Report of polluted beach irks netizens
It’s all about mindset and levels of education...the people who will cry the loudest, laughably will be the people who cause the problem in the first case.
MIRI: The Borneo Post’s Wednesday news report of the severely polluted Marina Beach, titled ‘ Polluted beaches give Miri a bad image’ has not only gone viral but has also drawn criticisms from netizens near and far who are all concerned about the environment.
Many condemned irresponsible Mirians, especially those living along the banks of Miri River and Baram River for making rivers their dumping grounds.
Others are urging the authorities to strictly enforce the law besides intensifying awareness programmes on keeping the environment clean and beautiful.
Among the comments are ‘Sickening mentality! Appalling! Third class mentality. Aiyoh, why those visitors like that! Lack of good habits or simply lazy. I don’t think I want to visit that beach.”
“It’s all about mindset and levels of education...the people who will cry the loudest, laughably will be the people who cause the problem in the fi rst case,” said Ian Carter the founder of Go- Go- Green Society from Kuching.
“Enforcement must be applied, give them a bill for littering. Learn from Singapore which is perhaps the cleanest place in Asia,” said Chua Limbang, an ardent environmentalist and a veteran marathon runner from Limbang.
United People’s Party ( UPP) Pujut branch chairman, Bruce Chai said: “Indeed, we only have ourselves as citizens to blame. In fact, beach cleaning activities have been a long tradition in Miri but most significantly highlighted has been Miri Marina Beach (a reclaimed beach at the heart of Miri City) and reef cleaning off the coast of Miri.”
He added that despite all those efforts, pollution still existed as many people choose to ignore, play ignorant and don’t think it’s a problem as it doesn’t affect them directly.
“And only by highlighting it through events like these can this problem be addressed and hopefully one day solved,” he said.
Chai commended Iqbal Abdollah the co- organising chairman of the Miri-level World Oceans Day ( WOD) 2017 event and his committee for initiating the event here next month, adding that it could help create greater public awareness on the need to conserve the environment and keep beaches and Miri as a whole clean.
Miri City Council mayor, Adam Yii, also condemned the indiscriminate dumping of rubbish, saying that despite concerted efforts made by the authorities including the city council and the general public, beach pollution is still a major problem.
“Unless and until the people know how to appreciate the environment, pollution is a never ending story,” he said.
Yii however assured that the city council would continue to support efforts to clean Miri, including the beaches.
He also urged the public to cooperate and stop the indiscriminate dumping of rubbish.
Members of the public wanting to join as volunteers in cleaning the Marina Beach from July 1 from 8am can contact Iqbal at 019841- 6185 or email Iqbal@ hasil. gov.my.
Other WOD 2017 activities to be held here are a symposium, public- speaking contest, essaywriting as well as arts and crafts competitions.
For more information on other activities and entry forms, please contact Lilian Baun Pulo of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Miri at 085- 422525 ext. 221/303 or email lilianbp@ sarawak.gov.my.
Ian Carter, founder of Go-Go-Green Society from Kuching