Irresponsible tourists under fire

KUCHING: Padawan Municipal Council chairman and Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang has hit out at irresponsible tourists who leave behind garbage such as plastic waste and empty bottles at local waterfalls.

“This bad habit makes the tourist areas here dirty and unclean. The empty bottles that can be seen everywhere are bad for Padawan’s image as a tourist attraction,” he added.

“I would like to appeal to these visitors, foreign and local, to respect the areas available here for all to share. Let’s help keep the environment and tourist spots clean.

“If the tourist spots in Padawan are clean and hygienic, I am sure other visitors will be impressed and return again.

“If every visitor can fulfil his or her social responsibility by protecting the tourist areas and Mother Nature itself, the world will be even better,” said Lo while speaking at a clean-up campaign organised by the Siong Tau Methodist Church at Kota Padawan.

Eighty volunteers attended the campaign.

Lo also praised the church members for their enthusiasm and dedication in keeping Padawan district clean and beautiful.

He urged other non-governmental organisations to emulate the example of the church.

Also present at the campaign were Padawan community members and Padawan Municipal Council Public Health Sector personnel.