KOTA KINABALU: Jannie Lasimbang, the assemblyman for Kapayan, emphasizes the importance of the community taking proactive measures to protect rivers from pollution. She calls for stricter regulations and enforcement to address the issue of people dumping rubbish into rivers and drains that eventually flow into them. Lasimbang expresses her hope that all village development security committees within the Kapayan constituency and neighboring communities will collaborate in order to safeguard rivers from pollution. Her remarks were delivered during the River Festival event organized to commemorate World River Day in Kg Sodomon, Kapayan, on September 24th.
“Human activities are often the cause of river pollution. The river near Kg Sodomon, which has been contaminated by sewage material discharged from drains or ditches, not only displays black-colored and foul-smelling water, but also kills numerous river creatures,” states Lasimbang.
Mary Binisi, the chairperson of the Kampung Sodomon village committee, suggests the installation of rubbish traps to address the issue. Additionally, she proposes tree planting along the riverbanks as a means to improve water quality and prevent erosion. The villagers also recommend the construction of a rock embankment along the river in Sodomon Village to further protect it from pollution.
The River Festival featured various activities such as fishing competitions, kayak races, tug-of-war on a raft, land climbing, crafting rafts from recycled materials, coloring activities for children, and singing songs related to the river.
According to Lasimbang, the Environment Department has reported that 195 rivers in Malaysia are slightly polluted, while 34 rivers are highly polluted. She believes that this demonstrates the collective responsibility of everyone to safeguard the rivers. She asserts, “World Rivers Day holds particular significance for Sabah, where river pollution is an escalating concern.”
Credit: The Star : News Feed
