INTERVIEW QUESTION : KL HYGIENCE ?

TEOH MENG LUN

What cause the hygeine issues in Kl?

Climate and Environmental Condition

Tropical Environment:  

Heat and Humidity: The environment is consistently warm and humid, which speeds up the breakdown of organic waste and attracts bugs like cockroaches, rats, and flies. These insects can lead to poor hygiene and the spread of diseases.  

Heavy Rainfall:  

Flooding: Heavy rains that fall frequently in Kuala Lumpur can cause flooding. Waste, sewage, and chemicals can be dispersed by floodwaters, resulting in huge hygienic problems. Flooding can also interfere with waste management operations, resulting in exposed and uncollected trash.  

PATRICK WOO SOON TAT

Problem Statement

Insufficient Infrastructure in KL : 

1. Lack of rubbish bin: In KL, there are not enough rubbish bins for people to throw. As a results, people would simply litter around and causes KL to be unhygeine. Besides that, rubbish bin are place on places that are not appropriate. Bins should put on places such as bus stops, markets and parks. 

2. Lack of Street Cleaning Services: 

- Limited Coverage : The cleaning services may not cover every part of the area in Kuala Lumpur. It can lead certain areas to be dirtier over time.

- Outdated Cleaning Tools: By using outdated cleaning tools for cleaning services, it might lead to inefficient cleaning and waste a lot of time.

- Inconsistent cleaning schedule : Inconsistent schedule will affect the overall cleanliness of Kuala Lumpur.

TSANG DA XIN

Problem statement

1. Food safety and contamination: 

• Food contamination is known as a significant issue in KL. Poor food handling and unhygienic conditions in food establishments cause numerous incidents of foodborne illness.
• There are various factor contribute to this for example:
• Poor food handling practices (such as improper handwashing , storage raw and cooked food)
• Inadequate infrastructure and facilities - such as those smaller / food vendors , often operate in facilities that lack proper sanitation infrastructure.
• Pest infection - Since Kl weather are warm and humid , this provides an ideal environment for pests such as rats , cockroaches and mosquitoes
• Lack of public awareness - Reports state that there is a general lack of awareness among both consumers and food handlers about the importance of food safety.

• Real case study: In 2018, There was also a viral video on poor food handling and unhygienic restaurants in KL. Because of these, MOH and local authorities had conducted 289,919 checks on food premises and found that 5,587 (2% of the premises (including restaurants and outlets) were shut down under section 11 of the Food Act 1983. (Rentokil)
• source : https://www.rentokil.com/my/about-us/news-and-media/2018/food-contamination-and-hygiene-practices-in-supply-chain-industry

YAP JUN KIT

Problem Statement

Public Transportation Hygiene

Maintaining hygiene in Kuala Lumpur's( KL) public transportation system is a critical issue that impacts the daily lives of millions of commuters. The public transport network, comprising cars, trains, and light rail transit( LRT) services, faces several hygiene challenges that need to be addressed to assure a cleaner and healthier exchanging environment.

1)Overcrowding= In buses and trains, particularly during peak hours, makes it challenging to maintain cleanliness. High passenger volumes lead to further waste, spillage, and general wear and tear and tear on the transport vehicles, complicating the troubles to keep them clean (Mike & Laura Travel). 

2)Public Behavior= The hygiene standards in public transport are also affected by commuter behavior. Spitting, littering, and eating within buses and trains without proper disposal of waste contribute significantly to hygienic conditions. Public awareness campaigns to promote regardful and hygienic behavior can help mitigate this issue (Mike & Laura Travel). 

Reference : https://mikeandlauratravel.com/is-kuala-lumpur-safe/

TAN YEN HAU

Problem Statement

Weak Law Enforcement

It is hard to maintain the cleanliness in KL due to the weak law enforcement. There are many infrastructure or individuals conducting illegal dumping or littering because the punishment is not severe. Illegal dumping causes many types of pollution which could affect the air and water quality of an area.

1. Weak law regulations - Illegal dumping usually happen in less regulated areas where it could potentially attract lots of pests and rodents. Health hazards could happen because of the bacteria that could spread to humans. If the waste to dumped into river, the water could get contaminated and pose risks to human who consume the water.

2. Mild punishment - The punishment given to law breakers is not severe enough to make sure the citizens abide the law. They should give severe punishments to law breakers to prevent them from doing again.

Reference : Empower law enforcement to address river pollution. (2020, December 17). Official Website: Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (IKIM). https://www.ikim.gov.my/new-wp/index.php/2020/12/17/empower-law-enforcement-to-address-river-pollution/