UTAR students participate in million-dollar river education programme

UTAR, GAB Foundation and Global Environment Centre (GEC) marked their alliance with an MoU Exchange Ceremony held in UTAR Perak Campus on 4 June 2013. The tripartite MoU, which was signed earlier on 1 April 2013, would see the participation of UTAR students in the million-dollar Sungai Kinta river education programme.

At the ceremony, UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik exchanged the MoU documents with GAB Foundation Chairman Dato' Saw Choo Boon and GEC Director Faizal Parish. The Perak Director of Department of Irrigation and Drainage Dato' Ir Abdul Razak Bin Dahalan and UTAR Council Chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik were present to witness the momentous gesture. 

Also present at the ceremony were UTAR Planning and Development Committee Advisor Tan Sri Hew See Tong, UTAR Council Member Hew Fen Yee, Trustee of GAB Foundation Rita Sim Sai Hoon, GEC Coordinator for River Care Programme Dr K. Kalithasan, and members from the Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology, Dr Yap Vooi Voon, the dean, and Dr Tan Chew Khun.

Prof Chuah said, "UTAR is pleased to work with GAB Foundation and GEC to actively raise awareness and change mindsets on the importance of protecting our rivers." He added, "UTAR has always promoted the conservation of the environment and as a university, we educate our students on the importance of protecting our resources and doing more to ensure long- term sustainability." 

During his speech, Dato' Saw announced that GAB Foundation would spend RM1 million over three years for community engagement and education programmes along the three chosen tributaries of Sungai Kinta under the W.A.T.E.R Project. The W.A.T.E.R (the acronym for 'Working Actively through Education and Rehabilitation) Project, spearheaded by GAB Foundation and GEC, also supports the Perak state's Department of Irrigation and Drainage's on-going efforts to rehabilitate Sungai Kinta.

A total of 50 UTAR students from various fields of study will be trained to assist in monitoring the water quality and biodiversity of Sungai Senam, Sungai Buntong and Sungai Kledang, the three chosen tributaries of Sungai Kinta. In addition, they will also be assisting in the training workshops and community outreach programmes.

The ceremony also saw the first batch of 20 UTAR students receiving their certificates as newly trained RIVER Rangers after completed their basic training. The certificates were presented to the RIVER Rangers by Dato' Ir Abdul Razak.

From left: Prof Chuah, Faizal Parish and Dato' Saw exchanging MoU documents while Dato' Ir Abdul Razak looks on 

The first batch of RIVER Rangers from UTAR posing with the VIP guests after the certificate presentation by Dato' Ir Abdul Razak (standing, fourth from right)

The newly trained RIVER Rangers explaining the exhibits to Tun Dr Ling and the VIP guests