Papar: The proposed rating areas for Kawang need to be expedited so that the disposal of solid waste in the area especially into Sungai Kawang can be fully addressed.Making the call, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Maznah Ghani said it is imperative the local authorities speed up the proposal to be gazetted so as to enable collection of rubbish and other facilities and services.
She also proposed that the assessment rates in Kawang be minimal and different from urban areas.
"I note that disposal of rubbish from homes is still a problem in Kawang where I can see piles of the rubbish on the roadside near the Muslim cemetery in the village, which should be addressed.
"The simple reason is because the villagers do not have proper place to throw the rubbish and our river has become the dumping ground. During heavy rain, you can see the rubbish float and flow into the river mouth.
"I am sure if Kg. Kawang is gazetted as a rating area, the local authorities here will be able
to provide rubbish collection services or create a landfill for disposal of rubbish," she said.
Maznah, who lives in Kawang, said this to Daily Express when met after inspecting a river mitigation project to prevent flooding at Sungai Kawang in Kg.Kawang here on Friday.
She was accompanied by her husband Nerawi Lampong, officers from the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and the contractor of the project.
The implementation of the RM2.8 million project to address the flooding problem is to straighten and deepen the river.
Maznah, who is also a Chairman of a Coordinating Committee for monitoring Cleanliness, and Beautification under the State Secretary office, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor has proposed to make the whole Sabah as rating areas.
On the project, she said: "I am satisfied with the work progress of the project as the DID officials have briefed me that it is 80 per cent complete and will be ahead of schedule.
"The project is supposed to be completed March next year but the contractor has assured that it will be done in June this year.
"The project involves two kilometres along Sungai Kawang and it is being deepened up to two metres and widened as well as being straightened to improve water flow."
However, Maznah said she has urged the DID and the contractor to include in their work cleaning of rubbish as an effort to beautify the river which has huge potential to be turned into an eco-tourism product for Papar and Sabah.
She said she could see wildlife like monkeys, and alligators when cruising on a boat to inspect the work progress of the project along Sungai Kawang.
Hence, she said it is imperative that cleaning up of the river is done to preserve its natural surrounding and the wildlife as well as these could attract visitors to the area and generate income for the local communities in future.
