Comments on: Sipadan Damage Contractor Gets Off With Apology http://divehappy.com/borneo/sipadan-damage-contractor-gets-off-with-apology/ a personal guide to scuba diving in Thailand and South East Asia Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:40:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Chris http://divehappy.com/borneo/sipadan-damage-contractor-gets-off-with-apology/#comment-23 Chris Fri, 26 May 2006 04:19:03 +0000 http://divehappy.com/borneo/sipadan-damage-contractor-gets-off-with-apology/#comment-23 You're so right about the clean up operation Willy. It's pretty terrifying that they would even consider letting the guys who caused the problem loose on the reef to "clean" it. I imagine they'll do even more damage which will go unreported. The whole debate about the size of the area affected at Sipadan seems crazy to me - whichever way you cut it, it's the obliteration of a key reef at Sipadan - it's like wiping out Koh Bon or Richelieu Rock in the Similan Islands. To make out that somehow it is not a disaster because it didn't destroy the whole island is simply disingenous. It's like chopping off someone's hand and saying, "Well, you've still got 95 per cent of everything else working..." You’re so right about the clean up operation Willy. It’s pretty terrifying that they would even consider letting the guys who caused the problem loose on the reef to “clean” it. I imagine they’ll do even more damage which will go unreported.

The whole debate about the size of the area affected at Sipadan seems crazy to me - whichever way you cut it, it’s the obliteration of a key reef at Sipadan - it’s like wiping out Koh Bon or Richelieu Rock in the Similan Islands. To make out that somehow it is not a disaster because it didn’t destroy the whole island is simply disingenous. It’s like chopping off someone’s hand and saying, “Well, you’ve still got 95 per cent of everything else working…”

]]> By: Willy Volk http://divehappy.com/borneo/sipadan-damage-contractor-gets-off-with-apology/#comment-22 Willy Volk Thu, 25 May 2006 21:55:45 +0000 http://divehappy.com/borneo/sipadan-damage-contractor-gets-off-with-apology/#comment-22 In Chong's defense, reports circulated in Kuala Lumpur that the damaged area was 2-3 square *kilometers*. Considering he's trying to save his own hide, er, I mean, manage fallout, it makes sense that Chong'd lash out against the press. Nevertheless, it's clear that very little is being done. Construction has been halted, and that's good, but to secure a promise from the contractor to clean up the mess sounds like continued damage just waiting to happen. (Uh...how do I use a bulldozer underwater?) Okay, so maybe I'm being harsh, but I think that if Malaysia wanted to *seem* like they cared about the damage, they could do so very easily. A few press conferences is not the answer, however. I'm thinking about hiring qualified specialists to (a) inspect the damage and (b) clean up the debris. Shy of that, I'm convinced it's theater. In Chong’s defense, reports circulated in Kuala Lumpur that the damaged area was 2-3 square *kilometers*. Considering he’s trying to save his own hide, er, I mean, manage fallout, it makes sense that Chong’d lash out against the press.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that very little is being done. Construction has been halted, and that’s good, but to secure a promise from the contractor to clean up the mess sounds like continued damage just waiting to happen. (Uh…how do I use a bulldozer underwater?) Okay, so maybe I’m being harsh, but I think that if Malaysia wanted to *seem* like they cared about the damage, they could do so very easily. A few press conferences is not the answer, however. I’m thinking about hiring qualified specialists to (a) inspect the damage and (b) clean up the debris. Shy of that, I’m convinced it’s theater.

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