KUCHING: The move to implement a community service order of up to 12 hours for minor littering offences is not easy but a good one.
Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) chairman Datuk Peter Minos said this is because those who are doing such offences would not expose themselves.
“We here at MPKS however will continue to do our best, and we can try to implement CCTVs.
“Countries such as Singapore uses heavy fines on those who got caught, while China uses both fine and jailing for those found guilty on the offences.
“Standard fines are worth thinking but only within the urban areas, maybe less severe in rural areas,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Minos added that repeat offenders must be taught a lesson, such as double the fines.
“They must be told to throw their anti-social habits.
“Councils must also maintain disciplines on their enforcement officers and any abuse of power must be dealt with severely,” he added.
He also preferred the money being collected from littering fines to be used to fund public cleanliness programmes.
“Good idea and mandatory courses on anti-littering is needed and use the fines to fund the courses
“Overall, we support it and we at MPKS are fed up of litter bugs and of ilegal dumpers.
“They are a big nuisance, plus they make our towns dirty n unsightly. Their actions can spread diseases, rats, snakes, flies and others,” he added.
Recent reports stated that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is planning to implement a community service order of up to 12 hours for minor littering offences through amendments to the relevant acts.
In a statement, the ministry said the amendments involved the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672) and the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133).
“Through these amendments, failure to comply with the community service order may result in a fine ranging from RM2,000 to RM10,000.
“The current legal provisions under the relevant acts permit a fine ranging from RM500 to RM2,000 or imprisonment for up to one year,” the statement read.
