Items such as plastic containers being picked up from Sungai Klang by designated staff from the Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC). — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS and KK SHAM/The Star
For decades, rubbish dumped upstream in Sungai Klang has been flowing downstream to the mouth of the river in Port Klang, Selangor.
Facing this polluted site is the nearby Royal Selangor Yacht Club (RSYC), a venue for a variety of water sports.
RSYC general manager Roy Marshall said the club would spend about RM100,000 every year to clear the rubbish accumulated in the river opposite its premises.
“We have designated staff to clean the river on a daily basis.
“A large amount of rubbish can be seen in the morning when it is low tide as well as during the full moon and the supermoon.
“The rubbish collected from the river is put in a roll-on roll-off bin, which in turn is sent to the landfill every two days,” said Marshall.
The rubbish consists mostly of plastic bottles and polystyrene containers.
Plastic waste washing up along the marina of the Royal Selangor Yacht Club during low tide.
The rubbish issue, said Marshall, is unlikely to be solved unless the root of the problem is addressed.
“Firstly, there needs to be strong river protection education at all levels, from schools to organisations and businesses.
“River protection awareness should also be raised among business owners along the river.
“If they are not disposing of their waste properly, then stern action needs to be taken.
“I think it is important for the river to be clean at all times,” he added.
Marshall said that in the old days, the river was clean enough for people to take a dip in the cool waters.
Marshall says river protection awareness should be raised among business owners.
To restore the river to its former glory, RSYC has partnered with Putra Business School and spearheaded a corporate social responsibility project to rehabilitate Sungai Klang.
The project garnered widespread support, including the participation of Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, he added.
Yacht club member Gus Teh said the authorities needed to relocate the businesses by the river further upstream.
“When the tide is low, we can see far more rubbish.
“And when the RSYC carpark is flooded, the rubbish also flows into the club’s area,” he added.
Teh said it was time the authorities monitored the river using drone technology.
“Several neighbouring countries had similar problem but they managed to overcome it.
“It is futile to continue merely cleaning the river when the source of the rubbish is not addressed.”
He said RSYC had a good number of visitors who loved sailing and boating and it was important to have a clean river to promote these activities.
“It is a pity the river mouth gathers rubbish despite frequent clean-ups and money spent by the authorities to keep the river clean,” he added.
The RSYC was established in 1969.
Waste accumulated at low tide near RSYC. — Courtesy photo
Clean-up effort
When StarMetro contacted Klang Royal City Council (MBDK), a spokesperson said river cleanliness was not under the jurisdiction of the city council.
The spokesperson said it was mainly the responsibility of the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas).
When contacted, DID said Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB) had been tasked with the river cleaning.
An LLSB spokesperson highlighted that some 91,688 metric tonnes of waste had been collected from Sungai Klang since 2016.
“This effort is part of the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) initiative.
“Through operations supported by assets like interceptors and log booms, we have successfully removed significant amounts of waste from Sungai Klang,” said the spokesperson.
However, challenges persist, particularly during heavy rains or low tides when rubbish is carried downstream and accumulates in areas such as near RSYC.
“Moving forward, we are actively working to enhance our river-cleaning efforts by upgrading log booms to trap more floating debris, deploying additional mini interceptors at key locations to prevent rubbish from entering the main river besides strengthening coordination with other agencies and local communities to improve efficiency during critical periods,” said the LLSB spokesperson.
The company also said that addressing river pollution required collaboration with other parties aside from public awareness.
“Tackling root causes, such as indiscriminate waste disposal, and improving upstream waste management are crucial to achieving long-term success.
“We appreciate RSYC’s ongoing efforts to clean the river and welcome further collaboration with stakeholders to strengthen these initiatives.
“We also urge the media to help us raise awareness and educate the public on the importance of maintaining a clean river for the benefit of all, ensuring the long-term health of our natural resources,” the spokesperson added.
Kalithasan says some rubbish comes from businesses that have long operated by the river.
River care
Global Environment Centre River Care Programme manager Dr Kalithasan Kailasam said the authorities faced a dilemma in terms of balancing activities along the rivers and caring for the environment.
“Some of the rubbish in the river could come from businesses that have long operated by the river.
“It is time the authorities ensure these businesses are licensed and comply with the rules.
“These businesses must understand their responsibilities towards the environment too,” he said.
Kalithasan said he had witnessed improvement along rivers in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, once settlers moved away or were made aware of their role in keeping the environment clean.
