year round. Survival rates are low due to high levels of cannibalism, although survival rate and growth rate in cages is high. Many of the hatcheries in Bali culture several species of fish in addition to grouper such as sea bass, milkfish and humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus).

Research on a variety of species has also been undertaken at the Regional Brackishwater Aquaculture Development Center in Situbondo in eastern Java. At the Marine Finfish Production and Research Center (MAFPREC) in Besut, Terengganu, natural spawning of E. fuscoguttatus was achieved in 1995 in a 150-t tank. Research at MAFPREC continues to improve spawning and larval culture. Other research work has been carried out at the Research Institute for Coastal Fisheries in Sulawesi and the Mariculture Development Center at Lampung.

The Nature Conservancy has developed a full-cycle mariculture operation in the area of the Komodo National Park in western Flores. The project was originally started as an alternative enterprise for local fishers who were utilising destructive fishing practices. Fingerlings were obtained from the wild, but after a trial period it was decided to enter into full-cycle grouper culture. A number of species are being used as broodstock, including E. coioides, E. fuscoguttatus, Cromileptes altivelis, and Lates calcarifer. The first spawning of Cromileptes altivelis and E. fuscoguttatus occurred during the project in late 2000.

There are currently some problems with expansion of grouper culture in Indonesia. There is an oversupply of grouper seed available due to too many hatcheries being built. While the grow-out of grouper seems to provide considerable economic profit to small producers, the expansion of net cage grow-out operations are limited by high initial investment costs and lack of funds and credit. This oversupply of seed has led to a recent sharp decline in seed prices, which has caused hatcheries to stop producing seed. Thus, there is a need for improved market information for hatcheries on seed demand and on wholesale and retail prices and markets for grow-out operations. There is also a need for extension assistance to potential and existing small culturists, as many lack the technical skills to grow grouper. In some areas, water quality is emerging as a serious problem (Dr Ketut Sugama pers. comm. 2001). It is important to note that the Indonesian government has given aquaculture development a high priority for support.

Malaysia

There are over 2000 fish farmers involved in marine finfish culture in Malaysia. Grouper make up over 16 per cent by weight and 30 per cent by value of total marine finfish produced by aquaculture in Malaysia (Subramamiam 1999). Approximately 15 per cent of the fish seed are collected from the wild and/or produced in government or private hatcheries. The remaining 85 per cent is imported, primarily from Taiwan and Thailand (Subramamiam 1999). Net cages are the most popular grow-out system. The major grow-out sites for grouper in Malaysia are in Sabah, particularly Tuaran and Sandakan, and Sarawak (where wild seed are also captured) in East Malaysia. In Sabah, it is reported that there are two types of grouper culture – ‘system’ culture and ‘real’ culture (Sadovy 2000). System culture is the feeding of a variety of large captive juvenile or small adult grouper species in net cages. Real culture is the raising of wild-caught fry/fingerlings, primarily E. coioides and E. malabaricus.

Grouper are also cultured in Peninsular Malaysia in protected coastal areas in Johore, Selangor, Penang and Kedah. Several species of grouper are being grown-out in floating net cages including E. coioides, E. tauvina, E. fuscoguttatus, E. lanceolatus, Plectropomus leopardus, and Cromileptes altivelis. Wild seed are the major source of local supply of grouper seed.

Fish farmers in Malaysia have also been importing large numbers of hatchery-produced fish fry/juveniles from Taiwan in the last few years. The primary species imported are E. lanceolatus and E. fuscoguttatus and Cromileptes altivelis. It is reported that the survival rate of E. lanceolatus and C. altivelis was not very good and that the fish are susceptible to disease. The survival rate of E. fuscoguttatus was higher (Seng 2001).

There are few grouper hatcheries in Malaysia. There are two private hatcheries in Sabah working on grouper and other species. It is reported that they have had some problems with post-hatch larvae mortalities (Sadovy 2000). The University of Malaysia–Sabah has research underway or planned on several species including C. altivelis, E. fuscoguttatus and E. lanceolatus. It is important to note that no grouper fry/fingerlings can be imported into Sabah, thus the importance and need for hatcheries is significant (Sadovy 2000).

The Marine Finfish Production and Research Centre, at Terangganu in Peninsular Malaysia, a government facility, conducts research and produces fish fry for culturists, private hatcheries, and nursing. It also provides training to local finfish hatchery operators. The Centre is working on E. coioides and E. fuscoguttatus (Subramaniam 1999). There is a private hatchery in Penang working on E. coioides and E. fuscoguttatus using techniques learned from Taiwan (Sadovy 2000).

Trash fish is used to feed groupers but with decreasing amounts of trash fish available, some private feed mills have been producing a formulated diet for groupers. There is a need for more disease-free seed and fingerlings for industry development. There is also a need to maintain healthier broodstock. The government of Malaysia is encouraging an increase in the number of hatcheries. The government has identified aquaculture zones and provided infrastructure for aquaculture development. Research and development is also being encouraged. To protect grouper fry, there is a closed season on their capture during November and December, and only permitted from January to April in West Malaysia (Subramaniam 1999).

