By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, July 25: When it comes to cleanliness, Japan’s tremendous discipline and strong environmental awareness serve as a notable example for Sarawakians to learn from.
Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah described Japan’s culture of maintaining cleanliness as admirable, saying it is not only reflected in public spaces but also practised in homes, places of worship, and daily life.
“I have travelled to many countries, and I am impressed by the lifestyle and cleanliness culture of the Japanese people. Their cleanliness cannot easily be matched,” he said when speaking at the Islamic Information Centre (IIC) Cares @Environment 2026 programme at Darul Rahmah Mosque in Kampung Tambirat Lot in Asajaya today.
Abdul Karim said Japan’s clean environment is a result of habits instilled from a young age, where children are taught to take responsibility for maintaining their surroundings.
He recalled an experience in Hokkaido, Japan, where a bus driver handed him an ashtray while he was smoking outside a shop in the countryside to prevent cigarette ash from being discarded carelessly.
“I felt embarrassed. Even though it was a forest area, they still wanted to ensure that cigarette ash was not thrown away carelessly,” he said.
Noting the recent FIFA World Cup 2026, he pointed to Japanese supporters collecting rubbish after matches at stadiums as a reflection of their responsibility towards maintaining cleanliness and how cleanliness has become deeply rooted in Japanese society.
He said Sarawakians should cultivate a similar mindset by practising cleanliness at home and making it part of their everyday lifestyle.
“Cleanliness starts with us. If we practise cleanliness in our homes and maintain discipline in our daily lives, it will eventually extend to our communities, mosques, and surroundings,” he said.
Speaking on the programme, he said it serves as a reminder that cleanliness is a shared responsibility involving individuals, families, and communities, while commending IIC for bringing the initiative to communities across Sarawak.
IIC Cares @Environment 2026 is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by the Islamic Information Centre-Islamic Council of Sarawak (IIC-MIS), aimed at promoting volunteerism, environmental conservation, and the preservation of mosques as important community assets. — DayakDaily
