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Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun has urged oil palm plantation owners in Kinabatangan to fulfil their promises to ensure that river pollution problems caused by factory discharge are solved immediately.
According to Borneo Rhino Alliance (Baro) executive director Datuk Dr Junaidi Payne, existing vegetation along the water courses is better to leave unmanaged in order to minimize soil erosion and runoff of chemicals. It means weeding and herbicide or fertilizers should not be applied for the row or rows of oil palm plants closest to the water courses.
Dr. Junaidi also added that if oil palm industry players cannot address the issue of water pollution that results from their activities, then the government has to do so, by policy, legislation and enforcement.
For every metric tonne of palm oil produced, 2.5 metric tonnes of effluent are generated from processing the palm oil in mills. Direct release of this effluent can cause freshwater pollution, which can affect downstream biodiversity and people. Control of effluents from mills was probably one of the most difficult challenges, but if not tackled would result in a bleak future.
Therefore, oil palm plantation owners must play their role in ensuring they are following the rules and regulations in managing the plantations. Getting big profits is meaningless if at the same time the environment is polluted.
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The Kinabatangan’s water quality declined seriously due to sedimentation from logging in the upper catchment, pollution from agrochemical use in plantations, discharge from palm oil mills, and refuse and untreated sewage from villages and lodges along the river. Local communities who use the polluted river water are thus exposed to health risks while the survival of sensitive aquatic life is affected.
The 560km-long Sungai Kinabatangan, is the second longest river in the country. It is of considerable importance in Sabah as it serves as a vital communication route for several villages in Kinabatangan district apart from being an important water catchment area.
Sungai Kinabatangan is also an important tourism product, which serves as an income-earner for local residents. Unfortunately, the river's environment is fast deteriorating. No thanks to activities originating from operations of huge oil palm estates located on both sides of its banks.
The deteriorating water quality in Sungai Kinabatangan is not only caused by effluents from the palm oil industry but also by irresponsible parties who dredge sand illegally from the river.
I think Datuk Masidi Manjun need to make surprise inspections to ensure that the palm oil processing mills adhere to the directive..
Agree with Datuk Masidi Manjun that oil palm plantation owners in Kinabatangan shoul fulfill their promises to ensure that river pollution problems caused by factory discharge are solved immediately.
Stop the unethical practice that causes pollution to our rivers.
oil palm plantation owners must play their role in ensuring they are following the rules and regulations in managing the plantations. Getting big profits is meaningless if at the same time the environment is polluted.
Please take action immediately to clean up the rivers.
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