It was reported that hundreds of fish surfaced in the Batang Rajang as they struggled for air, some already dead. There also have been several reports of such incidents in Belaga and Kapit since late last year which was cause for much worry for the people there. Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) had found that the fish had practically suffocated to death and not poisoned.
The cause of the incident is very simple. Rajang River became too shallow due to heavy siltation. Siltation was caused by heavy and uncontrolled deforestation in upriver areas.
Now for the blaming game. Land Development Minister, James Masing said the local people for carrying out shifting cultivation have always been blamed for causing erosion but this (fish dying in large numbers) has not happened until recently.
We all know that the erosion is due to uncontrolled logging in upper Batang Rajang. The culprits (who happen to be associate of Taib Mahmud, the Chief Minister of Sarawak) are the timber companies. They rape the virgin jungle of Sarawak which resulted in massive deforestation and erosion and siltation which eventually make the Batang Rajang proned to flooding (which severely affected Sibu town) and hindering water nagivation due to shallow river. And now, the fishes are dying.
Who is going to enforce new policy to manage the environment in Sarawak or who is going to implement whatever corrective measures when the culprits are best friend to powerful politicians in Sarawak?
Related posts:
* Mighty Rajang River too shallow
* Siltation in Rajang River due to heavy deforestation
* Sarawak logging industry - one of the culprit
* Who's protecting Sarawak virgin jungles
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From TheBorneoPost
Not poison but silt that killed fish: NREB
By Raynore Mering and Florence Mervyn
KUCHING: The mysterious death of fish in Belaga and Kapit may have been solved and experts say it was not due to poison.
Initial investigations carried out by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) had found that the fish had practically suffocated to death.
NREB controller Dr Penguang Manggil told The Borneo Post yesterday that the dead or dying fish were found with their gills clogged with mud.
Water sampling and test were carried out on the tributaries of the rivers leading to Bakun or Belaga and Kapit, and except for Murum river, the Balui, Belepeh and Linau rivers were all very murky.
“The water turbility (murkiness) was very high and there was high total suspended solid content. This could have been caused by erosion upstream. The gills of the fishes were found to be blocked by silt, and they are believed to have suffocated,” said Penguang.
According to Penguang, as the rivers’ water level subsided, the current of the rivers became stronger and this would also stir up more sediment.
Penguang said it was very unlikely that the fish had died because of poisoning or chemical contaminants in the rivers. Nevertheless, he said NREB had sent samples to the Chemistry Department for tests.
In Belaga yesterday, hundreds of fish surfaced in the Batang Rajang as they struggled for air, some already dead. There have been several reports of such incidents in Belaga and Kapit since late last year which was cause for much worry for the people there.
Penguang said the erosion of the rivers was caused by human activities upstream and he agreed that it would have long term consequences on the rivers as well as aquatic life. He said the death of the fish emphasized the importance of environmental impact assessment studies and the cooperation as well as awareness of all parties, including the local communities and the industries.
“We would like to call on everyone to ensure that whatever we do, it will have minimal impact on the rivers,” said Penguang.
Pengaung yesterday revealed that NREB had submitted a request for RM4 million from the federal government during the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan to implement an ‘Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the Bakun Catchment Area’.
However, he said the request was not approved and NREB had again submitted a fresh request for funds under the coming 10th Malaysia Plan.
“The management plan is important due to the sensitivity of the area. It will be a blueprint for what we can and can’t do there. We hope that with this plan, we can better protect the Bakun catchment area,” Penguang.
Earlier yesterday, Land Development Minister Dato Sri Dr James Masing took NREB to task for the length of time it took the agency to find out what was causing the death of the fish and it stopping a recurrence.
In pointing out that the massive death of fish had already occurred twice, he fumed: “It’s been more than two months since NREB said it will investigate this and they have still not made their findings public.
“If the findings say that it is because of the mud suffocating the fish then the kampung people are just as good as these scientists who are paid so much.”
Masing, who is the assemblyman of Balleh, one of the affected areas, said that to his knowledge, the NREB was required to enforce a green area or buffer zone along the river banks to minimise erosion caused by human activities.
“The people carrying out shifting cultivation have always been blamed for causing erosion but this (fish dying in large numbers) has not happened until recently.
“NREB should find out who, or what, is causing this severe erosion and it should take action against the responsible parties without fear or favour. That is what they are there for,” said Masing.
