Garbage clogging up sewers — rep
SANDAKAN: Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun said he was disappointed with some irresponsible residents of Sri Taman, Mile 3 here who have ignored warnings from the Public Works Department (JKR) against discarding rubbish indiscriminately, including in the drains.
Chong said the action of the residents had caused serious problems to the sewage and drainage systems in the area, as it clogged drains and sewers.
He made the remarks when inspecting overflowing sewage at a manhole in front of a house at Sri Taman with representatives from JKR.
Chogn was later joined by Minister of Health and People’s Wellbeing and Sandakan MP Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt.
“JKR personnel have informed us that they had found rubbish including clothes, diapers and others clogging the sewage system, causing some manholes here to overflow.
“The residents of one particular house have to suffer because of this as the manhole in front of the house is now overflowing with dirty water that is emitting a foul smell.
“I am very disappointed with the action of the people who throw rubbish on the street and into the drains; and residents who ignored JKR’s warning that they have to keep the drains clean,” he said.
Chong said JKR had never failed to assist the residents when there was a problem with the sewage problem, but the people here had never cooperated by keeping the place clean.
He suggested for a cleanliness awareness programme to be conducted at Sri Taman so that the residents could be aware that their action of throwing rubbish onto the street and into the drains was causing drains and manholes to be clogged.
“I want them to know that keeping clean is everyone’s responsibility,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chong said JKR was in need of new and more advanced tools and equipment for its job, and that he would try to get an allocation for the matter during the next State Assembly sitting.