PENGURUSAN SAMPAH DI KUALA LUMPUR, 1974-2004: PERANAN PIHAK KERAJAAN DAN PIHAK AWAM (WASTE MANAGEMENT IN KUALA LUMPUR, 1974-2004: THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC)

Abstract

Abstrak

Artikel ini membincangkan langkah-langkah yang telah diambil oleh pihak kerajaan untuk memerangi pencemaran alam sekitar akibat peningkatan sampah di Kuala Lumpur sepanjang tempoh 1974-2004. Kajian ini juga membincangkan mengenai peranan pihak awam dalam membantu badan-badan kerajaan yang berkaitan untuk menangani isu ini. Daripada segi kaedah penyelidikan, kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif dan pendekatan sejarah di mana pengumpulan maklumat adalah tertumpu kepada sumber primer seperti laporan tahunan dan fail-fail rasmi kerajaan yang terdapat di Perpustakaan Zaba, Perpustakaan Utama Universiti Malaya dan Arkib Negara Malaysia. Selain itu, penelitian juga turut dilakukan terhadap beberapa akhbar berbahasa Melayu dan Inggeris seperti New Straits Times dan Utusan Malaysia di yang diperoleh daripada Perpustakaan New Straits Times. Keseluruhannya, kajian ini membuktikan pihak kerajaan sememangnya memainkan peranan yang begitu penting dalam menguruskan sampah sarap yang terdapat di Kuala Lumpur. Namun begitu, langkah-langkah yang diambil oleh pihak kerajaan dilihat kurang efektif kerana masih wujud isu pencemaran alam sekitar yang dipertikaikan oleh pelbagai pihak sama ada di media masa mahupun media elektronik. Sementara itu, tahap kesedaran pihak awam dalam menangani isu pencemaran pula di tahap yang kurang memuaskan di mana masih terdapat orang awam yang kurang peka terhadap isu-isu yang timbul.

Kata Kunci: Kuala Lumpur, alam sekitar, sejarah, pencemaran, pengurusan sampah, media, kesedaran

 

Abstract

This paper studied the focus of whether measurements taken by the government to combat environmental pollution resulting from the increment of garbage in Kuala Lumpur during period of 1974-2004. The study also discussed on roles of the public in assisting the relevent government bodies to address this issue. This discussion uses qualitative method and a historical approach in which information collection is centered on primary sources such as annual reports and government official files available at the Zaba Library, the Main Library of the University of Malaya and the National Archives of Malaysia. In addition, studies also been conducted on several Malay and English newspapers such as the New Straits Times, Malay Mail and Utusan Malaysia which are available from the New Straits Times Library. Overall, this study proves that government has played a very important role in managing garbage in Kuala Lumpur. However, the steps taken by government are considered less effective. This can be proven when there are issues of environmental pollution that are disputed by various parties whether in the mass or in electronic media. Meanwhile, awareness level of the public in dealing with pollution issues are still at an unsatisfactory level where there are some of the public are found to be less sensitive and aware to the issues that have arisen.

Keyword: Kuala Lumpur, history, environment, pollution, garbage management, media, awareness