‘Clean for today, clean for tomorrow. Planet Earth isn’t a garbage can. Together we can stop litter’
An anti-littering slogan
HOUSING and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and DBKL (Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur) have every reason to be deeply annoyed and disappointed by what they saw on the streets of Bukit Bintang after a night of festivities last week.
Nga expressed dismay at the sight of rubbish strewn across one of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest tourist areas.
‘Please stop littering and don’t embarrass Malaysia. It is already the 21st century — there is no reason for anyone to simply throw rubbish in public places.
‘Don’t blame the government when we enforce the law. Grow up, please!’ he added in a social media post on Christmas Day.
DBKL was equally taken aback by the littering, noting that a small number of individuals continue to litter indiscriminately, undermining the city’s cleanliness and image.
Even as the public enjoys the festive night-time atmosphere, the responsibility to maintain cleanliness must remain a priority, DBKL said, adding in its press statement that responsible behaviour by every individual can have a significant impact on keeping the city clean.
Yes, I share the disappointment of the minister and DBKL, and if those responsible for this indiscriminate littering feel no embarrassment over their lack of civic consciousness, then let me say this — I am embarrassed and ashamed on their behalf.
After watching the videos and images of indiscriminate littering in Bukit Bintang, one cannot help but feel a deep sense of disgust and shame at the level of irresponsibility on display.
This is not a minor lapse in manners. It is a blatant disregard for public decency and civic responsibility.
It does not matter who the litterbugs were or where they came from. There are no cultural, social or economic excuses for such behaviour.
Surely, we are all aware that littering is not an accident; it is a conscious act of indifference. It reflects a mindset that treats shared public spaces as dumping grounds rather than as places to be respected and protected.
Indeed, what a sad and sorry sight Bukit Bintang has become due to the irresponsible behaviour of a handful of litterbugs who have no respect for shared public spaces.
Bukit Bintang is a national showcase. It is often the first impression many visitors have of Kuala Lumpur and of Malaysia.
When its streets are treated with such contempt, the damage goes far beyond scattered rubbish — it erodes our dignity, our image and our claim to be a civilised society.
I do not go to Bukit Bintang as often as I once did, but I still return from time to time because it remains a preferred location for hosting lunches and dinners for visitors to the nation’s capital.
Despite its changes, Bukit Bintang still carries symbolic weight as a showcase of Kuala Lumpur’s energy, diversity and urban life.
There is another point I wish to raise. We must also understand KL’s history. Kuala Lumpur is an old city by regional standards. Long before the recent wave of gleaming skyscrapers and modern transit systems, the city had already grown organically through decades of commerce, migration and urban sprawl.
Today, while new high-rise buildings continue to sprout and impressive state-of-the-art structures dominate parts of the skyline, much of the old Kuala Lumpur still remains. Many of these older districts are visibly run-down and in urgent need of refurbishment, renewal and better maintenance.
There is some truth to the oft-repeated public complaint that ‘Kuala Lumpur is dirty’, especially when referring to the city’s oldest areas. I understand where these complaints are coming from. I have seen the dirty side of KL, and believe me, it is not a sight to behold.
Poor waste disposal habits, ageing facilities and high foot traffic have taken their toll in certain districts. These conditions can be especially noticeable to visitors who encounter them in central or historic zones. However, to paint the entire city with the same brush would be unfair and inaccurate.
By and large, sustained efforts have been made by the authorities to ensure that Kuala Lumpur remains a liveable and affordable city. Maintaining cleanliness in a dense, diverse and constantly moving city of this scale is a complex task and, while shortcomings exist, there is clear evidence of intent and effort to manage them.
Here, I think it is appropriate at this juncture to praise my hometown of Kuching for its cleanliness. Indeed, it is a source of genuine pride to hear consistent praise for Kuching, which has often been cited by both visitors and locals as one of the cleanest cities in Malaysia.
This reputation is well earned. Kuching’s relative cleanliness is not accidental; it reflects effective management, strong enforcement and, more importantly, a culture of public cooperation and civic pride among its residents.
Kuching demonstrates that cleanliness is achievable when governance and public behaviour align. Its example offers valuable lessons for larger cities like Kuala Lumpur, particularly in reinforcing the idea that urban progress is not measured by skyscrapers alone, but by how well a city cares for its shared spaces.
Kuala Lumpur’s challenges with cleanliness, especially in its older districts, are real and should not be dismissed. Yet they must be viewed within the broader context of an ageing city striving to modernise while remaining inclusive and affordable.
In conclusion, I must say that Bukit Bintang deserves better. Malaysia deserves better. And if our own people were responsible for the indiscriminate littering, then the shame is even greater. It is behaviour that should embarrass us as citizens and compel us to speak out against it.
A country cannot demand respect from the world if its people refuse to respect their own surroundings. Civic pride begins with the simplest acts — cleaning up after oneself, obeying basic rules and understanding that public spaces belong to everyone.
Until we learn this, no amount of slogans, campaigns or grand talk about national progress will mean very much at all.
• Francis Paul Siah is a veteran Sarawak editor and currently heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS).
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
