Urban eyesore: Rubbish strewn at a tourist hotspot in Kuala Lumpur after the Christmas celebrations. — Photo courtesy of Nga’s Facebook page
PETALING JAYA: Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has slammed the indiscriminate littering during Christmas celebrations in Bukit Bintang, describing the behaviour as embarrassing and irresponsible.
In a post on social media, Nga expressed dismay at the sight of rubbish strewn across one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest tourist areas.
“Please stop littering and don’t embarrass Malaysia. It is already the 21st century – there is no reason for anyone to simply throw rubbish in public places.
“Don’t blame the government when we enforce the law. Grow up, please!” he added in the post on Thursday.
However, reactions in the comment section of the Facebook post were divided, with many agreeing that littering was unacceptable but arguing that the lack of rubbish bins contributed to the problem.
One user, Chen Lin Yong, called for “more bins so people can throw their rubbish”.
Another commenter, Zarina Ismail-Omar Hon, claimed that overcrowding and insufficient facilities worsened the situation, particularly in tourist hotspots.
Nga. — Photo courtesy of Nga’s Facebook page
“When we know there will be large crowds entering Malaysia, we should have enough bins and patrols,” she wrote, adding that she often observed people drinking near convenience stores and discarding cans on the ground around the KLCC area.
User Lill Rq also criticised the act of littering but noted that rubbish bins were difficult to find during her last visit to Kuala Lumpur.
“While the lack of bins should never be an excuse for littering, we are still far from the Japanese culture of carrying your rubbish with you,” she said.
“The first step is to ensure sufficient bins for daily use.
“During festive seasons, perhaps the city council could set up larger rubbish collection points to make disposal easier.”
