KUALA LUMPUR: Housing and Local Government Minister’s Political Secretary, Steven Chaw Kam Foon has criticised Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for pursuing political power while ignoring the Semporna garbage crisis.
He said Semporna in Sabah, has long suffered from a persistent waste problem.
Even during Shafie’s tenure as Chief Minister, the area was still described as one of the “dirtiest tourist towns.”
The situation, he added, not only affects residents’ quality of life but also tarnishes Semporna’s reputation as an international tourist destination.
Chaw said that as both Member of Parliament (MP) and State Assemblyman for Semporna, Shafie should have the clearest understanding of the local situation, yet he has long neglected grassroots welfare, focusing instead on discussions of regime change and political power.
“With the Sabah state election drawing near, Shafie has been busy promoting his policy blueprint and vision, yet he continues to overlook the area’s basic sanitation and waste management problems. This shows his indifference and failure in addressing pressing livelihood issues,” he said.
Chaw explained that Sabah’s waste management system differs from that of Peninsular Malaysia, as the state is not governed by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act (Act 672) and is not under the purview of federal agencies such as the National Solid Waste Management Department (JPSPN) or the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp).
He said that in the peninsula, waste management is overseen by the central government and carried out by private contractors such as Alam Flora, Indah Water, and E-Idaman; whereas in Sabah, waste and public cleansing are the responsibilities of the state government and local authorities (PBT).
“Take Semporna as an example. Garbage collection and removal are the responsibility of the Semporna District Council, while policy and implementation are overseen by the Sabah Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
“This means that local MPs like Shafie Apdal should actively coordinate and oversee the work of local units to ensure the effective operation of the waste management system, rather than second-guessing or shirking responsibility,” he said.
Chaw stressed that politicians’ true duty is to solve the people’s everyday challenges, not to engage in endless power struggles.
He said Semporna’s garbage woes are not a new problem but a symptom of years of weak local governance and political apathy.
“If Shafie cannot even ensure basic cleanliness in his own constituency, how can he claim to be capable of governing the whole of Sabah?” he asked.
Chaw also urged all Members of Parliament to follow the Housing Ministry’s example by taking concrete steps to address public concerns, particularly regarding environmental hygiene and waste management, to ensure that people enjoy a clean and liveable environment.
