10-05-2025
SRDC sounds alarm over vandalism as bin burnings disrupt waste services in Sibu
Sempurai hits the gong as a symbolic gesture to officiate the Mantar Gawai Dayak.
SIBU (May 10): The Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) is seriously concerned about the repeated acts of vandalism involving rubbish bins for public use, following the destruction of more than 20 bins by arson in last year alone.
Council chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai expressed regret over the incidents, which had disrupted waste management services, particularly in Sibu's West Bank area.
'The council continues to receive numerous complaints from residents asking for replacement bins. We do not understand why people are burning them – this behaviour not only hinders proper waste disposal, but also burdens the council,' he said at the 'Mantar Gawai Dayak Komuniti' event in Rumah Joseph Abet in Bawang Assan, organised by the local Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) of Jalan Temenggong Jonathan Bangau.
He further said that such acts had made it difficult for residents to manage household waste, such as in a recent case where the Kemuyang residents had no place to dispose of rubbish after their bin was destroyed.
'When bins are unavailable, people resort to dumping waste by the road, littering the area and later, resulting in criticism of the council for not replacing the bins,' he added.
To address the issue, Sempurai highlighted SRDC's introduction of the 'Bin Adoption Programme' in 2018, meant to empower longhouse chieftains and residents to take responsibility for bins and the bin centres. arson Sempurai Petrus Ngelai Sibu SRDC vandalism
