Chemsain was invited by Department of Environment Sabah to co-organise “Kempen Kesedaran Kepentingan Sungai Mumiang” in Sandakan, Sabah, on 8th and 9th May 2017. Three representatives from Chemsain led by Brian Chong, Rebecca Poong and Larry Ong embarked on an adventurous journey to Sandakan by Twin Otter. We experienced “the ride of our life time” as it was filled with screams by other passengers and nerve- wracking moments due to air pockets and bad turbulence.  Lesson learnt - always buckle up your seat belt although it is a short trip!

We arrived safely and was immediately ushered to The Pavilion Hotel for the “Sesi Soal Jawab bersama peladang dan pekebun sawit”. The event was officiated by YB Datuk Saddi Haji Abdul Rahman, ADUN N.48 Sukau witnessed by Pengarah Jabatan Alam Sekitar YM Tunku Khalkausar Binti Tunku Fathahi @ Fatahi, Pengarah Jabatan Perlindungan Alam Sekitar Hj Mohd Yusrie Abdullah, Timbalan Pengarah Jabatan Perikanan Sabah En Azhar Bin Kassim, Kampung Mumiang Village Development and Security Committee Head Mada Hussin and other government agencies and oil palm plantations.  The program aimed to highlight the importance of river conservation in Kampung Mumiang due to the loss of livelihood of 50 families as a result of their reared fish was found dead in 3 separate incidents in 2010 and 2016.

At the moment, the investigation is still on-going and it is hoped that this program will garner responsibilities and accountabilities from different sectors in particular the oil palm plantation owners to preserve the environment and to ensure that there are no river pollutions from their plantations.

The Pengarah of Department of Environment Sabah YM Tunku Khalkausar Binti Tunku Fathahi @ Fatahi in her speech applauded the effort by Chemsain for taking the lead in water quality studies by our water quality expert. She further acknowledged Chemsain’s Corporate Social Responsibility effort in co- organising these 2 days awareness program with Department of Environment Sabah.

The second day of the event continued with a trip to Kampung Mumiang, an hour’s boat ride from Sandakan. Chemsain’s representatives were privileged to share the same boat with YM Tunku Khalkausar Binti Tunku Fathahi.

It was quite a sight to see everyone donning the event T-Shirt designed by Chemsain, making their way to Kampung Mumiang. We were welcomed by local villagers and were able to hear their first-hand experience on how their caged fishes died on that fateful day.

The event was officiated by YB Datuk Saddi Haji Abdul Rahman, ADUN N.48 Sukau, on behalf of YB Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Yahya Hussin, Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah. In his speech, he praised Chemsain for their efforts through the water quality studies and investigation on the causes that led to the death of all the reared fishes in Kampung Mumiang. He acknowledged Chemsain’s credibility as an environmental consultant in providing a water quality expert to work together with all the government agencies in curbing this issue. He believed that this campaign would offer a platform for all the local government agencies, oil palm plantations and local villagers to discuss the mitigation measures to avoid pollution in Kampung Mumiang.

The event ended at 12:30 p.m and we were privileged to ride back in the ESSCOM (Eastern Sabah Security Command) boat flanked by the armed Special Forces.