KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam announced that immediate action will be taken to clean up the “dirty” east coast town of Semporna in Sabah. He outlined a plan that includes monthly gotong-royong clean-ups and intensified checks on food outlets. In addition, regular and thorough inspections of kitchen cleanliness at restaurants and hotels will begin immediately. The Semporna district council, along with other government agencies, will also organize group clean-up sessions or gotong-royong every month with the cooperation of hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies.
“These are the short-term measures being taken to tackle the issues of cleanliness and hygiene,” said Dr Gunsalam, who is also the state Local Government and Housing Minister. He also instructed the district council to carry out more systematic cleaning and monitoring.
Semporna gained attention after complaints from tourists about the town’s filthy conditions and lack of hygiene. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing warned that he may issue red notices to operators who fail to meet cleanliness standards. As a response, Dr Gunsalam has allowed the district council to renew a company’s garbage collection and cleaning services contract in Semporna for an additional five months.
However, he plans to visit Semporna soon to verify claims of problems with garbage collection, particularly from the islands. While some have raised concerns, the council denies any issues. Dr Gunsalam intends to conduct a first-hand investigation.
In the long term, Dr Gunsalam aims to resolve the issue of private jetty facilities needing upgrades to accommodate the increasing number of daily tourists. Furthermore, his ministry is prepared to enforce hygiene and safety requirements using various bylaws.
On Monday, the Semporna district council, Health Department, and other relevant agencies held a dialogue with tourism, hotel, and food operators.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
