Litterbugs make a mess of Air Papan
Even though rubbish bins have been provided by the Mersing District Council and Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (PPSPPA), some irresponsible people are throwing rubbish indiscriminately at tourist attractions in the district.
These include the once pristine Air Papan beach. It is in danger of losing its reputation as rubbish is strewn all over the place by inconsiderate visitors.
Air Papan recorded more than half a million visitors last year. It is known for its natural splendour and jungle trekking activities. Every May 1, a festival called Pesta Air Papan is held here with cultural shows and traditional games, and local delicacies.
Many homestays and chalets have mushroomed along Pantai Gorek beach, Penyambung and Tanjung Resang to cater to the increasing number of visitors but there is a lot of rubbish along the main roads. A villager, who declined to be named, said the authorities should step up enforcement and slap heavier penalties on those who litter as a deterrent. The villager, who sells bottled drinking water and titbits to visitors, said he often saw locals, especially youngsters, throw food wrappers on the beach even though a rubbish bin was in sight.
He said picnickers also threw leftovers into the sea and these were washed ashore later.
He said he had also seen rubbish such as food and baby’s diapers being thrown out of the windows of moving vehicles.
Intan Nur Jannah Mat Rawi, a 25-year-old visitor, said locals continued to have a couldn’ care less attitude despite countless nationwide awareness campaigns against littering.
“Foreigners often carry rubbish bags and ensure that they put their rubbish into these bags and take them along when they leave, while locals just litter everywhere. “When they are told to pick up their rubbish, some of them become violent and asked us to mind our own business,” she said.
Air Papan village security and development committee chairman Mohd Asri Jaafar said he was ashamed of the attitudes of several chalet operators who contributed to the problem by throwing rubbish by the roadside.
He said it was embarrassing to see visitors, especially foreigners, pinching their noses because of the foul smell.
He said some visitors took pictures of the rubbish and uploaded it on their Facebook pages and blogs, and criticised the authorities for not taking the appropriate measures.
PPSPPA director Asri Amat said: “We have distributed free wheelie bins, or rubbish bins fitted with wheels for easy disposal, with a capacity of 1,100 litters in Air Papan. “There are also compactor rubbish trucks that pick up rubbish six times a week and cleaners who sweep the roads and clean the area. We have invested our resources to provide a strategic and effective disposal service. All that is needed here is for the people to change their attitude and dispose of their rubbish into bins.”
Air Papan recorded more than half a million visitors last year.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Even though rubbish bins have been provided by the Mersing District Council and Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (PPSPPA), some irresponsible people are throwing rubbish indiscriminately at tourist attractions in the district.
These include the once pristine Air Papan beach. It is in danger of losing its reputation as rubbish is strewn all over the place by inconsiderate visitors.
Air Papan recorded more than half a million visitors last year. It is known for its natural splendour and jungle trekking activities. Every May 1, a festival called Pesta Air Papan is held here with cultural shows and traditional games, and local delicacies.
Many homestays and chalets have mushroomed along Pantai Gorek beach, Penyambung and Tanjung Resang to cater to the increasing number of visitors but there is a lot of rubbish along the main roads. A villager, who declined to be named, said the authorities should step up enforcement and slap heavier penalties on those who litter as a deterrent. The villager, who sells bottled drinking water and titbits to visitors, said he often saw locals, especially youngsters, throw food wrappers on the beach even though a rubbish bin was in sight.
He said picnickers also threw leftovers into the sea and these were washed ashore later.
He said he had also seen rubbish such as food and baby’s diapers being thrown out of the windows of moving vehicles.
Intan Nur Jannah Mat Rawi, a 25-year-old visitor, said locals continued to have a couldn’ care less attitude despite countless nationwide awareness campaigns against littering.
“Foreigners often carry rubbish bags and ensure that they put their rubbish into these bags and take them along when they leave, while locals just litter everywhere. “When they are told to pick up their rubbish, some of them become violent and asked us to mind our own business,” she said.
Air Papan village security and development committee chairman Mohd Asri Jaafar said he was ashamed of the attitudes of several chalet operators who contributed to the problem by throwing rubbish by the roadside.
He said it was embarrassing to see visitors, especially foreigners, pinching their noses because of the foul smell.
He said some visitors took pictures of the rubbish and uploaded it on their Facebook pages and blogs, and criticised the authorities for not taking the appropriate measures.
PPSPPA director Asri Amat said: “We have distributed free wheelie bins, or rubbish bins fitted with wheels for easy disposal, with a capacity of 1,100 litters in Air Papan. “There are also compactor rubbish trucks that pick up rubbish six times a week and cleaners who sweep the roads and clean the area. We have invested our resources to provide a strategic and effective disposal service. All that is needed here is for the people to change their attitude and dispose of their rubbish into bins.”
Air Papan recorded more than half a million visitors last year.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
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