Rotarians offer help in project

By K. SUTHAKAR

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Rotary Club of Kuala Terengganu wants to give a helping hand to the state's reef ball project off the waters of Pulau Redang. 

Its president Soh Cheng Thiong said they were willing to teach other groups who are keen to help in the project. 

He said 15 club members took two months to make 70 reef balls, which were sunk off the water of Pulau Redang last week.  

Divers unfurling a banner of the reef ball project in the waters off Pulau Redang in Terengganu on March 12. Next to it is a reef ball.

“We are willing to share our knowledge to restore the ailing coral reefs and create new fishing grounds,” he said. 

He was commenting on Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh's statement that the state plans to sink 1,000 reef balls into the sea by end of the year. 

Idris said this after witnessing 70 reef balls being dropped into the sea.  

The club, with the co-operation of the state and Laguna Redang Island Resort, initiated the project. 

Idris called on Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (Kustem) and other organisations to help in the project. 

Club vice-president Dr Dayal Krishnan said they plan to raise money to sink more reef balls into the sea. 

He said the club would make miniature reef balls, which would be sold to resort guests. 

“We will use the money to fund periodic research into the effectiveness of reef balls in the sea.” 

He said marine biologist Associated Prof Liew Hock Chark of Kustem was heading the research team. 

“They will send divers to check if there are coral growth on the reef balls and conduct other related studies,” he said. 

For information on reef balls, visit http://www.reefball.org/. 

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