MIRI: Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin has called on the public not to throw domestic waste into the river or ditches near their residential areas.
“Please restrain from throwing plastic or domestic waste into bodies of waters or ditches near your houses — change your attitude,” he said.
Lee added that not only would discarded rubbish affect the environment and human life, but food waste would also attract wild animals; bringing them into close contact with humans.
He said this at a public awareness and safety programme organised by Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) at Kampung Tudan Phase 4 and 5 on Saturday (Dec 12).
During the programme, 241kg worth of rubbish was collected.
“All sorts of animals, such as crocodiles, are all too happy to gorge themselves on our scraps,” he pointed out.
Lee who is also Senadin assemblyman expressed his concern when villagers informed him about crocodile sightings in the area.
“We never know what might be lurking inside those ditches, so I strongly advise the people here not to allow your children to play nearby or go inside them,” he said.
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 incidents.
“I’ve proposed for a programme in the future where we include Sarawak Forestry Corporation on how they can educate the community on co-existing with crocodiles,” he said.
Also present were SRB chairman Dr Murni Suhaili, SRB assistant controller Region III Leonard Luhat Laing, Miri district officer Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf and Kampung Phase 4 and 5 Penghulu Nasir Abdul Rahim.
