Tuesday December 14, 2010
Litter mars Sungai Liam waterfalls
By STUART MICHAEL
metro@thestar.com.my
PICNICS at the Sungai Liam Waterfalls in Ulu Yam is no more a pleasant outing because the area has become an eyesore with rubbish strewn everywhere.
According to Waterfall Survivors, a group in Facebook that explores and preserve waterfalls, the site is very dirty.
Waterfall Survivors founder and president Joe Yap said she could see rubbish everywhere near the waterfalls and in the river.
Irresponsible act: Rubbish floating in a stream at Sungai Liam.
“Among the rubbish at the picnic site are sanitary pads, diapers, plastic bags, empty nasi lemak packets and drink containers.
“Even more frightening is to see picnickers still camping and playing with their children in the water filled with rubbish,’’ she said.
Last Sunday, Yap brought along volunteers to see for themselves the pollution in the area.
“Among all the waterfalls I have seen, this is the worst,’’ she said.
Major task: The members forming a human chain to remove the rubbish collected from the waterfalls at Sungai Kanching in Rawang recently.
Yap said Malaysia was a land full of natural beauty and everyone should respect and be proud of it.
“However, Malaysians do not know how to appreciate mother nature. We cleaned up Sg Liam about five months ago and now cleanliness at the waterfall is worse than before.
“Why do these picnickers bring all their food, bbq pits, utensils, snacks but never clean up after themselves?” she asked.
Unbearable stench: Two Waterfall Survivors volunteers taking pictures of the rubbish at the Sungai Liam waterfalls in Ulu Yam.
She said the place would be clean if each family brought along their own rubbish bag and disposed of used items at the proper garbage sites located outside the waterfalls area.
Waterfall Survivors has highlighted the problem to state tourism, consumerism and environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong.
Yap said Waterfall Survivors was funded by its members and some corporations.
What a site?: Some campers oblivious to their dirty surroundings at the Sungai Liam Waterfalls.
“We hope that the Selangor Forestry Department will take stern action against picnickers who litter,” she said.
She hoped to get more funding from government agencies or corporations to work on more sustainable action.
“We need support from colleges and schools and they should join our Save Our Waterfalls campaign,” Yap said.
The group has cleaned up waterfalls in Sungai Kanching in Rawang, Kedondong Recreational Park in Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor, Lata Kinjang waterfalls in Perak and Ulu Yam waterfalls.
Those who want to join this group, can e-mail waterfallsurvivors@hotmail.com or visit the website at waterfallsurvivors.blogspot.com or call Yap at 019-678 7460.
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