BINTULU – Proper river management is crucial to safeguarding public health, particularly in the wake of rising dengue cases in parts of Bintulu, officials have said.
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Dato Henry Harry Jinep, Deputy Minister of Transport of Sarawak (River and Sea), highlighted that blocked rivers, stagnant trenches, and littered riverbanks can create breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, contributing to increased dengue outbreaks in Kampung Baru, Kampung Sinong, and Pasar Lama.
“Rivers are the veins of life. If we take care of rivers, rivers will take care of us, providing clean water, food, sustenance, recreation, and health. If neglected, they can become sources of problems and disasters,” Dato Henry said while officiating the closing ceremony of the ‘Friends of Rivers’ River Hygiene Awareness Program at the Bintulu Passenger Terminal on Friday.
Organized by the Sungai-Sungai Sarawak Board (LSS), the programme went beyond lectures, incorporating teamwork exercises, community education, and multi-party cooperation to instill a culture of river stewardship among residents.
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Dato Henry also encouraged the expansion of the Friends of Rivers movement across Sarawak, advocating for communities to treat rivers as an integral part of their surroundings.
Participants were additionally briefed by Beststone Quarry Sdn. Bhd. on their ongoing drilling and gravel removal project at Batang Kemena Muara, aimed at improving navigability for ships and boats.
The ceremony was attended by several officials, including ADUN Jepak Iskandar Turkee, Controller LSS Lt. Kol (Retired) Ding Tiew Wong, Bintulu District Officer Awang Mohammed Nizam Awang Ali Bohan, and Political Secretary to Premier Sarawak, Angellie Stephen Raja.
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The initiative reflects Sarawak’s broader commitment to environmental conservation, public health, and fostering community engagement to prevent mosquito-borne diseases while promoting sustainable river management.
