Nation

Sultan Nazrin calls for fresh approach to river management

KUALA LUMPUR: Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah has called for a fresh approach that is more organised and forward-thinking to address weaknesses in the country's river basin management.

His Royal Highness said despite the numerous policies and programmes put in place, it remains evident that a significant portion of the community is unaware of or indifferent to the issues surrounding river management.

Sultan Nazrin also said Malaysia must draw inspiration from countries that have effectively preserved their rivers and expediently develop new policies and approaches tailored to the unique challenges it faced.

"Preserving our rivers consists of cultural and geopolitical elements that cannot be effectively addressed through a rigid and segmented framework. River preservation involves a comprehensive effort to improve and enhance the quality of river water, ensuring its cleanliness and usability.

"The responsibility for safeguarding our rivers extends to all stakeholders and it should not be limited to a specific agency or non-governmental organisation.

"(And) to underscore this responsibility, we must promote eco-friendly practices and cultivate a proactive willingness to contribute to or bear the necessary costs," he said in his keynote address during the launch of the 'Tafsir Mawdu'i Sungai' book by Professor Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohd Yusoff and Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang.

Sultan Nazrin also cited the Environmental Quality Report of 2021, which evaluated 670 monitored rivers in the country and revealed significant insight into the state of our waters.

Among the rivers surveyed, 73 per cent (489) exhibit clean water quality indices, while 24 per cent (158) are categorised as moderately polluted and three per cent (23) are identified as polluted.

Following this, Sultan Nazrin said rivers played a pivotal role in shaping the earth's existence as well as stand as the primary source of fresh water, which is the very essence of life for humankind.

He also advised that it should be our utmost concern to observe the rivers, which serve as the earth's lifeblood, are being polluted.

"The health of our river ecosystem is a reflection of how much the hearts of our communities, from upstream to downstream, are connected to its conservation. Indeed, hardware (science and technology) and software (policy, regulation and norms) would not be sufficient without enough heart-ware to sustain and drive our efforts.

"Hence, it is essential to awaken the human soul to a sense of responsibility and foster genuine remorse for actions that harm the environment.

"A more compassionate approach should be cultivated, with the goal of raising public awareness and willingness to preserve the environment."

At the same time, Sultan Nazrin also congratulated the collaborative efforts between the two authors on the book, which represented the harmonious integration of knowledge with management expertise and scientific and technological disciplines pertinent to rivers.

"The approach taken in this book, which involves bringing together experts from diverse disciplines, serves as a commendable way to foster the growth and flourishing of knowledge.

"This synergy of expertise from different domains contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter at hand.

"Hence, we extend our congratulations to both authors, as well as to the publisher, the Academy of Jawi Malaysia, and the University of Malaya, which organised the book launch."

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories