Mazlin Mokhtar

Integrated coastal zone management using the ecosystems approach, some perspectives in Malaysia

Abstract An effective assessment of functions, goods and services of coastal ecosystems requires commitment from the various stakeholders and an integrated approach in the management of the ecosystem. Malaysia has made commitments through its policies, the latest being the Eighth Malaysia Plan, for 2001–2005 (“8th MP”), which is the first phase implementation of the Third Outline Perspective Plan (“OPP3”), charting the development of the nation for the first decade in the 21st Century. The pledge to develop an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Policy (“ICZM”) is being carried out to reconcile conflicting uses and ensure sustainability of coastal resources, plus identify and provide for uniformity and minimum standards to be adopted in Malaysia. These policy instruments (e.g. OPP3, 8th MP, Draft ICZM, National Policy on Biodiversity) will set the objectives and direction that will allow for formal instruments of implementation of strategies and plans envisaged to take place, besides setting the stage for the various stakeholders and outlining responsibilities and commitments. It will also allow for disciplines and findings be it in science, socio-economic and humanities to interface with policies and its instruments of implementation, especially when put into the context of the ecosystems approach.

Integrated Models for Solid Waste Management in Tourism Regions: Langkawi Island, Malaysia

The population growth, changing consumption patterns, and rapid urbanization contribute significantly to the growing volumes of solid waste that are generated in urban settings. As the rate of urbanization increases, demand on the services of solid waste management increases. The rapid urban growth in Langkawi Island, Malaysia, combined with the increasing rates of solid waste production has provided evidence that the traditional solid waste management practices, particularly the methods of waste collection and disposal, are inefficient and quite nonsustainable. Accordingly, municipal managers and planners in Langkawi need to look for and adopt a model for solid waste management that emphasizes an efficient and sustainable management of solid wastes in Langkawi Island. This study presents the current practices of solid waste management in Langkawi Island, describes the composition of the solid waste generated in that area, and presents views of local residents and tourist on issues related to solid waste management like the aesthetic value of the island environment. The most important issue of this paper is that it is the first time that integrated solid waste management is investigated in the Langkawi Island.

Urban vs. Marine Based Oil Pollution in the Strait of Johor, Malaysia: A Century Record

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) constitute a class of organic pollutants in the environment that come from combustion of organic matter and petroleum products and from natural sources. Reconstruction of PAH history from two sedimentary cores of the Strait of Johor in peninsular Malaysia showed predominance of urban over marine-based sources of oil pollution. Laboratory analysis of the cores found oil pollution from city-sourced material since 1910 and 1940 in the near-shore and offshore samples, respectively. Using hopane as molecular biomarker of petroleum pollution, this study found a predominance of Southeast Asian-originated oil and its derivatives. This study concludes that crankcase oil, asphalt, street dust and urban sediments considerably contribute to oil pollution of the study area.

Indicators as a tool for the evaluation of effective national implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)

This paper briefly outlines the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and what is meant by GHS implementation in terms of policy-related information for decision-makers plus a framework of actions to enable such policies to be effectively undertaken. The paper discusses the need for simple indicators to measure progress with GHS implementation. Two groups of indicators have been described that comprehensively reflect basic components of GHS implementation. The first group was presented as aggregated indicators or indices, for national capability evaluation. Indicators to evaluate management performance linked to stated objectives were presented as the second group. Information from an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published questionnaire on GHS implementation and a questionnaire by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) on chemical safety that included GHS have provided the basic information for applying the management capability indicators approach. Through the use of information in these two questionnaires, country-relevant and regional progress with GHS implementation was illustrated. Despite the GHS implementation target of 2008 set by the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, very few countries have reported they have achieved this target. The simple management indicators proposed in this paper are based on adoption of a questionnaire and a numerical scoring system that could be used to chart progress towards GHS implementation. It was concluded, therefore, that the use of indicators as described in this paper does provide a quick survey of the overall situation in a country and facilitates comparison between countries across regions in terms of GHS implementation. Furthermore such results may indicate which countries require additional assistance with GHS implementation thus strengthening policies and actions across all sectors and involving governments, business, trade, and civil society.

Trace metal (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) accumulation in Scleractinian corals: a record for Sabah, Borneo.

This study was designed as the first to assess the trace metal (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) in coral skeleton in relation to metal availabilities and sampling locations in Sabah. The study also aims to determine the differential abilities of Scleractinian coral species as a bioindicator of environmental conditions. Skeletons of Scleractinian coral (Hydnophora microconos, Favia speciosa and Porites lobata) showed concentrations of Fe, Mn and Ni relatively higher than Cd and Zn in the skeletons. Statistical analyses outputs showed significant relationships between trace metal concentrations in coral species and those in seawater and sediment. The highest bioaccumulation factors among three Scleractinian coral species investigated was for Zn followed by Mn, Ni, Fe, Cd and Cu can provide a sign about pollution levels. However, metal tolerance, coral structure and morphology as well as multispecies monitoring are factors that need to be a focus in future studies.

Water quality of Inanam River estuary and the Ko-Nelayan tiger prawn aquaculture ponds in Sabah, Malaysia

Concentrations of selected metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn and Pb), oxidizable organic carbons, sediment acid potentials, dissolved oxygen (DO), dissolved solids, suspended solids, pH, conductivity, salinity and temperature in the Inanam River Estuary and the KO-Nelayan tiger prawn aquaculture ponds were monitored during the period March to August 1989. Dissolved Co and Pb were found to be higher than the recommended values of 0.05 mgl−1 (Krenkel & Novotny, 1980; Nemerow, 1985), whereas the other metals were comparable to the recommended safe levels. DO concentrations of the river and pond water were in the range 2.6–4.7 mgl−1 and 3.0–5.3 mgl−1 respectively, both with an average which was lower than the optimum value for the growth of prawns which is 5 mgl−1. Ferrous sulfide concentrations were in the range 0.14–1.20%. Suspended solids were higher than the maximum (40 mgl−1) recommended value by WHO (1978). Other physical parameters were within the recommended range for optimal growth of tiger prawns.

