Malaysia: Straits of Johor throws back tonnes of garbage

Nelson Benjamin The Star 19 May 11;

JOHOR BARU: A popular stretch along the Straits of Johor near the former Tanjung Puteri Customs Complex has been littered with tonnes of garbage washed up by the high tide.

The sight of the “sea of rubbish” has irked visitors who usually parked their vehicles along Jalan Ibrahim Sultan during the hot afternoons to enjoy the breeze below a row of shady trees.

Many of the visitors said they had never seen so much rubbish washed into the area.

There were food containers, slippers, coconut shells, plasticware, helmets and plastic bags.

“It is so embarrassing that this area is full of such garbage,” forwarding agent Abdul Rashid, 24, said.

“I hope the local council will do something about it and clean up the place.

“They must also fine those who throw rubbish into the sea,” he said.

Abdul also said the area was popular among picnickers.

“This is surely an eyesore as it is near the Johor Causeway,” he added.

Another frequent visitor, who only wants to be known as Ng, said he was sad that people still treated the waterways as a dumpsite to discard rubbish.

“This area is so breezy and cooling but all the floating rubbish is a terrible eyesore,” he said, expressing hope tha the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) would clean up the area.

Ng said the area was previously smelly as well but the situation improved after the council put up garbage bins.

“But all this garbage is due to people dumping rubbish into the river which is later washed down into the sea,” he said.

MBJB public relations officer Mohd Firdaus Abdul Hamid said the council was aware of the matter and would be carrying out cleaning works soon.

“The rubbish is being washed up from sea and we cannot point fingers at anyone,” he said, urging those with complaints to contact the MBJB hotline at 1-300-880-146.