Tourist's video of rubbish, rats at Petaling Street draws criticism

 

A foreign tourist's viral video showing piles of rubbish and rodents at Petaling Street after trading hours has sparked fresh debate over cleanliness at one of Malaysia's best-known tourist attractions. - Pic from @update11111 X

KUALA LUMPUR: A foreign tourist's viral video showing piles of rubbish and rodents at Petaling Street after trading hours has sparked fresh debate over cleanliness at one of Malaysia's best-known tourist attractions.

The tourist, who said he has visited Malaysia several times for holidays and had long considered Petaling Street one of his favourite destinations, expressed disappointment after walking through Chinatown late at night.

In a video posted on his X account, he showed rubbish strewn across the street, overflowing waste after businesses had closed, and rodents scurrying around.

He described the situation as shocking and unhygienic, questioning how such conditions could be allowed at a major tourist hotspot.

He said that while Petaling Street is lively and welcoming during business hours, the scene after traders pack up presents a completely different picture.

The tourist also expressed concern that poor waste management could tarnish Kuala Lumpur's image and leave a negative impression on international visitors.

The video surfaced just days after Dataran Merdeka drew criticism on social media over rubbish left scattered around the field following a two-day unity event last week.

As of Friday night, the video had garnered more than 1,200 views on X and attracted numerous comments from social media users.

Many agreed that the conditions were unacceptable for one of the country's iconic tourist destinations and urged traders to take greater responsibility for keeping the area clean after business hours.

Some social media users blamed foreign traders, whom they claimed operated stalls in the area, for the poor state of cleanliness.

Others said the issue was not about nationality but irresponsible waste disposal, arguing that all traders should be held accountable regardless of their background.

Many also urged Kuala Lumpur City Hall to step up enforcement, ensure rubbish is cleared promptly and impose stricter penalties on those who fail to comply with cleanliness regulations.

Petaling Street, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown, is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, drawing thousands of local and international visitors daily for its street food, shopping and cultural heritage.

The viral post has once again prompted calls for better waste management and stricter enforcement to ensure one of the country's most iconic tourist landmarks remains clean and welcoming for all. - NST