A speaker from DID Penang, Encik Rosli were invited to give a presentation and briefing to the participants. After the briefing session, participants were divided into three groups and proceed to the waterway behind the three storey shops at Pusat Komersial Sungai Rambai.

The water health check programme will be officially launched on 27 March 2010 to train individuals, concerned senior citizens and members of NGOs and even students who wish to learn more about how to monitor the water quality of our rivers and waterways in our areas and be a river ranger to keep a close watch on the water quality. The water quality monitoring session will be conducted on quarterly basis at  specified sites. For those who are keen to participate in the forthcoming training session, please contact the MPSP LA 21 secretariat Mr Chew Eng Seng 012 4779330.

Here are some snapshots of the training programme:-

Indoor briefing session

Participants at the water health check training programme

Field works - collecting water for testing

A close up view of the water condition

Conducting water testing…

Group Results of the water testings on chemical monitoring.

Although plans to revive the rivers are on track, we continue to urge to relevant authorities to take heed of the issues and problems highlighted in the Memorandum submitted to the Penang State Government by Friends of Sungai Juru last year as well as recommendations for improving sungai juru by Dr Edlic Sathiamurthy. There is a need to vigilantly monitoring the water quality of the river from any possible source of water pollution and preserving the eco system of the entire Sungai Juru basin area to ensure that the objective of improving the water quality to Class II status can be achieved by year 2015. Is it still possible or rather would it be too high an expectation if our waterways and rivers can look like the waterways below ?

Waterway as seen from the library of Shibaura Institute of Technology (芝浦工業大学 Shibaura Kōgyō Daigaku), Tokyo, Japan

Waterway along Hibiya Park near the Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan

Here are some snapshots of recycling bins in Tokyo, Japan..

Special waste bin is provided for pet owners to throw their pet droppings. Their walkways and parks are very clean and free of dog or cat shits.!!!

Below is a flush system that comes with a water tap for conserving water..

View of the polluted waterway near Taman Bukit Minyak ( adjacent to Wah Lean tyre shop)

Throwing EM mud balls into the waterway ! The campaign received good support and participation from the tyre shop owner and its employees. We urge more factory owners to come forward to participate in this environment preservation campaign.

If you wish to support and participate in future campaign, please call Mr Chew Eng Seng of MPSP LA 21 working committee at 012 4779330.

EM Mud balls throwing session on 8th August 2009.

View of the ready mud balls

View of a tributary of Sungai Juru at the back of Juru Auto City.

Location map of Sungai Juru@ Auto City

The Juru Auto City has organised a EM Mud Ball-Making Contest on July 27.

Under the recent “A Million Apologies to Mother Earth” bio-remedial campaign launched by the Penang State Government, the state aimed to produce one million mudballs to clean up Penang’s rivers.

The river systems in Malaysia are an integral part of the water resources system. There are more than 100 river systems in Malaysia, contributing more than 90 per cent of the raw water supply.

Where is the enforcement to ensure that offenders don’t get away?

Time has taught us that floods are manmade disasters, caused by lackadaisical planning and inertia towards the importance of riparian zones and wetlands.

The end result is disaster as many of the floods we have witnessed, including in Kota Tinggi and Segamat in Johor, are attributed, among others, to encroachment and improper development, be it agriculture or human settlement.

What infuriates me even more is the increase in the number of contractors being hired to clear the rivers of sedimentation everywhere, including river mouths such as Sungai Johor.

Clearing the silt through dredging is definitely a short-term rehabilitative move, and very costly.

Besides, dredging changes the ecology of the area and affects marine flora and fauna, while it can also cause long-term erosion.

Sustainable communities all over the world do not practise this negative, costly approach and they always look at the root causes for action.

Environmental consciousness is the most critical element in laying the foundation of sustainable development. Let’s act before our rivers and wetlands are treated as wastelands and become a continuous flood zone.

Source NST , 2009/05/08

By HARBAN SINGH, Johor Baru,

Friends of Sungai Juru : We hope the relevant authorities will take note some of the points highlighted by this writer.  When the water ways and eco system are not being adequately protected and exposed to unsustainable developments, the end result is environmental degradation and disasters ie floods, soil erosion, sedimentation are bound to occur and causing damage to natural marine flora and fauna.

Bahan-bahan yang digunakan untuk membuat sabun :-

Minyak masak terpakai. – 1 litter

Air - 400 ml

Caustic soda - 120 gm

Campuran ini boleh dimasukkan ke dalam acuan dan perlu disimpang selama 3 hingga 4 minggu setelah menjadi beku dan boleh digunakan sebagai sabun.

Program sebegini seharusnya digalakkan dan disokong oleh masyarakat khasnya pengusaha restaurant dan kedai makan yang sememangnya banyak menggunakan minyak masak dalam penyediaan makanan.

