Malaysians lack civic responsibility, throw rubbish indiscriminately
AS Malaysia moves forward in terms of economic progress and infrastructure development, it feels like parts of the community are regressing in terms of civic responsibility.
At home and at school, we are taught to care for the environment and maintain good behaviour in public.
However, some fail to practise what they have learned.
They choose to discard rubbish indiscriminately simply because there is no bin nearby, or leave their dishes on the table despite signs requesting patrons to return them at designated stations in food courts.
For these people, it appears as if civic consciousness does not translate into civic responsibility.
This disconnect between knowledge and action is nowhere more evident than during major public events and festive gatherings.
Places like Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, which see thousands coming together to celebrate occasions such as the New Year or World Cup final, often tell a different story once the crowds disperse.
This historic ground is often covered with rubbish after hosting large-scale events.
Food wrappers, plastic bottles and single-use containers are strewn everywhere, forcing workers to spend hours clearing away waste that should have been thrown into rubbish bins or carried home.
If people can plan an outing down to the food and snacks they pack or buy, surely it takes very little extra effort to bring along a few plastic bags to carry their rubbish home.
Such moments of shared joy and national pride are instead transformed into reminders of the lack of civic responsibility.
Since Dataran Merdeka is also a popular tourist destination, imagine the impression we leave on foreigners.
This lack of concern can also be observed in our everyday commute and use of public facilities.
Passengers travelling via the LRT and MRT would likely encounter commuters eating and drinking at train stations and platforms.
The condition of public restrooms also leaves a lot to be desired.
From unflushed toilet bowls and wet floors to tissue paper discarded on the floor, this disregard for basic sanitation and the comfort of fellow users reflects badly on us as a nation.
By now, many of us would have read online or heard of the scarcity of rubbish bins in Japan and South Korea.
Since these bins are typically available only at train stations or convenience stores in these counries, the locals take their waste home or carry a small plastic bag with them to store their rubbish before disposing them properly.
Tourists visiting these countries must likewise adapt to the local culture, carry their rubbish and dispose them at their accommodation or in any bin.
A clean country is not created by having more cleaners or rubbish bins.
It is created by citizens who know what is right and wrong, and act accordingly.
