NO POLICE PERMIT NEEDED TO LAND HELICOPTER – UPKO

No police permit needed to land helicopter – UPKO

KOTA BELUD May 22, 2012: United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (UPKO) Kota Belud deputy chief Ewon Benedick said based on experience, there was no need to obtain police permission to land a helicopter that was transporting a minister.

“I was in communication with Datuk Herbert (Timbun Lagadan) and he explained that the pilot could not find a suitable landing point and that it needed police approval to land a minister who flew in by helicopter.

DON'T BUILD HOLIDAY HOMES ALONG FOOTHILLS OF MT KINABALU: PAIRIN

Don't build holiday homes along foothills of Mt Kinabalu: Pairin

Kota Kinabalu May 20, 2012: Think twice if you're planning to build your holiday home along the foothills of Mount Kinabalu.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said this after last week's landslide at Kg Kiau Taburi in the Kota Belud district some 70km from here.

He said much of the hillside around the mountain, particularly in Kota Belud, Kundasang and Ranau, was unstable and prone to landslips.

VILLAGERS NOT STRANDED AFTER LANDSLIDE – PAIRIN

Villagers not stranded after landslide – Pairin

KOTA KINABALU May 17, 2012: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Pairin Kitingan explained that the 3,000 odd villagers at Kampung Kiau-Taburi/Bersatu/Nuluh in Kota Belud are not stranded after a landslide last Wednesday destroyed the road linking the villages to the main road.

According to the Infrastructure Development Minister, villagers have access in and out of the area through the existing Kiau-Lobong Lobong Road which is about 10 kilometres to the main road.

EXPERT: TELL-TALE SIGNS OF LANDSLIDE SEEN

Expert: Tell-tale signs of landslide seen

KOTA KINABALU May 14, 2012: All signs were there to indicate the landslide that took place at Kg Kiau Taburi at the foothills of Mount Kinabalu was inevitable.

VILLAGERS HIT BY LANDSLIP PLEAD FOR CANDLES

Villagers hit by landslip plead for candles

Kota Belud May 13, 2012: Some 500 residents in Kg Kiau Teburi, Kg Kiau Nulu and Kg Kiau Bersatu directly affected by the recent landslide there, have appealed for the public to provide them with candles.

Nabalu Natural Disaster Committee member, Sindih Taliban, said they are in desperate need of candles while waiting for their electricity supply - which had been totally cut off by the landslide - to be restored.

STUDENTS ‘JUNGLE TREK’ HOME AFTER LANDSLIDE

Students ‘jungle trek’ home after landslide

KOTA BELUD May 10, 2012: Like any other afternoon, Jonathan Evilce was glad that he finally reached home, but the 15-year-old student was extra relieved yesterday as the usual bus ride home from school involved some ‘jungle trekking’.

“It was a very challenging journey. We had to walk on slippery paths and keep our balance to avoid falling down the steep hill,” he said.

LANDSLIDE, ROAD COLLAPSE AFFECT 3,000

Landslide, road collapse affect 3,000

KOTA BELUD May 10, 2012: An elderly couple escaped unhurt when a landslide sent earth and debris into their home at the foot of a hill in Kampung Kiau-Taburi, Kadamaian yesterday.

The couple in their 70s were rescued by villagers after they had initially refused to leave for fear of losing their decades-old house.

TYPHOON NESAT’S TAIL SWISHES ON SABAH’S WEST COAST

Typhoon Nesat’s tail swishes on Sabah’s west coast

SK Kauluan Baru Kundasang Ranau SABAH

KOTA KINABALU September 27, 2011: Typhoon Nesat’s strong tail wind swished on Sabah’s west coast wreaking havoc, knocking down power and telecommunication lines, uprooted trees and blown off rooftops.

JEPUN TEMUI BERAS DICEMARI RADIOAKTIF

Jepun temui beras dicemari radioaktif

TOKYO 2011/09/26 : Jepun menemui kes pertama beras dicemari bahan radioaktif melebihi paras ditetapkan dalam satu ujian awal tanaman sebelum dituai, lapor Kementerian Perladangan baru-baru ini.

