KUCHING: RM42,000 is spent every year by the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) to clear up illegal dumping in its areas.
From January to May this year, the Council spent a total of RM22,800 to clear 117 tonnes of illegal dumpings.
Speaking during a press conference in Kota Padawan here yesterday, MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang revealed that from 2014 to 2017, MPP had spent approximately RM42,130 annually just to clear 2,343 tonnes of illegal wastes in its areas.
“You can see how irresponsible some people are and we have to spend the other people’s hard-earned money through the collection of assessment rates to clear the wastes.
“I have been mentioning this issue so that the people will become responsible. I believe that schools play a very important role. Children have to be taught since young to instil civic consciousness.
“There were various posts on Facebook and WhatsApp whereby they put two drains from two countries side by side. The drain in Malaysia is full of rubbish while in Japan, fishes are seen swimming in it. In fact, I saw the drains in Japan with my own eyes,” emphasised Lo.
He added that Japanese football fans clean up the place themselves after every match.
“At the end of the day, education is still the most important. So much so that we encourage everybody to keep the environment clean and we want to keep our drains clean and not to simply throw rubbish around.
“There is so much illegal dumping. I can’t say for other councils, but in Padawan, there is so much at every nook and cranny,” he said.
Lo added that Trienekens charges RM150 for a large rubbish bin.
“Should there be any construction, just ask Trienekens to bring the bin there,” said the MPP chairman.
Meanwhile, on the number of dengue cases as of June 2018, he revealed that five cases have been reported in its areas.
He assured that the council will continue to carry out fogging activities to destroy the larvae as well as to eliminate the potential breeding grounds for aedes mosquitoes.
