Latest news with #littering
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Uproar in Dewan after minister claims 20 tonnes of rubbish left post-rally
Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said the government has no issue with peaceful assemblies but that protesters must not litter. KUALA LUMPUR : A brief uproar ensued in the Dewan Rakyat today after housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming claimed that 20 tonnes of rubbish had to be cleared following the anti-Anwar Ibrahim rally last weekend. Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) demanded proof of this claim, saying it was impossible for protesters to have left behind that much rubbish as the majority of those who took part in the Turn Anwar gathering on Saturday had only brought bottled water. 'Show me proof that 20 tonnes of rubbish (were cleared). Only then I will say you're not lying,' he said. Nga said his claim was based on figures provided by the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation, a government agency. He said while the government had no issue with peaceful assemblies, protesters must not litter. 'I'm only reprimanding litterbugs. I'm not accusing (Pendang) of being one. 'I do not deny the fact that PAS's Amal unit helped clean the area,' he said, referring to the party's volunteer corps. 'Yet, 20 tonnes of rubbish were strewn around the capital, in areas such as Sogo and Dataran Merdeka.' Several opposition MPs including Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) and Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) then stood to object to Nga's claim. However, deputy speaker Alice Lau instructed Awang to not interrupt Nga and to allow him to finish answering the oral questions. Yesterday, Nga was reported as saying that sewage and waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd cleaners only managed to finish cleaning up the litter at 3.30am on Sunday.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Dirty campers 'flytipping, raving and asking locals to use loos'
People living near a Perthshire loch say their lives are being made a misery by constant antisocial behaviour and littering from "dirty campers". The visitors have brought generators, gazebos and even a flatbed truck with its own fresh water supply to Loch of Clunie, near Blairgowrie, before leaving the area in a mess. One local woman told BBC Scotland that she been verbally and physically abused by drunken campers and that she did not feel safe. Perth and Kinross Council said it would increase patrols in the area and was working with police to tackle the issue. Emily Crichton has lived in a cottage next to the loch for three years. She said she had been verbally abused, flashed at and, on one occasion, physically assaulted by a man who later admitted the offence in court and was fined. This year campers have arrived with gazebos and 10-person tents. She said: "Earlier this month there was a flatbed truck with a fresh water supply on it for three generations of campers who were there for 10 days with a generator with loud music. "I have people wandering into my garden asking if they can park there, people coming in and asking if they can use my loo. "We have people having raves, it's like a music festival. "I'm not a shrinking violet. I like a drink and I like loud music, but it's intolerable and I don't feel safe." Visitor rangers and locals have been collecting vans full of rubbish, which have included dirty nappies and a hypodermic needle. Ms Crichton praised the "amazing" visitor ranger service, but said Perth and Kinross Council had been "absolutely useless". She said: "Some of the rangers have been doing the job since before I got there so they know the area well and they're very invested in it. "Every time I make a complaint, I'm told there's no law being broken. I cannot accept that." Ms Crichton said the problems at the site began "as soon as the sun comes out" and usually run from April to October. She said: "It's misery, it has really affected my mental health." Ms Crichton said she could not sell her cottage in good faith knowing the issues that the new owners would be likely to encounter. She added: "I bought that house because it's in a very beautiful area. I really considered selling up, but I can't lie to people. "It's absolutely insane that there are no consequences for these people." One man who posted on the Loch of Clunie Facebook page said he had recently visited the loch with his 10-year-old daughter. He said: "It was like Skid Row. Drunks everywhere - one or two being quite aggressive. "Rubbish everywhere. Maybe half a dozen cars abandoned with parking tickets on them. Stayed for five minutes and left." Strathtay Councillor Ian James told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme that the area was a special area of conservation. "You can imagine how beautiful it is," he said. "But every weekend, actually most of time in summer, we're getting inundated with people who are pitching up with their vehicles, pitching tents and just leaving the place in an awful state when they've left." Mr James said the campers seemed to be unaware that people lived near their makeshift campsites. He said: "For those people, it's an absolute nightmare. "They're putting up with loud music and drunken behaviour. Although it's a beautiful area, it's just not a nice place to be when it's like that." The councillor said countryside rangers had "filled vans full of rubbish" and locals were also picking up rubbish on a daily basis. He said: "Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of wild camping, but I think people are missing the point of the Land Reform Act, which allowed reasonable access. "This is totally unreasonable." He said that many campers had been drinking so were unable or unwilling to move their vehicles. Mr James added that some campers were "OK with someone in a uniform" but local people had been threatened in the past. In recent years one of his friends had been stabbed after asking people not to camp in his garden. He said: "If this was Perth