CITY Hall has collected a total of RM3,420 in compounds from litterbugs, since the beginning of October and end of November, as part of “Ops Bersih” exercises carried out at commercial centres and towns within the agency’s rating area.
A spokesman for its Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) said RM920 was accrued in November from 46 errant individuals who settled their penalties on the spot.
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“Another four chose to do this before the grace-period for their compounds expired,” he said. “All these individuals failed to dispose of their rubbish responsibly and dumped this waste in their surroundings.”
A compound of up to RM500 could be imposed against anyone found to be contravening City Hall’s Anti-Litter By-Laws 1984 (Amendment 2005), according to him.
He said those who repeatedly disregarded the agency’s calls to refrain from littering in the common areas could wind up having legal action taken against them.
“They will become liable to a fine for as much as RM 10, 000, if they are found guilty in court.”
The spokesman said a team of SWMD officers in plain clothes carried out 38 separate inspections between Nov 1-27 within the City Centre, as well as in areas ranging from Inanam to Luyang.
Among the areas checked in Kota Kinabalu, according to him, were the shophouses in Bandaran Berjaya, Kg Air, Sinsuran and Segama and the KK Plaza shopping complex, as well as the waterfront area near the City Hall Jetty, off Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens.
“The highest number of wrongdoers was nabbed around the waterfront (62), followed by Kg Air (5) and Bandaran Berjaya (3).”
“SWMD inspectors noticed that an illegal dump had sprung up behind a block of shophouses in Kg Air.
“They kept the area under surveillance for several hours but failed to catch the culprits red handed.”
When it came to areas outside the City limits, the spokesman said the team went to Damai Plaza, Damai Point, the Foh Sang shops, Sadong Jaya, Plaza Juta, Inanam town, Inanam Taipan, Kingfisher Plaza, Kingfisher Riverside, the mini Putrajaya Administrative Complex, Alam Mesra, EG Mall, Universiti Plaza and Taman Fajar.
“Inanam-Taipan areas and EG Mall tied for the locations with the most offenders, in this instance, with seven irresponsible members of the public each caught in these areas.
“This was followed by the Kingfisher Plaza-Riverside where three wrongdoers were nabbed and the Damai Point-Plaza commercial centres where four were taken to task.”
The spokesman said RM2,500 in compounds was collected last month, with 125 offenders settling their compounds immediately, while one litterbug differed his/ her payment.
Eighty-five “Ops Bersih” checks were made between October 1 and October 31, according to him.
“In this instance, the highest number of litterbugs in the State Capital was nabbed around the waterfront (27), followed by Center Point Sabah (16), as well as five each at Bandaran Berjaya and the Api-Api Centre.”
He said mini Putrajaya was the location with the most offenders, when it came to inspections outside the City-limits.
“Thirteen litterbugs caught around the different blocks here, according to the spokesman said.
“This was followed, he said, by Damai Point-Plaza, where 12 errant individuals in total were nabbed. He said seven were taken to task around EG Mall.”
