BUKIT MERTAJAM: Residents of Kampung Air Melintas Kecil here are furious with the authorities for not taking action to tackle and clean up a polluted river near their area for decades.
They said the river, which has turned black and smelly, was the result of indiscriminate dumping of pig faeces by operators of nearby pig farms.
Police retiree, Ahmad Sulaiman said the river which was once clear, clean and the source of pride of the villagers. Now, it is just a stinking embarrassment, he said.
“We used to call the river 'Sungai Air Itam (black water river) in jest because it was so clear that we could see the black riverbed. Now, ironically, it has really turned black because of the pollution,” he said when met at the village today.
The 69-year-old said the river deteriorated since he was 12-years-old.
“We have been complaining to the local politicians, government and agencies for the past few decades but nothing has been done to clean up the river.
He said some of the villagers even became 'immune' to the foul smell due to the close proximity and long term exposure.
“After I came back to the village in 1997, the smell hit me again and I have been campaigning since then to have the river rehabilitated,” he said.
He added that the smell was particularly worse during hot and dry seasons, especially at night.
“You can still smell it even with the doors closed,” he added.
Another resident, Azhar Arshad, 49, said the polluted water from the river, which had overflowed into his paddy field had affected his harvest.
“The paddy plant did grow but died later on. Sometimes, the husks are hollow.
“The water also causes allergic reaction to most of the villagers,” he said.
Azhar added that the previous state administration had promised to clean up the river using a so-called Japanese technology but it never materialised.
Meanwhile, state Agriculture, Agro-based industries, Rural development and Health committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said the issue had been pending because the previous administration did not approve a rehabilitation plan.
“So now, my focus will be to help the villagers by stopping the source of the pollution.
“We are also going forward with a Pig Farming Enactment to enforce a modern rearing method with either zero or treated discharge into rivers,” he said.
Afif also admitted that the problem, which had gone on for about 40 years, would be difficult to resolve overnight.
“That’s why we are putting in place this law.
“We also need to wait as we’ve given them (pig farms operators) until the end of the year to convert their farms.” he said.