Residents: Miri River still polluted
MIRI: Miri River continues to be polluted with floating rubbish and industrial discharge, prompting worried residents to appeal to Department of Environment, Sarawak Rivers Board and Miri City Council to act promptly.
A resident, Musa Batong, wanted the authorities to clean up the river, which might otherwise tarnish the image of the city and discourage tourists from cruising along the river.
“Plastic bottles and other unwanted materials are found floating at Miri River and the industrial discharge is making the water brownish,” he said.
Musa feared that if the situation is allowed to go on and not monitored by the relevant authorities, Miri River would once again become one of the most polluted rivers in Malaysia as in early 2000.
Plastic bottles and other unwanted materials are found floating at Miri river and the industrial discharge is making the water brownish.
He claimed that villagers and squatters along the river find the easy way out by dumping their rubbish into the river.
Another resident, Norliza Shalee, suggested that Miri City Council treat the rubbish in the river like other wastes along the roads by also picking them up.
She said the council could engage a contractor to do the job.
Her views were shared by Mus Murasin, another resident, who said a large number of squatters along the river at Pujut 7, 8, 9 and Pujut Adong habitually threw their wastes into the river.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Department of Environment, when contacted, said that they had conducted workshops for industrial operators along Miri River.
She said factories located along Miri River had been warned of penalties if they did not comply with the regulations.
“We will act and investigate accordingly if we receive reports that they discharge their wastes into the river,” she said further.
In 2000, the authorities launched the ‘Cinta Sungai Miri’ to clean up the river, which was then in Category 4.
Integrated collaboration between various government agencies, local authorities, the private sector and public managed to bring pollution down to Category 3.
Musa Batong, A resident