Deputy Minister: CleanUp Pan Borneo demonstrates strong community responsibility

KUCHING (Dec 8): The volunteer-led CleanUp Pan Borneo campaign is a strong model for educating the public on the importance of keeping Sarawak’s major roads clean, said Deputy Minister for Transport (Riverine and Marine) Datuk Henry Harry Jinep.

According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas),  Henry said the effort to remove rubbish along the Pan Borneo route helps preserve the natural environment while demonstrating community responsibility towards the state’s development.

“We want the public to play their part in ensuring Sarawak’s roads remain clean and well-maintained, because these main routes reflect the image of our state,” he said when officiating at the CleanUp Pan Borneo gotong-royong programme here on Sunday.

During the event, Henry, who is also Tasik Biru assemblyman, also presented a token of appreciation to Tracey E Hughes, who initiated the campaign in October.

He said the campaign, which began in Bau, has helped inspire communities to recognise the importance of maintaining the beauty of Sarawak’s rapidly developing landscape, while encouraging a shift away from the ‘third-class mentality’ in public hygiene.

Henry added that following discussions between the Bau District Office, Bau District Council and the Public Works Department (JKR), responsibility for placing rubbish bins at several points along the route has been assigned to the Pan Borneo Highway Unit.

Earlier, volunteers from Parti Demokratik Progresif (PDP) N.02 Tasik Biru and N.08 Satok carried out a cleanup along the Pan Borneo stretch from Kampung Stenggang to Jalan Kampung Senibong, Singai.

Present were Bau district officer Eddy Nayoi, Bau District Council secretary Ong Chin Ping, Kuching Division Bidayuh Temenggong Atok Derop, Bau District Bidayuh Pemanca Robert Tom Juin, and Bau District Chinese Pemanca Bong Jong Long.