city centre, we'd have the police turning up and everybody would be trying their best to stop it, but this is in the countryside so it's unseen by most." A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said the local authority wanted visitors and residents to be able to enjoy areas like Loch of Clunie in a "safe, responsible and courteous manner". He said community support and enforcement rangers "pay particular attention" to popular areas, including Loch of Clunie, and carry out patrols from Fridays to Sundays for about five to six hours a day. He added: "Parking attendants patrol the clearways, issuing guidance and penalty notices as appropriate. "We fully recognise the community's ongoing concerns about repeated incidents of irresponsible camping near residential properties. "Given the understandable feelings of vulnerability and anxiety this has caused, we have advised residents not to engage directly with visitors and to report any threatening behaviour to Police Scotland." The council said it would be increasing patrols in the area and working closely with Police Scotland to provide additional reassurance. The spokesman added that while camping was a legitimate activity under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, this was limited to a maximum of three nights. However, because the code is a guidance document it does not confer enforcement powers to Police Scotland. A police spokesperson said: "We understand the impact anti-social behaviour and disorder has on the local community, and we would like to thank locals who continue to bring these incidents to our attention. "Officers continue to work with local partners to address any concerns in the area, and where criminality is established, those responsible will be dealt with appropriately."
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Loch of Clunie 'dirty campers' are making life a misery, say locals
People living near a Perthshire loch say their lives are being made a misery by constant antisocial behaviour and littering from "dirty campers".The visitors have brought generators, gazebos and even a flatbed truck with its own fresh water supply to Loch of Clunie, near Blairgowrie, before leaving the area in a local woman told BBC Scotland that she been verbally and physically abused by drunken campers and that she did not feel and Kinross Council said it would increase patrols in the area and was working with police to tackle the issue. Emily Crichton has lived in a cottage next to the loch for three said she had been verbally abused, flashed at and, on one occasion, physically assaulted by a man who later admitted the offence in court and was year campers have arrived with gazebos and 10-person said: "Earlier this month there was a flatbed truck with a fresh water supply on it for a three generations of campers who were there for 10 days with a generator with loud music."I have people wandering into my garden asking if they can park there, people coming in and asking if they can use my loo."We have people having raves, it's like a music festival."I'm not a shrinking violet. I like a drink and I like loud music, but it's intolerable and I don't feel safe." Visitor rangers and locals have been collecting vans full of rubbish, which have included dirty nappies and a hypodermic Crichton praised the "amazing" visitor ranger service, but said Perth and Kinross Council had been "absolutely useless".She said: "Some of the rangers have been doing the job since before I got there so they know the area well and they're very invested in it."Every time I make a complaint, I'm told there's no law being broken. I cannot accept that."Ms Crichton said the problems at the site began "as soon as the sun comes out" and usually run from April to said: "It's misery, it has really affected my mental health." Ms Crichton said she could not sell her cottage in good faith knowing the issues that the new owners would be likely to added: "I bought that house because it's in a very beautiful area. I really considered selling up, but I can't lie to people."It's absolutely insane that there are no consequences for these people."One man who posted on the Loch of Clunie Facebook page said he had recently visited the loch with his 10-year-old said: "It was like Skid Row. Drunks everywhere - one or two being quite aggressive."Rubbish everywhere. Maybe half a dozen cars abandoned with parking tickets on them. Stayed for five minutes and left." Strathtay Councillor Ian James told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme that the area was a special area of conservation."You can imagine how beautiful it is," he said."But every weekend, actually most of time in summer, we're getting inundated with people who are pitching up with their vehicles, pitching tents and just leaving the place in an awful state when they've left."Mr James said the campers seemed to be unaware that people lived near their makeshift said: "For those people, it's an absolute nightmare."They're putting up with loud music and drunken behaviour. Although it's a beautiful area, it's just not a nice place to be when it's like that." The councillor said countryside rangers had "filled vans full of rubbish" and locals were also picking up rubbish on a daily said: "Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of wild camping, but I think people are missing the point of the Land Reform Act, which allowed reasonable access."This is totally unreasonable."He said that many campers had been drinking so were unable or unwilling to move their James added that some campers were "OK with someone in a uniform" but local people had been threatened in the recent years one of his friends had been stabbed after asking people not to camp in his said: "If this was Perth city centre, we'd have the police turning up and everybody would be trying their best to stop it, but this is in the countryside so it's unseen by most." A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said the local authority wanted visitors and residents to be able to enjoy areas like Loch of Clunie in a "safe, responsible and courteous manner".He said community support and enforcement rangers "pay particular attention" to popular areas, including Loch of Clunie, and carry out patrols from Fridays to Sundays for about five to six hours a added: "Parking attendants patrol the clearways, issuing guidance and penalty notices as appropriate."We fully recognise the community's ongoing concerns about repeated incidents of irresponsible camping near residential properties. "Given the understandable feelings of vulnerability and anxiety this has caused, we have advised residents not to engage directly with visitors and to report any threatening behaviour to Police Scotland." The council said it would be increasing patrols in the area and working closely with Police Scotland to provide additional spokesman added that while camping was a legitimate activity under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, this was limited to a maximum of three because the code is a guidance document it does not confer enforcement powers to Police Scotland.A police spokesperson said: "We understand the impact anti-social behaviour and disorder has on the local community, and we would like to thank locals who continue to bring these incidents to our attention."Officers continue to work with local partners to address any concerns in the area, and where criminality is established, those responsible will be dealt with appropriately."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Men face steep penalties after being caught on camera committing upsetting act at popular beach — here's what happened
Men face steep penalties after being caught on camera committing upsetting act at popular beach — here's what happened Four people have been fined after being photographed littering at a popular beach in Brunei. The offense occurred at Jerudong Beach, a stunning spot along the South China Sea, on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. The Borneo Bulletin reported that this continues a disturbing trend of people dumping their garbage along the beach. Officials released photographs of several people dropping bags of trash along piles of rocks. The four presumed offenders — three local men and one from Bangladesh — received fines ranging from $156 to $235 (converted from Brunei dollars) If they don't pay their fines and are prosecuted, the men could face an additional fine of more than $7,000 and up to a year in prison. Brunei has strict laws against dumping, both for people using its beaches and for ships that discharge materials into its waters. Still, littering remains a big problem in the country. In a 2019 study, researchers spent a week inspecting four Brunei beaches and collected more than 2,000 pieces of debris. More than 90% of that trash was plastic, and researchers found that common recreational-use beaches were more likely to have high amounts of littering. Globally, plastic litter is one of the biggest problems facing our environment. Two years ago, a study found that roughly 170 trillion pieces of plastic were in our oceans, weighing 2.6 million tons. It also discovered that plastic pollution was doubling every six years, so those numbers are assuredly higher now. Much of that litter is microplastics — tiny, sometimes imperceptible fragments that typically break off of larger pieces. But even those small pieces pose big problems. They're so small that they become easily ingested, causing problems for marine life and even registering in human brain samples. Laws such as Brunei's can hopefully act as a deterrent against littering for many people. But to fully ensure we have less plastic waste polluting our waterways, we must find ways to use less plastic. At home, that can start with simple swaps such as replacing single-use plastic water bottles and shopping bags with reusable options. Should plastic grocery bags be banned nationwide? Absolutely No way Let each state decide I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the the daily Crossword
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Thrapston backlash over 'ludicrous' plan to fence off River Nene
Plans to fence off part of a river over concerns about anti-social behaviour have been criticised by local residents, with one calling it "expensive and ludicrous".Thrapston Town Council in Northamptonshire voted to construct a 1.5m-tall (5ft) fence along the River Nene, near Nine Arches Way, at a cost of up to £5, decision was taken after homeowners raised concerns about disturbances and littering becoming more following a public backlash over plans for the new structure, other options are to be discussed next week. A number of residents living near the river raised objections, the Local Democracy Reporting Service Balcer said: "I have never heard of anything so heavy-handed, destructive, expensive and ludicrous for a problem that is seasonal and then mostly at weekends."I would like to urge the town council to think creatively, embrace the beautiful surroundings, promote the town, community and riverside, which can be regarded only as an asset, not a problem."Others were concerned about the effect on wildlife and river access for swimmers and other recreational Penny, who lives near the river, agreed there was a problem with anti-social behaviour at the site, but said the issue needed more than a "band-aid fix" of fencing. "That behaviour needs to be tackled rather than erecting a pointless fence, which I fear would only be kicked down by the same people leaving their mess behind."Chair of Thrapston Town Council Craig Wheeler said: "The town council would like to emphasise that no final or binding action will be taken before the review takes place, and that the decision-making process will be carried out with full transparency."The council remains focused on making balanced decisions in the best interests of the town, taking into consideration public safety, access, environmental concerns, and the community's enjoyment of shared spaces."The review will take place at a public meeting on 31 July. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
