Story by Amanda Khong
SOME 250 people visited the Setia SPICE Aquatic Centre on June 11 for the “Heroes of The Ocean” (HOTO) water carnival.
Exco member for Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Phee Boon Poh was on hand to officiate the first ever “Save the Shark” themed water carnival in Penang.
Also present were Thomas Lee, director of TAD Solutions and Evaine Khoo, vice-president of Sharksavers Malaysia.
TAD Solutions is the main organizer for the event and also one of the sponsors for the HOTO Water Carnival event.
“This event educates people on the importance of saving sharks to protect the food chain of the ocean. This protects the environment for the future and it’s not only for Penang, not only for Malaysia but for the whole world because there is only one Earth,” said Phee.
He added that although they cannot fully ban the sale and intake of shark-fins, they can do their part in raising awareness on what happens to the sharks whose fins are taken away just to cook a delicacy.
The carnival was filled with various games for visitors of all ages.
The highlight of the day was the fundraising event where emcee Davina Goh and friends swam the whole length of the pool with her arms and legs tied to represent a shark swimming without fins.
Davina had just swum and kayaked 18km in open waters, as part of the Raleigh Round Island Challenge at Pulau Perhentian in May.
“Sharks are often misunderstood creatures and they actually do not attack humans unless they are provoked to do so. The reason we are trying to save the sharks is because if the sharks are gone then the other sea creatures will follow suit because of the balanced food chain system,” said Khoo.
Khoo also added that education and awareness about the importance of sharks should start from a young age and that Sharksavers Malaysia’s youngest member is just four years old and knows how to say no to fins already.}