Uproar in Dewan after minister claims 20 tonnes of rubbish left post-rally

Free Malaysia Today

5 days ago

Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said the government has no issue with peaceful assemblies but that protesters must not litter.
KUALA LUMPUR : A brief uproar ensued in the Dewan Rakyat today after housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming claimed that 20 tonnes of rubbish had to be cleared following the anti-Anwar Ibrahim rally last weekend.
Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) demanded proof of this claim, saying it was impossible for protesters to have left behind that much rubbish as the majority of those who took part in the Turn Anwar gathering on Saturday had only brought bottled water.
'Show me proof that 20 tonnes of rubbish (were cleared). Only then I will say you're not lying,' he said.
Nga said his claim was based on figures provided by the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation, a government agency.
He said while the government had no issue with peaceful assemblies, protesters must not litter.
'I'm only reprimanding litterbugs. I'm not accusing (Pendang) of being one.
'I do not deny the fact that PAS's Amal unit helped clean the area,' he said, referring to the party's volunteer corps.
'Yet, 20 tonnes of rubbish were strewn around the capital, in areas such as Sogo and Dataran Merdeka.'
Several opposition MPs including Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) and Idris Ahmad (PN-Bagan Serai) then stood to object to Nga's claim.
However, deputy speaker Alice Lau instructed Awang to not interrupt Nga and to allow him to finish answering the oral questions.
Yesterday, Nga was reported as saying that sewage and waste management company Alam Flora Sdn Bhd cleaners only managed to finish cleaning up the litter at 3.30am on Sunday.