Sibu Town Square
SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) deputy chairperson Rogayah Jamain expressed dismay over the indiscriminate throwing of rubbish at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang (Sibu Town Square Phase One and Two).
She lamented that despite the council providing refuse bins for the convenience of the public, these were not utilised.
Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang has become a centre of activities with Sibu International BASE Jump 2018 being held from Sept 20 till 23 at Phase One and a carnival running from Sept 12 till 23 at Phase Two.
“(It is) so sickening to see rubbish everywhere at both (phases of) Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang.
“It is everyone’s duty to promote cleanliness and hygiene (of the town) … not relying on SMC alone,” Rogayah bemoaned when asked to comment on the littering at these public places.
An observation at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang Phase One on Saturday night noted rubbish such as sweet wrappers, used tissues and empty drink containers among others strewn around.
For the record, from Jan 1 till Sept 18 this year, a total of 671 compound notices were issued by the council for littering.
Rogayah had said the littering of cigarette butts accounted for 322 of the 671 cases, or almost half of the total offences.
Of the total number of compounds issued, 214 (31.9 per cent) had been settled.
Meanwhile, during a recent full council meeting, SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King said they were mulling taking action provided for under the Offenders Compulsory Attendance Act 1954 on litterbugs here who defaulted on their compound payment, to carry out community service.
According to Tiong, the types of the community service that could be imposed were to sweep litter at the council’s buildings or parks, or to clean or wash the
council’s public toilets, among others.