From floods to crocodiles: Sarawak strengthens environmental, public safety and wildlife initiatives

KUCHING (Dec 13): Environmental protection, public safety and wildlife management remain key priorities for the Sarawak government as it continues to address climate-related risks and human-wildlife interactions.

State Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh said extreme weather events and flooding reported in countries such as China, Vietnam and parts of Sumatra should serve as a wake-up call for all to play a role in protecting the environment.

“Although the situation in Sarawak remains under control and recent flooding incidents have been isolated, long-term solutions require awareness and responsibility from all levels of society,” he said at the ‘Sustainability Within, Green Earth Beyond 2025’ programme on Saturday.

He stressed that the safety of citizens, visitors and public assets remains a top priority for the state government.

Len Talif added that Sarawak has been reducing logging activities while intensifying tree-planting initiatives to mitigate environmental risks and ensure long-term sustainability.

“We must all recognise the role we play in safeguarding our environment,” he said.

On wildlife management, he noted that crocodile-related issues form part of a broader strategy to balance human activities with conservation efforts, particularly in riverine communities that rely heavily on rivers for their livelihoods.

Among the initiatives introduced is the Croc Watch application, which enables users to identify rivers with reported crocodile presence.

“This application is available to the public, so that people are aware of areas with crocodile sightings and can avoid them,” he said.

Len Talif also revealed that plans are underway to develop crocodile sanctuaries under the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), with funding approved and implementation to be carried out in phases.

“At present, we are planning sanctuaries in Kuching, Batang Lupar, Sri Aman, Batang Rajang — possibly within the Rajang Mangrove National Park — as well as in Sibuti, and either Limbang or Lawas,” he said.

Also present were Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, DBKU and Islamic Affairs) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) general manager Datu Zaidi Mahdi, and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) director Ramzi Abdillah.