Mohd. Fairus Md Isa
Through the Tasik Harapan Lake Clean-Up Project, 10 000 mudballs were thrown into the lake so that they could absorb the dirt and bacteria and simultaneously improve the water quality in the lake.
According to USM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli Abd. Razak, the project received funding worth RM 16 000 from the CIMB Foundation.
“We made use of Mudball technology because we felt that this was the most suitable method of cleaning up Tasik Harapan which has been left unattended for almost 20 years without any comprehensive form of treatment.
“More than 20 years ago, the area surrounding the lake used to be a hostel for students and it is close to everyone’s heart, including the USM alumni. It is right that we rethink what else we can do to ensure that this area is well-looked after and is fully benenficial,” he said.
More than 500 USM students and staff as well as several students from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) participated in the programme which was organised for the first time.
Meanwhile, according to the Project Director, Dr. Asha Suresh Chand, the mudballs, which are the size of tennis balls, are combined with several other materials including effective microorganisms, lactic acid and yeast which are not only safe to use but which have been proven to be effective.
“This methodology was developed by Dr. Terugo Higa, a scientist from Ryukyus University, in Okinawa, Japan and we believe that the results can be seen within three months,” she said.
Also present at the programme were the Vice-Chancellor’s wife, Puan Seri Masrah Abidin; CIMB Penang Regional Director, Pn. Liew Chee Cheang; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic and International Affairs, Prof. Ahmad Shukri Mustapha Kamal; and several invited guests from CIMB Foundation and Bioremediation Sdn. Bhd.
