Kuching now ‘boasts’ the dirtiest rivers

The shocking state of Kuching's polluted rivers has compelled the opposition and the authorities to agree on the need for collective action to clean them up.

KUCHING: Kuching, which was once voted as the “healthiest and cleanest” city by the United Nations and World Health Organisation, is today home to the dirtiest rivers and streams in the country.

The majority of rivers and streams that meander in and around the city, passing through wel- known shopping centres, housing estates, parks and hospitals, are heavily polluted as a result of years of neglect, which has resulted in accumulated debris and muck.

Among these rivers are Stutong and Tabuan which the local media recently said needed urgent government attention.

Following the report, Dr Tang Sie Hing, who is special assistant to Bandar Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen, gave four government authorities – the Kuching City South Council, Sarawak River Board, Drainage and Irrigation Department and the Department of Environment – 48 hours or
until noon today to remove solid waste from Tabuan River.

Said Tang, who is a cardiologist: “We have no intention of politicising the rubbish issue at Tabuan River, which was highlighted by the press.

“As a responsive party, we want to go down and we want to help. We don’t want to politicise it.

“Dirty roads, blocked drains and polluted rivers can send a lot of negative messages to tourists coming from Europe… we don’t want that to happen,” he said, adding that first impression was very
important.

In an immediate reaction, three authorities – Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB), Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and Natural Resources Environmental Board (NREB) – responded to the press reports and Tang’s call.

SRB chairman Roland Sagah called for concerted efforts by all relevant parties including the opposition and the public to clean up Tabuan River.

He said that although SRB’s main focus is on navigable rivers, it is consistent in its stand that the cleanliness of rivers, is the joint responsibility of everyone.

“We will lend assistance and cooperation to help tackle this issue,” Sagah said.

Joint responsibility

Meanwhile, five workers from the DID have already begun clearing the Tabuan River.

Using fish-net, they were seen on Tuesday clearing debris and hosing the river banks.

Within a few hours, several mounds of rubbish were collected and much of it was plastic bottles.

Several NREB officers also visited the river to take samples of the river water for laboratory tests.

A satisfied Tang told a press conference yesterday that DAP shared SRB’s views on collective responsibility towards cleanliness and urged the public not to pollute the rivers.

“A very small ‘tidak apa’ gesture of just throwing rubbish into the rivers can have a disastrous outcome to the rivers.

“This small gesture, if it is done by thousands of people, will have a disastrous outcome.

“And if the people continue to do that, it is going to bankrupt the country.

“It is going to force people to work harder. Don’t do something to other people if you don’t want other people to do it to you,” Tang said.

He called on all people who love their rivers to go down to Tabuan Jaya bridge at 12 noon on June 12.

“We will start clearing the debris when the tide reaches its peak at 1.22pm. By then, all the debris will be floating,” he said.

River campaign

He invited the public to support his “Save Tabuan River Campaign”, saying that there were three ways in which they could help.

“You can give me your suggestions on how to save the Tabuan River or provide us some tools such as boats, or contribute financially to the campaign.

“The money will be used to clean up Tabuan and Stutong rivers,” he said.

So far two groups – Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) and the Tabuan Jaya Methodist church – have come forward to assist his campaign.

“Sidi Munan (Sadia’s president) and the Methodist church have offered to help. Let us go hand in hand to solve these problems,” said Tang.