MIRI, Dec 12: The community at large, especially those residing nearby the riverbanks or huge ditches nearby their residential areas need to stop throwing domestic waste into these waterways as it is not only bad for the environment but also attracts other wild animals, like the crocodiles.
“Please restrain from throwing plastic or domestic waste into bodies of waters or ditches nearby your houses, change your attitude,” said Minister of Transport Sarawak cum Senadin Assemblyman Datuk Lee Kim Shin on Saturday during the public awareness and safety programme of clean rivers at Kampung Tudan phase 4 and 5, Lutong organised by Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB).
“Not only rubbish affects the environment and human life, discarded rubbish and food waste also attract wild animals and bring them into closer contact with humans,” he pointed out.
A total of 241 kg of garbage successfully collected during the programme.
“All sorts of animals are all too happy to swoop down and gorge themselves on our scraps, and this including wild crocodiles,” he pointed out.
Lee who is also Senadin assemblyman also expressed his concerned when people from these two villages told him about crocodiles sightings inside ditches nearby the areas.
“We never know, what might be lurking from inside those ditches, hence, I strongly advised the communities here not to allow your children to play nearby or go inside those huge ditches,” he reminded the communities.
Lee also told them to immediately report any crocodile sightings to the authorities (Sarawak Forestry Corporation) so that further action can be taken to prevent any untoward incident.
“I’ve proposed for a programme in the future where we include Sarawak Forestry Corporation on how they can enlighten the community of coexisting with the crocodiles,” he said.
Also present were SRB chairman Dr Murni Suhaili, SRB assisting controller Region III Leonard Luhat Laing, Miri district officer Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf and Kampung Phase 4 and 5 Penghulu Nasir Abdul Rahim. – DayakDaily
