BAU: The issue of river pollution due to waste disposal from rural areas remains a major challenge that requires cooperation from all parties, including government agencies and the local community.

Deputy Minister for Transport (Riverine and Maritime), Datuk Henry Harry Jinep, stated that infrastructure constraints, especially in longhouse areas, complicate waste collection efforts, leading some residents to take the easy way out by dumping waste into rivers.

“In rural areas, particularly longhouse settlements that are remote and have narrow roads, garbage trucks cannot enter. This results in some people throwing trash into the river.

“If the waste is not collected at the early stage, it will flow into the river and eventually become a much larger problem, including polluting downstream areas and damaging the environmental image,” he said.

He said this when met by the media after officiating Bung Bratak Day 2026 at Kampung Tembawang Sauh, Bau, on Friday.

According to him, waste management in rural areas must be viewed comprehensively, involving a division of responsibility between local authorities and river-related agencies.

In the meantime, he informed that the government has implemented periodic cleaning contracts to ensure main rivers remain clean, especially those that are tourist attractions.

“If trash is within the drain areas, it falls under the jurisdiction of the local council. However, once it enters the river, it becomes the responsibility of river-related agencies to clean it.

“The Sarawak River is always given attention as it is one of the main tourist attractions. We also have contracts to clean floating debris so that it does not affect the beauty of the area,” he explained.

He further emphasised that a long-term solution requires a change in public attitude alongside improvements to the waste management system in rural areas to ensure environmental sustainability is preserved. — UKASnews

Translator: Ryan Lim