NATURAL Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad revealed that the amount of trash removed from Sungai Klang since 2016 annually is on a decline.

He added that the water quality was previously in Class 4 and 5, but has improved to Class 2 and even reached Class 1 during the rainy season. 

In addition, odour issues have been less frequent.

“Two river-cleaning machines (the Interceptors) have been used since 2019 and they have been very instrumental in collecting rubbish, including plastic waste.

“It shows how the state government, Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) and Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB) have achieved success,” he told reporters after visiting Mangrove Point recreational park at Port Klang today.

He had earlier witnessed a signing of a collaboration between LLSB with the United Nations for Malaysia and Brunei network.

Meanwhile, LLSB said in a statement that under the Selangor Maritime Gateway, 86,021 metric tonnes of floating rubbish, the equivalent of 470 Boeing 747 aircraft, were removed from Sungai Klang.

“The reduction of annual rubbish by 63% between 2016 and 2022 far exceeded the Phase 1 key performance indicators set at 40%.

“Last year, the project saw 6,117 metric tonnes of trash removed monthly against a baseline in 2016 of 16,408 metric tonnes a month,” the company said. – Bernama, June 13, 2023.