On 15th February 2021, the Star news reported that the famous Sungai Pinang notoriously known as the dirtiest river in Malaysia has once again turned mucky. After the first MCO, people were hopeful to see the river turning quite clean in such a brief period. The power of nature is such that once we give it a chance to revive on its own, it does its job. All it takes for us is to stop dumping wastes in the river.

How many of us have swam in the rivers in our childhood? Don't we look back fondly, cherishing the memory of enjoying at the river banks? Unfortunately, we have come to a point where youths these days do not even have such memory to look back to. Children nowadays do not know how a real river looks and runs like.

A river is not only a resource for drinking water, it is also a source of income for fishermen. Flowing river sustains the vital ecosystem along the banks and the delta. If we do not take any action, there will be no flowing clean rivers left in Penang.

Our first step should be revitalizing the Sungai Pinang in the effort to save more rivers in Penang and even Malaysia. Sign this petition to highlight the importance of saving this river so that the Penang State Government will start revitalization works such as regulating the waste management from the industries, factories, shops and even citizens who are dumping toxic wastes and garbage. A hefty fine should be imposed on those who dispose wastes there. Cleaning efforts should start immediately. Join in to make a difference for our beloved Penang.