Belaga police chief DSP Bakar Sebau told The Borneo Post’s sister daily, Utusan Borneo, that his station had received calls from the public about 10.30am and he had sent his officers to the ground to investigate.
“When they reached the river, my officers saw hundreds of fish, including baung and labang, floating on the surface. We found that their gills were full of mud and we believe the muddy water in the Batang Rajang is causing this,” he said.
Rajang River has became too shallow for water transportation due to heavy siltation. An oil tanker from West Malaysia which supply vital oil rations to Sibu run aground and stuck in the middle of Rajang River.
The Marine department is now running an investigation into the cause of the incident. Where is Drainage and Irrigation Department ? Where is SUPP Sibu ?
The cause of the incident is very simple. Rajang River became too shallow due to heavy siltation. Siltation was caused by heavy and uncontrolled deforestation in upriver areas.
Those responsible from the deforestation upriver are mostly rich timber companies and oil palm companies. But who is going to pay for the dredging (which is approved but won't happen soon) of the Rajang River to make it deeper ? The Malaysian Government. The Rakyat. You and me.
MalaysiaKini should have an article on this matter.
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Extract from TheBorneoPost
Low water causes ship to run aground
By Conny Banji
SIBU: A 4,000-tonne ship carrying oil tank from Peninsular Malaysia had to remain in the middle of Rajang River just off the second phase of Sibu Town Square - the whole of Monday night.
The vessel which sailed up from Batang Igan was said to be bound for a depot in Ding Lik Kwong early in the morning when it ran aground.
It is believed that siltation compounded by the low water level caused the hull of the vessel to scrape the river bed and get stuck.
At 11.30am yesterday (when the writer checked on it) the ship was still in the same spot.
It is said an attempt to move the ship using a tugboat was not successful.
A Marine Department spokesperson confirmed over the phone yesterday that they had been told about the case.
He also confirmed that some officers of the department had gone to check on the situation.
The department is now running an investigation into the cause of the incident.
For the next 10 years, Sabah will spend RM10 Million for reforestation every year. So generous of the state government. I agreed that the state government proceed with their reforestation program but why they have to pay for it.
Considering that the timber companies bulldozed through the virgin jungles of Sabah and reap billion Ringgit of profits from logging that resulted in destruction of natural habitats for endangered wildlife, the government is paying for the destruction of their jungles due to their shortsighted policies, lack of enforcement and manipulation.
I'm sure some insiders agreed to this budget so that the timber companies don't have to spend their money for reforestation. In actual fact, it should be the timber companies who do and pay for the reforestation. Those timber companies does not even have any guilt or social conscience to repay the community or the environment.
If it is in other countries, you break you pay, you pollute you clean. In Malaysia, companies and individual destroy the environment and when their sweat dissipate, they laugh their way to the bank.
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Source: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/21/nation/20080521174206&sec=nation (May 21, 2008)
RM100mil to put trees back in Sabah forests
By Ruben Sario
KOTA KINABALU: Some RM100mil will be spent over the next 10 years to regenerate the Ulu Segama and Malua forest reserves spanning nearly 237,000ha, about 10 times the size of Penang island.
Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Sam Mannan said the funds, largely sourced from international contributors, would be used to restore up to 20,000ha of severely degraded forests.
“A portion of the funds would go towards silviculture works covering 40,000ha, such as clearing the undergrowth to enable young trees to grow,” he said.
Earlier, Mannan represented the Sabah Government in the signing of a memorandum of understanding with WWF-Malaysia for a 55ha reforestation effort in the northern part of Ulu Segama forest reserve where logging had ceased since December 2007.
Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman and Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Datuk Yahya Hussin witnessed the event.
He said the reforestation efforts at Ulu Segama and Malua had gained much international attention and United Kingdom-based retailer Marks & Spencer was the latest contributor, donating RM170, 000.
Other contributors in the Ulu Segama forest rehabilitation efforts include the Sime Darby group, which is donating RM25mil over the next five years, and the New Forest group, RM10mil over the next six years.
The WWF would be contributing RM2mil over the next six months while US-based philanthropist Nancy Abraham donated US$100,000, the US Government US$20,000 and the Australian Government RM62, 000.
Locally, Yayasan Sabah has set aside RM12.5mil, as seed money for the forest restoration efforts while the Sabah Government will be spending RM5mil yearly under the 9th Malaysia Plan.
