By Diana Abd Wahab
SHAH ALAM, May 12 — The efforts to clean and restore Sungai Klang can now be intensified via the Interceptor 005 river cleaning machine, said state executive councillor for infrastructure and public facilities Izham Hashim.
He said the machine is the second to be operating in the country after Interceptor 002 was launched in Sungai Klang on August 2019.
“To inform you, Malaysia is the first country in the world to receive Interceptor 005, under the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) project.
“With the presence of Interceptor 002 and Interceptor 005, the once-heavily polluted Sungai Klang which stood at a level of five, has since dropped to three,” Izham said in a Facebook post yesterday.
He added the machine, using technology from the Netherlands, was also sponsored by the renowned British musical band Coldplay.
“I appreciate the efforts of the world-famous band Coldplay, together with NGO The Ocean Cleanup, who were willing to sponsor Interceptor 005 for Sungai Klang.
“I also call upon the whole community to ensure rivers all across Selangor are kept clean, for future generations,” Izham said.
Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB), a state government subsidiary, was tasked with heading SMG, to clean and restore Sungai Klang as well as develop the surrounding area.
The project is part of Selangor’s efforts to diversify income sources and optimise prime locations in the state, in order to drive the maritime economy and new developments.
LLSB’s work has been recognised abroad, as it was awarded for sustainability during the Green World Awards 2023 in Miami, the United States, late last month.