Pitas aquaculture park an eco-hazard, say villagers

PETALING JAYA: A shrimp aquaculture park project in poverty-stricken Pitas, Sabah, is mired in controversy with some of the local villagers protesting against the clearing of mangrove forests to pave way for the project.

Orang asli Mastupang Somoi, 49, from Kampung Eloi, said his people could already see environmental repercussions stemming from an alleged 404ha of mangrove forest destroyed near their village early last year.