Mannan said the restoration efforts at the Ulu Segama and Malua forest reserves would, among other things, benefit an estimated 4,000-orang utan and other wildlife.
“What we are doing here today will have a direct impact on improving the habitat for our iconic orang utan and the Borneo pygmy elephant which can only be found in Sabah,” he added.
WWF-Malaysia vice-president Tengku Zainal Adlin said the group had channelled some RM40mil to conservation in Sabah between 1975 and 2005.
Sabah is one of the main priority regions within the WWF worldwide network,” he said.
Musa also launched a book, Orang utan: Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation, authored by renowned wildlife biologist and conservationist Dr Junaidi Payne, with photographs by award-winning nature photographer Cede Prudente.
The issue of flood mitigation plan for Sibu is not really going anywhere. Every one is talking about to dredge or not to dredge the Rajang River and to built bunds to protect Sibu from flooding.
The depth of Rajang River has become shallower due to heavy siltation. Dredging is only a temporary solution. No one is looking at the root problem of why there is heavy siltation.
Siltation occurred because upper Rajang has been deforested due to logging and opening up of lands for oil palm plantations. No one is pointing fingers to those timber and oil palm companies yet. Those companies are responsible for the siltation, they reap profits and yet the rakyat suffer and the government need to spend big some of money to solve the problem.
Robert Lau and Sarawak Barisan Nasional are cohorts with the timber tycoons and oil palm plantation companies. Maybe he have stakes in those companies.
Take a look at some major points:
* The government required RM400 million fund to mitigate the flood problem. But all the while Robert Lau is more keen to spend money to make Wisma Sanyan area beautiful.
* Sibu forefathers unfortunately started to develop Sibu at low-lying areas. The government should have reallocated Sibu to high ground long time ago.
* Timber companies reaped millions of Ringgit in profit for deforesting the virgin jungle of Sarawak. And they are not taking the blame. Maybe DAP politicians also have stakes in those companies.
* Robert Lau is bringing experts from China to draft the flood mitigation plan. That make our officers from Drainage and Irrigation Department irrelevant and project that they are not capable of creating flood prevention scheme. High possibility that those officers are under-qualify. If DID think they are qualified, they should be the one drafting the flood mitigation plan.
* The plan will only be ready in 2010. And implementation for another 2 years. So it look like the Sibu folks have to suffer for another 4 years. Robert Lau should have looking into this issues 5 years ago, not now.
* Rajang River siltation problem started decades ago and is being neglected by the Sarawak Barisan Nasional who are more willing to develop Mukah. There is no balance in Sarawak Barisan Nasional project implementation.
Related post:
* Siltation in Rajang River due to heavy deforestation
* Sarawak logging industry - one of the culprit
* Who's protecting Sarawak virgin jungles
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Source:theborneopost.com/?p=34594 (Apr 26, 2008)
Lau: All views to be taken into consideration
By Philip Wong
SIBU: Suggestions and feedback from members of the public on the flood mitigation plan for Sibu will be taken into consideration.
Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Robert Lau yesterday regarded such expressions of opinions as of paramount importance that might eventually help solve the flood problems here.
Lau said they were looking at all possibilities, including the calls to dredge the Rajang River which many believed was the cause of the frequent flood.
“However, it takes time to solve the tedious problem and we call on the people to exercise restraint. At this moment, the Barisan Nasional team is trying very hard to get the RM400 million fund to mitigate the flood problem.
“Once the money come, we will spring into action,” he added.
Lau was speaking to reporters after handing over financial aid to five deserving students under the Bakti (Association for Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the Cabinet) programme.
The five students who excelled in their studies are Chiong Yew Kie, Hilda Kolony, Hirminaiza Firdaus, Philip Hii Ong Teck and Magtum Aen.
Lau felt that it would be a waste of resources if they went ahead to dredge the river without taking all factors into consideration.
“We must not rush into doing things without a proper study. Obviously, we cannot fight with nature and unless the flood mitigation plans are properly executed, otherwise the problems will continue to persist,” the deputy minister said.
Asked how long the people would have to wait for an answer, Lau hinted that by 2010, there should be at least an outcome over the flood mitigation plan.
“However, we will let the people know in advance the details once the Chinese engineers came up with the design. This way, it will pacify the people, let them study the plan and accentuate its outcome before we go ahead to implement it,” he said.
