SHAH ALAM, Oct 22 — The Friends of Rivers (FOR) community will act as the “eyes and ears” for authorities to detect suspicious activities in river areas and support efforts to conserve water resources in Selangor.
State executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim said this was highlighted during the Selangor Friends of Rivers Workshop 2026, which aims to enhance the community’s understanding of their responsibility to ensure that water resources remain clean, sustainable, and well-preserved.
“The primary objective of the workshop conducted today by the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) is to share guidelines with FOR members regarding the management of activities along rivers, including what is permitted and what is prohibited.
“This is crucial to prevent individuals from engaging in activities that could hinder effective river management,” he said during a media conference following the official opening of the workshop at the Selangor International Trade Centre (SITC) in Shah Alam today.
Izham also hopes that more communities and environmental advocates will join these river conservation efforts, such as through voluntary activities like waste collection, to improve both the quality and quantity of the state’s water resources.
FOR was established under the River Conservation Implementation Committee for Selangor to monitor and plan river conservation programmes throughout the state.
The initiative was officially launched on September 26, 2020, in conjunction with the 2020 World Rivers Day celebrations in Selangor.
Beyond supporting river monitoring, FOR serves as a platform to strengthen collaboration and communication among local communities, the local authorities, and District and Land Offices.
As of September this year, 58 active communities are registered under the initiative, with at least 555 programs or activities recorded, averaging 138 activities per year.
To help these communities document their conservation efforts, LUAS developed the FOR app, which has been in use since 2022.
