CLEANING UP OF RIVERS
KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is committed to providing assistance and support to relevant agencies tasked with cleaning up rivers in Sarawak.
Its mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng gave this assurance when officiating at the prize giving ceremony for the “Kuching In Your Eyes 2.0: Sungai Tabuan Edition” photography contest at Vivacity Megamall yesterday.
“River cleaning is an industrious task involving every party. Even though the maintenance of rivers is not under the purview of the local council, we are committed to providing assistance and support to relevant agencies tasked to clean up our rivers.
“Our staff are also enforcing regulations related to waste management and to reducing disposal of household and commercial solid wastes that will eventually end up in the rivers,” he explained.
Wee said Kuchingites must realise the “convenience” they enjoyed when disposing solid wastes wrongly was at the expense of clogging the drains and eventually, polluting the rivers.
He pointed out that drains clogged with wastes were the main causes of flash floods in some areas.
“Hence, I would urge everyone in Kuching, especially those staying near the rivers, to do their best to protect and guard the rivers of life.
“MBKS will engage with various community associations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporations to encourage them to organise river cleaning programmes,” he added.
On the Sungai Tabuan photography contest, he explained it was held with the intention of raising public awareness on their responsibility to slowly restore the river back to its former state.
Winner of the contest was Hu Toh Kai with his photo entitled ‘Water Transportation”; he received RM1,000 and a certificate of appreciation.
Second was Tan Kin Khian who went home with RM500 and an appreciation certificate while third place winner Lai Sin Fook received RM300 and an appreciation certificate.
The contest, organised in collaboration with Sarawak River Board, took place from Dec 1 until 16, 2019. It aimed to promote Kampung Sungai Tabuan and Kampung Sungai Apong, their lifestyles, traditions and cultures.
