KUCHING: Rural waste-collection coverage rate must be boosted to ensure the environment and the surrounding people are safeguarded appropriately.

Opar Assemblyman Billy Sujang said that the rural waste-collection coverage rate nationally was only around 66 per cent, meaning one in three rural households are underserved and often resort to illegal dumping or uncontrolled disposal.

“Although per-capita rural rates are lower, the coverage is weak with only two‐thirds of households having formal collection. The rest face unserviced waste, open dumping, pits, river-disposal and open burning.

“The Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Bill, 2025 must recognise this rural disadvantage. Special rural provisions, mobile collection units, adequate funding, incentives for community waste‐management initiatives, and enforcement (must be done) even in remote areas,” he stressed.

He said this when debating the Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Bill, 2025 at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting on Tuesday. The Opar Assemblyman added that it is politically indefensible that rural households are less served but the same waste−management laws are applied.

“This Bill must correct that imbalance. Equity means equal service, plus recognition of differing logistic costs. The Bill must guarantee that coverage is not just a promise but a reality. The service must not only be scheduled, but must be delivered accordingly,” he said.

He also called for the Bill to give strong regulatory teeth in urban areas, as they see higher per-capita generation due to the lifestyle, consumption, packaging, commerce, and high‐rise living.

“These regulations include source-segregation, mandatory recycling, licensed collection and treatment, penalties for illegal dumping, and dedicated resources for infrastructure,” he said. -UKASnews