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CITY Hall collected a total of RM640 in the on-the-spot compounds from 32 litterbugs around commercial centres within its rating area, as part of its “Ops Bersih” exercise last month.

A spokesman for the agency’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) said the Yu Sang Shops had the most offenders when it came to areas which were inspected outside the State Capital.

“Seven wrongdoers were taken to task in this part of Kepayan,” he said.  “This was followed by Kingfisher Plaza and University Plaza, where five each errant individuals were nabbed. Four were caught around Damai Plaza.”

Besides the four commercial properties, the Department’s team also went to Manggatal Plaza, the Indah Permai shops, 1 Borneo Hypermall and Plaza Juta, according to him.

Additional checks were made around the Manggatal and Lido.

The spokesman said the supervisor of an eatery at the former town was instructed to sweep up the cigarette butts and wash down the pavement behind the premises.

“In the case of the Yu Sang shops, our staff were prompted to keep the area under surveillance after their Landscaping peers noticed that the drain behind the bin-centre was clogged with bits of rubbish.”

A Landscaping Department spokeswoman said six of workers with its Drain Clearing Unit (DCU) used rakes and “cangkuls (hoes)” to fish out the muck from the drain on Lorong Bunga Tanjung 2, shortly after this irregularity came to light.

She said they also removed some garden waste, including pieces of trees which had been chopped down, from the drain-shoulder.”  

“The DCU attended to the covered drains running beneath the pavement around the different blocks there, according to her.

A four-tonne truck was deployed to facilitate efforts to remove the refuse, prunings and mud at shops, according to her.

The SWMD spokesman said as many as five of its inspectors in plain clothes carried out 40 separate “Ops Bersih” inspections between September 2 and September 29.

When it came to the City, he said checks were made around the Bandaran Berjaya shophouses, as well as those around Kg Air and Sinsuran.

On top of this, checks were also made of the Segama Waterfront and common areas around Centre Point Sabah and Gaya Street, according to him. 

“The highest number of litterbugs was nabbed around Kg Air (4), followed by Kg Centre Point Sabah and the Segama Waterfront, where three each were caught.”

He warned that anyone caught disposing of their refuse indiscriminately risked being served with a compound for as much as RM500 under City Hall’s Anti-Litter By-Laws 1984 (Amendment 2005).

“Those who repeatedly disregard calls to stop littering in the common areas can wind up being taken to court. They will become liable to a fine for as much as RM 10,000, if the magistrate finds them guilty.”

Meanwhile, the SWMD is keeping an eye out for errant members of the public who have been dirtying the common area behind a mall off Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens in the City.

The spokesman said this followed feedback about the refuse strewn about near the planter boxes and broadwalk facing the section of the ocean behind the building

“We are aware that many members of public like to come here to take in the view, to watch the sunset or to enjoy the sea breeze,” he said.

“However, if they fail to be more civic minded and leave their rubbish behind, then we will not hesitate to take them to task.” 

He said officers with the agency’s Property Department had already made the management company (MC) for the mall aware of the garbage woes and asked the firm to clean up the boardwalk.

“SWMD personnel will continue to monitor the goings-on around this common area from time to time.”