Clean culture, not dirty toilets, to keep Sarawak’s place among world’s cleanest cities

By Karen Bong KUCHING, Oct 21: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has urged the public to adopt a stronger sense of responsibility towards cleanliness, expressing concern that many public toilets remain dirty despite being cleaned regularly by local councils. Citing the example of toilets at the Kuching Waterfront, he said maintaining cleanliness should not fall solely on local authorities such as the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) but must be upheld collectively by the community. “Just look at some of our public toilets, even when DBKU keeps cleaning them, they remain dirty. This shows that cleanliness is not only about maintenance, but also about culture and mindset,” he said when officiating at the Councillors Seminar 2025: Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals for Sarawak held at a hotel here today. Abang Johari emphasised that cleanliness reflects civic values, noting that cultivating a culture of cleanliness is vital to prevent diseases, attract tourism, and uphold Sarawak’s international reputation as one of the cleanest regions in the world. “If we develop our cities and communities in line with global standards, we will attract tourists, investors, and new opportunities. Sarawak already has strong cultural values, we just need to nurture our sense of cleanliness, discipline, and pride,” he said. Recalling his visit to Shanghai in 1988, Abang Johari drew comparisons with China’s remarkable transformation over the decades. “Back then, the air was dim, and public facilities were poor. But today, even Beijing is clean. Their progress shows that when cleanliness becomes part of the culture, real transformation happens,” he said. The Premier noted that while Kuching has earned international recognition as a clean city at platforms such as Copenhagen, the State government aims for all divisions, including Sri Aman, Sibu, Limbang, Miri, Kapit and up to Limbang, to achieve the same standards. “Our goal is for the entire Sarawak to be recognised globally for cleanliness and sustainability. Every town must strive to be clean, green, and healthy for the benefit of its citizens. “To achieve this, council members must be proactive and align their work with the needs of an evolving world,” he said. Abang Johari also called on local councils to incorporate green urban planning into their development strategies, including planting more trees along roadsides and creating pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly routes as part of Sarawak’s broader vision for sustainable and liveable cities. “We must also green our towns by planting more trees along roadsides, similar to Singapore’s town-planning model, where pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles each have dedicated paths. Every new town plan should include green landscapes and be submitted to the Sarawak Planning Authority (SPA), and I assure you, I will approve them. This will ensure smarter, safer, and cleaner urban design,” he said. As Sarawak strive to become the Star of Asia, Abang Johari stressed that Sarawak’s image, from cities to villages and longhouses, must reflect high standards of cleanliness, innovation, and sustainability. “I ask that you (councillors) continue to bring forward new ideas, innovation, and dedication to transform and propel Sarawak towards greater heights,” he concluded. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Minister of Public Health and Housing Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil, Deputy Minister of Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang, Deputy Secretary Datu Buckland Bangik, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Public Health Housing and Local Government Datu Elizabeth Loh as well as mayors and chairmen of 27 councils across Sarawak were present. — DayakDaily