350 volunteers clean Giam waterfall
KUCHING: About 350 people participated in a work party (gotong royong) organised by the Dayak Bidayuh National Association ( DBNA) Penrissen branch together with the Police Training Centre ( Pulapol) to clean Giam Waterfall on Sunday (Oct 22).
Several bikers clubs from the Penrissen area, Kpg Giam security and development committee (JKKK) and trainees of Pulapol repainted the public toilet, pruned and planted trees and cleaned the surrounding area.
The bikers clubs which took part were Good Bikers Club, Bidayuh Bigbikers Club, Garung Bikers Club, Benuk Community Motorcycle Association, Bratan Riders Community Club and Kental Motorcycle Club.
The effort was part of the ‘Go Green’ initiative to assist the government in keeping the environment clean.
Two scuba divers from Pulapol also joined the work party and dived to study the dangers at the water fall and will make safety recommendations.
The event was officiated by Assistant Minsiter of Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, who is also Mambong assembyman.
Dr Jerip said he will always support such programmes.
“To me, a programme like this is very helpful to help keep the environment clean as well as build closer rapport between the police and the community,” Dr Jerip pointed out.
Giam waterfall, about 34 kilometres along Jalan Borneo Heights, is a tourist attraction under Padawan Municipal Council ( MPP).
The waterfall had claimed a few lives and was thus abandoned by MPP without maintainence.
Dr Jerip welcomed the safety recommendation from the police and urged the village to form a committee to properly manage the place with the cooperation of the police and DBNA Penrissen branch.
He said the waterfall is an attraction if properly maintained and can bring economic gain to the villagers.
“You (villagers) need to properly maintain the place (waterfall) and on my part, I can always assist with infrastructure facilities,” Dr Jerip said.
DBNA Penrissen branch chairman Alloysious Kuyong said the programme was the third held after Kpg Punau and Bunuk helped cleaned the environment in line with the ‘ Go Green’ initiative.
“Our effort to clean up the waterfall is part of our initiative to help the ‘Go Green’ policy while helping the government to keep the environment clean,” he said.
He also said DBNA Penrissen branch was willing to assist the villagers to promote the waterfall.
Alo present were Sarawak Administrative Officer ( SAO) from Padawan sub- district office Rangen Jamang and Pulapol commandant SAC Azman Salim.