PONTIAN: The language used sounds harsh but residents stand by a signage put up to stop people from throwing garbage where they shouldn't.
The sign reads: "Oii monyet...jangan buang sampah di sini lagi." (Hey monkey, do not throw rubbish here anymore).
Placed along Jalan Parit Ibrahim, here, the sign appears to be working compared to a warning sign and fine imposed by the local council previously.
A resident who only wants to be known as Ahmad said residents took it upon themselves to erect the sign some two months ago upon seeing many irresponsible individuals still throwing rubbish despite the warning sign put up by the local council.
"Because we got tired of the pile of rubbish and we deem those who throw rubbish here as not being able to comprehend polite Malay, some of us were determined to use harsh language in a bid to solve this rubbish problem.
"This location is situated opposite Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sri Perhentian and while we know the language used is not good, the pile of rubbish all this while has caused not only bad smell but posed a health hazard for students.
"This is because the rubbish gets scattered all over the place after wild dogs go through it, resulting in flies. It also results in drivers plying this road to get from Pontian to Benut having to avoid the pile of rubbish, as two lanes get reduced to one, and this endangers the lives of other road users and students," he said when met, here, today.
According to Ahmad, other residents were in support of the signage because these selfish individuals were putting the lives of others at risk.
Meanwhile, Pontian District Council (MDP) president Mohd Nor Sazlan Abd Razak said members of the public are advised to throw their rubbish in a big bin which has been placed in the town centre.
"We are aware of irresponsible individuals throwing garbage in that area and we previously put up a warning sign to deter people from doing so.
"We are always monitoring illegal dump sites and will conduct investigations to ensure untoward incidents do not happen.
"Those with information and photographic proof of irresponsible individuals throwing garbage where they are not supposed to are advised to present them to the MDP office so we can conduct investigations," he said.
