National park not spared by litterbugs
It appears that a lot of cleanliness campaigns have to be carried out at the Tanjung Piai National Park, located at the southernmost tip of mainland Asia.
The tourist destination is popular with locals as well as foreigners.
Visitors, however, are welcomed by unsightly garbage stuck in the mangrove forest and which can be seen along the boardwalk.
Plastic bottles, polystyrene lunch boxes and empty cans are among the garbage spotted around the national park.
It is not known where the garbage came from, as it could have been carried to the national park during high tide and then found itself stuck between the mangrove roots during low tide.
Ismail Mat Don said he had heard so much about the national park and went there with his wife and two children last month.
"Spotted among the hermit crabs and mud-skippers at the mangrove forest were strewn garbage. I think the authorities should identify the source of the garbage and do something about it. Otherwise, the national park will end up as a garbage collector," he said.
Another visitor, Yap Lim Ting, called the garbage an eyesore. He said he liked the national park because of its unique location and for the vast mangrove trees found there alongside the rich flora and fauna.
"I am not too sure if the garbage is dumped by visitors or nearby villagers. Something needs to be done so that the park will not earn a bad name," he said.
A staff member working at the national park, who did not wish to be named, said the garbage was basically domestic trash which most likely came from nearby villages.
He said the garbage that ended up trapped by the mangrove roots would be difficult to remove completely.
"The problem has been going on for quite some time," he said.
Johor Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said cleanliness at all tourist attractions should be upheld to protect their international image.
He said as cleanliness was an important aspect in the tourism industry, the relevant authorities should step up efforts in enforcement.
"As Visit Malaysia Year 2014 is just around the corner, we should welcome our visitors with a good and clean image at all tourist attractions," he said.
Garbage is strewn all over Tanjung Piai National Park. Pic by Hairul Anuar Abd Rahim
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
It appears that a lot of cleanliness campaigns have to be carried out at the Tanjung Piai National Park, located at the southernmost tip of mainland Asia.
The tourist destination is popular with locals as well as foreigners.
Visitors, however, are welcomed by unsightly garbage stuck in the mangrove forest and which can be seen along the boardwalk.
Plastic bottles, polystyrene lunch boxes and empty cans are among the garbage spotted around the national park.
It is not known where the garbage came from, as it could have been carried to the national park during high tide and then found itself stuck between the mangrove roots during low tide.
Ismail Mat Don said he had heard so much about the national park and went there with his wife and two children last month.
"Spotted among the hermit crabs and mud-skippers at the mangrove forest were strewn garbage. I think the authorities should identify the source of the garbage and do something about it. Otherwise, the national park will end up as a garbage collector," he said.
Another visitor, Yap Lim Ting, called the garbage an eyesore. He said he liked the national park because of its unique location and for the vast mangrove trees found there alongside the rich flora and fauna.
"I am not too sure if the garbage is dumped by visitors or nearby villagers. Something needs to be done so that the park will not earn a bad name," he said.
A staff member working at the national park, who did not wish to be named, said the garbage was basically domestic trash which most likely came from nearby villages.
He said the garbage that ended up trapped by the mangrove roots would be difficult to remove completely.
"The problem has been going on for quite some time," he said.
Johor Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said cleanliness at all tourist attractions should be upheld to protect their international image.
He said as cleanliness was an important aspect in the tourism industry, the relevant authorities should step up efforts in enforcement.
"As Visit Malaysia Year 2014 is just around the corner, we should welcome our visitors with a good and clean image at all tourist attractions," he said.
Garbage is strewn all over Tanjung Piai National Park. Pic by Hairul Anuar Abd Rahim
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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