Kementerian itu memberitahu, unsur radioaktif caesium 500 becquerels (Bq) sekilogram ditemui dalam satu sampel beras sebelum dituai di bandar Nihonmatsu di daerah Fukushima, 56 kilometer ke barat loji jana kuasa nuklear Fukushima.

Loji itu lumpuh akibat gempa dan tsunami 11 Mac lalu, mencetuskan bencana nuklear terburuk dunia sejak 25 tahun lalu.

UNSAFE KUNDASANG RESORT MUST CEASE OPERATION, ONE FATAL INCIDENT CAN WIPE OUT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY THERE - MASIDI

'Unsafe' Kundasang resort must cease operations: Masidi

Kota Kinabalu September 12, 2011: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun on Sunday said the operator of a resort in Kundasang must cease operations after it was found to be unsafe by the authorities.

He said several visitors checked into the resort about three days ago but moved out and stayed in another lodging elsewhere after knowing the precarious condition of the resort concerned.

He said the resort is sitting dangerously on a slope but its operator was adamant to continue operating business as usual.

"This should not happen because it just takes one fatal incident to wipe out the tourism industry there,"

24 ORANG TERTIMBUS DALAM KEJADIAN TANAH RUNTUH

24 Orang Tertimbus Dalam Kejadian Tanah Runtuh Di Hulu Langat

KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Mei (Bernama) -- Seramai 24 orang terdiri daripada anak yatim, warden dan kakitangan Rumah Anak-anak Yatim dan Anak-anak Hidayah Madrasah Al-Taqwa tertimbus dalam kejadian tanah runtuh di Hulu Langat dekat sini Sabtu.

Setakat 8 malam, lima mayat kanak-kanak berusia 11 dan 14 tahun dikeluarkan dari runtuhan itu manakala sembilan lagi ditemui cedera termasuk seorang lelaki dewasa berusia 22 tahun, kata polis.

Penghuni yang cedera berusia antara 11 dan 17 tahun manakala lelaki dewasa itu dipercayai pekerja di rumah anak yatim berkenaan.

Kesemua yang cedera dihantar ke Hospital Kajang untuk rawatan dan setakat ini keadaan mereka tidak diketahui, kata Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah pada sidang akhbar di sini.

Beliau berkata rumah anak yatim yang terletak berhampiran bukit itu menempatkan 49 orang termasuk penghuni termasuk lima penjaga. Kesemua penghuni rumah itu adalah lelaki.

Ketika kejadian pada pukul 2.30 petang kesemua penghuni rumah anak yatim itu berada dalam sebuah khemah yang dipasang untuk persiapan satu majlis yang dijadual pada pukul 5 petang.

Runtuhan tanah dari bukit itu dikatakan menimbus keseluruhan khemah itu yang terletak di luar rumah anak yatim itu, yang terletak di lereng bukit itu.

Turut terkena runtuhan tanah itu ialah sebuah surau.

"Kami difahamkan berlaku dua kali tanah runtuh secara serentak dalam sekelip mata. Semua mereka yang berada dalam dewan itu tidak sempat menyelamatkan diri," kata Tun Hisan pada sidang akhbar di tempat kejadian.

Beliau berkata polis akan menyiasat punca kejadian.

Beliau berkata pasukan mencari dan menyelamat yang terdiri daripada Pasukan Bomba dan Penyelamat, polis dan Jabatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (JPAM) mengeluarkan mayat pertama pada pukul 4.30 petang, diikuti mayat kedua setengah jam kemudian dan mayat ketiga dikeluarkan pada pukul 6.10 petang.

Penolong Pesuruhjaya Bomba dan Penyelamat Putrajaya Morni Mamat berkata sehingga 8.20 malam operasi mencari dan menyelamat diteruskan dalam keadaan hujan lebat.

 

NEW SITE FOR LANDSLIDE VICTIMS: MASIDI

New site for landslide victims: Masidi

April 14, 2011 Ranau: A new settlement will be identified for people from several villages in Kundasang whose homes have been badly affected by landslides, assured State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun.

