GEORGE TOWN: Days after jumping into a garbage-filled monsoon drain to raise awareness on pollution, a Penang MCA leader hopes the authorities can manage waste more sustainably and beef up enforcement against littering.

       Penang MCA social movement bureau head Cheah Chin Woon said the public too should change their behaviour by minimising waste at the source.

       "If they continue to dump irresponsibly into the rivers, it will cause contamination and water pollution that can destroy marine life.

       "It is everyone's responsibility to take care of the environment. We should stop littering.

       "Enforcement and the amount of fines are vital to keep the problem in check. Those who want to litter will have to think twice," he said during a press conference at Penang MCA headquarters in Transfer Road on Tuesday (April 19).

       Last Thursday (April 14), in an effort to raise awareness on keeping rivers clean, Cheah jumped into the drain linking to Sungai Pinang, which is said to be among the dirtiest rivers in the country.

       To show what it is like to do dirty, dangerous and difficult work, he waded through the black water with a net in hand to collect floating bottles, plastic bags and other waste.

       He spent about 30 minutes wading through the river while other MCA members helped him haul up the trash.

       Cheah then vented his frustration at the local government, claiming that the river, which narrows into a canal in stretches, had not been cleaned regularly.

       He said he jumped into the black river to increase public awareness, adding that his friends from Kuala Lumpur had mistaken objects floating in the river for Koi fish.

       "I believe I have made my point after the jump, which has received mixed reactions from the public.

       "Some have resorted to character assassination against me, by saying I was merely putting on a show to draw public attention.

       "But it's not a political stunt. I just want to drive home a point on the importance of keeping the rivers clean which I believe I have managed to do," he said.

       On talks that jumping into the river to create awareness was nothing new, Cheah said the idea for such a move actually came from him.

       "I was helping DAP in the general election at the time. And the idea of jumping into Sungai Pinang was actually my suggestion. It was an open secret among Penang DAP leaders at the time," he said.

       In March 2008, before the 12th general election (GE12), Koid Teng Guan, the DAP candidate for the Sungai Pinang state seat, also jumped into Sungai Pinang to take mud and water samples.

       He developed rashes on both his feet after his actions and had to seek medical treatment.

       Koid had said that during high tide, residents would complain about the horrible stench and ugly sight of rubbish flowing into the river, and called on the authorities to clean it up and find a solution to the problem. He later went on to win the seat.