In this respect, Lau appealed to the people not to be hoodwinked by the opposition leader who wanted to politicise the issue.
DAP state publicity chief David Wong had recently called on the people to support the ‘Dredge Rajang River, Save Sibu’ campaign, attributing the frequent flood to the shallow Rajang River bed due to many years of siltation.
Lau admitted that he was not an engineer and it was not for him to assess the actual cause of the floods which was believed to have hit Sibu town many times since December 2007.
“Let the Chinese engineers come up with a solution and at the same time, let us put all our heads together and work for the benefits of all the people,” he added.
On the frequent floods that affect-ed the livelihood of Sibu people, Lau could only blame it on the forefathers who unfortunately started to develop Sibu at low-lying areas.
“At that time, what mattered most to them were the trees and rivers. So long as there were trees and rivers, they just settled down at the place for occupation.
“If we were to look at the Sarawak Government Gazette, Sibu was already hit by constant flood in the 19th century. It’s nothing new. And whether the flood is getting more frequent these days, well, perhaps, that I have to look at the statistics,” he said.
Source : theborneopost.com/?p=34533 (Apr 25, 2008)
Sibu floods: To dredge or not to dredge?
By Peter Boon
Consider other mitigation measures as well, public suggests
SIBU: The issue of dredging the Rajang River as a flood mitigation measure has become the major talk of the town of late.
Locals were asked at random yesterday about what they think of it. The reactions were mixed.
First to give the thumbs-up to the idea was Danny Lee, 35, a hair stylist by profession.
“I still recall in the past, the flood was not that serious. However, of late, it seems to become more frequent, making it very inconvenient to go to town to shop or do business. It is high time the dredging of Rajang River be carried out to mitigate the problem,” said Lee.
Nelson Ng, 45, a prominent businessman and proprietor of one of the largest fashion houses here, was also in favour of dredging the river.
“I have spoken to some of my friends who have been engaged in the sand and gravel business for some 20 years and they all strongly suggested dredging to mitigate the flood,” he said.
“I believe dredging the river will help to lessen the flood. I also think efforts should be made to improve our drainage system to complement the dredging for more effective result,” said Ng
Ho Kee Kit, 30, a school teacher welcomed any effort to dredge the river.
“Removing the silt that have settled over the years will improve the flow of water and reduce the frequency of floods, and if the flood still comes, it won’t be so bad,” said Ho.
An undergraduate at a local public university, Augustine Muling, 24, suggested that improving the drainage system should be given priority.
“At times, after a downpour, several places here get flooded due to the clogged drains. It is not always because of the floods in the upper reaches of the Rajang River,” he reasoned.
“A flood makes it really inconvenient to go anywhere especially during office hours. Therefore, improving the drainage system should be given the utmost urgency.”
Chan Ping, 33, a business woman suggested that both dredging and improving the drainage system should be carried out – preferably at the same time.
“While I am all for dredging the river, our drainage system needs to be improved too to effectively mitigate the flood. Doing one without the other won’t be effective. If you dredge the river but the drains are still clogged, rain water would flow too slowly to the river and the town would still get flooded,” said Chan.
Proprietor of a boutique shop, Andy Ng, 40, felt that dredging the river would only yield temporary results.
“According to a friend of mine from overseas who frequented this town, a proper drainage system would be a more effective solution,” he said.
“If you go around town, you would quickly notice some clogged drains. What is crucial now is to improve the drainage system so that water will be able to flow freely,” said Ng.
Concurring with Ng’s opinion, a person who wished to remain anonymous believed that improving the drainage system was of immediate concern.
The flood is caused by the deforestation and also excess water from the interior of the vast Kapit Division, he explained.
“Hence, I believe that improving our drainage system is a more viable option to mitigate the flood here. The local authority should also ensure that housing developers focus on building proper drains for all new housing projects,” he said.
A pastor from a local church, Michael Siew, who is from Perak, believed that a more practical option would be to plant trees along the river banks.
“In the past, we experienced the same problem in Perak due to extensive tin mining operations. But when the activity ceased, the floods also stopped,” he recalled.
Tiong King Sing, the MP of Bintulu is barking at the wrong tree. He can't just put the blame on Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) for not solving the siltation in Rajang River.
Due to worsening siltation at Rajang River, some vessels have problem navigating to Rajang Port due to shallow water. Siltation also resulted in frequent flash flood in Sibu town. Sibu, in fact, is located at the wrong place, that i.e on a lower Rajang delta which is sensitive to rising of water level.
