Article: Saving river with 600 mud balls

Thursday March 26, 2009

JUNIOR Chamber International Kulim (JCI) members and the Junior Jaycees of Jit Sin Independent High School threw 600 EM (effective micro-organism ) mud balls into the Parit 4 river in Taman Desa Damai, Bukit Mertajam, recently.

The mud balls were among 1,800 prepared by the JCI members and students in January. The balls were then kept at the Seberang Prai Municipal Council premises at Jalan Betek for fermentation.

The throwing ceremony was officiated by Tanjong Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu who represented the Penang Local Government, Traffic Management and Environmental Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

Also participating in the event were council president Farizan Darus, event organising chairman Oon Neow Aun and Soon Lip Chee, who are municipal councillors, Padang Lalang assemblyman Tan Cheong Heng and Friends of Sungai Juru coordinator Tan Chai Liang.

The remaining mud balls will be thrown into several other rivers to be identified by Oon.

The EM mud balls are known to stop algae growth and break down sludge in ponds, lakes and drains.

JCI Kulim president Tan Shin Ni said they were proud to take up the challenge to clean up the polluted river.

“We will soon embark on similar projects in Kulim with the cooperation of the Kulim Municipal Council. We are also willing to share our knowledge on mud ball making with any interested parties,” he said.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 26 March 2009