By Marlynda Meraw and Karen Bong
BINTULU, Aug 18: Sarawakians are lucky as the Pan Borneo Highway (LPB), costing RM18.8 billion, does not impose any toll on road users, says Federal Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
With the existence of a good road to use, without the imposition of toll fees like most highways in West Malaysia, he said Sarawakians should improve their mindset regarding the cleanliness of LPB.
“We have spent billions on the road. It is the least of our responsibilities to keep it clean,” said Nanta during his speech at the “Jum Jaga Pan Borneo Bait-Bait” cleanliness campaign at a P-turn along the Bintulu-Miri road today.
He said Sarawakians should break free from the mentality that nobody is going to catch or punish them for littering, simply because the State’s enforcement is not as strict as Singapore’s.
“This (LPB) is our shared responsibility. We need not look far. Take Singapore for example. All of them are aware of the consequences of littering,” Nanta said, explaining that even the littering of a single cigarette butt can cause someone to be sent to jail due to the strict enforcement towards cleanliness.
When asked if he was going to deploy officers along the road to enforce anti-littering, he said that it would be an expensive endeavour.
“That’s why we appeal to the public to exercise self-discipline and refrain from littering.”
He further questioned what impression Sarawak would give if foreign tourists travelling along the LPB were to see such conditions.
“Do we want to be remembered as a State with modern highways but a dirty environment?”
Nanta is aware that for many people, the roads, including LPB, serve as their livelihood.
“Imagine if we do not have any roads. You want to use boats? It’s difficult,” he said.
Following the launching of the campaign, Nanta called on everyone to adopt and maintain clean habits and be responsible for the cleanliness of the LPB. —DayakDaily
