WHAT SHOULD TOURIST KNOW ON RIVER TOURISM?

Most of the laws relating to river tourism are also related to the protection of environment and natural habitat.  Some of them are as follows:

(a) According to section 25 (1) Environmental Quality Act 1974, no one (including tourist!) shall emit, discharge or deposit environmentally hazardous substances, pollutants or wastes into any land waters, failing with he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years or to both (section 25(3).

(b) Under section 70 of Local Government Act 1976, any person who put or causes to put into any stream or to pollute its waters, the solid or liquid refuse or rubbish or cinders or any put rid matter shall be guilty of on offence and liable to a fine not exceeding RM5000 or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or to both.

(c) According to section 26 or Fisheries Act 1985, fishing with explosive, poisons or pollutant, or any apparatus utilizing on electric current is an offence.  Under section 38 of the same Act, the State Authority may designate prohibited areas for fishing or certain species of fish in reverine waters (to include turtles).

(d) Under section 15 (1)(b) of Minor Offences Act 1955, it is an offence if any person bathes himself or washes animal or thing (including vehicle) in or by the side of any watercourse or stream of which for bathing or washing has been forbidden by the lawful authority (eg:  Local Authority), and the wrongdoer shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM100.00.

(e) According to section 6 of Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954, it is an offence for any person (except aborigines) to collect forest produce within aboriginal area unless licensed.  Outsiders (including tourists) must also beware of any regulations relating to culture etc of aborigines made under section 19 of the same Act.

The above is part of a paper, Abdul Aziz Hussin, Badaruddin Mohamed, Zulkifli Osman & Abdullah Mahmood. 2005. River Tourism – Legal Perspective-A case study of Nenggiri River, Gua Musang, Kelantan. Procedings of 4th Annual Seminar on Sustainability Science and Management, KUSTEM, Kuala Terengganu.  2-3 May 2005.