By: Zaki Salleh
IPOH: Images showing piles of garbage caught at a bridge near Gugusan Manjoi here have gone viral on social media over the past few days, drawing various reactions from city residents.
The images were shared via the Facebook page Pemerhati Lembah Kinta following recent flooding in the area.
Based on the photos, heaps of trash can be seen trapped along the side of the bridge over Sungai Pari, obstructing the smooth flow of the river.
Plastic drink bottles, plastic containers, food packaging, wood, and various other solid waste materials were found stuck there.
This situation reflects the irresponsible behavior of certain individuals who dispose of trash into rivers.
Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic has received numerous responses from Ipoh residents expressing regret and frustration over the mindset of individuals who treat drains and rivers as giant trash bins.
The situation is not a first-time occurrence; in fact, it has happened repeatedly whenever heavy rain or flash floods hit Kampung Manjoi.
According to Zafran Hakimi, the mentality of using drains and gutters as “giant trash bins” remains deeply ingrained among those lacking civic awareness.
“Every time there’s a flood, we see the same scene. Trash gets stuck at bridges and water overflows because the flow is blocked,” he told Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic.
In this regard, he urged the authorities to consider more effective preventive measures to address the issue of river pollution.
These include constructing trash traps at the mouths of drains and rivers as an early mechanism to prevent solid waste from being carried downstream.
A similar view was expressed by Kenneth Tan, who said that without a long-term solution, the same images will continue to recur whenever heavy rain occurs in Kampung Manjoi.
“Sungai Pari is often cited as one of the main factors contributing to flooding in the area.
“Additionally, there are several small tributaries around Manjoi that flow into Sungai Pari before the water eventually flows into Sungai Kinta.
“I represent thousands of concerned Ipoh residents in hoping that more proactive action can be implemented immediately to ensure river cleanliness is preserved and flood risks can be reduced in the future,” he stressed.
