THE Bercham Sports Complex in Ipoh is an eyesore due to irresponsible youths littering the courts after playing basketball.
Plastic bottles, packet drinks, food wrappers, milk cartons, used face masks, empty cigarette packs, used clothing and broken slippers are among the rubbish strewn there.
There is also rubbish dumped underneath the benches at one of the covered courts, while some irresponsible users of the court left wrappers and food crumbs on the wooden benches.
A few metres away, a field where senior citizens usually go for their walks is also littered with plastic bags.
Usually, youths play basketball in the area at night especially on weekends. There is one covered court and two open air courts.
The area is managed by the Kampung Bercham Rukun Tetangga (RT).
A regular walker known only as Lee said there were over 10 dustbins in the area yet some still chose to litter.
The 60-year-old man said a few months ago, a recycling cage was placed at the park.
He said a few volunteers who exercised in the mornings cleaned up the place and sometimes separated recyclables to be placed in the cage.
“I sweep the place after my exercise to ensure the benches are clean, so that I can rest and have some food before I head home.
“The area near the covered basketball court is always filled with rubbish, and it is an unpleasant sight especially during weekends. The youngsters who come to play are mostly outsiders,” Lee said when met at the area recently.
Another man who wanted to be known only as Ng, 70, said he could not fathom the mentality of those who played basketball at the complex.He claimed most of them were students and he was surprised that they were unaware of the basic rule of keeping a place clean.
“The dustbins are just in front of them. They are just too lazy to throw waste into the bins.
“I am sure in schools they are taught on the importance of keeping their surroundings clean and not to litter,”’ he added.
Another user of the sports complex, Ah Wai, 33, who played on his off days to hone his basketball skills once a week, said the area was a beautiful community spot destroyed by irresponsible people.
Ah Wai who worked in a furniture shop said he brought his own water bottle each time he went to the park.
“It can be disgusting to sit on the benches filled with rubbish.
“With so much rubbish, there is bound to be rats, flies and cockroaches,” he added.
Bercham assemblyman Ong Boon Piow said Ipoh City Council (MBI) lacked manpower with only about 20 cleaners for the whole Bercham area and part of Tambun.
He said workers were not scheduled to clean the complex daily as they were also required to clean other areas.
“It is important for those using the facility to throw rubbish into the bins provided and not litter.
“It is good that these youngsters have an avenue to play sports but at the same time they must be responsible.
“Perhaps the Rukun Tetangga can issue a warning to the players that if they don’t comply with the rules, they may be prohibited from using the place,” he said.
Ong suggested for MBI to send undercover officers who could issue compounds to litterbugs.
RT chairman Tan Swee Kong, when contacted, said the place had been managed by them for 15 years.
Members, who had been cleaning up the place daily, were fed up of the lackadaisical attitude of those who played basketball at the courts.
Tan said in the mornings, the volunteers would clean up the place, but by evening the place would be in a mess again.
“We have spoken and advised the youngsters not to litter but to no avail as they just don’t listen.
“I decided to lock the toilets, otherwise that too will be in a mess, and the sinks will get clogged,” he added.
Tan said the bins were made of concrete now because when they were plastic previously, some mischievous folk tried to burn them.
He said the objective of setting up the complex was for the public to have a playground, exercise and play basketball.
Tan said the youths who were told off for littering, usually argued or called their parents to confront the RT members.
“The park is an open space with no gate or fencing, so anyone can walk in at any time, and it is difficult for us to control the users.
“I have set a timer for the lights at the court from 7.30pm to 10.45pm, and after that the lights are automatically switched off to ensure the youths don’t stay on,” he added.
Tan said a few years ago, he hired a person to clean the place daily for a RM450 fee, which came out from his own pocket.
After the cleaner stopped work due to advanced age, there was no replacement.
“Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, we used to hold gotong-royong sessions but that stopped two years ago.
“Some members cleaned up the place in the mornings, but got annoyed on seeing the place messed up again the next morning.
“They still try to do as much cleaning as possible whenever they could,” he added.
Tan said the mentality must change otherwise the bad practice would continue.
“We have sought the assistance of the city council to have undercover enforcement officers to issue summonses yet there are still people littering at the place.
“Providing counselling to these youngsters regularly is our way of educating and creating awareness about cleanliness,” he said, hoping that one day, the youngsters would realise and learn to appreciate the environment.
Ipoh city councillor Albert Ho said the basketball courts in the park came under the jurisdiction of the RT.
MBI worker, he said, only carried out cleaning works at a field nearby.
“The youths must be more responsible when using the basketball courts, and their mindset and mentality must change,” added Ho.