Main image via The Sun Daily
Being responsible and staying home to stop the spread of COVID-19 has not only helped to reduce the number of positive cases in Malaysia, it has also brought a lot of good to nature.
And one in particular that has been receiving a lot of attention lately is the Malacca River!
Image via Malacca
Those of you who have been to Malacca would have definitely noticed the river that passes through the city. And unfortunately, the sight (and smell) hasn’t always been very pleasant.
But thanks to the Movement Control Order in place that has kept people in their homes, the Sungai Melaka is now “greener” and “cleaner” than ever before!
Before the MCO, many would describe the river’s water as murky with a “teh tarik” colour.
Image via The Sun Daily
A quick check by Bernama at several locations including near the Stadthuys building and Jonker Road, has shown that the “river has not been this clean for a long time.”
When shown pictures of the revitalised Malacca river, trishaw rider Joseph Oliveira, smiled. According to the man, he has not seen the river this clean in the eight years he has been working in the area.
“Maybe photographic techniques made Malacca River clearer than it really is,” Joseph said. “The water is cleaner during MCO due to lack of activities in Malacca River. Previously, it was very busy with boats plying the river, cause its water to be murky.
Image via The Sun Daily
According to the trishaw rider, back in the 80s and 90s, the river was stinking black but the state government especially during the time of former chief minister Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam, had rehabilitated the river in an effort to turn it into the “Venice of the East”.
“A cleaner Malacca River is good for the environment,” Joseph added. “It can also help people like me to earn some money when it is a tourist attraction. For me, let the river rest for a while and it will help us back after this.”
Cleaner Salim Bachek was also recorded saying that there was a noticeable drop in activities in the river and its surrounding areas.
“Other workers and I used to remove a lot of garbage from Malacca River but during the MCO there is not so much rubbish,” he said. “However, the public should not bathe or wash their feet with the river water because it is not as clean as swimming pool water.”
Image via The Sun Daily
Mohd Ali, who has been responsible for rejuvenating the Malacca River, was also estactic about the “cleaner” waters and urged the public to keep the river clean even after the MCO.
“It (Malacca River) is cleaner now, especially in town areas where we can see fish swimming in it,” he said. “But if we do not maintain it, the river will become dirty. We must keep Malacca River clean.”
Image via The Sun Daily
We’re so happy to see the Malacca river so clean! Hopefully we’ll be able to keep the river just as clean (or cleaner) after the MCO!
In the meantime, be sure to keep playing your part by staying safe and staying home so we can not only help to #FlattenTheCurve but also give nature a chance to breathe and rejuvenate.
Stay updated with the latest COVID-19 news here: https://en.syok.my/covid-19
Info via The Sun Daily