Guest guest Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 ***************************Advertisement*************************** TechCentral http://star-techcentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my) URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/6/14/nation/8207320 & sec=nation ________________________ Monday June 14, 2004 Sea cucumber vanishes from Langkawi PENANG: Langkawi & #039;s pharmaceutical treasure trove & #150; the gamat (sea cucumber) & #150; has vanished, Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Biological Sciences deputy dean Prof Dr Zulfigar Yasin said. There was no more gamat in the island resort, he said, adding that scientific names were yet to be given to the species in Langkawi that had been known to have curative properties. Prof Zulfigar & #039;s announcement of the vanished gamat came as a shock to executive officials from various statutory bodies visiting the Muka Head Marine Research Station in Teluk Bahang yesterday. The 70 officials, led by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, visited the marine research institute in conjunction with their quarterly meeting of chief executives. & #147;The Langkawi gamat has disappeared from its natural habitat even before they are scientifically identified. & #147;The research station managed to bring back some gamat samples for scientific research. The species could be different from those found in other places. & #147;It is a shame that there are no more Langkawi gamat in its natural habitat, & #148; said Prof Zulfigar in his briefing. Prof Zulfigar said the station was in the process of identifying the Langkawi gamat. & #147;If the species are different from others, then we have to give them scientific names, & #148; he said. Gamat were once abundant in Pulau Langkawi and Pulau Pangkor. For over 300 years, the Malays in the northern part of peninsula used golden sea cucumbers as medical remedies. Prof Zulfigar said several people in the gamat industry were knowledgeable in the use of the sea creatures, adding & #147;we want to help preserve that knowledge. & #148; He also said a group of 30 local scientists would be embarking on a 42-day Royal Scientific Expedition to the South China Sea on June 24. & #147;We will be bringing equipment similar to the ones we brought during our Antarctica expedition last year. & #147;We want to unveil the secrets of the South China Sea. We must be aggressive in our quest to search and identify all the species in our backyard before others find and patent them, & #148; he said. <p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2003 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Star Publications is prohibited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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