DBKK launches first skimmer boat to collect sea waste

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 11): The Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) has officially launched its first skimmer boat to collect waste from the sea.

Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah said the boat started operating near the city waters on January 1, and it is able to collect up to five tonnes or 5,000 kilogrammes of rubbish in a single trip, which will then be sent for recycling or to the Kayu Madang sanitary landfill for disposal.

Sabin said although this new asset is more costly compared to the traditional manual collection method as it constantly operates at sea and has to be regularly maintained, it is more efficient as it can collect more trash and is faster at it.

He said they have also applied for more skimmer boats to be built, hoping for at least one or two more each year depending on the production availability, including two or three smaller ones to collect trash from rivers to phase out the old manual method.

Once the smaller boats are acquired, he added that they will be utilised as part of DBKK’s large-scale programme this year to clean seas and beaches along the city, as well as seven rivers here which flow into the sea such as Sungai Darau and Sungai Likas.

“We hope that with this boat, our coastlines and sea in front of the Kota Kinabalu city as well as rivers will become cleaner,” he said.

The Mayor said this to reporters after launching the new boat alongside the KK Clean-up Day 1.0 2025 programme near Segama Waterfront here on Saturday, which were held in conjunction with the upcoming City Day on February 2.

Sabin informed that from 8.30am to 1pm, a total of 100,000 kilogrammes of waste had been collected by around 5,000 participants of the clean-up initiative, who comprised government agencies, villagers, members of the public as well as non-governmental organisations (NGO).

He said 40 machineries were rolled out during the one-day programme, including compactor lorries, open trucks, water tankers, skylifts, skimmer boats and trash transportation boats, in areas involving not only public spaces such as the Segama Complex, but also markets, seas as well as near the Gaya and Sepanggar islands.

“KK Cleanup Day is not just a programme, but a manifestation of our values ​​and responsibilities as city citizens.

“So far, it has shown very encouraging response. For example, last year alone, 221 tonnes of waste were successfully disposed from Pulau Gaya and Pulau Sepanggar,” he said.

Sabin, who had also visited the said islands after the launching ceremony to monitor the cleanup progress, also checked on the Upcycle@Recology programme being implemented there, which he said is a creative approach to solid waste management in Kota Kinabalu.

He explained that through this initiative, waste materials will be converted into valuable and innovative products, not only helping to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, but also provide an opportunity for the community to explore new ideas in the field of recycling.

“I would like to call on all parties, whether individuals or organisations, to join hands in making this cleanliness mission a success.

“Start with small steps such as ensuring our home environment is clean, disposing of garbage properly and practicing recycling.

“I believe that these small steps, if done consistently and comprehensively, can have a big impact on our city,” he said.

Tanjung Aru Community Development Leader Unit (UPPM) head Mohd Reduan Datuk Aklee Namun highlighted that despite public perception that rubbish ending up near the city comes from the island dwellers, the villagers cannot be 100 percent blamed.

Mohd Reduan, who has been staying at Pulau Gaya nearly five years now, said although he cannot deny that some residents there do litter, it is still an island and rubbish could have drifted there, so the perception has to change.

He said UPPM Tanjung Aru has been doing its part by carrying out various awareness and “gotong-royong” programmes on the islands, even having had NGOs donate recycling machines to the villagers of Kampung Lobong.

These actions, he said, have always been to raise awareness of surrounding residents to reduce littering in order to progress the areas, and so far, the villagers have been quite receptive to the various initiatives carried out there.

“To me, when we want to bring development to an area, the main factor is cleanliness because when the area is clean, it is easier for us to apply for development funding.

“Not only that, the areas could also then be made into tourist spots. Because a lot of travellers, especially from Korea, often come to Pulau Gaya to see the Kampung Lobong mosque and the village surroundings.

“Even last year when I visited Kampung Lok Urai, there was a group of Japanese university students who had come to do research on waste management in Pulau Gaya,” he said.

Also present was Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Datuk Chan Foong Hin.