Landasan Lumayan collaborates with The Ocean Cleanup to clean Selangor rivers

KUALA LUMPUR: Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB), in collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup, will be exploring new opportunities to collaborate in cleaning Selangor's rivers.

Landasan Lumayan is a wholly-owned company by Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), mandated to spearhead the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) urban rejuvenation project.

Both organisations are looking at higher impact solutions to trap and remove floating debris found in rivers using a multi-pronged approach with advanced waste-to-shore and waste repurposing options, thus diverting it from landfills.

LLBS chairman Izham Hashim said the company is excited about the possibility to embed more sustainable practices into its operations.

Izham said this includes new ways to support our existing cleaning methodology in Sg Klang that can withstand strong currents and large volumes of water and manage organic and inorganic waste.

"LLSB is currently working with the Selangor state government and Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) to identify the challenges present in other rivers in the state that can benefit from the expertise of LLSB's Integrated Water Resources Management Solutions and its partnership with The Ocean Cleanup.

"Selangor has gazetted 413 rivers, of which the Department of Environment has listed 33 as either slightly polluted or polluted," he said.

Meanwhile, Selangor state minister Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari welcomed The Ocean Cleanup's continued interest in supporting Selangor's intent in improving other rivers, with Sg Klang as its model.

"Sg Klang exemplifies the impact that can be achieved through integrating global and local technology solutions with a strong government mandate and a progressive local management team to clean and revive a once ailing river," said Amirudin.

Amirudin said cleaning the floating debris is also the first phase of the state government's initiative toward flood mitigation to increase the capacity of Sg Klang.

"Sg Klang's overall capacity has been seriously compromised due to prolonged siltation on its riverbed.

"Starting in the middle of 2022, we will be focusing on returning Sg Klang to its original depth that will further increase its load capacity, which is required to deal with flooding issues," he added.