18-Year-Old Spent Two Hours Cleaning Up Rubbish After Hari Merdeka Celebrations At KLCC
"This is not the Malaysia that our ancestors fought for!"
By Alyssa J. Oon — 04 Sep 2019, 06:49 PM
While most people would be revelling in the high of Hari Merdeka celebrations, one young man spent hours cleaning up the mess that was left behind
In an Instagram post on Saturday, 31 August, 18-year-old Aiman Ariffin spent two hours cleaning up rubbish that was left behind by visitors at KLCC Park, reported Malay Mail.
"The night of Merdeka should've been a night full of joy, fun and laughter but it made me feel internally anguished by our depths of ignorance," Aiman wrote.
"After the show of fireworks ended I was perplexed by the sheer amount of garbage that has (sic) simply been littered all over the area," he wrote.
"Literally seconds after people were screaming MERDEKA people started to throw their trash EVERYWHERE! THIS IS NOT THE MALAYSIA THAT OUR ANCESTORS HAD FOUGHT FOR!"
Within five minutes, Aiman had already collected multiple plastic water bottles, small plastic bags, and plastic beverage cups
"We've built engineering marvels that has mesmerised the world and we've defended Islam with our dying breath but at the same time we have failed to defend our country from the ignorance of our own," he lamented.
He also admonished those who defended Islam, but could not "defend an integral teaching of Islam" which is cleanliness.
"If you need an 18 year old (sic) to spend two hours cleaning after your trash, then how far have we truly come as an independent nation?"
Ending his post, Aiman thanked the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for their assistance in cleaning up the park as well
"Unfortunately, many of our young people have been raised to think that throwing their rubbish everywhere is not a big problem," Aiman wrote.
"A country's success should not be measured by the height of its skyscrapers, the strength of its military force, or the size of its land but by its own citizens."