Sisa-sisa minyak TIDAK seharusnya dituangkan ke dalam longkang atau parit yang akhirnya dialir masuk ke dalam sungai dan mencemari air sungai .

Program membuat sabun dilancarkan oleh Ahli Parlimen Batu Kawan YB Prof. Dr P. Ramasamy

Sessi penerangan membuat sabun

Bahan-bahan yang digunakan untuk membuat sabun

Sabun dibuat daripada minyak masak terpakai.

Update : More info on how to make eco-friendly soap using used cooking oil at The Star online on 27/4/2009 - Click here.

THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) wishes to call the attention of the Selangor and Penang state governments and especially the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to the widespread use of polystyrene food and drink containers during the recent Thaipusam festival in their respective states.

CAP conducted a study comprising random data collection at both locations where large crowds gathered during the festival to gather information on the number of polystyrene food and drink containers used.

Shockingly, the study revealed that 630,000 and 347,000 polystyrene food and drink containers were used in Selangor and Penang respectively. This data was acquired over the two days of the festival and from the numerous stalls providing free food and drink.

At times, these stalls provided up to 40,000 polystyrene food and drink packages. The data gathered does not include polystyrene package usage in other states such as Kedah, Johor or Perak during Thaipusam.

CAP takes a serious view of the fact that almost 1,000,000 polystyrene containers were used during the two days. Although there have been claims that polystyrene can be classified as non-hazardous to the environment, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims as yet.

Polystyrene is not biodegradable. It not only floats on water but is also borne by the wind, thereby polluting shores and waterways.

According to the California Coastal Commission, it is now a principal component of marine debris. The substance may also be harmful to wild animals if ingested by them.The international environment group, Californians Against Waste classifies polystyrene as a future potential threat to sustainable development.

According to a study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER), polystyrene which is manufactured using HCFC-22 (Chlorodifluoromethane, a potential ozone depleting agent and potent greenhouse gas) is potentially three to five times more likely to pose a threat to the environment than other waste material.

CAP urges concerned parties in all states to play an important role in ending the use of polystyrene; not just during Thaipusam celebrations but also at official functions and celebrations.

It is regrettable that polystyrene was widely used while there are more recyclable, sustainable and freely obtainable alternatives such as banana leaves and environmentally friendly containers pioneered by Universiti Sains Malaysia.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment needs to be more aggressive in addressing the reduction of polystyrene use at all official functions as well as at national level festivities and celebrations.

As long as there are no aggressive steps taken by the authorities to halt the use of polystyrene, it will be difficult to expect society to embark on a paradigm shift to rejuvenate and preserve the environment.

S.M. Mohamed Idris,
President,
Consumers Association of Penang.

Friends of Sungai Juru : Polystyrene food containers can be easily seen at rubbish bins daily.It is also one of the rubbish being wash away into the rivers. Any alternative usage and solutions for consumers if they are to stop using polystyrene food containers?

UPDATE (5/4/2009) : Many Polystyrene food containers can be seen floating at the lock boom area of Sungai Juru Dam. This indicates that many of such containers are being wash away into the drains and rivers whenever there is heavy rains..

Dear Sir,

Regarding the state of pollution of the river in Penang.

It is good that some action been taken to reduce it. However further steps or action should be taken to ensure all river in the states are healthy.

One of the major concern are

i)-Industrial waste

- What are the steps taken and what kind of action been taken by the state government and the relevant body to control, industrial waste and enforce the law on pollution

ii) wet market waste,

iii) household waste and

iv) sewage wastewater from the residential /settlement areas

- Again what is the state government and the developers are doing to curb this problem, the developers will always mention , that this is not under their requirement and the cost involve. Therefore is not in the building plan, question, is the state government ignoring this to go on?

-With so many squatters and illegal immigrant around, without the support from and solid action from the federal government, our river will continue to suffer.

What our PM and DPM quoted on an ancient proverb at the Asian Parliamentarians Conference on Environment Degradation & Disaster Management, 10th August 2006, Penang. Is only a political speech and carries nothing. As everyone knows ( HE SAID ONLY!!!).

On the EM Mud ball is commendable but more serious action and ways must be consider and taken, if not all is waste.

Tks & rgds.

TSUI

Remarks from Friends of Sungai Juru : Thanks for your feedbacks and comments.

We share with you on the need to have regulatory controls and more enforcements. The state government should not allow housing developer to circumvent rules at the expense of environment ranging from building under capacity sewerage tanks and inadequate drainage system etc.Curbing water pollution at source would be more effective measures. We hope that the local council should implement effective measures one of which is grease trap tanks for all food operators, SMI, food court, workshops before renewing their licences..