27/07/2026

MONDAY | JULY 27, 2026

11

A nation’s rubbish, apathy on display

I SAW them again – a group of young Bangladeshi workers labouring under the scorching midday sun, clearing piles of rubbish. Sweat streamed down their foreheads. Gloves covered their hands. They were doing a job that is difficult, dirty and one that many locals would rather avoid. I am sure this is not the job they dreamed of doing. Who would? But they have families to support and mouths to feed back home. Out of necessity, they continue to toil with quiet determination. Watching them made me stop and reflect. These young men deserve our respect. If they did not clean our streets, parks, drains and neighbourhoods, our surroundings would be overwhelmed by rubbish. Filth breeds disease and disease can threaten the health of an entire community. The truth is that they help keep our country clean, healthy and safe. They may not wear suits or carry impressive titles. They may not be doctors, engineers or corporate executives. Yet, their contribution to our daily lives is every bit as essential. Employers, too, have a responsibility to care for their well-being. They deserve fair wages, decent accommodation, safe working conditions and humane treatment. In my view, sanitation workers T HERE is a certain irony in watching a football match where players chase glory, only to see fans leave behind a legacy of trash. The recent images of Dataran Merdeka, our historic independence square, blanketed in rubbish after the football World Cup finals were more than a photo opportunity. They were a reflection of our national character. The argument that we lack awareness or education feels outdated. We have campaigns, laws against littering and no shortage of reminders that cleanliness is next to godliness. Yet, the sight of thousands treating a national monument as a personal dumping ground proves that we have failed to internalise the principle that civic duty begins with oneself. It exposes the “ bayar cukai, lepas tangan ” (pay taxes, wash hands) mentality that Hannah Yeoh, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, rightly lamented – a mindset that mistakes paying taxes for a licence to shirk personal responsibility, as though it absolves one of something as basic as putting an empty bottle into a bin. To be fair, we are not entirely without role models. Yet, it is telling that many of the examples of “conscious cleaning” we admire come from beyond our shores. In countries such as Vietnam, a rapidly developing nation, both locals and tourists have embraced a “green tourism culture”, with some islands actively pursuing plastic-free goals and communities participating in sea-bed cleanups. Japan remains the gold standard, a LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

so fundamentally uncivilised that we need an awards ceremony to teach adults how to keep a lavatory clean. While the Housing and Local Government Ministry boasts of upgrading over 12,000 public toilets and now tying business licences to toilet standards, the very existence of these policies is an indictment of our civic consciousness. Vietnam is again a potent contrast. In tourist-heavy areas, there is a visible push for a “smoke-free” environment, a move to enhance visitor experience through clean air and public health. They see cleanliness as a cornerstone of sustainable tourism. Malaysia, by contrast, is scrambling to implement laws that were standard in developed nations decades ago while our citizens cheer for football and leave a trail of plastic cups and food wrappers in their wake. On that note, I support the government’s recent initiative to impose on-the-spot fines for littering. It may yield the results we want – at least in the short-term. The fear of a monetary penalty may just jolt the average Malaysian into thinking twice before tossing that polystyrene container onto the pavement. But then again, how long will it need for this to be part of our DNA? A generation? Two? Perhaps longer. Consider this: Singapore introduced draconian fines for littering decades ago and while their streets are undeniably spotless today, their success is less about the fine and more about a generational shift in mindset. The fine was merely the shock to the system while the real

nation so disciplined that football fans pick up their own trash and players leave dressing rooms spotless – a stark contrast to the mountains of waste left by the “Malaysian side”. Even closer to home, the contrast is just as striking. Consider the religious sphere. A random Buddhist temple in Banting, Selangor which I visited recently, sits on sprawling grounds that are meticulously maintained to ensure devotees have a lasting memory of peace and cleanliness. It is a sanctuary where every corner reflects a devotion to order. Meanwhile, many Hindu temples in Malaysia and elsewhere, including major attractions such as Batu Caves, have historically been known for neglect. They are often cited as among the world’s most litter-strewn attractions, a condition often blamed on “monkeys” and “overtourism” but ultimately points to a failure in management and a reflection of a pervasive “every man for himself” attitude. While there is appreciation for better management at some sites and “clean environment” reviews for places like the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Johor, the overall standard remains inconsistent and often deficient. This brings us to the crux of the issue: The toilet. If the street is the face of a city, the toilet is its hidden character. The government’s introduction of the “Toilet of the Year Award” and the BMW ( bersih, menawan, wangi ) standard is an admirably desperate measure. It signals a recognition that we are

become invisible, it is easy to forget that they, too, have families, hopes, dreams and self-respect. That has to change. I believe change should begin in kindergartens. Let us teach our children that every honest job carries dignity and value. Imagine schools inviting sanitation workers, gardeners, security guards and street sweepers to meet the children. Imagine the children thanking them, shaking their hands and listening to their stories. That lesson in humanity may be more valuable than those found in textbooks. Too often, we take their services for granted. We only realise how indispensable they are when they stop working. My message is simple: Every human being deserves to be treated with respect, kindness and dignity, regardless of the work they do or the position they occupy in society. Let us celebrate these men and women whose quiet labour contributes every day to our nation’s cleanliness, well-being and continued progress. They may be invisible to many but to me, they are among the true heroes of our nation. Thank you for keeping our country clean. We owe you far more gratitude than we often express. Sajad Hussein Kamarally Veteran Journalist transformation came when parents began teaching their children that dropping a wrapper was a social disgrace, not just a financial misstep. In Malaysia, we are still at the stage where we cheer for the fine but grumble about the enforcement. We see the saman as bad luck rather than a moral correction. The law is a stick but we have yet to cultivate the internal compass that makes the stick unnecessary. The truth is, we have conditioned ourselves to delegate responsibility. We expect the cleaners to sweep, the contractors to scrub and the authorities to legislate. But no amount of policy can compensate for a lack of personal shame. The football fans at Dataran Merdeka felt no shame because they saw a crowd doing the same thing. The temple-goer who leaves a mess feels no shame because they believe the “maintenance” will handle it. Until we view that empty wrapper not as litter to be picked up but as a personal failing, Malaysia will forever remain a nation that cleans up after itself, rather than a nation that lives cleanly. And no on-the-spot fine, however well-intentioned, can accelerate that journey. It is a marathon through a swamp and we have only just begun to wade. Dr Bhavani Krishna Iyer holds a doctorate in English literature. Her professional background encompasses teaching, journalism and public relations. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in counselling. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

“Until we view that empty wrapper not as litter to be picked up but as a personal failing, Malaysia will forever remain a nation that cleans up after itself, rather than

a nation that lives cleanly.

Essential service workers deserve respect, kindness and dignity

Every human being deserves to be treated with respect, kindness and dignity, regardless of the work they do or the position they occupy in society. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

should be recognised as essential service workers and rewarded accordingly. The same should apply to others whose work often goes unnoticed

– the cleaners, gardeners, security guards, street sweepers, garbage collectors, lorry helpers and construction workers. They all deserve our respect, recognition

and above all, dignity. Sadly, our society has become accustomed to overlooking them. They are often around us, yet we hardly see them. When people