KUCHING: It is time for action to actualise solid waste management in order to ensure sustainable, healthy and inclusive community, said Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.
“The Rural Development Ministry is determined to solve waste pollution and call out all levels of society to contribute and share knowledge with the ministry,” she said at a press conference after launching the Sarawak branch of the Village Development Institute (Infra) campus in Kota Samarahan today.
Touching on a recent toxic chemical pollution at Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang, Rina said the federal government is looking for the best approach to get rural communities to use effective ways to manage their solid waste.
“We are very aware of the bad habit of throwing garbage in the river. This has polluted the ecosystem. Thus, we are identifying the best approach to dispose of waste,” she said.
It is said that several rural locations in Malaya have been identified for involvement in the solid waste management programme.
“There are a few locations that have been selected for our pilot test and we will announce the final list at the end of this year,” she said.
According to Rina, the pilot study will form the guidelines for the ministry to implement the new Rural Development Plan of Hope (Pelan Harapan Pembangunan Luar Bandar) in all rural areas before the end of this year.
She also pointed out that the plan will focus on raising awareness in rural settlements, citing illegal logging in Sarawak as an example.
“Illegal logging in Sarawak has reached alarming proportions at 64.6 per cent. It has increased from 299 cases in 2016 to 492 cases in 2017.
“Local community leaders and heads of villages must take immediate action if there are suspicious activities that can threaten their lives so that the ministry can take immediate action and see if any issue arises,” she said.
