THERE is a saying that when the mighty Rajang cries, everyone will feel its pain.
Locals say this is because come the monsoon season, the Rajang river will burst its banks, destroying crops and crippling transportation for thousands.
Life will basically grind to a halt.
When this happens, there’s nothing anyone can do but wait for her to calm down.
Located northwest of Borneo, the longest river in Malaysia flows from the Irian Mountains for about 563km to the South China Sea.
A large population in the central region depends on the Rajang and its tributaries in one way or another.
Those from Sibu still remember the river’s bountiful harvest of freshwater fish like patin and lulong, which are rare these days.
For people living in the interior, the bends, curves and forks along the Rajang are their addresses.
There are also many legends and folklore surrounding the Rajang.
Many towns have sprouted along the river banks, the biggest of which is Sibu with a population of 257,000 people.
For generations, people have been tapping its resources.
Then, 14 years ago, the government decided to tap the river with the construction of the Bakun hydro-electric dam on Balui River, one of Rajang’s tributaries.
The project meant that hundreds of acres of land had to be cleared of vegetation. It was a windfall of sorts for timber companies.
Last week, the dam started its impoundment.
The effects were slowly seen and felt through the changes in Rajang’s appearance. The river water became murky due to siltation, reducing fish stock and destroying other marine life.
Just over a week ago, the goings-on on Rajang’s banks came to a head when 50km of logs and debris jammed the river.
Described as an “environmental disaster” and dubbed the “Rajang logjam disaster”, it made headlines worldwide.
Although the logjam cleared up within a few days, many demanded answers as to how it could have taken place. Irresponsible logging activity upriver was blamed.
Hardly had the dust settled, Rajang suffered another blow. It was reportedly “shrinking” because of the dry weather, and some say, the impoundment of the dam.
There is no denying that human activities are taking their toll on the river and the last thing Sarawakians want is to have a dead river in their state.
Perhaps it’s time that an agency is established to ensure the Rajang continues to be the pride of the state and the country.
At the moment, the Sarawak Rivers Board is the agency that handles the state’s rivers, a gargantuan task considering the number of rivers in the state.
As such, conservation of the river might not be the best. There are those who feel the agencies, particularly those handling the environment, are not doing their jobs.
Though it is agreed that environmental conservation is a joint responsibility, the new agency could be a focal point to coordinate the tasks, at least where the Rajang is concerned.
The agency’s team should be familiar with Rajang’s every meander and be committed to sustaining it without fear or favour.
For this, the team could be made up of people from the community, experts on rivers and the environment, and perhaps the media, too.
And for the team to be effective, it has to be given muscle to allow stringent enforcement of laws.
Educating the community remains a pivotal point in protecting the Rajang. The people, particularly the youth, should be made aware of their responsibilities and actions.
Obviously, more needs to be done for the Rajang. Things are happening for a reason. The mighty Rajang is crying out for help.
But is anybody listening?
Berdasarkan pembacaan saya dari Bernama sebentar tadi, ada pendapat mengatakan punca berlakunya hanyutan balak di Sungai Rajang adalah kerana hujan lebat yang turun. dan bukannya dari Empangan Bakun atau pembalakan seperti yg diura-urakan selama ini. Inilah fenemona yang luar biasa berlaku di negara kita. Begitu mengejutkan kita...
apapun,sayangilah sungai kita..sungai rajang..sungai sarawak..ataupun mana-mana sungai..
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