He said the best way to help these victims was to find them a new site, which is safe to rebuild their houses.

"Based on the damages, the risk for people to continue staying in the area is simply too high," he said, when met after visiting Kg Kundasang Lama and Dumpiring Atas, here, Wednesday.

Masidi, who is also Karanaan Assemblyman, said several suitable locations that belong to a government agency had been identified for the new settlement. He had discussed the matter with Kundasang Assemblyman Dr Joachim Gunsalam to negotiate with the government agency concerned to allow part of the land to be turned into a settlement.

For the time being, the District Office had placed the victims at the Kundasang Mini-Hall but most of them chose to put up with relatives.

Masidi also advised the people to be on constant alert in view of the present weather conditions which are expected to prevail until June.

The Public Works Department (PWD) is trying to repair some of the roads cut off due to the landslides.

Also on hand were Dr Joachim, State PWD Director Datuk John Anthony and District Officer, Faimin Kamin.

----

Advice to resort operator

April 14, 2011 Ranau: At least one resort operator in Kundasang has been advised not to accept customers for the time being to avoid any untoward incident following several landslides there the past few days.

The Zen Garden Resort's worker's quarters also sustained damages, while 11 houses were damaged and 30 families affected by the landslide at Kg Kundasang Lama on Tuesday.

The victims evacuated their homes following the 5am landslide which became worse by 5pm due to several days of rain. District Fire and Rescue Department chief, Rudy Mekii said eight personnel helped to monitor and evacuate 71 villagers to the mini hall nearby. He urged other villagers to be constantly on alert for landslides. The police and civil defence were also at the scene to render assistance.

Meanwhile, the main road connecting Kg Kundasang Lama, Kg Mohimboyon and Kg Kinoundusun with Kundasang is virtually impassable.

A total of five villages that include Kg Lembah Permai, Mohimboyon, Dumpiring Atas and Dumpiring Bawah were affected the landslide.

The relevant authorities have been urged to channel assistance to the victims.

18 KUNDASANG HOMES ARE HIT BY LANDSLIDES

18 Kundasang homes are hit by landslides

April 12, 2011 Ranau: Landslides due to incessant overnight rain destroyed two houses in Kundasang, here, Sunday. They were among 18 houses that were affected.

The first incident at Kg Mohimboyon, about 34km from here, saw two houses destroyed and 10 others damaged. The situation worsened when the riverbank was eroded by the overflowing river.

A Fire and Rescue Services Department spokesperson said they received a distress call from the public at 6.49pm on Sunday.

Agricultural crops in the villages were also destroyed and the floodwaters caused the main road of the villagers to Kundasang and a nearby school to be cut off.

The second incident in Kg Dumpiring Atas, about 15km from Ranau township, saw six homes damaged due to landslides.

Fire and Rescue Services Department officer, Waslie Saupin, said the incident happened around 3am on Sunday and caused cracks on the floor and walls of several homes, besides flooding the homes.

The landslide also buried a car belonging to one of the villagers.

However, the owner managed to retrieve it with the help of villagers.

The department's inspection on the two villages also found a possibility of landslide happening again if the heavy rain continues.

Therefore, the villagers were advised to take precautionary measures to ensure their properties and important documents are protected and kept in safer places.

The villagers were also encouraged to move to higher places temporarily.

Parents have been urged not to leave their children alone in the house or near the landslide areas without presence of adults.

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KK-S'kan highway partly repaired

April 12, 2011 Ranau: The Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan highway along KM96.7 which was affected for some 80 metres by landslide on Sunday, is now partially open to motorists.

A spokesperson for concessionaire Lintasan Resources Sdn Bhd said the road was opened since 8pm, Sunday. "However, roadworks are still being carried out, making it accessible only via a single lane," a spokesman said, when contacted, Monday.

The work cannot be completed fast due to the downpour and the hilly location of the affected site.

