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LANGKAWI – Although there has been outcry among some Malaysians over the death of two children after they ate scraps from a dumpster, an activist here said it is a tragedy waiting to happen as the area has been long neglected by the authorities.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) branch chairman here Eric R. Sinnaya said Kg Baru Sg Tepa, where the incident took place in the Bukit Malut Burmese settlement here, has been faced with hygiene and cleanliness issues.
“I think it is a long time coming. Non-governmental organisations here have long called for a relocation of the village or at least an upgrade to its living conditions to reflect acceptable hygiene standards instead of an unsupervised colony.”
Sinnaya, who has surveyed the area due to his role in MNS, said the Bukit Malut settlement lacks a sewerage system and most of the waste ends up in the sea beneath their stilt attap homes.
“The e-coli ratio at the settlement is the highest on this part of the island.”
He added that this tragic episode serves as a reminder that the authorities need to look into the living conditions of the settlers and find a solution to either resettle them or upgrade their living conditions. – The Vibes, February 14, 2022
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