Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital’s Friends of the Environment helps revive river
IT has been said that a country is judged by the quality of its rivers and in a small but effective way, Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital's Friends of the Environment is playing its role in cleaning up the Sungai Kelian in Tanjung Bungah recently.
About 30 people comprising of staff, family members including children and supporters gathered at the banks of the Sungai Kelian in the early morning to throw mud balls in the river.
The mud balls which were the size of golf balls and containing EM (effective microorganisms) have been proven to be effective in cleaning up polluted rivers and bringing back aquatic life.
"We purchased about 1,500 mud balls using cash donations from hospital staff and supporters," said project leader Keith Tan.
"Besides this, we have also ceased using plastic bags to dispense medicine to patients. We also recycle paper materials and beautify the hospital," he added.
"It would also be a good lesson for the children to learn about the hospitals' environment awareness programmes."
Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Tey Yee Cheu, who was present to launch the campaign, said Sungai Kelian is now cleaner due to the number of mud ball-throwing campaigns that had been organised to clean up the river.
"The water quality of the river has improved tremendously since the mud balls were introduced on a regular basis.
"What used to be a black, muddy and heavily-polluted river is now pristine, clear and clean with aquatic life returning as seen from the existence of fishes," said Tey.
The campaign is also in line with the state's Greener, Cleaner Penang campaign.
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