Preserving rivers crucial: Musa
Published on: Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: Sabahans have been urged to be more responsible in sustaining rivers as they are not only a prime source of water supply but also an essential tourism product for the State. Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman said preservation of the river is crucial not only for agriculture and water transportation but also for the State's tourism industry, especially in rural areas.He called on Sabahans to play their roles in assisting the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) in their efforts to uphold river conservation initiatives in Sabah.
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According to Musa, Sabah is well known for its rivers and all 87 rivers in the State have its own importance."The Padas River, in my village, was known as a main route for water transportation, while the Kinabatangan River is a famous tourist attraction," he said."The condition of our rivers have deteriorated over the years but fortunately, thanks to the many restoration works by the DID, the conditions have improved significantly and it is now our joint responsibility to maintain their efforts," he said.Musa said this when opening the Sabah World Rivers Day Conference and Exhibition 2017, Tuesday.
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The two-day conference featured 27 working papers tabled by speakers and experts, including from overseas that will benefit the community as they share useful inputs to sustain the rivers.Nineteen of the 27 working papers focused on water resource management, river sustainability, community involvement, transportation of river sediments/deposits and products of latest technology relating to river conservation.
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Some 300 delegates are attending the conference.Musa said 95 per cent of domestic water supply in the State comes from rivers, thus, there is a need to ensure that rivers continue to be preserved as irresponsible act could negatively affect the quality of the rivers.He said the government has enforced the Sabah Water Source Enactment 1998 with an allocation specifically to manage catchment areas as well as proclaiming certain areas as water protection/conservation areas. "The involvement of various parties, especially the local communities in the planning and implementation of river-related programmes should be enhanced," added Musa.He also emphasised the importance of rivers, particularly in places where 'tagal' (traditional river management system) activities are being practiced and serve as a tourist attraction.Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin said river sustainability is vital for the agriculture sector as it is one of the prime supporting factors for food production in Sabah. For instance, he said paddy fields rely on water supply from the rivers.In addition, Yahya said a good river ecosystem is a basic necessity for aquatic life and the main asset for 'tagal' activities."In terms of flood risks, no doubt that excessive flow of rainwater into the river can affect development activities and also the wellbeing of the people, generally."Hence, my ministry emphasises on maintaining riparian rivers to accommodate large quantities of flood water at one time" he said.According to DID Director Yahiya Ag Kahar, the government is often blamed for recurring flooding issues, but it is actually the act of irresponsible civilians who pollute the rivers, that should be held responsible for these floods."Millions of ringgit was spent every year for restoration works and cleaning efforts of our rivers. If this continues, the country will face a great loss," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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