KUCHING: Sungai Sarawak Kiri, also known as Sungai Semadang is safe for recreational and swimming activities, said Assistant Minister for Transportation Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.
He said a study conducted by the Sarawak Rivers Board, by taking water samples from the river, showed that the bacteria count in the water was very low.
“The E.coli content in the Sungai Semadang River is very low, hence it is safe for recreational and swimming activities.
“However, I am worried about the pollution that could happen in the future if the residents of Annah Rais village and along the Sungai Semadang continue to drain their sewerage from their toilet directly into the Sungai Semadang,” he said in his speech during the Semadang International Tagang Festival at Kampung Semadang, Jalan Puncak Borneo here.
Jerip, who is also Mambong State Assemblyman, said this year Annah Rais received an allocation of RM600,000 for the longhouse residents to build their own septic tanks. Annah Rais is a popular destination for tourists, especially from overseas due to the authenticity of the structure and design of the longhouse.
He also praised the initiative taken by Kampung Semadang, Kampung Danu and Kampung Git to implement the Tagang System programme in their respective villages which resulted in increasing the fish population in Sungai Semadang while improving the cleanliness of the river.
Kampung Semadang was the first village to implement the Tagang System in the area since 2007.
Meanwhile, in conjunction with the recent fourth International Tagang Festival, the state’s Department of Agriculture supplied 50,000 shrimps and 30,000 Tengadak fish fries to be released in four locations along the Sungai Semadang, namely Kampung Semadang, Kampung Danu, Kampung Giam and Kampung Git.
“The river is your asset as many opportunities and economic activities could be created to increase the income of the residents living along the river,” he added. – Bernama
