National Report of Malaysia on the Formulation of a Transboundary
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UNEP/SCS/National Report 4 - Malaysia National Report of Malaysia on the Formulation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and Preliminary Framework of a Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea MALAYSIA NATIONAL REPORT for the Formulation of A Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis for the South China Sea CONTENTS PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 AIM OF THE NATIONAL REPORT.............................................................................................. 1 1.2 MAJOR WATER-RELATED ENVIRONMENT PROBLEMS................................................... 1 1.2.1 Marine pollution .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2.2 River pollution ............................................................................................................ 2 1.2.3 Decline in marine and coastal biological diversity.......................................................... 3 1.2.4 Over-exploitation of resources ..................................................................................... 4 1.2.5 Coastal erosion .......................................................................................................... 5 1.3 COUNTRY BACKGROUND................................................................................................ 6 1.4 GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS USED IN THE ANALYSIS ......................................................... 8 1.4.1 Geographic division .................................................................................................... 9 1.4.2 Administrative division................................................................................................. 9 2.0 DETAILED ANALYSIS OF MAJOR WATER-RELATED CONCERNS AND PRINCIPAL ISSUES........................................................................................................ 11 2.1 POLLUTION.................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Sources of pollution .................................................................................................. 11 2.2 FRESHWATER SHORTAGE AND DEGRATION OF ITS QUALITY .................................... 17 2.2.1 Surface water ........................................................................................................... 17 2.2.2 Groundwater ............................................................................................................ 18 2.2.3 Issues...................................................................................................................... 20 2.3 EXPLOITATION OF LIVING AQUATIC RESOURCES ....................................................... 21 2.3.1 Living marine resources ............................................................................................ 21 2.3.2 Sea turtles and painted terrapin ................................................................................. 24 2.3.3 Marine mammals...................................................................................................... 27 2.4 MODIFICATION OF AQUATIC HABITATS ........................................................................ 27 2.4.1 Freshwater habitats and coastal wetlands .................................................................. 27 2.4.2 Marine habitats......................................................................................................... 33 2.5 SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL THREATS TO LIVING RESOURCES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA................................................................................................. 40 2.6 COASTAL EROSION ....................................................................................................... 40 3.0 ANALYSIS OF THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS OF IDENTIFIED WATER-RELATED ISSUES........................................................................................................................... 42 4.0 ANALYSIS OF THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE IDENTIFIED WATER-RELATED ISSUES.... 44 4.1 GENERIC/NATIONAL LEVEL PROBLEMS ....................................................................... 44 4.1.1 Land use planning and land use ................................................................................ 44 4.1.2 Land use planning and modification of habitats........................................................... 45 4.2 INSUFFICIENT ACCESS AND PROVISION OF CENTRALIZED SEWAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES AND IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE ................................................... 45 4.3 LACK OF CAPACIITY TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND ENFORCE REGULATIONS............... 46 4.4 INAPPROPRIATE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES IN THE FISHERIES SECTOR ...................... 46 5.0 CONSTRAINTS TO ACTION............................................................................................ 51 5.1 INFORMATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS .................................................................... 51 5.1.1 Information............................................................................................................... 51 5.1.2 Public awareness ..................................................................................................... 52 5.2 LEGAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND MANAGERIAL.................................................................. 52 5.2.1 Legal ....................................................................................................................... 52 5.2.2 Institutional and managerial....................................................................................... 52 i 6.0 ONGOING AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES RELEVANT TO THE IDENTIFIED ISSUES.......... 53 6.1 POLLUTION.................................................................................................................... 53 6.1.1 River pollution .......................................................................................................... 53 6.1.2 Marine pollution ........................................................................................................ 54 6.2 FRESHWATER SHORTAGE AND QUALITY..................................................................... 55 6.3 EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES................................................................................... 55 6.4 HABITAT MODIFICATIONS ............................................................................................. 56 7.0 IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION BY SECTOR............................................ 56 7.1 FINANCE ........................................................................................................................ 56 7.2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.......................................................................................... 57 7.3 FISHERIES ..................................................................................................................... 57 7.4 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY .................................................................................... 57 7.5 MANUFACTURING.......................................................................................................... 58 8.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................ 59 ANNEXES Annex I. Municipal discharges Annex II. Discharges from rivers and canals into the sea Annex III. Distribution of industrial pollution sources in study area by river Annex IV. Malaysia: Interim standards for marine water quality Annex V. Malaysia: Proposed interim national water quality standards for Malaysia LIST OF TABLES Table 1.1 Macro performance indicators for the state of marine water quality (1977–94) Table 1.2 Macro performance indicators for the state of the river water quality in Malaysia (1977 – 1994) Table 1.3 Extent of marine and coast Table 1.4 Zoning system in the fishing grounds for peninsular Malaysia Table 1.5 Malaysia: Distribution of coastal areas affected by erosion (1985) Table 1.6 Malaysia: Distribution of coastal areas affected by erosion (1996) Table 1.7 Coastline affected by coastal erosion in the study area (1996) Table 1.8 Malaysia – vital statistics Table 1.9 Malaysia: Summary of laws and regulations related to the environment and natural resources Table 1.10 Geographical divisions/subdivisions used in the analysis Table 2.11 Transportation of pollution – rivers, streams and canals Table 2.12 Number of rivers in study area exhibiting deterioration in TSS Table 2.13 Distribution of the major stationary industrial sources of water pollution in the study area, 1993. Table 2.14 Malaysia – access to sewage treatment facilities in large and small local authority areas at the end of 1993 Table 2.15 Agricultural sources of pollution Table 2.16 Ports and harbours in the study area and types of cargo handled Table 2.17 Records of oil spills (accidental and operational discharges and other marine disasters, 1987-97 (by subregion) Table 2.18 Cities with populations of more than 100,000 and population growth rate Table 2.19 Major coastal cities – percentage of population with access to basic sewerage facilities (1997) iii Table 2.20 Water balance in Malaysia Table 2.21 Historical and projected domestic and industrial water demand by state (1980-2000) x 000,000 m3/y Table 2.22 Status of groundwater resources in Malaysia in billion m3. Table 2.23 Marine fisheries landing (tonnes) from the east coast of peninsula Malaysia, Sarawak and