JEPUN ADA 48 JAM ELAK 'CHERNOBYL BARU'

Jepun ada 48 jam elak 'Chernobyl baru'

Loji nuklear boleh meletup menyebabkan tragedi lebih besar apabila paras radiasi meningkat

2011/03/18 TOKYO: Jepun ada masa 48 jam untuk mengawal dengan segera krisis nuklearnya sebelum ia berdepan satu malapetaka 'lebih buruk berbanding Chernobyl'.

Jepun bergegas untuk mengelak kebakaran lebih teruk loji nuklearnya yang melepaskan radiasi pada tahap 809 mikrosievert sejam (unit radiasi) minggu ini.

Ada cubaan untuk menyejukkan kawasan itu dengan menjirus air laut dari helikopter dibatalkan kerana paras radiasi berbahaya di persekitaran bahagian atas loji.

Bacaan radiasi dekat bangunan itu mencapai 4,000 mikrosievert sejam ketika usaha itu dilakukan awal semalam.

Pihak berkuasa keselamatan nuklear di Perancis, berkata mereka pesimis sama ada jurutera Jepun dapat menghalang kebakaran teruk di loji jana kuasa Fukushima selepas satu kolam mengandungi batang besi bahan api nuklear berkeadaan terlalu panas dan mendidih dalam keadaan kering.

Thierry Charles, seorang pegawai keselamatan di Institut Keselamatan Nuklear dan Perlindungan Radiologi Perancis (IRSN), berkata: “Tempoh 48 jam berikutnya akan menjadi penentu. Saya amat pesimis kerana sejak Ahad lalu, saya lihat hampir tiada satu pun penyelesaian berkesan.”

Ditanya mengenai jumlah maksimum pembebasan radioaktif, beliau berkata: “Ia mungkin dalam kadar sama seperti Chernobyl.”

Insiden di loji jana kuasa nuklear Chernobyl di Ukraine pada 26 April 1986 menyebabkan 57 kematian langsung, dengan tambahan 4,000 kematian akibat kanser.

Paras radiasi dalam bangunan yang dilanda bahaya itu malam tadi dikatakan amat tinggi selepas digegarkan dengan letupan awal, bermakna radiasi mungkin sudah berada dalam atmosfera.

Tokyo Electric, pemilik loji terbabit, berkata lima pekerjanya terkorban di tempat kejadian, dua lagi masih hilang dan 21 cedera.

Malam kelmarin, seorang ketua keselamatan nuklear Amerika, berkata kerajaan Jepun gagal mengakui tahap bahaya penuh situasi di loji Fukushima manakala amaran kepada rakyatnya tidak mencukupi dan tidak jelas.

Gregory Jaczko, pengerusi Suruhanjaya Kawal Selia Nuklear Amerika, memberi amaran, jika paras radiasi ‘amat tinggi’ adalah mustahil untuk kakitangan membuat pembetulan di loji mengambil kira ‘dos’ yang mereka mungkin alami berpotensi membawa maut dalam jangka pendek.

Jabatan Negara Amerika pula menyatakan, kerajaan menyewa sebuah pesawat untuk membawa warga Amerika keluar dari Jepun dan mengarahkan ahli keluarga petugas diplomatik pulang dari Nagoya dan Yokohama, membabitkan 600 orang.

Pihak berkuasa kesihatan di beberapa negara mula gusar dengan sebarang kemungkinan seseorang dijangkiti radiasi dengan bertindak melancarkan pemeriksaan terhadap orang ramai, penumpang pesawat dan bot.

Ada laporan dari Korea Selatan dan Taiwan menyatakan pelancong yang tiba dari Jepun didapati ada sedikit tahap radiasi. – Agensi

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Foreigners rush to leave Japan as radiation threat grows

MALAYSIA HAS NO NEED FOR NUKE PLANTS

Malaysia has no need for nuke plants, says EPSM

PETALING JAYA: The Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM) stressed that Malaysia does not need nuclear power plants, citing the explosion and radioactive leakage at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan as a warning.

Its president Nithi Nesadurai said the incident was one reason why Malaysia should not have nuclear power plants.

