Semporna litterbugs may be made to wear vests with the word “monkey”

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 21): In an effort to clean up what has been dubbed the dirtiest district in Sabah, authorities in Semporna are mulling making the litterbugs wear vests with the word “monkey”.

District police chief Supt Peter Umbuas said these drastic actions need to be taken because of the lack of awareness among the people in Semporna, adding that they found the soft approach has not worked.  

“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 just litter again,” Peter was reported telling The Star on Friday.

While that move is still under discussion, what is confirmed is that starting Jan 1, offenders will be slapped with compounds.

“We had a meeting with various enforcement agencies as well as the Semporna district council recently, and we came up with the decision to issue fines and compounds to litterbugs comprising locals, foreigners and tourists.

“For illegal immigrants or stateless people like the sea gypsies (pelau) and IMM13 holders (Filipino refugees), they have two choices: to be sent out of the state back to their hometown (for illegal immigrants), or (for the stateless) to do community work such as cleaning up the town area,” he stressed.

Semporna is the gateway to the internationally acclaimed Sipidan island, renowned for its scuba diving and coral reefs. The town, along with several other east coast areas including Sandakan and Lahad Datu, has been taking the flak from foreigners and tourists due to the amount of trash strewn all over.

Some visitors have even taken the task upon themselves to clean up the dirty areas in Sabah. A non-governmental organisation, Trash Hero Borneo, has also been actively coordinating  gotong-royongs to help keep Sabah clean.

“Police as well as other enforcement agencies including Rela (People’s Volunteer Corp), civil defence, Immigration, Customs, Health Department and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs officials will be on hand to help out,” Peter said.

Semporna district officer Bianus Kontong added, “We just want to make Semporna clean and beautiful again”.

A litter-free Sabah programme was launched in early November by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to clear garbage in Semporna.

He had said that the effort was aimed at Sabah as a whole, where every district should be known for its beauty, not its rubbish.