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Mark: 05 Jan 2011
Today the STAR brings a big picture of burning rubbish on the Pantai Cenang Beach.
The original picture is not on the Internet. The original picture has been taken down from the facebook page it was first on...
The article goes as follow:
" I would like to congratulate StarMetro North for publishing several articles on protecting Langkawi’s natural treasures.
I have sent you a photo on the famous Pantai Cenang in Langkawi. There was an open burning of plastic and rubbish on the beach.
Hundreds of tourists walked past the fire and the rubbish. Most of them were shocked. And rightly so."
As said: before it was on facebook and the same problem has been on trip Advisor many times. Just google the pictures 'rubbish langkawi' and you find it. So let's confront the facts. There now MUST be some big changes - or Langkawi will be associated with RUBBISH on the beaches and loose it's tourists. Simple as that.
From what we know LADA is absolutely aware of the facts - and knows that something has to happen - just doesn't know what to do. This is, what makes the situation really dangerous: no one seems to have the willingness and/or power to take responsibility - and DECIDE what has to happen - and to ENFORCE it.
A few months ago we reported about the missing drainage covers at the entrance of the Pekan Rabu area (just after the 'infinity bridge' which is still not finished - how many years now??) - and since then still nothing happened. This is potential deadly for locals and TOURISTS. The drainage covers have been thrown into the drainage by some bad guys because they were not fixed in the first place - and all what has to be done is to take them out and fix them to the ground. But 'nobody is responsible'. The owner of the 'Shore Cafe' on the other side of the street went to the City Council and begged them to do something about it, as she had witnessed two accidents happening already - but she was told the City Council was not responsible. WHO is ? This is an obviously dangerous and impossible situation which is so since many months now.
We have the helicopter who is STILL annoying people and STILL flying much to low to beaches and houses (we had several complaints, e.g. from the Cenang Beach and from the Century Suria). What they do is clearly illegal by all means - but nobody stops them.
We had the siege of the Beach Garden. There had to come a special force, 8 police officers from Kulala Lumpur, to end the siege. The local police did not do it. (I do not blame them - I am speaking about a possible problem in regard to the political will/power to enforce necessary actions, not blaming the police force here.)
We have the jet skis and bikes and 4-wheel drives on the Cenang beach annoying the tourists. There is no law and no regulations. "Within a few years the beach of Pantai Cenang will be similar to the beach of Batu Ferringhi on Penang", I was told by a GM who had been on Penang before and watched the mess there developing. Penang now tries to deal with this situation and to put in some rules and regulations.
And on a broader scale - and perhaps much more important in the long run: we have still the logging going on and the destruction of the rain forest for construction work.The clear statement of the former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir has not been heard. For the 'green cause' 2010 was the year of a lost chance - may be the last chance Langkawi had.
I still like Langkawi - and I do not personally complain here about anything.
But I am sure a lot of tourists will stay away in the future if Langkawi does not find the political will and power for a distinctive turn around in it's environmental attitude.
Comments
by Bob Talbot on 06 Jan 2011, 9:54 am
Rubbish?- no problem,10 year old kids riding motorbikes? - no problem, double parking on side and main roads?- no problem,crazy drivers?- no problem,red traffic lights ?-no problem ,cutting trees down ?- no problem,people spitting?- no problem, stinking toilets- no problem.
Whats the problem ?
Solve it by zuraidah zainal abidin on 06 Jan 2011, 10:22 am
Dear Marc,
Moving away to another place does not solve the problem. People are all the same. It will be the same thing even in Penang but they tried their best. Still it has a long way to go to change the attitude of the public. The Langkawi local council should start 2011 with new resolution. Langkawi Green.Educate the public through RTM, media, banners and activities. Start now.
Thanks everybody ! by Mark on 15 Jan 2011, 11:34 pm
Yes - there will be a new 'resolution' -
"COME March, the Langkawi Country Code, a guideline for sustainable eco-tourism for Langkawi, will be available for all local authorities, tourism operators and stakeholders."
Says LADA.
Backing up an 'effort' of the otherwise publicly practically nonexistant MNS Langkawi Branch.
"Will be available". Great.
Who is kidding who here ??
Mark
by Bob Talbot on 20 Jan 2011, 10:05 am
Wow- a new guideline is going to be available in March.Terrific news.
Which planet are they from?
by Mark on 20 Jan 2011, 10:19 am
LOL
More rubbish... by Susan Jau on 20 Jan 2011, 4:59 pm
Try drive through Jalan Bukit Malut. It's really sad to see the rubbish all over the roadside along the way. Even worst around Tanjung Lembung area. Who is responsible? The council that just drive through and ignore the filty roadside? The road maintenance company that cut the grass but never collect the rubbish?? Department of Environment? MNS? Nobody knows.
Or "all of the above" busy figuring out what to do and pointing fingers at each other left the rubbish laying on the roadside for years.
Dear Susan by Mark on 20 Jan 2011, 5:30 pm
I am now here 8 years - and nothing has changed.
The only way to change things would be locally, street by street, quater by quater by the people living there. In this case the house owners of Bukit Malut e.g. should create a group and organise the necessary themselves and/or put pressure on the City Council or who ever is responsible.
But better organise it by themselves. Collect money from everyone and pay someone to clean the area regularly, which will increase the value of the houses in this quater.
Of course we both know that this will not happen, as people do not care at all.
It certainly is NOT the responsibility of MNS Langkawi - and beside this, this group does barely exist anyway. Don't await anything from them at all.
If people themselves do not care, there is nothing that can be done.
I will order myself a rubbish-reporting-pause now and just ignore this subject for the next 6 months - lol.
After 8 years I am anyway nearly used to it now :-)
by Bob Talbot on 21 Jan 2011, 11:04 pm
Sad to hear MNS Langkawi is almost defunct- especially after they relieved me of my membership contribution after a membership drive last year.Still,I did get a receipt hand delivered to my door!
What more could I really expect- a newsletter,notification of public meetings etc?Obviously not !
Hi Bob by Mark on 23 Jan 2011, 11:34 am
I don't think they can 'relieve you of your membership fee' - as they have to send the money to the Headquarter - and then you get an official plastic membership card with your membership number and a beautiful full colour magazine every now and then. Did you get that?
If not you have officially never been a member and things have simply been messed up.
:-)
Mark
by Bob Talbot on 23 Jan 2011, 1:39 pm
No problem !
by Noriany Reeve on 05 Jan 2011, 5:09 pm
Ur right Mark,
Not long ago i complain about the skull beach and infact i was not suprise with what is happening in Chenang at all. It has been like that since 2006 where u can see an open fire thats burns the rubbage instead of a proper clean up and disposal done by the person in charge (nobody knows who it suppose to be) or they just dont care.
Its disgusting on how people can live in such environment, we totally flunk it when it come to cleanliness. Yes Langkawian people are nice and friendly but that does not make tourist want to come so that they can chat with them. They come mostly because of the beach the forest, the hills and mountains..
So, to whom it may concern. Start now dont wait when it is to late...
I am looking for another place to stay instead of here, and if I can feel that way then so does most of the people..
So,
Stop cutting the trees down.
Stop using plastic or any form of plastic
start cleaning up
start smartened up
Riany