05/06/2025

THURSDAY | JUNE 5, 2025

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Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Waste management issues at Batu Caves

Elderly urged to take influenza vaccination MALACCA: The elderly, especially those in the high-risk category, are encouraged to promptly get the influenza vaccination at health clinics in the state. Malacca Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said 2,885 senior citizens have received their influenza shots in the state but there are still 515 doses available. “These influenza vaccinations can be obtained for free at 15 selected health clinics in Malacca, including Klinik Kesihatan Alor Gajah, Klinik Kesihatan Masjid Tanah, Klinik Kesihatan Pengkalan Balak, Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Sungai Baru, Klinik Kesihatan Jasin, Klinik Kesihatan Merlimau and Klinik Kesihatan Umbai. “The doses are also available at Klinik Kesihatan Kemendor, Klinik Kesihatan Selandar, Klinik Kesihatan Simpang Bekoh, Klinik Kesihatan Sungai Rambai, Klinik Kesihatan Batang Melaka, Klinik Kesihatan Batu Berendam, Klinik Kesihatan Sri Tanjung and Klinik Kesihatan Cheng,” he said in a statement. He added that there are two methods to obtain the flu shots, namely by making an appointment via the MySejahtera app or by walk-ins at the health clinics. – Bernama Top picks for Aidiladha animal sacrifice KUCHING: Barbados sheep and Brahman beef cattle are the preferred choices of Kuching residents for ibadah korban (animal sacrificial rites) in conjunction with Aidiladha on Saturday. Maju Ternak Albarakah owner Syed Razuan Ali said aside from their tender meat, which is popular with the public, both species are favoured by breeders for being easy to manage. He said for this year’s Aidiladha celebration, 180 Barbados sheep and 120 Brahman cattle from his farm have been sold. “Every year, we see an increase in demand for Aidiladha. This year, our company has prepared between 300 and 400 goats and more than 150 cows for sale. “We have been able to meet the demand. We also collaborate with other breeders in case we run short of goats or cattle.” According to Syed Razuan, Barbados sheep are priced between RM1,200 and RM1,800 while Brahman cattle range between RM8,000 and RM9,500. In addition to fulfilling customer demand from around Kuching, he receives orders from other areas, including Samarahan and Padawan. Located in the Sungai Cina area in Matang, about 21km from Kuching, his farm spans about 2.8ha and can accommodate over 500 ruminants. – Bernama

PETALING waste management system at Batu Caves is under strain and unable to cope with the high volume of visitors, a situation that experts warned is jeopardising the site’s cleanliness and long-term environmental sustainability. Experts said with tourist numbers projected to climb in the coming years, there is an urgent need for infrastructure upgrades and public awareness campaigns to safeguard the cultural and ecological integrity of the iconic attraction. The concerns follow recent findings from UK-based waste management firm Business Waste, which in a May report identified Batu Caves as the world’s most littered tourist attraction. The study found that 1.67% of 13,950 online reviews mentioned rubbish, the highest proportion among global tourist sites. Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza ranked second, with 0.39% of 9,058 reviews referencing waste, while Australia’s Bondi Beach placed third, with 0.28% of 6,858 reviews citing cleanliness. Experts said without swift intervention, Batu Caves risks not only environmental degradation but also reputational damage that could deter visitors. Universiti Teknologi Mara tourism economics lecturer Prof Dr Mohd Hafiz Hanafiah said although Batu Caves is one of Malaysia’s most iconic tourist destinations, the growing problem of overflowing bins and scattered litter, often worsened by the local monkey population, signals that the waste facilities are no longer sufficient. “Tourism contributes to waste and litter issues at major attractions, such as Batu Caves, where large crowds put immense pressure on cleaning and waste management systems,” he said. JAYA: The

aquatic life.” He added that the site’s unique limestone terrain and interconnected river system amplify the ecological impact of pollution. “Visually, litter spoils the natural beauty of the area, diminishing the visitor experience. More importantly, as a sacred religious site, its desecration undermines its spiritual and cultural significance.” Mohd Yusoff said the monkeys at Batu Caves often rummage through overflowing bins and leftover food, spreading litter around the area, adding that tourists make the problem worse by feeding them, which encourages the monkeys to grab food and packaging that they later throw away. “Their dependence on food from litter or tourists disrupts their natural behaviour. This makes the litter problem worse, especially with poor waste control and large crowds,” he said. He suggested adopting smart solutions, such as Internet of Things-enabled bins with real-time sensors to alert authorities when nearing capacity, ensuring timely collection and reducing overflow. “Linking messages to religious values along with clear waste-sorting guides could improve impact. Involving students or NGOs in waste audits and showing visible results through data-driven campaigns could also increase public engagement.”

