SUNGEI BULOH WETLAND RESERVE

SUNGEI BULOH WETLAND RESERVE:

(Flotsam pollution): 4.

Ms Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether his Ministry is able to trace the source of the flotsam and other rubbish that may have come from the Johor Straits that has been polluting the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; and (b) if there are other options to solving this problem on a permanent basis apart from just removing the floating debris.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan) (for the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources): Mr Speaker, Sir, the PUB has installed gratings in the drains and canals that lead to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, to prevent litter and debris that may be present in our inland water courses from landing on the Reserve. However, the Reserve, being located along the Straits of Johor, will continue to face the problem of flotsam being washed onto its shores from time to time.

NParks, which manages and maintains the Reserve, will study ways to minimise the amount of flotsam that is washed onto the Reserve from the Straits of Johor. Nonetheless, as flotsam can originate from various sources, including litter that ends up in waterways, we need the cooperation of the community in keeping public areas clean.

Ms Lee Bee Wah: Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether there is any other action or any further plan that can be done to further improve the situation.

Column: 1804

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: Sir, currently, NParks carries out twice weekly coastal cleaning of the Reserve, whilst within the Reserve, it is cleaned daily. In addition, other schools, community groups and volunteers also assist in the coastal clean up of the Reserve, especially during weekends, public and school holidays. As I have noted earlier in my reply, NParks is currently also exploring other ways to minimise the amount of flotsam that is washed onto the Reserve. Notwithstanding this effort, I think it is important to reiterate again that we need to have the full cooperation of the community to keep public areas clean, so that we can enjoy these nature reserves, parks and other public areas.