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MIRI, April 30: Malaysia's first rig to reef effort, located off the coast of Miri at a dive site named Kenyalang, was the focus of a conservation event jointly organized by Shell Malaysia, PETRONAS and Sarawak Tourism Board, in conjunction with World Earth Day. As early as seven in the morning, Shell Malaysia and PETRONAS employees, together with volunteers and local fishermen gathered at Luak Beach to take part in this conservation event. After a simple opening ceremony launched by Sarawak's Chief Minister 1, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, everyone kicked start the day enthusiastically with a beach cleaning activity. Sixteen divers, which comprised of Shell Malaysia employees, members of the media and two Norwegian travelers, later headed 25 kilometres off shore to clean the Kenyalang Reef. This artificial reef, which was converted from a decommissioned oil platform, was laid here in November 2004. Since then, this patch of reef is teeming with colourful corals and fishes, much to the delight of many divers who have come to revel in the 20 odd dive sites in Miri waters. Realising the increasing significance of Responsible Tourism, Sarawak Tourism Board seeks to involve the local community on a grass root level in its conservation projects. Likewise, with the success of the Kenyalang Reef, Shell Malaysia hopes that this rig to reef effort becomes the role model for local corporate citizens to be more sensitive to the natural environment while looking for ways to contribute back to the community they operate in. This reef cleaning event will become an annual affair in Miri and will be held to coincide with the annual World Earth Day. Shell Malaysia is also collaborating with Sarawak Tourism Board in another conservation project to set up a turtle island in Kuching. | 
