Letters

Urgent need to address environmental degradation

LETTERS: Solid waste management is an important issue in tackling environmental pollution. The amount of solid waste at some disposal sites is reported to be comparable with a 10-storey building.

River pollution is also equally serious, with many areas affected by a foul and disgusting smell. Environmental pollution should be addressed urgently, especially rubbish disposal.

According to the Housing and Local Government Ministry, local authorities are required to spend 40 to 70 per cent of their yearly assessment tax revenue on rubbish collection and disposal. However, it is said that local authorities are facing problems finding suitable areas to dispose the increasing amount of waste.

We should also be concerned that awareness about the importance of clean water has decreased. Water quality is worsening due to pollution caused by inconsistency in disposing of solid waste.

Making things worse is the increasingly severe river pollution throughout the country.

According to the Malaysian Digest 2016, 43 rivers in Malaysia, mostly in urban areas, were badly polluted. Based on records, approximately 300,000 tonnes of rubbish are thrown into rivers every year.

Plastic rubbish bags and other waste, including old refrigerators, mattresses and kitchen utensils, are thrown into rivers.

This causes environmental deterioration and poses a threat to the health, safety and wellbeing of the community in the long term if not tackled properly.

VAISHNAVE RAJASEGARAN

Universiti Malaysia Perlis


The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times

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