(From left) Abdullah, Murni, Richard (second right) and Leonard help a fisherman put on a life jacket.
MIRI: The government has approved a RM1 million-allocation for Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) to implement river cleanliness programme for Miri River next year.
SRB controller Richard Tajan said the programme was one of the government’s efforts to make Miri a clean and beautiful resort city.
“We have all this while been receiving an allocation of RM2 million from the government to conduct river cleanliness programme throughout Sarawak. For next year, it is RM1 million for Miri River,” he told the press when met after a Miri River Cleanliness Programme in Kampung Piasau Utara here yesterday.
He said the programme was similar to what SRB had been doing for Sarawak River in Kuching the last few years.
He added it took them about two to three years to improve the cleanliness of Sarawak River. The work is still in progress to ensure that Kuching has a beautiful and clean waterfront.
The river cleanliness works here (Miri) would involve manually collecting debris from the river and by way of a rubbish trap placed at strategic locations along the river and under bridges.
Richard said they would call for an open tender for the Miri River cleanliness programme by end of this year while the actual work would start early next year.
In the meantime, the SRB would continue to conduct public awareness programme on river cleanliness and river safety.
The programme yesterday was organised by SRB and Miri City Council (MCC), which was also held in conjunction with SRB’s 25th anniversary celebration, the first one organised by SRB (northern region).
Various activities were held during the programme such as aerobic exercise, work party to clean Miri River, public awareness talk on river safety and cleanliness, and presentation of life jackets to selected fishermen and individuals.
It was declared open by SRB chairman Dr Murni Suhaili.
SRB assistant controller for northern region Leonard Luhat Laing, Cr Abdullah Jaini and Hipni Sulong the headman of Kampung Piasau Utara were also present.