I REFER to Monday's report, 'Tougher now for litterbugs to
escape'. While I agree stiffer penalties and stepped-up enforcement
action will help curb the mess caused by litterbugs in the short
term, it will not eliminate the problem.
As enforcement officers cannot be everywhere all the time,
Singapore can be clean and litter-free only if the people are
educated to be responsible owners and users of common space. If
they do not treat public places as such, no amount of enforcement
and penalties can bring about the desired results.
In Japan, I noticed teenagers did not throw litter into drains
or onto flower beds. They kept their litter in their pockets or
bags. They would then empty them into litter bins they chanced upon
as they moved on with their activities. It was only then that I
realised having a litter bin at every corner in Singapore was a
luxury. Yet, we often hear and read about the dearth of litter
bins.
Since the authorities are going to spend millions in the coming
years to solve the litter problem, it is not too late to send some
of our teachers to Japan to learn how their education system
imparts the value of caring for public places to their
students.
Good habits have to start from young.
Soh Ah Yuen