The Department of Marine Park Malaysia (DMPM), along with various NGOs in the marine conservation field, including Reef Check Malaysia (RCM), launched the Malaysian initiative of The International Year of the Reef 2008 (IYOR 08) in 1 Utama shopping mall in February as an effort to raise public awareness on the importance of coral reefs which are found abundantly in our Malaysian coastal waters. Found in the centre of the “Coral Triangle”, which is an area recognized by scientists worldwide with the most diversity of marine life, it is important to educate the public on how we can play our part in protecting the coral reefs in our waters.