Pointing out that such a facility was vulnerable to earthquake, tsunami and floods, he said the idea of having nuclear power plants in the country should be rejected.

“We don’t even need it as there is surplus energy supply in Malaysia,” he said when contacted yesterday.

In Malaysia, there was more supply of energy than demand, he said, adding that it was the people who did not practise energy saving.

Fomca chief executive officer Datuk Paul Selva Raj said using nuclear power to generate energy was not a viable option in Malaysia now as it should be highly regulated for public safety.

“We need to be realistic about the energy approach and look at the whole energy equation. Each time a disaster happens, it indicates some risks (associated with energy options),” he said.

Paul said it was important to exploit more sources for energy that were safe, environmentally friendly and renewable.

In December last year, the Government announced plans to build two nuclear power plants that will generate 1,000 megawatts each with the first plant ready for operation in 2021 as part of an overall long-term plan to balance energy supply. The second plant was expected to be ready a year later.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui said Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation – the nuclear agency in the Prime Minister’s Department – would shed light on the impact of the explosion and radioactive leakage in Japan.

BENCANA NUKLEAR DUNIA?

Bencana nuklear dunia?

SENDAI, Jepun 13 Mac – Pihak berkuasa Jepun berusaha mencegah satu lagi ancaman radiasi di dua buah reaktor nuklear di Fukushima hari ini, selepas sistem penyejuknya gagal berfungsi sekali gus boleh mengakibatkan bencana nuklear terburuk di dunia dalam tempoh 25 tahun.

Syarikat pengendali Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) terpaksa menggunakan air laut dan asid borik bagi menyejukkan reaktor No. 1 selepas satu letupan memusnahkan bumbung dan dinding bangunan konkrit itu semasa mereka cuba melepaskan tekanan semalam.

Struktur tangki reaktor nuklear itu bagaimanapun tidak terjejas.

Selain itu, pengendali reaktor tersebut turut membebaskan udara daripada tangki simpanan reaktor No. 3 bagi mengurangkan tekanan dan mengelak kerosakan.

“Kami belum tahu status sebenar bahan api di bahagian teras reaktor itu. Kami perlu mengenal pasti keadaan teras itu sama ada ia tertutup, rosak atau bahan api kini sedang cair,” kata pakar nuklear, Mark Hibbs daripada Pembiayaan Keamanan Antarabangsa Carnegie.

Ancaman yang dihadapi Jepun itu dibimbangi boleh mengulangi bencana nuklear di loji nuklear Chernobyl, Ukraine pada 26 April 1986, selepas bahan radioaktifnya dilepaskan ke udara dalam satu letupan kuat.

Sekurang-kurangnya 32 maut akibat kesan secara langsung letupan dan 8,000 yang lain mengalami kesan pencemaran radioaktif.

Lebih 120,000 yang lain terpaksa dipindahkan, sementara tahap pencemaran radiasi turut diukur sejauh barat Eropah.

Semalam, beribu-ribu penduduk di bandar sama dipindahkan berikutan letupan dan kebocoran yang berlaku di pusat reaktor No.1 di Fukushima, kira-kira 240 kilometer di utara Tokyo.

MALAYSIA NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION SEDANG MEMBUKA TENDER KEPADA PAKAR DAN KONSULTAN ANTARABANGSA - CHIN

Agensi Nuklear Malaysia Beri Penjelasan Impak Letupan Loji Nuklear Di Jepun

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Mac (Bernama) -- Menteri Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui berkata agensi nuklear di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation, akan memberikan penjelasan mengenai impak letupan dan kebocoran radiasi di loji janakuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi di Jepun.

Beliau berkata rakyat perlu menunggu penjelasan itu dan tidak membuat sebarang spekulasi mengenai kemungkinan radiasi akibat letupan itu akan merebak ke negara lain.

"Saya yakin agensi ini akan berikan penjelasan yang cukup dan jelas tentang apa yang berlaku di negara itu. Bukan sahaja kerajaan Jepun yang ambil perhatian malah Agensi Tenaga Atom Antarabangsa setiap hari perhatikan apa yang berlaku di Jepun kerana ini adalah soal besar.

