60% of Malaysians do not dispose of garbage properly

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): About 60% of the 32 million Malaysians fail to throw their garbage into rubbish bins although these have been provided for them, says Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

She said Malaysians have yet to cultivate proper garbage disposal habits and this should be addressed in efforts to make our country clean.

"In developed countries, people keep their rubbish in their handbags or pockets before throwing them into trash bins.

"We want to adopt this culture of people looking for trash cans instead of the way round," she told a press conference after launching the 3R on Wheels programme in Ampang Jaya here on Saturday (Jan 26).

She said more publicity and awareness campaigns would be implemented by local authorities and resident associations to help cultivate proper garbage disposal habits.

Meanwhile, Mohd Zain said the 3R on Wheels programme, organised in collaboration with Petronas Dagangan Berhad, would be carried out through the collection of reward points from proceeds of sale of recyclable items.

He said the collection schedule for the 3R on Wheels trucks would be announced through Alam Flora social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to allow the people time to sort their recyclable items.

Since the 3R on Wheels programme was implemented in December last year, Alam Flora has collected 21.2 tonnes of recyclable items around the Klang Valley, Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

Also present at the event were Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and Alam Flora Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zain Hassan. – Bernama