Want to bond with family and friends and at the same time do your bit for the environment? Instead of spending the weekend in overcrowded malls, why not head outdoors and help clean up our rivers? WILD ASIA offers you an alternative weekend outing.

Written by Wild Asia on 1 Jun 2010 with 0 comments. Be the first!

This Sunday, 6th June 2010, the Kelah Association of Malaysia (KAGUM) will be organizing the National River Clean-Up (NRCU) to create awareness on the importance of river conservation.

In its second year, the NRCU will be far bigger than the previous year, with 10 picnic river spots chosen across Peninsular Malaysia.

The rivers include Commonwealth Forest Park in Rawang, Sungai Ulu Langat, Selangor, Sungai Batu Feringghi in Penang, Sg. Salu, Kuala Dipang in Perak and Sungai Belukar Bukit in Kuala Berang, Terengganu. These places are where human impact is most visible. "Whether it's the industrialist, farmer or picnicker, the river is seen as a convenient 'dustbin' that 'floats away' the problem, out of sight," explains the President of KAGUM, Aznir Abdul Malek.

According to Stanley Ng, a member of trail-building group TRAKS, "We come across streams and rivers while working on the trails. When close to populated areas, these rivers or streams are usually polluted with rubbish. It is disheartening to see such blatant disregard for a resource as important as this."

Some of these rivers, such as Sungai Tua in Ulu Yam, Selangor, flow into dams which are reservoirs such as the Batu Dam. Others eventually make their way into the open sea. The garbage left around picnic areas by irresponsible visitors leave a negative impact on the environment such as pollution, clogged streams and suffocating aquatic life.

Getting the public involved in river clean-ups is a way to start addressing such issues and encourage environmental stewardship. Says Aznir, "(We need to) re-live the gotong-royong culture. If all communities do this, not just for rivers but for whole towns and villages too, we'll have a far cleaner environment, and a virtuous society to boot."

"We hope that after the cleanup, people will learn how to dispose and manage their rubbish properly," adds Stanley.

To be a part of the river clean-up this Sunday or for more information, contact Aznir Abdul Malek or Ming Jiang Lu.

Alternatively, visit KAGUM or on Facebook!

Photos courtesy of KAGUM