"Bukan sahaja di Jepun tetapi di rantau Asia juga, China yang terdekat, Rusia dan Amerika Syarikat...semua hendak tahu apa yang berlaku di Jepun, kita tunggulah, jangan buat spekulasi," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Karnival Komuniti Hijau 2011 di Taman Tasik Titiwangsa di sini Ahad.

Selepas dilanda gempa bumi dan tsunami terburuk pada Jumaat lepas yang dilaporkan mengorbankan kira-kira 1,300 orang, keadaan di Jepun semakin buruk apabila loji nuklear Tokyo Electric Power Co's (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi meletup pada Sabtu.

Jika tekanan gagal dikawal, terdapat kemungkinan loji itu melebur atau meletup akibat kepanasan bahan bakar nuklear yang boleh mencetuskan pencemaran debu radioaktif yang teruk serta boleh merebak ke negara lain.

Mengenai rancangan Malaysia membina loji janakuasa nuklear bertujuan untuk menjana kuasa elektrik, Chin berkata Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation sedang membuka tender kepada pakar dan konsultan antarabangsa untuk mengkaji tentang beberapa aspek seperti lokasi, kesesuaian dan keselamatan lokasi, jenis teknologi dan penerimaan rakyat mengenai cadangan tersebut.

"Semua ini akan diambil kira sebelum kita buat keputusan terakhir...ini program rancangan jangka panjang, kalaulah kita tetapkan bahawa kita akan bina loji elektrik yang menggunakan nuklear ini akan hanya boleh digunapakai pada tahun 2021, maka kita ada 10 tahun lagi.

"Jadi kita ada masa untuk menjalankan kajian sedalam-dalamnya, ia akan mengambil masa untuk menjalankan kajian dan saya pasti kerajaan tidak akan berbuat sesuatu secara rahsia tanpa memaklumkan kepada orang ramai," katanya.

GESA PEMBINAAN SEGERA SEKOLAH MENENGAH DI KAMPUNG MARAK-PARAK, KOTA MARUDU

UPKO Gesa Pembinaan Segera Sekolah Menengah Di Kampung Marak-Parak, Kota Marudu

KOTA MARUDU, 11 Feb (Bernama) -- Naib Presiden Pertubuhan Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Bersatu (UPKO) Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap mahu kerajaan persekutuan menyegerakan pembinaan sebuah sekolah menengah di Kampung Marak-Parak, kira-kira 40km dari sini.

Beliau berkata sekolah itu tidak hanya akan memenuhi keperluan pelajar dari Kampung Marak-Parak tetapi juga dari banyak kampung di sekitarnya.

Kampung terbabit termasuk Kampung Malangkap Darat, Malangkap Tengah, Serinsim, Kias, Bambangan, Mongis, Tandahawon, Pongopuyun Baru, Talamason, Tangkol, Sunsui, Pompodon, Polipikan dan Loguhang.

"Kami harap kerajaan persekutuan akan mempertimbangkan rayuan kami," katanya kepada Bernama di sini pada Jumaat.

Maijol berkata pada masa ini terdapat dua sekolah rendah di kawasan berkenaan iaitu SK Marak-Parak dan SK Malangkap.

"Setiap tahun, ramai pelajar dari dua sekolah ini yang memasuki tingkatan satu, dan mereka terpaksa pergi ke SMK Kota Marudu I atau SMK Kota Marudu II di bandar Kota Marudu untuk meneruskan persekolahan mereka.

"Dengan wujudnya sebuah sekolah menengah di Kampung Marak-Parak, pelajar tidak lagi perlu pergi ke bandar Kota Marudu untuk belajar," katanya.

Sementara itu, beliau berkata SK Marak-Parak yang dibina pada 1967, berkeadaan uzur dan perlu dibaiki segera.

"Saya dapati lantai dan silingnya sudah runtuh, hingga kami diberitahu oleh guru supaya tidak melangkah ke bahagian di sebelah bilik tempat kami makan tengah hari yang membahayakan kerana bakal runtuh bila-bila saja," katanya.