Conservation priority assessment of the coastal area in the Kuala Lumpur mega-urban region using extent analysis and TOPSIS

To guarantee sustainability in urban coastal areas, it is essential to have more conservation plans in these areas under various pressures. The first large urban conurbation in Malaysia, which stretches from the central mountain spine to the west coast, has expanded and emerged as a potential mega-urban region. To evaluate its sustainability, several critical criteria and indicators must be identified. The process of choosing criteria is very sensitive. If too many criteria are selected, the focus of the plan becomes narrow, and this simplification often leads to poor decision making. The use of a limited number of criteria allows accommodation of spatial and temporal changes and also makes it easier to collect data. This paper presents an innovative, reliable method for identification of the most important criteria and alternatives using integrated extent analysis and fuzzy TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution). The weights of the criteria are determined using the fuzzy pairwise comparison of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. Criteria were also selected by interviewing thirty experts in the fields of economic, social and environmental sustainability. This set of criteria was drawn from several policies and strategies for development in Malaysia. Interviews with coastal managers, town and country planners and academic experts at the national and local levels provided information used to refine and modify these criteria. Seventeen criteria in three clusters of ecological, social and economic issues were considered in the evaluation of six alternatives sites for conservation in coastal areas, Port Dickson, Kelanang, Jugra, Pulau Indah, Kuala Selangor and Morib. Jugra was determined to be the most appropriate area for conservation.

Climate change adaptation policy in Malaysia: Issues for agricultural sector

Malaysia is one of the highly vulnerable countries due to climatic changes. Here the changes in climate factors cause adverse impacts on agricultural sustainability and relevant livelihood sustainability. To adapt to these changes a prudent adaptation policy is very important. Several countries follow different adaptation policy based on their localized socioeconomic and geographical status. While defining its adaptation policy, Malaysia also needs to consider several crucial factors. This study discusses issues relevant to the farmers’ adaptation to climate change in Malaysia and also provides few recommendations that will help policy makers to prepare the agricultural adaptation policy for climate change

Lead in PM10 and in Indoor Dust Around Schools and Preschools in Selangor, Malaysia

A study of possible exposure to indoor lead by school and preschool children was conducted around Selangor, Malaysia. For collecting suspended particulates less than 10 micrometer in diameter (PM10) inside and outside the school and preschool buildings, a lowvolume sampler was used. For collecting dust in the indoor environments, small brushes and Kimwipes were used. Lead in PM10 and in dust was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with a graphite furnace. The average lead concentrations in PM10 in the indoor environment were found to be higher in schools (118.85 86.08 ng m ) than in preschools (6.97 0.30 ng m ). Higher concentrations of lead in the indoor dust in school environments (ranging between 19.10 1.55 and 31.62 0.98mg g ) compared to lead in the indoor dust in preschool environments (ranged between 0.37 0.01 and 2.74 0.04 mg g ) suggest that indoor sources, particularly paint on indoor walls, are also capable of generating lead in indoor environments. Furthermore, in all indoor environments, the levels of lead in PM10 increased with rising levels of lead in their associated outdoor environments, thus suggesting that the local outdoor environments also add lead to the indoor environments.A study of possible exposure to indoor lead by school and preschool children was conducted around Selangor, Malaysia. For collecting suspended particulates less than 10 micrometer in diameter (PM10) inside and outside the school and preschool buildings, a low-volume sampler was used. For collecting dust in the indoor environments, small brushes and Kimwipes were used. Lead in PM10 and in dust was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer with a graphite furnace. The average lead concentrations in PM10 in the indoor environment were found to be higher in schools (118.85 ± 86.08 ng•m-3) than in preschools (6.97 ± 0.30 ng·m-3). Higher concentrations of lead in the indoor dust in school environments (ranging between 19.10 ±1.55 and 31.62 ± 0.98 μg·g-1) compared to lead in the indoor dust in preschool environments (ranged between 0.37 ± 0.01 and 2.74 ± 0.04 μg·g-1) suggest that indoor sources, particularly paint on indoor walls, are also capable of generating lead in indoor environments. Furtherm...

Chemometric techniques in oil classification from oil spill fingerprinting

Extended use of GC-FID and GC-MS in oil spill fingerprinting and matching is significantly important for oil classification from the oil spill sources collected from various areas of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah (East Malaysia). Oil spill fingerprinting from GC-FID and GC-MS coupled with chemometric techniques (discriminant analysis and principal component analysis) is used as a diagnostic tool to classify the types of oil polluting the water. Clustering and discrimination of oil spill compounds in the water from the actual site of oil spill events are divided into four groups viz. diesel, Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), Mixture Oil containing Light Fuel Oil (MOLFO) and Waste Oil (WO) according to the similarity of their intrinsic chemical properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrates that diesel, HFO, MOLFO and WO are types of oil or oil products from complex oil mixtures with a total variance of 85.34% and are identified with various anthropogenic activities related to either intentional releasing of oil or accidental discharge of oil into the environment. Our results show that the use of chemometric techniques is significant in providing independent validation for classifying the types of spilled oil in the investigation of oil spill pollution in Malaysia. This, in consequence would result in cost and time saving in identification of the oil spill sources.