RIVERS have always been part of our everyday lives. They flow quietly through towns and villages, shape our city skylines, and offer moments of calm in an otherwise hurried world. Because they are always there, we rarely stop to think about them.
Yet few things define a place – or its people – quite like a river.
A clean, flowing river can transform a town. It becomes a place to pause, to breathe, to gather. Kuching Waterfront along the Sarawak River is a good example.
In the early mornings, joggers move softly along its paths as the city wakes. By evening, the riverfront finds a different rhythm – families strolling, friends lingering, lights dancing on the water as the city winds down.
Once a year, the annual regatta reminds us how a river can unite people, turning a familiar stretch of water into a shared celebration of sport, culture and community.
When rivers are clean, they are not just waterways. They become living public spaces.
Across the world, cities that value their rivers reap lasting rewards. Riverwalks become landmarks. Eco-tourism thrives.
Cafés, homestays, boat tours and recreational activities grow around accessible, well-managed waterways.
Sarawak is especially blessed in this regard.
From mighty rivers that shaped our history to smaller tributaries winding through rural communities, our waterways hold enormous potential for nature-based tourism, leisure and lifestyle development.
Clean, well-managed rivers enhance waterfront tourism and cruises, eco-trails and fishing, water sports and community spaces that enrich everyday life.
They also strengthen Sarawak’s image as a destination that values sustainability, nature and liveability — qualities that matter more than ever to today’s travellers.
But the value of water today goes beyond leisure and scenery.
In many ways, water is no longer just a basic necessity. It has become the quiet lifeblood of modern technology.
As the global economy moves deeper into artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, renewable energy and digital infrastructure, the demand for clean, dependable water is rising sharply.
This is why Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg’s keynote address at the International Water Association (IWA) Water and Development Congress & Exhibition 2025 in Bangkok resonates far beyond policy circles.
When he described water as a “new commodity” underpinning Sarawak’s economic transition, energy ambitions and climate resilience, he was not speaking only of industries and infrastructure.
He was also reminding us that water – and by extension, our rivers – now carries economic, social and environmental value we can no longer afford to overlook.
Take semiconductor fabrication alone. Each day, millions of litres of ultrapure water are used to cool systems and cleanse microscopic chips.
Without it, the digital backbone we depend on – the technology powering our phones, computers, data centres and electric vehicles – would simply stop.
This reality places water at the heart of industrial competitiveness. It is no longer just about what a country can build, but whether it can sustain the resources modern industries quietly rely on.
At the same time, a clean, scenic river contributes directly to the economy in simpler ways. It attracts visitors, supports small businesses, and improves the well-being of communities living along its banks.
In this sense, rivers are not luxuries. They are assets.
For too long, rivers have been viewed mainly as functional channels – for drainage, transport or extraction.
While these roles remain important, they tell only part of the story.
Today, rivers are also about experience.
People want places where they can reconnect with nature without leaving the city. Visitors seek authentic environments that are well-cared for. Families look for safe outdoor spaces where children can play and learn.
A polluted river discourages all of this. A clean river invites life.
As Sarawak charts its future, the way we treat our rivers will reflect how seriously we take sustainability, liveability and long-term planning.
Caring for rivers is not just about large-scale projects or government intervention. It begins with everyday choices. Rubbish thrown into drains ends up in rivers. Waste dumped upstream eventually affects communities downstream. Small acts of neglect add up.
But so do small acts of care.
When communities take pride in their rivers – keeping them clean, reporting pollution, joining clean-up efforts – rivers respond. They recover. They flourish. A respected river becomes a shared point of pride.
The Premier’s call to recognise water as a strategic commodity challenges us to see rivers differently – not as background features, but as vital assets shaping our economy, environment and way of life.
Clean rivers enrich our towns, strengthen tourism, and offer simple joys – a quiet walk, a shaded picnic, a moment of reflection by the water’s edge.
Perhaps the real question is not whether rivers are valuable, but whether we value them enough to care for them consistently.
In this regard, the time is right for relevant authorities, together with the people, to work towards effective measures to keep our rivers clean and alive – regardless of their size or where they are located.
After all, a river that looks alive and invites people in is a sign of a society that understands the true worth of what flows through it.
And that, indeed, is something worth pondering.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at drnagrace@gmail.com.
