I Cry For Thee Rejang River

Thou Rejang River, long and mighty,

Deforestation and human abuses have made you so filthy,

Your water the colour of milk coffee,

Not a pretty sight to see.

 

Famed for being the longest river in Malaysia,

The country that prides itself as truly Asia,

For centuries a major route into the heart of Borneo,

You were famed for your allure.

 

With the most diverse aquatic flora and fauna in the country,

Your banks lined with nipah palms and trees,

Gone are the days of crystal clear water,

You have become like a giant gutter.

 

Lifeline for the people living along it,

But you are now turning old and sick,

Paying a heavy price in the name of development.

With timber logging continuing without abatement.

 

Your guardians became angry,

Releasing a massive logjam in their fury,

Sweeping away jetties and tons of debris,

Life is no longer a bliss.

 

Your water level has dropped low,

Bakun Dam has reduced your water flow,

Rejang River I cry for thee,

I dread the day you may run empty.