o Study identifies iconic destination as world’s most littered tourist attraction

could have consequences for Malaysia’s international image. “If we do not address the litter issue, Malaysia risks being considered an ‘unhygienic’ or ‘dirty’ destination, a perception that could deter tourists, especially those from countries that value cleanliness and environmental responsibility. “This could affect tourism-related jobs, local businesses and Malaysia’s overall reputation as a clean and welcoming country,” he cautioned. He said while campaigns such as “Sayangi Malaysiaku” have made an impact, they remain too domestically focused and need greater visibility in tourist hotspots through friendly signage, influencer support and school-based education. Universiti Putra Malaysia Faculty of Forestry and Environment senior lecturer Dr Mohd Yusoff warned that unmanaged litter at Batu Caves poses serious environmental threats, especially to local wildlife. “Long-tailed macaques’ exposure to human generated waste may lead to disruptive behaviour and health problems,” he said. “Litter not only degrades their natural habitat but could also disrupt the fragile cave ecosystem and wash into nearby rivers, endangering

been depleted. He expects that the high demand for watermelons would continue throughout the hot spell, which is expected to end around September. “For watermelon vendors, this is a much-anticipated period. Better profits this season could cover sluggish sales during the previous period of oversupply, which led to dumping and price dives,” said Yushairan, who started his fruit business in Kok Lanas three years ago. A worker at the same stall, Maziaton Abdullah, 52, said she has no problem meeting the increased demand from customers, who start coming in at as early as 8am. “The school holiday season, which is filled with weddings, also contributed to the surge in sales. Some customers buy hundreds of kilogrammes of watermelons for their events,” she said. “During peak periods, it becomes difficult for cleaners to keep up, leading to overflowing bins and overwhelmed infrastructure. We need better crowd control, reduced plastic usage and strategies to distribute tourists more evenly across alternative sites,” he added. Mohd Hafiz emphasised that Malaysia’s tourism policies often prioritise growth in visitor numbers, sometimes at the expense of environmental sustainability. “While there has been progress towards responsible tourism, we need stronger, site-level action, such as eco-certification, tourist caps and sustainable transport solutions.” He highlighted the increasing influence of online reviews on tourist decisions, warning that negative perceptions on cleanliness could damage the appeal of a destination. “Modern tourists rely heavily on online feedback before making travel choices. If a place is perceived as dirty, many would simply skip it. “The recent study showed Batu Caves had the highest rate of litter mentions in reviews globally. News such as this could seriously harm its reputation over time.” He warned that continued neglect of litter management at popular sites

Heatwave spikes demand for watermelons PASIR PUTEH: The hot weather that has hit the country in recent weeks has not only made people thirsty but also doubled the demand for watermelon juice in Kelantan.

Yushairan expects the high demand for watermelons to continue throughout the current hot spell, which is expected to end around September. – BERNAMAPIC

Fruit vendor Yushairan Hashim, 33, in Kampung Padang Pak Omar, Selising said watermelon juice is now the top choice of customers who want to quench their thirst or soothe their throats, despite the price reaching RM3.50 per kg. “For the past three weeks, the response for watermelon has been extraordinary at our second stall here, surpassing the demand for other fruits. Because of that, I increased the stock to 15 metric tonnes for several days of sales to meet high customer demand,” he said recently. To ensure uninterrupted supply, he procures watermelons from Johor, Perak and several other states since the harvest in Kelantan has

alert following daily temperatures of between 35°C and 37°C. The areas affected included Larut, Kuala Kangsar and Central Perak in Perak, Machang and Kuala Krai in Kelantan, and Bandar Baharu in Kedah. – Bernama

She added that watermelons are the top choice because their sweet and juicy flesh is perfect for cooling down during the current heatwave. On Tuesday, the Meteorological Department reported that six districts across three states were at level one

Pahang to host Asean meeting to address drug-related challenges KUANTAN: Pahang will host the 8th Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary With the theme

saying to ensure the smooth running of the meeting, police would enhance security measures. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Kuantan and delegates will also be taken on a cultural visit to Pekan. – Bernama

“May this effort strengthen inter-parliamentary diplomacy and contribute to a healthier, safer and more prosperous future for Asean,” the Pahang Secretary’s Office said. State police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman was reported as

“Uniting Parliaments for an Inclusive and Sustainable Asean in Addressing Contemporary Drug Challenges”, the meeting highlights Asean countries’ inclusive commitment to addressing challenges related to drugs.

Assembly on Dangerous Drugs, which will take place from June 9 to 12, in conjunction with Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship this year.