KUCHING: A gotong-royong (community clean-up) was carried out today at Syis Tuang Semeba (formerly Kampung Semeba), where 106 dedicated participants came together to safeguard one of Sarawak’s oldest geological heritage sites.
The effort led to the removal of more than 200kg of waste (excluding leaves), significantly contributing to the preservation of the area’s unique natural legacy.
Organised by the Pejabat Resident Kuching and the Geopark Community, with the support of volunteers from Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), the initiative focused on the surroundings of a 250-million-year-old rock formation believed to be the oldest in Sarawak.
“We are happy and proud to have the oldest rock, 250 million years old, found at Kampung Semeba, now known as Syis Tuang Semeba.
“We are expecting that it will be recognised by UNESCO and become a UNESCO Heritage Geological Geopark so that it will be preserved for everybody to see, to study, to admire, and to promote tourism,” said Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Ir Lo Khere Chiang.
The gotong-royong was more than a cleanup; it was a powerful expression of community unity and environmental stewardship.
“We’re truly grateful to YB Lo for giving us this opportunity. It allows us not only to contribute but also to learn and discover the treasures of our land.
“Through this gotong-royong, we’ve come to see that even a small act of service can help protect something so ancient and meaningful,” said HWPL volunteer Ning Bong.
