Taking a swipe at litterbugs

 

The bannerette with the sarcastic message to litterbugs.

KOTA KINABALU: A man is literally taking on litterbugs by producing and putting up bannerettes shaming the culprits.

The unidentified man was spotted attaching the bannerettes on poles near a park at Putatan in the city’s outskirts early Tuesday.

Putatan resident Prema Van Leeuwen said she saw the young man, who rode to the area on a blue motorcycle, putting up the bannerettes just before 6am.

Upon checking, she saw the bannerettes containing the words “Atukoi!! (the Sabahan equivalent of my goodness), six years in primary school, five years in secondary school and three years for a degree but still littering.”

“What a waste of your parents’ efforts in getting you an education. Cleanliness is part of faith,” completed his message on the bannerette.

Prema had tried to reach out to the unknown man through Facebook but there was no response.

Other Facebook users, however, lauded his civic-mindedness in reminding the public against littering.

They said the problem was often blamed on Sabah’s illegal immigrant population but locals were also the culprits.

Facebook user Awg Kassim said the problem stemmed from the home and some parents failing to teach their children how to dispose of rubbish responsibly.

“It all depends on the parents. Such habits can continue for generations.”

Sarini Seni hoped more people would have the opportunity to see the bannerettes and appreciate the message that is being conveyed.

It has been reported that up to 10 tonnes of garbage were being collected from beaches and seashore around the city every week.

A Kota Kinabalu City Hall official said the rubbish was mostly dumped around the state capital, especially in monsoon drains and that it eventually flows out into the sea.

He said that most of the rubbish comprised plastic bottles, bags and food containers, and that once, workers picked up a mattress that floated onto the Likas Bay beach. - FMT