Philippines

Grouper aquaculture in the Philippines is based on the grow-out of wild-caught fry and fingerlings. Grouper fry and fingerlings are caught using a variety of methods including hook and line, scoop or dip nets, traps, gango or fish nest, fish corral, and several types of nets. In the Philippines, the major sources of grouper fry include the provinces of Pangasinan, Cavite, Mindoro, Quezon, Masbate, Bulacan, Cagayan, Dadiangas, Zamboanga del Sur and Negros Oriental. The Philippines is one of the largest suppliers of wild-caught grouper fry, fingerlings and juveniles in Southeast Asia.

Grouper culture in the Philippines is limited by the lack of enough fry and fingerlings of the preferred size for grow-out, poor quality of the fry due to capture method, and by sufficient supply of trash fish for feed. Overfishing, destructive fishing and the large amount of fry and fingerling exported are all stated reasons for the supply problem. The high dependence upon wild-caught fry and fingerlings in the Philippines is due, in part, to the lack of commercial hatcheries in the country (Marte pers comm. 2001). Some fish farmers in the Philippines are importing fingerlings from Taiwan and from the Gondol station in Bali, Indonesia.

Increasing numbers of fish farmers in the Philippines are now engaged in grouper culture. Grow-out is carried out using floating net cages, fixed net cages, and in ponds which were formerly used for shrimp culture. In addition to the lack of fry and fingerling supply, other problems with grow-out include disease, water quality and storm damage to cages (Sadovy 2000).

The Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture (SEAFDEC) in Tigbauan, Iloilo, is the primary source of technical information and research on grouper in the Philippines. SEAFDEC’s work focuses on E. coioides and E. malabaricus. SEAFDEC’s research is on broodstock development, seed production, and nursery and grow-out culture of groupers. SEAFDEC is now transferring the results of its research to the private sector (Marte 1999; Quinitio 1999; Baliao et al 2000).

There is reportedly one private broodstock operator in the country and several small private hatcheries. Three main species of grouper produced are E. coioides, E. malabaricus and E. lanceolatus. It is reported that spawning is still a problem, hatcheries are having problems with post-hatch larvae and diseases, and production is not at commercial levels. Recently, a development project in the province of Samar constructed hatchery facilities to produce fry and fingerlings of E. coioides and E. malabaricus. The project was designed to produce fry and fingerlings for grow-out as an alternative livelihood for local people. SEAFDEC provided technical assistance to the project.

A model of grouper culture that has been discussed for the Philippines is to have one broodstock facility in an area or region of the country that would supply larvae to a number of satellite hatcheries. While the spawning and egg production of several grouper species can be achieved on a commercial level in the Philippines, a limiting factor to development is the reliance on trash fish for feed. A commercial diet for grouper will need to be made available. Parasitic infestations of grouper are causing increasing mortality (Marte 1999).

Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)

Hatcheries in Taiwan are currently able to hatch more than 40 species of marine fish for mariculture, with E. coioides, E. lanceolatus, Trachinotus blochii, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, L. stellatus and Acanthopagrus latus being the species in greatest numbers. Early grouper culture in the 1970s and 1980s consisted of growing-out wild-caught fry from Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries. Full-cycle grouper aquaculture of E. coioides and E. malabaricus was achieved in the early 1980s. Currently, fifteen species of grouper are being cultured in Taiwan, many on demand. The most common grouper species are E. lanceolatus, E. coioides, E. malabaricus and E. fuscoguttatus. By 2001, more than 600 hatchery and grow-out farms produced over 20 million fry and over 7000 t of grouper annually from a production area of more than 700 ha. Both hatchery produced and imported seed are used in production. Taiwan supplies fertilised grouper eggs and seed to export markets.

Grouper mariculture operations in Taiwan are usually specialised in one of several areas of production system such as broodstock/eggs, hatchery, nursery, and grow-out. The specialisation has led to a decrease in the price of fry and fingerlings (Cesar and Hempel 2000). Broodstock are kept in outdoor ponds and are induced to spawn artificially or allowed to spawn naturally (Sadovy 2000). Larviculture uses both indoor and outdoor methods. Two-pond culture systems are used for the nursery phase – a small pond, 100 m² in size with small cages, and a large pond used during winter (Rimmer 1998). Grow-out occurs in both floating net cages and in ponds. The majority of Taiwanese grouper farmers now use moist pellet, artificial feed. Water quality and diseases are increasing problems (Rimmer 1998).

Cesar and Hempel (2000) reported that the reasons for the relative success of Taiwan’s grouper aquaculture industry include: 1) success in mass production of fertilised eggs, 2) advances in the fry production system, 3) highly specialised subsystems and division of labour, 4) high efficiency in the production of live feeds, 5) aggregated hatchery business, 6) wide use of formulated feeds, 7) thoroughly experienced hatchery operators, and 8) sound research and development infrastructure. To this list should be included strong government support for the industry and well organised industry associations.

