LETTERS: Being consistently green, clean and safe will make a city attractive not only to local citizens, but also tourists from within and outside the country.
For example, when I paid a visit to Geneva three years ago, I saw a city that was not only ecologically attractive due to its surrounding lake, but also one that was safe and clean, where people could lie down at the park for leisure.
Being an Ipoh resident, on May 1, my wife and I decided to go for a walk at Ipoh Padang in the morning.
The field was littered with trash, including plastic mineral water bottles, and rubbish bins were overflowing with plastic bags, cans and food.
What made things worse was the stagnant water in the drain around the field. There were tadpoles in the drain, which could also be a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes.
It was obvious that many people visited Ipoh Padang on the eve of May 1, a public holiday. They were, perhaps, hoping that the rubbish would be cleared in the morning.
Where is our civic consciousness? How can we show that Ipoh is a city that is green, clean and safe for local and foreign tourists?
Ipoh Padang has a strong historical heritage and it should be a significant attraction for those who visit the city.
There is a tendency to solely blame the local authorities for poor cleanliness in the city, which is true to a certain extent, but what about the people who visit these public places? Where is the sense of ownership?
It is time the local authorities fined people who litter. Those who use the field should take responsibility in ensuring cleanliness instead of waiting for workers from the municipal council to clean it afterwards.
Coming from the hotel industry, I know some foreign tourists like to exercise in the morning. They have asked me where is the best place to go for exercise. I usually recommend the iconic Ipoh Padang.
I strongly urge the Ipoh mayor to address cleanliness by enforcing rules and clearing the stagnant water in the drains around Ipoh Padang.
This is to ensure Ipoh remains green, clean and safe for Malaysians and tourists who visit the city.
RONALD BENJAMIN
Secretary, Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue Ipoh, Perak
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times