Volunteers using nets to pick rubbish from Sungai Perak.
ABOUT 80 boats decorated with Jalur Gemilang took part in a 3km parade along Sungai Perak in Teluk Intan.
The event, organised by the Hilir Perak District and Land Office, was in conjunction with the National Day celebrations.
Various governmental agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGO), fishermen and representatives of local boat operators took part in the event.
Volunteers took part in the clean-up operation along Sungai Perak.
After the parade, a gotong-royong was held to collect debris from the river.
About 180 volunteers collected some 1.7 tonnes of waste.
This was followed by a mangrove tree-planting programme organised with the Local Government Development Ministry, Teluk Intan Municipal Council and district and land office.
Hilir Perak district officer Saidi Shaari said Sungai Perak had great potential for eco-tourism that could benefit locals.
Some 80 boats taking part in the 3km parade along Sungai Perak in Teluk Intan, Perak.
He said among the potential projects that could be explored was raft houses (rumah rakit).
“This idea has not been fully explored along the Sungai Perak riverbank.
“Raft houses will give people the chance to experience fishing for freshwater prawns that are abundant in the river,” he said in his speech during the event.
“Tour boat services along Sungai Perak are also one way of sharing with tourists the treasures along the river including Pulau Bangau, fireflies and aquatic products like freshwater fish and prawns.
“Therefore, it is important to pay some attention to cleanliness and preservation of the river to ensure there is no pollution.”
About 80 boats took part in the 3km parade.
Hilir Perak Orang Besar Jajahan Orang Kaya Kaya Laksamana Raja Mahkota Datuk Meor Redwan Mahayudin, who was also present, said waterways were the main source of drinking water and livelihood for many.
“Gotong-royong activities like this need to be held annually to create awareness among the people to care for our water sources,” he said.
NGO Ocean 9 Conservation Association (Ocean 9) president Raja Kamar Azhar Ahmed Siffudin said the best way to prevent pollution starts with people’s consciousness.
“They need to be involved directly in these programmes to instil a sense of responsibility in caring for the environment,” he said.
On the same day, about 50 participants from the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Kumpulan Program Jiwa Murni, Ocean 9 and Persatuan Sahabat Aktivis Alam were involved in a clean-up exercise at Pulau Sembilan in conjunction with the Pulau Sembilan Conservation Day 2023.
Perak Raja Di-Hilir Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Sultan Idris A’fifullah Shah graced the event organised by the Perak State Parks Corporation.
Ocean 9 vice-president Raja Nor Safrina Raja Shahrul Zaman said the programme was aimed at cleaning the island to ensure its ecosystem remained healthy and balanced.
“The island is not inhabited, but rubbish is found around it due to water current from the Straits of Malacca,” she said.
“The rubbish also comes from fishing activities, nearby coastal areas and rivers,” she said, adding that this was the second time the Pulau Sembilan Conservation Day 2023 programme was held.
“About 2.3 tonnes of rubbish including fishing equipment, plastic waste, aluminium, tin, metal, glass and polystyrene was gathered in the clean up exercise,” she added.