Thailand

Grouper aquaculture is growing rapidly in Thailand. Grouper culture is primarily undertaken in floating net cages in the southern and eastern provinces of Thailand including Suratthani, Chumpon, Nakhonsrithamarat, Songkhla, Pattani, Satul, Krabi, Trang, Phangnga, Chachengsao, Rayong and Chantaburi. As the shrimp farming industry in these provinces declined during the 1990s due to lower prices, disease and environmental problems, many farmers shifted to brackish water finfish culture including grouper. The two most important species cultured in Thailand are E. coioides and E. malabaricus; in addition E. lanceolatus, E. areolatus, E. fuscoguttatus, Plectropomus maculatus, and Cromileptes altivelis are cultured.

Thailand is a major supplier of wild-caught grouper seed in Southeast Asia, although some local seed is also used to support the growing grouper culture industry in the country. A constraint to industry growth, is however the insufficient supply of suitable size and quality of seed. It has been reported that without the export of seed, there would be enough seed available to meet the demand in the country (Sadovy 2000). Hatchery production will need to be increased to meet the demand.

The government of Thailand has made grouper culture a priority for the country. There are several research institutions in the country working on grouper culture. The most prominent is the National Institute of Coastal Aquaculture (NICA) located in Songklha in southern Thailand. NICA works on E. coioides, E. malabaricus and E. lanceolatus. NICA provides grouper seed to farmers and well as technical assistance. There are several other research stations associated with the Department of Fisheries working on grouper in Phuket, Krabi and Satun. There is reportedly one private hatchery located in southern Thailand producing E. malabaricus seed.

Viral diseases and parasites are an increasing problem for grouper culture in Thailand. The availability of trash fish is another problem and even though artificial feed is available, it is too expensive for many farmers.

Vietnam

Grouper culture is a relatively new enterprise in Vietnam. There has been considerable growth in grouper grow-out culture, and other finfish, in net cages throughout the 1990s. Culture is centred in a number of provinces including Hai Phong and Quang Ninh in the north, and Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa in the south central. The Ministry of Fisheries has reported that marine fish aquaculture production was 5000 t in 1999, mostly groupers (Sadovy 2000).

Grow-out in the country is based primarily on the use of wild-caught fry and fingerlings. Most operations are small-scale and family-operated. Commonly cultured grouper species include E. coioides, E. malabaricus and E. bleekeri. In addition to floating net cages, fixed net cages and ponds (formerly used for shrimp) are used for grow-out. Only locally caught trash fish are used for feed. Disease is currently reported as not being a significant problem.

Although grouper hatchery technology has been developed, there are no private grouper hatcheries in Vietnam. The Research Institute for Aquaculture-1 (RIA-1), located in north Vietnam, maintains broodstock and a research programme at Cat Ba Island. The Fisheries University in Nha Trang has begun grouper hatchery research and maintains broodstock of several grouper species. It is reported that RIA-1 is building a hatchery research station and grow-out cages with foreign development assistance in Nghe An Province (Sadovy 2000).

Grouper seed supply and poor quality of seed due to catching and handling practices are two constraints faced by the industry. In addition, there needs to be cost-effective alternatives to trash fish for feed (Nguyen and Hambrey 2000).

References

Baliao, D.D., M.A. de los Santos, N.M. Franco and N.R.S. Jamon. 2000. Grouper culture in floating net cages. Aquaculture extension manual no. 29. SEAFDEC-Aquaculture Department, Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines.

Cesar, H and E. Hempel. 2000. Opportunities and constraints for grouper aquaculture in Asia. EASES discussion paper series. World Bank, Washington DC

Chan, P. 2000. Reviews and future of grouper aquaculture. Hong Kong Chamber of Seafood Merchants, Inc. Hong Kong, China

Marte, C. 1999. Grouper research at the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department. www.enaca.org/grouper/research/hatchery/

Nguyen van Trai and J.B. Hambrey. 2000. Grouper culture in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand

Quinitio, G.F. 1999. The status of seed production of grouper and other coral reef fishes in the Philippines. www.enaca.org/grouper/research/hatchery/

Rimmer, M. 1998. Grouper and snapper aquaculture in Taiwan. Austasia Aquaculture. 12(1):3–7.

Sadovy, Y. 2000. Regional survey for fry/fingerling supply and current practices for grouper mariculture: Evaluating current status and long-term prospects for grouper mariculture in Southeast Asia. Final report to the collaborative APEC grouper research and development network (FWG 01/99)

Subramaniam, K. 1999. grouper aquaculture development in Malaysia. www.enaca.org/grouper/research/hatchery/

www.enaca.org/

http://www.fmo.org.hk/index/lang_en/page_price-sea/

https://www.was.org/main/default.asp