ASAJAYA: A culture of cleanliness needs to be nurtured starting from the individual and the family institution before it is applied within the community, in order to produce a society that is more disciplined, responsible and appreciative of environmental sustainability.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, who is also Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the practice of maintaining cleanliness should not be confined to mosques alone, but must begin at home through the practice of maintaining personal hygiene, cleanliness of one's residence and surroundings.
He said this continuous effort forms an important foundation in shaping a society that is virtuous, disciplined and concerned about community wellbeing.
"A mosque is not merely a place of worship, but also serves as a centre for uniting the community through various religious, educational, welfare and social development activities that can strengthen local harmony," he said when officiating the "IIC Cares and Environment 2026: Our Mosque, Our Society" programme at Masjid Darul Rahmah, Tambirat Lot, here, on Saturday.
The Asajaya Assemblyman said cultivating a culture of clean living requires a continuous process of education from childhood, so that the values of discipline, responsibility and love for cleanliness can be instilled in daily life.
He said consistent guidance from parents, educational institutions, community leaders and relevant agencies could produce a generation that makes cleanliness a way of life, thereby contributing to community wellbeing and state development.
Elaborating further, Dato Sri Abdul Karim said the experience of several developed nations proves that a high standard of cleanliness does not happen by chance, but is the result of education, discipline and civic awareness cultivated continuously.
In this regard, he hoped the people of Sarawak would continue to uphold these values by making the cleanliness of homes, villages, rivers, places of worship and public facilities a shared responsibility, in order to create a healthier, safer and more sustainable environment.
As a symbolic gesture marking the launch, Dato Sri Abdul Karim also planted a landscape flowering tree in the grounds of Masjid Darul Rahmah, as a manifestation of collective commitment to strengthening environmental conservation efforts and promoting a green culture among the community.
Also present were Asajaya District Officer Jerry Zannuddin Bidin, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Islamic Information Centre (IIC) Tazudin Mohtar, Majlis Islam Sarawak (MIS) Education Services Bureau Manager Samsudin Drahman, Samarahan Division Resident's Representative Juhairi Bujang, and Penghulu of Kampung Tambirat, Tamel Mohamad. -UKASnews
