Our Visions

 

In the long term i.e. after five years time we would like to see Sungai Brunei to change in every aspects i.e. economical, environmental, infrastructure and social. In terms of infrastructure we would want to see a better sewer system to be installed and at least one or two rubbish bins in each house and other buildings of Kampong Ayer including walkways and jetties. We expect to see some laws to be enforced against those who pollute the river in any manner. This is accompanied by the creation of signs and notice boards to remind the people the laws being implemented. Other infrastructure in which we expect to see are patrol post for patrolling officers to monitor and prevent irresponsible dumping from taking place.

In the social aspect, we would want to see more participation of the government, the private sectors, NGO, as well as the local people of the area to maintain the infrastructure made for the prevention of pollution from occurring. We would also want to see hygiene and health matters to be part of a school education subject. At this time i.e. after five years, we want to see the people of kampong Ayer to be well acknowledged of the threats that rubbish dumping into the river could have on the Brunei River.

In terms of the economy, we expect the authorities would at some stage give a reasonable subsidy for the installation of better sewer systems on every house of kampong Ayer as well as on the rubbish collection fee. Beside the authorities contribution we also want to see other sectors of the economy to grow such as patrol and security agency, waste management, recycling, construction, piping, maintenance and repair companies and so on. With this more jobs are created and hence the opportunity to improve the economy of the people also increases.

In the environmental aspect, we want to see that the Brunei river become less polluted or not at all. We expect to see less or perhaps no floating or sunk rubbish in the river. We expect to see the mangrove forest, where the proboscis monkey and other animals living and depending on it to survive and increases in number and are away from the threat of extinction. We would want to see a better and cleaner water quality of the river so that it could be a suitable place for fishes to live in and less acidic than it is now.

In the short term or a month time, we expect to see a new or perhaps a revise government policy on the usage of the river as well as laws regarding the polluting attempts on the river to be imposed. We also want to see a greater amount of rubbish bins provided in every building in and around Sungai Brunei.

Socially, we expect to see the awareness as well as actions to prevent the pollution from happening from the people to occur. This could be through campaign, volunteer work, school education, etc. Though prevention is better than curing, we believe to some extent that in a month time more and more works should take place to clean the rubbish in the river that involves all level of the society.

Economically, we would want to see the authorities to support the attempts of any society through appropriate financial aids for them to operate. The integration between the government and the private sectors should also increase. This could be done through sponsorship, donation and other medium of supports.

Environmentally, we expect to see some actions which preserve the wildlife of the river especially the proboscis monkey. The restriction from development of the habitat of the proboscis especially those close to human settlements in the upper stream of the river should be imposed. With this the mangrove forest are preserved and hence guarantee a sustainable amount for them to feed on, for their shelter and so on.

Photographed by: Safwan Mohiddin (copyrighted)

Of all the vision we have stated earlier, we believe that each and every changes are as important as the others. This is because in order for us to protect and prevent the Brunei River from pollutions, the changes must take place in stages in which every changes and stages are interrelated to each other. However, if we really need to at least choose one, perhaps the implementation and enforcement of law is the strongest followed by the change through education system.