Even if DID dredge the river or make bunds to protect Sibu, Sibu will still be hit by flood because Sibu is sitting on a low lying terrain. Anyway, river dredging is a temporary relief and costly. After dredging, the silt will start to form at the river and the old problem reappear. Building bunds will take time and maybe every costlier. Maybe the government should just reallocate Sibu to higher ground.
In reality, river dredging and building would not solve the problem. Lobbying for dredging in fact could be seen as throwing the money in the river and benefit the dredging companies.
What the MP or the Barisan Nasional leaders should look at is the cause of siltation. Siltation is due to soil erosion from upriver. Soil erosion is due to absence of trees. Thus, siltation is due to heavy deforestation in upper Rajang. Who to be blame on the deforestation ? At least two parties, the government and the timber companies. Timber companies are only concern about profit and never bother about impact of their business on the environment or society.
The government leaders in turn does not have any policies to control logging. This is quite understandable since some leaders receive kick backs from the timber companies in order for them to close eyes on policies revision and enforcement.
So, YB Tiong, I suggest you look at the root cause of the siltation and the unreported deforestation at upper Rajang. If you don't do that, there might be no tree for you to bark at.
Related posts:
* Sarawak logging industry - one of the culprit
* Who's protecting Sarawak virgin jungles
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Source: theborneopost.com/?p=34454 (APr 23, 2008)
MP’s patience wearing thin
By Raymond Tan
Tiong annoyed with DID’s refusal to accept dredging as a flood mitigation measure
BINTULU: Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is frustrated by the refusal of the director of Sarawak Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) Wong Siu Hieng to accept that river dredging is a way to mitigate flood.
In a press statement received here yesterday evening, Tiong said if siltation was not a serious problem in Sibu, why is there no such problem in downstream towns of Sarikei and Bintangor where the river has not silted?
“Before, a 1,000-ton boat could travel up to Sibu without any problem. The siltation has become so serious that it has badly affected the river transport business. This is a fact we cannot deny.”
Tiong said if this situation continued to deteriorate, the stretch of the river from Jalan Lanang area to Kapit would burst its banks frequently, flooding its surrounding areas.
He said he could not see the logic of Wong refusing to open his ears to the people and accept dredging as a flood mitigation measure.
“Why does he have to look at the mammoth RM400 million bund-building project all the time?”
He said MPs just had a meeting with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi last week, and in a discussion, the prime minister had agreed to solve the flood problems in the country “by deepening the river”.
“He expects this measure to be looked into quickly, and if this still fails, then he will only see building of bunds as a resort.”
Tiong did not see the need for building bunds in Sibu at the moment.
“The town is not like the situation in Holland, where the land is below sea level.
“During low tide in Sibu, some parts of the river become so shallow that it is not navigational, and in other parts, boats could not even berth.”
He challenged Wong to accept the responsibility if the bunds failed to stop the floods.
“He will retire one day, or he might leave his post, and in the end, when the problem is identified, it will be the Barisan Nasional government which will have to bear the responsibility.”
He suggested that Wong not just sit in the air-conditioned office to receive reports.
“Go on a ground study. If there is a need, I am willing to take him to Sibu for a tour of duty.”
Tiong added that Kemena River here was facing a similar problem.
“Siltation has become so serious that the mouth of the river has become shallow too. During low tide, barges, trawlers and other ships cannot enter. The skippers have to wait for the tide to rise.”
He said the situation was unthinkable if there was an emergency at sea. “How will rescuers and the marine police travel out in their boats?
“What has the DID done about it?”
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Source: did.sarawak.gov.my/rbis/index.html#
A Watershed, Catchment or River Basin is the geographic area from which water drains to a particular stream, river or body of water.
The hilltops and ridges define the boundaries of a watershed. The watershed includes the ponds, wetlands and streams that store surface waters and is shaped by the fields, hills, valleys and towns which characterize its landscape.
A watershed is also a community of people, plants and animals which rely on rainfall and the storage capability of that watershed to supply their water needs. A change in the watershed affects all our lives. When we cut forests, clear land, dig wells, and build houses, we cause changes in the watershed. Those changes affect the water cycle on our planet.
Remember; any action in the watershed affects the land, the water and ultimately us. We all share the watershed.
