On the 22nd of October 2023, Water Watch Penang (WWP) conducted a river education program in collaboration with South Island Garment Sdn Bhd as part of their CSR initiative. Mr. Lee Ming Yeaw, the Facility/HSE Manager, led a group of 33 participants, which included employees and their respective family members. This marked the second collaborative CSR program between South Island Garment Sdn Bhd and WWP, with the initial one taking place last year in Cherok Tokun.
The program began with an introduction from Prof. Dato’ Dr. Chan Ngai Weng, the President of WWP, who provided insights into WWP’s mission and highlighted the challenging state of water resources in Penang. He emphasized the scarcity of raw fresh water and highlighted that Penang’s water supply primarily comes from Sungai Muda in Kedah. Following that, a mock cheque presentation was carried out by Ms. Chung Kui Yin, the Senior Admin/HR Manager of South Island Garment Sdn Bhd, to Prof. Dato’ Dr. Chan Ngai Weng, the President of WWP.
Next, Dr. Hong Chern Wern, the Executive Manager of WWP, started the session by explaining the current water situation in Penang. He specifically addressed the high-water consumption habits among Penangites and the issue of a low water tariff, which contributes to a lack of concern for water conservation among the residents.
Following that, the program commenced with the physical and chemical assessments of river water, guided by WWP’s trained facilitators, Mr. Ooi Che Khai, Mr. Yee Jean Chai, Ms. Khairul Barieya, and Ms. Naaga Lechume, with assistance from the Programme Officer, Mr. Hanson Yeoh. The participants were given the tools to evaluate the quality of river water, considering physical factors like temperature and river velocity. In addition, testing kits were employed to measure chemical parameters, including pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and dissolved oxygen (DO).
After a brief break, the program proceeded to the biological assessment. In this session, the participants actively captured macroinvertebrates in the river, serving as key indicators for the water quality of the river. They captured macroinvertebrates such as stonefly nymphs, caddisfly larvae, dragonfly, and damselfly nymphs, which are typically found in cleaner river water.
Enthusiastic participation, especially from the children accompanied by their parents, highlighted the program’s success in exposing them to the importance of river and water conservation. The program concluded with a group photo, showcasing the macroinvertebrates they had captured.
Water Watch Penang expresses gratitude to South Island Garment Sdn Bhd for their CSR donation, which supports the educational initiatives of Water Watch Penang.
For additional information on organizing CSR-related programs, please reach out to Dr. Hong Chern Wern, the Executive Manager, at hong.wwp@gmail.com.