Public urged to protect Brunei waters

THE derelict state of the country's maritime environment requires the attention of its residents to respect and protect Brunei waters, according to the Marine Department under the Ministry of Communications in a press release yesterday.

Emphasising that the sultanate's maritime environment is in need of help due to the polluted but accustomed sight of debris, tree trunks, garbage bags and even animals carcasses floating around the Brunei waters, the Marine Department further stated that this form of pollution poses a threat not only to the diverse wildlife on both land and aquatic, but to the maritime industry as well.

In addressing the situation, the department yesterday conducted a cleaning campaign in an effort to clear Brunei's waterways from rubbish.

Yesterday's cleaning activity was also held to commemorate World Maritime Day 2008.

Present to do his bit for the community yesterday was the Deputy Minister of Communications, Dato Paduka Hj Yusof Hj Abd Hamid, who folded his sleeves to join in the cleanup effort along with officers from the ministry and personnel of the Marine Department.

The event was launched from the department's headquarters in Muara and ended at Sapuh Point, the end of Pulau Muara Besar.

As part of the cleaning campaign, the officials also conducted a spotcheck on the island to ensure that the place was clean. An official from the Marine Department commented that during low tides, massive rubbish clusters would flow out of the Brunei River and disperse out to sea or washed ashore on unoccupied islands, making it even more dangerous to wildlife.

During the campaign, countless debris and wayward logs were lifted out of the waters of Muara Port, reflecting on the rampant disregard towards the disposal of garbage among the people in Brunei.

The Marine Department hopes that the cleaning campaign will be attributed as an example to the public on the importance of keeping Brunei waters clean and to boost public awareness of the state of Brunei's maritime environment.

Three boats and one crane ship from the Marine Department were used in the campaign. (JNB1)