KUCHING: A homegrown environmental company has come in for praise its efforts on wastewater management.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr. Hazland Abang Hipni saluted Sar-Alam Indah Sdn Bhd’s (SAI) initiatives which include harnessing technologies from global experts.
He said SAI’s efforts to study how treated septic sludge can be converted into bio-fertiliser and its commissioning of an industrial research project in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak demonstrate the company’s commitment to sustainability.
“This shows that Sarawakians are equally capable of participating in the circular economy,” he said when officiating at SAI World Water Day 2023 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Saturday (March 18).
SAI Director Datuk Seri Abang Abdul Karim Abang Openg pointed out that its efforts on sustainable wastewater management align with the goals set under the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).
As such, he said the company is committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to make environmental sustainability and the circular economy a reality for all Sarawakians.
The event aimed to inspire action to tackle the global water and sanitation crisis while raising awareness about the importance of water and the impact of wastewater on the environment.
SAI stressed how the exponential growth in human population has resulted in an increase in wastewater production, which, if untreated, can pollute waterways and affect both the quality of water suitable for human consumption and the aquatic ecology of rivers.
To prevent this, SAI is emphasising the importance of proper wastewater management and sanitation infrastructure.
As part of their efforts to improve wastewater management solutions in Sarawak, SAl and Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak signed a Memorandum of Agreement to collaborate in an industrial research project entitled “Sludge Accumulation Rate and Characteristics of Septic Tanks” during the event.
The research project aims to collect data that will serve as a foundation for the formulation of effective and sustainable strategies to optimise wastewater management practises in Sarawak.
SAl hopes this research will assist the Sarawak government in achieving its aspiration of becoming a developed state by 2030.
As part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, SAl also presented a mock cheque for RM200,000 to Swinburne to fund the industrial research project.
Hazland who witnessed the presentation of the mock cheque stressed the importance of collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors to address the global water and sanitation crisis.
The event was attended by senior officers from various departments and organisations, including the Sewerage Services Department Sarawak (SSDS) and the Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak (NREB).
