Pulau Mantanani turns into dumping ground
have called on the authorities to boost efforts to educate villagers to dispose their waste properly on Pulau Mantanani, a tourist attraction in Kota Belud, Sabah.
Diver Monica Chin claimed many villagers were disposing their rubbish at sea.
“Recently, I saw a woman throwing rubbish from the jetty in Kampung Padang, near where my friends and I were having dinner.
“Luckily, we picked it up before it drifted away.”
Chin said she had seen children doing the same and blamed this on the lack of awareness about the importance of keeping the environment clean.
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A contractor, who collects rubbish from the island to be disposed on the mainland, said garbage bins were provided on the island.
The man, who wanted to be named only as Ali, said there was also a collection spot.
He said the company, with the help of non-governmental organisations, engaged community leaders regularly in raising awareness about keeping the surroundings clean.
Ali said rubbish was collected twice a week.
“Sometimes, rubbish is washed ashore in large volumes. It is hard to manage, but we try our best.”