Environmental quality reflects on people – Jaujan

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Jaujan (fourth left), Mayor Datuk Nordin Siman (fifth left) and other guests at the Borneo Green City International Convention held at Marriott Hotel yesterday.

KOTA KINABALU: A community that is aware of the importance of cleanliness is more likely to keep the surrounding clean rather than one that is forced to do it because of the fear of regulations and penalties.

According to Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Jaujan Sambakong, even though legislations are put in place to address cleanliness issues, it would not be able to produce the desired effect because its importance is not instilled in them.

He said his official visit to Kalimantan, together with Chief Minister  Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Haji Apdal’s entourage last week, has made him aware of the difference between a community that is aware of cleanliness as a way of life and important compared to one that is not aware at all.

He said, because of this awareness, the community in Kalimantan kept their surroundings clean.

“There was no garbage in sight,” he said of his visit.

Jaujan, who represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Haji Apdal in launching the Borneo Green City International Convention at the Marriott Hotel yesterday also told reporters that keeping the surroundings clean should not be the responsibility of the government alone. Rather, he said, everyone must play their own respective role.

“It is not right for the community to expect the government to do all the cleaning. They must play their part too. They must remember that a clean environment equals living healthily,” he said.

He also reminded that clean surroundings reflected on the people, their personality and traits, and how developed they are as well as that of the country.

“So don’t talk about being developed but fail to maintain a clean environment,” he said.

At the same time, Jaujan, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, touched on the districts of Tongod and Nabawan.

He said the two districts have been selected for the implementation of the Green Local Government.

The aim of the project is to sustain the local environment while undergoing development.