ABOUT 400 people, including SMK Anderson students and teachers, took part in a river clean-up programme at Sungai Kinta in Ipoh.
The students, from Form One to Four, helped clean up part of the river and its embankment near their school.
It was jointly organised by the school and Perak Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
Also taking part were 50 teachers, five representatives from the school’s Parent-Teacher Association and officers from the department.
Perak DID river and coastal engineering division senior assistant director Mohd Fadhil Ahmad said the programme saw collected waste filling up seven big black bags.
“We collected bottles, food wrappers, paper, plastic bags, electric cables, old clothing and food containers.
“The rubbish was brought back to the school before being sent for disposal,” Mohd Fadhil said in a media statement.
He said it was important to reduce pollution in the river and protect its water quality.
“We need to create awareness among the younger generation as rivers are not only sources of drinking water but also important for the agriculture, industry and recreational sectors.”
Mohd Fadhil hoped for greater involvement among the community at large in conserving the river.
“There needs to be more gotong-royong as well as education programmes on why rubbish should not be thrown into the river,” he added.
SMK Anderson principal Shamsahhimi Harun said young people needed to take responsibility and ensure the environment was sustainable and safe.
He said the school was among several in the country that was selected to be part of the Malaysia Unesco Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) programme.
“The river clean-up programme is one of the activities that is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals agenda,” he said. — By IVAN LOH
