Len (second left) and Dr Hazland (third left) look on as those involved in the ‘Let’s Keep Sungai Tabuan Alive 2014 Outreach Programme’ discard trash bags at Kampung Tabuan Melayu. — Photos by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: An application for a RM10 million grant under the 11th Malaysia Plan has been submitted to the federal government by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and state Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

Assistant Minister of Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh said the grant would be part of the government’s long term effort to tackle solid waste pollution at Sungai Tabuan.

“This grant would cater for the installation of a log-boom and collection facility, gross pollutant traps at the main drainage as well as conservation and landscape work at the riverbank of Sungai Tabuan, including the upgrading of passenger terminals at Sungai Apong and Kampung Tabuan,” he said when officiating at the ‘Let’s Keep Sungai Tabuan Alive 2014 Outreach Programme’ at Kampung Tabuan Melayu community hall here yesterday.


Kampung Tabuan Melayu villagers scooping up floating plastic bottles at Sungai Tabuan during the clean-up.

Len, who is also NREB deputy chairman, pointed out that four programmes which focused on cleaning up Sungai Tabuan had been planned under the working committee led by the NREB controller this year.

“These plans include the installation of a log-boom at Sungai Tabuan followed by a waste collection system initiative that is suitable for the villages.

“The committee is also looking into constructing a communal bin centre to place larger rubbish bins with a capacity of 660 litres or 1,100 litres at a site where vehicles cannot enter,” he said.

Len also called on the working committee to hold environmental awareness programmes within the vicinity of Sungai Tabuan such as Tabuan Foochow, Kampung Tabuan Dayak as well as commercial areas such as Tabuan Jaya and IOI Commercial Centre.

“The solid waste pollution issue at Sungai Tabuan comes from various sources such as settlements, construction work as well as waste disposal from commercial and housing areas.

“We hope the community will also take their own initiative to assist in tackling this issue such as using ‘eco bags’ or recyclable bags when they shop for groceries because this is one of the methods to reduce the number of floating plastic bags in Sungai Tabuan,” he urged.

Also present at the event were Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Kuching South deputy mayor Abang Affandi Abang Anuar, NREB deputy controller of environment quality Justine Jok Jau Emang and Sarawak Rivers’ Board controller William Jinep.