KOTA KINABALU: Making "Eco Purses" out of plastic wrappers was what Universiti Malaysia Sabah students imparted to the residents of Mantanani Island, off Kota Belud, recently as a way to generate income.
The university's Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE UMS) organization came up with this solution as part of a poverty-eradication programme, while reducing the amount of trash scattered around the island.

A workshop was held at the island recently by a group of 10 students, led by project manager Amanda Teo Peh Lee, to share their knowledge of this environmentally friendly product with the islanders, especially single mothers, housewives and children.

Located about 80km from here and accessible by speedboat from Kuala Rampayan Laut river jetty, Mantanani Island is famous among tourists for fishing and scuba diving adventures.
"This island was once famous for its dugong.
"However, in the island, we find oceans of plastic garbage swirling around and lining the beaches.
"Recognizing this problem, SIFE UMS once again creates opportunities for the locals, by providing them with new skills to generate income, while empowering them to carry out their part in protecting the environment," the organization said in a statement.

The organization added that it believed that with the existing skills of the island women in sewing, they have an interest to make more of the products to sell.

Project Eradicating Poverty in Mantanani Island was initiated by the organization in 2009, where the non-profit organization mobilizes university students to make a difference in their communities, while developing their skills to become socially responsible business leaders.

They also developed outreach projects to improve the standard of living for people in need.
 

Lodge employees removing a dead hawksbill turtle found on Pulau Mantanani Kecil in Kota Belud. New Straits Times Wednesday, Apr 25, 2012

THREE dead turtles with their shells removed were found on the shores of Pulau Mantanani Kecil in Kota Belud recently. The shells could have been cut by poachers.

The hawksbill turtles were found by employees of a backpackers' lodge on the island between 22nd and 23rd April 2012 (Sunday and Monday) . An employee said that apart from the shells, which appeared to have been uniformly cut, the eyes of the turtles were also poked.

The shell of hawksbill turtles, known as tortoiseshell, is used to make combs, guitar picks, knitting needles and ornaments.
Tortoiseshell is preferred because of its durability.

Hawksbill turtles are protected reptiles in Malaysia

Since 1973, the trade of tortoiseshell worldwide was banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
In 1996, Malaysia and the Philippines had set up an area to protect turtles in Sulu Sea. The Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area covers three islands in Malaysia and six in the Philippines.


3 dead turtles with shells cut off found on island : http://news.asiaone.com/News

Cruelty to hawksbill turtles : http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=81352

Mantanani Islands
SABAH,  MALAYSIA

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