SANDAKAN: The Pasir Putih beach here used to be known for beauty but it is now littered with washed up trash despite being cleaned up on a regular basis.
The garbage is believed to be litter from irresponsible visitors as well as from surrounding coastal villages.
Plastic bottles, leftover food, diapers and glass items mar the view at the area, located about 10 kilometres from the city centre here.
Volunteer Johari Shafuwan, 27, said litter was also found around the recreational area and this has caused the number of visitors to dwindle.
This is despite initiatives by the local authorities to make the place a tourist attraction.
“Our volunteers have been cleaning up the beach but every two weeks the same thing happens.
“The authorities need to make the garbage collection here more frequent, as well as place more dustbins around,” he opined.
Johari said the Sandakan local authorities should also emulate beaches in Kota Kinabalu and put up food stalls so visitors would frequent the place, and ensure cleanliness.
A resident nearby Maylianih Jaikal, 41, proposed that the Sandakan Municipal Council put up nettings at the coastal area to avoid the trash drifting back up on the beach after clean up.
“We know a group of students have cleaned up the place few weeks ago but the same problem has recurred, so it is better if net were installed,” Maylianih added.
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