FOOD PRICES TRIGGERING GLOBAL UNREST -- UN

Food prices triggering global unrest -- UN

2011/02/04 ROME: United Nations food agencies on Friday warned that record-high prices for basic commodities are helping generate unrest around the world and contributed to the ousting of the Tunisian president last month.

“Not only is there a risk, but there have already been riots in some parts of the world because of rising prices,” Jacques Diouf, head of the UN’s Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), told reporters.

“Some governments have found themselves in difficult situations and there is even one that has fallen,” he said — a reference to the toppling of Tunisia’s veteran ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in a popular revolt on January 14.

The FAO on Thursday said food prices have reached their highest level since the UN agency began measuring them in 1990.

The FAO’s index of monthly variations for a variety of staples rose 3.4 percent from December 2010 to reach 231 points.

The World Food Programme, another UN agency, said: “The events unfolding across the Middle East these past few weeks serve as a warning to us all about the important role that food security plays in calming public anger.”

“Across the region, we have seen civil protests driven by a complex array of different factors but all sharing one thing in common — growing anxiety about rising food prices and concern about access to food,” it said in a statement.

Prices add “stress to the carefully calibrated systems in place to bring enough food into countries to feed hungry populations, and to provide the subsidies that ensure it is sold at prices that are accessible to the poor.” France, which has promised to stamp out food price volatility as the current head of the G20 group of leading world economies, warned of “hunger riots”.

“There is a real risk of hunger riots,” French Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire said at a joint press conference with Diouf.

Le Maire called for “structural measures” to avoid spikes in food prices, including greater transparency over production and stocks.

He said that G20 countries should agree on a system of food stocks that can be released for parts of the world that are most at risk.

“Speculation on hunger in the world is economically dangerous and morally unacceptable,” he said, referring to widespread criticism from campaigners of the role played by financial speculators on global commodity markets.

A previous sharp rise in food prices in 2007 and 2008 triggered food riots in a number of African countries, as well as in Haiti and the Philippines.

The average for the FAO’s Food Price Index in 2008 was 200 points. -- AFP

LAPORAN UMS DAN DEIA : RELEVENSI?

Saintis Marin UMS Dapati Batu Karang Di Teluk Sepanggar Alami Kelunturan

"Kelunturan akibat tekanan bukan saja menjejaskan karang keras tetapi juga yang lembut seperti 'sea anemone dan lain-lain hidupan marin tanpa tulang belakang yang bersimbiosis dngan zooxantela,"

"Endapan akibat kegiatan di darat yang dibawa ke laut semasa hujan lebat memburukkan lagi kekeruhan air dan melitupi karang. Di bawah keadaan ini, karang yang sudah dilemahkan oleh suhu air yang tinggi tidak mampu menghadapi tekanan yang diakibatkan keadaan itu,"

"Bagi peringkat tempatan, kita patut mengurangkan tekanan di kawasan pantai ekosistem marin serta mempercepatkan pembangunan kawasan marin yang dilindungi.

Kerugian daripada aspek ekonomi akibat kehilangan habitat marin adalah besar, justeru ianya layak dipertimbangkan kerajaan untuk menggubal polisi pemuliharaan ekosistem marin yang berdaya maju daripada segi ekonomi serta diterima masyarakat.

Pengarah Institut Penyelidikan Marin Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Prof. Dr Saleem Mustafa

Prof. Dr. Saleem Mustafa

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Teliti Semula Laporan DEIA, Kata Musa

Laporan Penilaian Kesan Alam Sekitar Terperinci (DEIA) terhadap cadangan loji kuasa arang batu di Lahad Datu akan diteliti semula,

Meminta Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar negeri Datuk Masidi Manjun meneliti laporan DEIA itu bagi memastikan ia disediakan dengan betul.

Ini berikutan dakwaan terdapat kesilapan dalam laporan DEIA itu,

Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman

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Many mistakes in the coal plant DEIA, says WWF

Green Surf Wants Report On Proposed Coal-Fired Plant Re-Done

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Green SURF