Keep Semporna clean or be charged, deported or walk around with ‘monkey’ on your T-shirt.
Litterbugs in tourist haven to be shamed, charged or deported
KOTA KINABALU: Having had enough, local authorities in Semporna are getting tough on litterbugs. That means, those dirtying the town will be charged in court and if they are illegal immigrants, deported.
The authorities are pooling their resources to conduct a massive integrated anti-littering campaign in the town, known as the gateway to the world famous Sipadan and Mabul dive sites.
OCPD Supt Peter Umbuas said starting Jan 1, litterbugs – locals, foreigners and tourists – would be charged or issued with compounds.
He said errant illegal immigrants would be sent back to their hometowns while community sentence awaited stateless people like the sea gypsies (Bajau Laut) and IMM13 pass holders (Filipino refugees).
“The community sentence includes cleaning up the town,” he said.
“We are still deciding whether to make the offenders wear vests with the word ‘monkey’ printed on it,” he told The Star.
Supt Peter said enforcement officials had been taking a soft approach to litterbugs but found that this was taken advantage of.
“There is also an obvious lack of awareness among the people in Semporna on cleanliness,” he said.
“It is not that the authorities do not clean up or do their jobs, but typically, the morning after workers sweep and clean an area, people – especially illegal immigrants and stateless people – would litter again.
“Drastic actions need to be taken,” he said.
Agencies involved in the campaign include Rela, Civil Defence Department, Immigration, Customs, Health Department and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
Semporna district officer Bianus Kontong said they were being stricter now for the best interest of the town and its people.
“We want to make Semporna beautiful again,” he said.
Even Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal launched a litter-free Sabah programme in Semporna last month to clean up trash in the district.
He said efforts were taken throughout Sabah to ensure every district is known for its beauty – not for its garbage.
Semporna and several east coasts areas, including Sandakan and Lahad Datu, have constantly been dirtied.
Visitors even resorted to cleaning up trash as part of their visits.
A non-governmental organisation – Trash Hero Borneo – has also been actively organising and encouraging gotong-royong to keep Sabah clean.