SARIKEI: The Sarikei District Council (MDS) closed off the entrance to a location frequently used for illegal dumping of waste by placing iron barriers at the Old Ferry Point site here.
Despite various efforts by the MDS to stop the illegal dumping activities at the Old Ferry Point site, which has been privately owned since last year, some irresponsible parties continue to dump waste there.
MDS said in a statement that initiatives undertaken include installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on May 16, 2023, posting warning notices, providing roll-on, roll-off (RORO) bins, conducting waste management awareness programmes, and cleaning the area whenever illegal dumping is discovered.
The statement stressed that the council has allocated significant funds for cleaning efforts and the aforementioned initiatives.
However, these efforts hit a dead end when the RORO bins were burned twice in 2023 and the CCTV cameras were stolen on May 18, 2023.
“Nevertheless, the Council continues to clean up the illegal dumping site despite it being privately owned.
“In December 2023, the Council decided to relocate the RORO bins due to repeated vandalism and once again posted warning notices against dumping waste at the location.
“The Council also calls on the public to help combat illegal dumping activities by capturing photos or videos of such activities to facilitate enforcement actions,” it said.
As such, reports can be sent via email to mdsarikei@sarawak.gov.my.
The council asserted that illegal dumping can only be eradicated through the cooperation of local residents, the public, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working together with the council to address this issue.
“The community needs to be aware and change their mindset because cleanliness and environmental conservation are collective responsibilities for the well-being of future generations,” the statement added.
MDS chairman Wong Zee Yeng expressed gratitude to the Sarikei Fishing Club for their support in cleaning up the illegal dumping site and to the landowners for allowing the installation of iron barriers at the access route to the site.
On Friday (April 19), he symbolically handed over the keys to the iron barriers to the Sarikei Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), the Sarikei Civil Defence Department, the Sarikei Fishing Club, and representatives of the landowners.
