By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 14: Minister of Works Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi has praised social media content creator Tracey E. Hughes and all those involved in the #CleanUpPanBorneo movement for their inspiring, community-driven effort to pick up litter along the Pan Borneo Highway.
In a social media post today, Nanta said he plans to consider appointing Tracey and her team as MYJalan ambassadors in Sarawak to further expand awareness on road cleanliness and safety.
“I also intend to meet Tracey and her team to explore potential collaborations aimed at enhancing public awareness on the importance of maintaining cleanliness along Sarawak’s major highway network,” he said.
The minister’s response follows the viral grassroots initiative launched by Tracey, who started the #CleanUpPanBorneo campaign after expressing frustration over widespread littering along the Pan Borneo Highway near Bau.
According to a TVS news report, on Oct 7, 2025, Tracey shared a heartfelt social media post urging the public to care for their surroundings instead of discarding trash by the roadside. Taking matters into her own hands, the proud Sarawakian began cleaning the area herself before rallying others to join. Her call to action quickly gained traction, evolving into a community movement dedicated to restoring cleanliness and civic pride along the Pan Borneo route.
“I am truly delighted to read the news report about the social media movement led by Tracey E. Hughes and her friends to clean up the Pan Borneo Highway. This effort not only reflects a deep love for cleanliness but also demonstrates a strong sense of civic awareness among the public about the importance of maintaining public facilities,” Nanta said.
He added that the initiative aligns with the Ministry of Works’ ongoing efforts to foster public cooperation in keeping national and state highways clean and safe, while sending a positive message that caring for public infrastructure is a shared responsibility.
“To me, this is also a form of appreciation for the government’s efforts, which have allocated billions of ringgit to provide a comfortable and safe network of roads and highways for the people,” he said.
Nanta noted that in August this year, he launched the Pan Borneo Sarawak Highway Cleanliness Awareness Campaign themed ‘Jum Jaga Pan Borneo Bait-Bait’.
“Seeing the growing public awareness, coupled with the initiatives led by Tracey and her friends, gives me and everyone at the Ministry of Works renewed encouragement, knowing that we are not alone in promoting community awareness,” he said.
This effort, Nanta emphasised, will help reinforce the message that the roads are not just the government’s responsibility but a shared trust and collective asset of the people, while urging more Malaysians to support and participate in such civic-minded initiatives. — DayakDaily
