Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

CITY HALL collected a total of RM21,960 in compounds from 1,115 litterbugs last year, as part of “Ops Bersih” exercises carried out at commercial centres and towns within the agency’s rating area.

In comparison, some RM22,800 was accrued from 1,344 irresponsible individuals for the same period in 2024.

A spokesman for the agency’s Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) acknowledged the 3.6 per cent drop in penalties collected, saying that, over the coming months, it would be ramping up efforts to make the public more aware about the need to keep their surroundings clean.

“We want to get the message across that we mean business when we say, ‘Get rid of your rubbish properly. Don’t just simply throw it into the common areas around your homes and shops’,” he said.

He said those who failed to heed this call could find themselves RM500 poorer.

“This is the maximum compound which can be imposed for littering offences under City Hall’s Anti-Litter By-Laws 1984 (Amendment 2005). Legal action can be taken against repeat offenders in the worst case scenario.

“They will become liable to a fine for as much as RM10,000, if they are found guilty in court.”

He said RM1,140 was accrued in December from 57 wrongdoers, all of whom settled their penalties on the spot.

“All these members of the public failed to dispose of their garbage, including in some cases cigarette butts, responsibly.”

The spokesman said a team of SWMD officers in plain clothes carried out 53 separate inspections between December 1 – December 31 within the City Centre, as well as in areas ranging from Telipok to Luyang.

Among the areas checked in Kota Kinabalu, according to him, were the shophouses in Kg Air, Bandaran Berjaya and Sinsuran. Inspections were also made around Centre Point Sabah and the waterfront area near the City Hall jetty, off Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. 

“The highest number of litterbugs were nabbed around the jetty (8), followed by Sinsuran (4) and Bandaran Berjaya (3),” the spokesman said.

When it came to areas outside the City limits, the spokesman said the team went to Telipok, Synergy Square, Universiti Utama Condominium, the shops near the Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic, Salut Commercial Centre, Manggatal Plaza, Manggatal, the shops at Taman Fajar, Universiti Apartment Plaza, EG Mall, Inanam, Alam Mesra, Mini Putrajaya, Kingfisher Plaza, Kingfisher Riverside, Juta Plaza, Likas Plaza and Damai Plaza.

“Inanam had the most offenders, in this instance, with seven individuals caught in total around the town and EG Mall.

Both Manggatal and Damai Plaza tied for the location with the most offenders, in this instance, with 21 irresponsible smokers each caught in these areas.

“This was followed by the Kingfisher area where six wrongdoers were nabbed. Three such errant individuals were each taken to task at the Salut Commercial Centre and Damai Plaza.”

The spokesman said RM920 in compounds was collected in November and RM2,500 in October.

“Forty six litterbugs were nabbed in November and 125 in October,” he said.

He RM640 was accrued September from 32 members of the public.

“Another 98 irresponsible individuals were taken to task in August,” he said. They collectively paid RM1,860 in penalties, according to him.

The spokesman said about RM1,700 in compounds was collected from 96 individuals during “Ops Bersih” checks in July. 

The spokesman said RM1,120 was accrued by SWMD inspectors in June, RM1,460 in May and RM1,120 in April.

“Fifty six bad hats were nabbed in June and 74 in May. A total of 133 members of the public were penalised in April and March.”

He said another RM1,540 was collected in March, RM2, 860 in February and RM5,100 in January.

He said the wrong-doers were spotted dumping of their rubbish, including cigarette butts, indiscriminately. 

“A total of 398 individuals were caught between January and February,” he said.