KUCHING: Continuous monitoring measures are in place at Niah National Park to ensure visitor safety and prevent future flood impact, says Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
He said that visitor safety and comfort are always a priority, not only at Niah National Park but also at all recreational and tourist areas in the state.
“Following the recent floods in the Niah area, we will assess the current situation to ensure it does not cause problems for visitors or damage existing assets,” he said.
He said this when met with reporters after officiating the ‘Sustainability Within, Green Earth Beyond 2025’ programme on behalf of Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at Surau Darul Hijrah, Darul Hana, today.
Commenting on the flooding that also affected Niah National Park in February this year, Len Talif said that the situation should serve as a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation.
“We need to view this issue in a broader context because floods are not only occurring in Niah but also worldwide, in places like Sumatera, China, Vietnam, and other areas.
“Every individual has an important role to ensure the environment continues to be preserved,” he said.
In this regard, he added that the Sarawak Government has taken steps to reduce logging activities and increase tree replanting efforts to mitigate long-term natural disaster risks.
“The use of raw materials must be taken seriously by adopting best practices to avoid negative impacts on the environment,” he added.
Len Talif also emphasised that, so far, the floods have not affected Niah Cave’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meanwhile, regarding crocodile sightings often shared on social media during the flood season, he said that conflict management efforts between humans and wildlife, especially crocodiles, are ongoing.
“Among the steps taken is the planning of crocodile sanctuaries, with five locations identified: Kuching Wetlands National Park, Pulau Seduku (Sri Aman), the Rajang area (Sibu), Sibuti (Miri), and Lawas.
“So far, funding for the implementation of these sanctuaries has been approved, and God-willing, a crocodile sanctuary is expected to be developed at Kuching Wetlands National Park in the near future,” he said.
He added that the ‘Sarawak CrocWatch’ application is also part of efforts to raise public awareness, allowing real-time reporting of crocodile sightings in rivers across the state.
“We understand the reality that much of the Sarawak community still relies on rivers in their daily lives.
“Therefore, this effort is very important because the public needs exposure and awareness to avoid visiting high-risk areas,” he added.
