Penampang folk urged to protect river, promote recreational activities

PENAMPANG: Protect Sungai Moyog and promote recreational activities on the river to provide income to local folk.

State Assistant Minister of Education and Innovation Jenifer Lasimbang said the district’s river had a lot of potential and the community needed to think outside the box to promote it.

“In the past, the people used the river to travel and the raft was an important mode of transport,” she told reporters after launching the annual Raft Festival at Kampung Mahandoi, here, in conjunction with World River Day.

“Villages along the river have a lot of history. Take Inobong for example. It was where people from the sea and mountain met to do barter trade.

“If the community can think of providing some sort of river information or facts at every village jetty, I believe tourists and visitors alike will be interested to experience our river.”

The Moyog assemblyman said having river activities would also raise awareness among villagers on the importance of protecting the river.

“If there is no activity, the river will gradually turn into a rubbish dumping site,” she said.

“So, I hope to see the Penampang Tourist Association engaging with the community on ways to promote this and how they can generate income.”

Prior to the event, she took a 30-minute raft ride on the river from Kampung Kaui to Kampung Mahandoi.

During the ride, she was fascinated to see an individual paddling a bicycle-powered raft, stressing such innovative inventions should be adopted by others.

“I’m looking at having a campaign on this to encourage people to recycle their old bicycles. Such bicycle-powered rafts can be used by villagers to do river clean-up,” she added.

“I have mentioned in my previous press conferences that we need to establish river rangers much like the honorary wildlife wardens.

“These river rangers will be young people. They will have to learn about the river and help to take care of it.”