It is really shocking how little the government and media are doing about littering and waste management. In a sophisticated community, cleanliness must be the first priority. This is a basic right and need of a country, yet in Malaysia, there are no rubbish bins.

Everyone just throws cups, cigarette butts and plastic bags everywhere. So why talk about being a developed nation, a higher GDP or quality of life when we can’t even implement the most crucial of all things, cleanliness?

Everywhere, every minute of the day, someone just throws wrappers or paper cups like

mother earth is a free for all ashtray or toilet. Why aim for developed status, when you can’t clean up your toilet or streets?

The government and media must make it possible for citizen arrests and impose huge fines on littering–or do massive campaigning on littering and pollution like in Singapore. Yes, I blame the government, but more importantly, I blame the journalists who would rather spend time politicking than doing some real community work and covering more pressing issues.

Why try to belittle the people who built the pyramids and who gave us science and technology when Malaysia can’t even prove to its own citizens that it is committed to cleaning up its own backyard? Is living in a filthy world considered the ‘golden age’?

If countries like Singapore, Britain, France, Australia and Sweden can do it, why not Malaysia?

There is no excuse for this gross irresponsibility of not providing for the need of the community.

Talking about grand building plans in light of this filthy behaviour is like buying new clothes without taking a shower.