Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has warned that Tasik Chini may lose its United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) biosphere reserve status should the government continue to wash its hands over the ecological troubles at the lake and its surroundings.

This followed a statement by Senator Mohamad Olian Abdullah, who represents the Orang Asli community, that the natives around Tasik Chini cannot expect to live there forever.

It is such statements, TI-M secretary-general Josie M Fernandez warned, that would risk Tasik Chini losing the biosphere reserve status.

NONE The Sun had quoted Mohamad as saying that the Orang Asli at Tasik Chini cannot expect to stay on their land forever and must accept development.

"TI-M urges Senator Mohamad Olian to demonstrate the political will to take the actions needed to reverse the advanced state of ecological damage at Tasik Chini," Fernandez said in a statement today.

The area surrounding Tasik Chini, including the lake itself, was in 2009 declared as Malaysia's first Unesco biosphere reserve and comprises some 500 Orang Asli who are mainly from the Jakun community.

"The Unesco Biosphere programme emphasises participatory decision-making with local communities in all the development activities that impact the ecological, social and economic dimension of Tasik Chini.

NONE "Local communities must be involved in programmes related to knowledge sharing, research, monitoring, education and training at the biosphere sites," Fernandez said.

TI-M is spearheading a ‘save Tasik Chini’ campaign which it claims is facing ecological collapse due to nearby logging and mining activities.