TEN proprietors on Jalan Gaya collectively paid RM1,300 in compounds to City Hall recently as the agency has begun scrutinising the compliance of its By-Laws at commercial areas around the State Capital.
A spokesman for the agency’s Enforcement Department said most of the wrongdoers were penalised for littering violations.
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“Enforcement officers ticked off four shop operators for dirtying the five-foot way and common drains near their premises,” he said.
“Four others were caught by our colleagues from the Solid Waste Management Department (SWMD) who witnessed the offenders flicking their cigarette butts into their surroundings.”
Each of these individuals was compounded for violating City Hall’s Anti-Litter By-Laws 1984 (Amendment 2005), according to him.
He declined to specify the amount of the individual penalties imposed on this occasion, saying that RM500 was the maximum compound which could be served under the Anti-Litter By-Laws.
“We are going the extra mile to ensure that the State Capital looks its best for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.”
To this end, he said, the agency wanted to impress upon commercial rate-payers the need to be more mindful about keeping their premises clean.
“They should not only look after the interior of their shops but should also do the same for common areas in front and the back of their units.”
The spokesman said those who failed to meet the agency’s standards of cleanliness 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. We are also looking into the possibility of having the more defiant litterbugs perform community service.”
The inspection on Jalan Gaya was part of an “Operasi Bersepadu (Unified Operation)” which involved 23 City Hall personnel. Eight Enforcement personnel joined forces with 11 of their peers from the SWMD, as well as two each from the agency’s Licencing and Environmental Health Departments, to carry out this Operation.
A spokesman for City Hall’s Licencing Department said an eatery owner received a RM300 compound for running his/ her business without a valid licence.
He said the proprietor was deemed to have contravened the agency’s Food and Eating Premises By-Laws 1966 (Amendment 2003).
“Another proprietor was taken to task for encroaching into the five-foot way outside his shop,” he said.
“The mobile freezer for the ice-cream, which he/ she was selling, was found to be occupying part of the pavement.”
A check of the Department’s records showed that the individual had applied to make use of this common area but had not yet been granted leave to do so, according to him.
“The shop operator’s staff was asked to move the freezer back into the boundary for the unit.”
A spokeswoman for the agency’s Environmental Health Department said three eatery-owners were taken to task for irregularities involving the grease-traps in their kitchens.
She said these offenders were compounded for violating its Food and Eating Premises By-Laws. A penalty of up to RM500 could be imposed in such circumstances, according to her.
“The oily discharge entering the traps should be removed daily,” she said.
“Don’t hold off cleaning the traps only till it becomes necessary to do so.”
She said it was imperative that the unwanted cooking oil from commercial kitchens was dealt with responsibly.
“Proprietors should also avoid modifying the traps and adhere to our approved specifications. A ‘T-joint’ should also be put in place before the outlet from these gadgets and they should not be connected to the drainage servicing their premises.”
The Enforcement Department spokesman said 12 premises in all were checked during the Operation.
“We intend to conduct a similar exercise in other parts of the City, as well as at commercial properties elsewhere within our rating-area, at later dates.”
