SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) Chairman Clarence Ting is not letting Sibu’s recognition as one of the ten cleanest places in Malaysia get to his head.
And he feels neither should residents here for the simple reason that this is a work in progress.
“This is only a good start, it doesn’t mean that it will forever be like this. We must continue keeping it clean,” he said when met by reporters after attending the ‘gotong-royong’ at Kutien Garden, Bukit Lima today.
Sibu together with Kuching and Miri have been recognised as clean tourist cities after all four local authorities clinched the Asean Clean Tourist City Standard 2022-2024 Award at the national-level in March.
The four are Miri City Council (MCC), Kuching South City Council (MBKS), Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC).
Ting said the most important thing that can be done to ensure Sibu stays clean is to develop good habits among its people.
“I notice the public needs to be tidy. We have to start from our own house. I drive around a lot and I see many houses are very messy, especially in their garden.
“So, I say for us to be a clean and tidy city, it’s very important that you start from your house. If your house is very clean then it very easy for the council to come by the roadside to make it tidy.
“We can work together to make Sibu a clean and tidy place, that is my message to them,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Bukit Assek Assemblyman, Joseph Chieng Jin Ek stressed the need for young people to also get on board.
“We should bring our next generation here for them to come to nature so that they can also learn about the importance of a clean environment.
“Let them come and do some exercise, particularly at the park because they have been spending so much time at home playing games. It’s very important,” he said.
The ‘gotong-royong’ at Kutien Garden is an annual event done by the Kutien Association in Sibu. However, the activities were halted for almost two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
